Best mountain hikes in Slovenia

As the owner of a touring agency and a mountain guide, I feel fortunate to spend so much time exploring Slovenia’s mountains—reaching beautiful, remote places that many people only dream about. Whether it’s a daring ascent of Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak, wandering through colorful meadows in the remote mountains above Jezersko, or a dreamy hike in the hills around Lake Bled—we’ve done it all, and it’s been pretty incredible.

This past summer, Tracey, a wonderful guest from Australia with whom I shared two great via ferratas, asked me whether I ever influence people’s decisions when choosing a tour. Beyond making professional recommendations based on a guest’s skills and experience, I have to admit that I do. To be honest, I often try to weave a bit of my own hiking wishes into the decision-making process—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In the end, our guests get to experience the very best places at the best possible time of the season.

When the mountains are in bloom, we choose the most beautiful routes among fragile daffodils, crocuses, wild orchids, gentians, edelweiss, and more. When heavy rainfall fills the enchanting 7 Triglav Lakes to the brim—and sometimes beyond—we happily skip other hikes and head there instead. When it’s time for a breathtaking via ferrata, we climb Mala Mojstrovka; when we’re after something more challenging, we take on the bold ascent of Mangart, the third highest mountain of Slovenia, or the lovely Gradiška Tura, even if it means a longer drive than the more popular routes nearby.

Having explored the Slovenian mountains for decades, I can confidently say that those who have trusted Exploring Slovenia have never been disappointed—biased or not.

To prove that, here are ten highlights of our best mountain hikes and climbs in the summer season 2023. Enjoy!

Exploring Slovenia’s best day hikes:
Stunning Julian Alps
Fairytale hike in Karavanke
Goli Vrh above Jezersko
Flower hike on Golica

Krn Lakes

When the time is right, visiting Lake Krn is an absolute must. This picture-perfect lake—300 m long and 150 m wide—is the largest alpine lake in Slovenia, nestled among the tall, rocky peaks of the southwestern Julian Alps.

Every year, we take our groups there, either as part of the 3-day From Bohinj to the Soča Valley Trek or on an easier day hike to Lake Krn from the Soča Valley. This year, we took it a step further with an additional 4-hour climb to a remote 2,016 m peak above the lake, opening up breathtaking views of both Krn lakes—the larger Lake Krn and its smaller, yet equally beautiful twin, Dupeljsko Jezero.

Exploring Slovenia’s best lake-view mountain hikes:
Krn Lakes above Soča Valley
7 Triglav Lakes Treks
Dreamy lakeview Jerebica

Velika Planina

On the southern edge of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, about thirty kilometers north of Slovenia’s charming capital, Ljubljana, lies a vast alpine plateau known as Velika Planina. The area is famous not only for its unique shepherds’ settlement—arguably one of the oldest still active in Europe—but also for the organic dairy products made there each summer.

Both locals and visitors are drawn to its scenic hiking trails, welcoming atmosphere, and hearty local food. But each spring, something truly special happens: as the snow melts in April, thousands of crocuses emerge, covering the plateau in a stunning carpet of purple.

We visited in early May, just as the tiny purple crocuses began to peek through the lingering snow, which this year’s unpredictable spring weather had generously draped across the mountains. We returned to the vast plains of Velika Planina throughout the summer, each time following scenic loop hikes through the shepherds’ settlements and to the most picturesque viewpoints.

Read also:
Twelve hikes in the Soča Valley in Slovenian mountains
When Velika Planina dresses in purple
From Alpine Peaks to Secluded Beaches: The Perfect Slovenia-Croatia Trek
Fairytale loop hike above Srednji Vrh

Krvavec

Every now and then, we head to the mountains in the late afternoon to enjoy empty trails and vibrant sunset colors in a beautiful setting. Krvavec, a high-altitude ski resort near Ljubljana, offers not only a well-maintained road from the valley all the way to the slopes, but also comfortable hiking trails. It’s also an excellent spot to catch a sunset at nearly 2,000 meters.

Enjoy Exploring Slovenia’s best multi-day treks:
Hut-to-Hut Trek in the Julian Alps
Trekking in Slovenian Mountains and Croatian Islands
7 Triglav Lakes Trek
From Bohinj to Soča Valley Trek
The Karavanke Alps Traverse

Jerebica

We’ve often raved about a mountain peak with a stunning scenic hike and a summit that truly takes your breath away. The 2,126-meter peak of Jerebica rises high above the glacial Rabeljsko Jezero (Lake of Predil), which stretches 1,400 meters in length and 400 meters in width—setting the stage for truly spectacular views.

Surrounded by steep mountains that seem to stretch endlessly in every direction—towards Slovenia, Italy, and even Austria in the distance—the turquoise waters of Lake Predil look almost unreal, as if they belong in a fairytale. It’s a place that feels close to perfection.

Triglav Lakes

While Slovenia as a whole is a green country (it was even named the world’s first Green Destination in 2016), its Alps are particularly wet. The Julian Alps receive more than 3,200 mm of precipitation per year, making them one of the wettest alpine regions in Europe.

To put this into perspective, Hawaii—the wettest U.S. state—receives an average of 1,618 mm of rainfall annually, while California gets only 563 mm. Despite this abundance of precipitation, summers can still be quite hot and sunny, and extended dry periods can significantly reduce water levels in otherwise beautiful alpine lakes.

Not this summer, though. The unusually wet season brought significantly more rainfall than average—112% more in August, 89% more in July, and 40% more in June. As a result, the mountains were rich in water, and the past summer turned out to be an exceptional time to visit the 7 Triglav Lakes.

Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain

As the highest peak in Slovenia, Triglav is one of the country’s most popular climbs. It is renowned for its spectacular 360-degree views, rich wildlife, and long tradition of passionate mountaineers. The mountain huts near Triglav, on the other hand, are known for their lively atmosphere, where hikers share stories of their adventures, enjoy a good beer, and sometimes even play the accordion or guitar to get everyone dancing.

As every year, this summer was no exception for Exploring Slovenia. We guided groups to Triglav in a wide range of conditions—from early summer snow to unexpected mid-summer snowfalls and occasional thunderstorms in between. Challenging at times, but always a great adventure.

Read on Blog about Triglav
Climbing Triglav in summer on our favored route
Climbing Triglav with kids
Make Triglav a winter climb

Stunning Julian Alps

At almost 2,000 meters in elevation, directly opposite Mt. Triglav across a narrow, over 1,000-meter-deep glacial valley, stand impressive mountains with awe-inspiring views. Some of these spectacular peaks are perfect for a day adventure in the Stunning Julian Alps, and with the right trail, the hike can be relatively short and rewarding.

We’ve done it so many times this year that I’ve lost count, yet every single hike has been incredibly beautiful.

The via ferrata to Mala Mojstrovka

Named after its builder, Ivan Vertelj – Hanza, this via ferrata to one of the most intriguing mountains above Kranjska Gora was constructed in 1928 as a direct route to Mala Mojstrovka from the Yugoslav side of the Rapallo border at the time.

A brief historical note: between 1920 and 1947, parts of western Slovenia were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy under the Treaty of Rapallo, and the Vršič Pass lay directly on the border between the two states.

Many years later, it remains one of Slovenia’s classic mountain routes. It is relatively accessible, yet rewards hikers with breathtaking panoramic views from its steep north face.

Quick stats: 720 m of ascent, 5-hour round trip

Mala Mojstrovka Guided Tours:
Via Ferrata Climb to Mala Mojstrovka
Classic hike to Mala Mojstrovka

My favorite climb to Mala Mojstrovka this past summer? When four women teamed up and chatted and laughed heartily throughout the whole tour. My apologies to all the unlucky men out there who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time… 🙂

Gradiška Tura

Located in southwestern Slovenia, this area is relatively far from Bled and the alpine mountains, yet no less intriguing, with beautiful views of vineyards and the rolling hills of the Vipava Valley.

There are actually two separate via ferratas leading to the summit of Gradiška Tura (793 m), connected by a short five-minute walk; the second begins just below the end of the first. After a short forest approach, you reach the Furlan Route, a climb of just over an hour that gradually prepares you for the more demanding Otmar Route.

The second section, also around an hour long, immediately tests you with a steep ascent over a vertical wall with a slight overhang, but once past it, you enter a stunning adventure along sunlit limestone walls.

Quick stats: 600 m of ascent, 5-hour round trip 

Guided Via Ferrata Climb to Gradiška Tura

Zelenica Hut

As much as I love hiking in remote places with no infrastructure or people, there’s still a small part of me that lights up whenever I’m on a scenic but easy trail, meeting equally enthusiastic hikers and enjoying a good meal in a mountain hut.

So let’s round off this year’s guiding season with an easy, family-friendly hike in the Karavanke Alps—no more than 8 km and 650 m of ascent—that visits not one, but two mountain huts.

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