The most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in Slovenia

Circular long-distance trail of grand views under Mt Triglav. This trail featuring authentic encounters with residents of the Alpine villages and towns leads you around Triglav National Park and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Julian Alps. With its new stages, the trail extends from the Posočje region into the picturesque and colourful wine producing Goriška Brda Hills. Although it does not exceed a height of 1,326 metres, the trail is distinguished by its exceptional vistas over the highest Slovenian peaks and offers an opportunity to discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of the amazing Alpine world. Selected stages are suitable for easy family trekking, and their starting points are in locations with good bus and railway connections.

•  This trail was recommended by The Guardian and the New York Times

•  330 kilometres

•  20 stages

•  Average stage length: 17,5 kilometres (4 – 5 hours of walking)

•  Easy to medium difficulty

From the Karavanke Alps through the Soča River Valley to the Adriatic Sea. The trail that connects the scenic sights of Slovenia, Austria and Italy is designed in such a way that you can walk between 17 and 25 kilometres every day with a relatively minor difference in altitude. Selected cuisine can be found at every stage. The trail starts in Austria under Mt Grossglockner. It enters Slovenia in the Karavanke Alps and then leads over the Vršič Pass to Triglav National Park and the Soča River Valley. After the section in the Friuli–Venezia Giulia region of Italy, the trail returns to the Slovenian Goriška Brda Hills and Karst and continues to the end point at Muggia, near Trieste in Italy.

• Full length: 750 km

• Slovenian section: 145 km

• 43 days for the entire trail

• 8 days for the Slovenian section

• 43 stages; 5 full stages in Slovenia and 5 stages connecting Slovenia and Italy

• This trail, which opened in 2011, has been listed several times among the best hiking trails by the National Geographic Traveller.

On to the highest Slovenian mountains. The Via Alpina Purple Trail starts under Mt Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain. It descends into the Vrata Valley with the Peričnik Waterfall past the majestic Triglav North Face and its 100 climbing routes. Near Kranjska Gora, a popular ski sports and recreational centre, the trail ascends to Golica, known for its meadows full of daffodils, and then to the Karavanke Ridge and its highest peak, Mt Stol (2236 m). Through the beautiful Zgornje Jezersko Valley, the Alpine dairy farming area, the trail continues into Austria.

From the Kozjansko Regional Park to the hills above the Sava River. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Kozjansko Regional Park, known for high-trunk meadow orchards, the scenic Posavje Hills above the Sava River and the Geometric Centre of Slovenia (GEOSS) are all on the route of the Zasavje Long-Distance Trail, which is also suitable for hiking in winter. There are several mountain huts and inns on the trail, too. Among the attractive destinations is the trail’s highest peak, 1,220-metre-high Kum, which commands views reaching to the Julian Alps and Mt Triglav.

Amidst the Karst phenomena of the Dinaric Alps. One of the most interesting hiking trails in Europe starts in Slovenia and ends far to the south, passing through the Balkan countries in stages. The Slovenian section of the trail leads among exceptional Karst sites: the underground world of Križna and Planina caves, the intermittent Lake Cerknica and other extraordinary water phenomena, the ancient beech forests which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage, and a unique cultural heritage. The highest peak on the trail is Mt Snežnik (1796 m).