Ever been to Slovenia? No? You have to go! If not for the pristine nature, rolling pastures, and sapphire lakes, then for—Ana Roš. The 2017 World’s Best Female Chef heads a 3-star Michelin restaurant that will make your taste buds forever grateful. But that’s not all we’ll get to enjoy. Slovenia is the best kept Alpine secret for a reason. We’ll stroll through fragrant vineyards of Goriška Brda, explore the rugged peaks of Triglav National Park, and relax above glacial Lake Bled—with an unforgettable view of a small church island emerging from the water. And then there’s food. More food. From local farms to upscale restaurants, we’ll be tasting Kočevje honey, Bled custard-cream cake, or Karst prosciutto, paired with exquisite wines and, of course, some stellar views.
They say getting to know the country without knowing its food and ways of life is not complete. Your guides know this, so they put together a 8-day hiking tour of Slovenia with daily tastings of the country’s cuisine. You’ll explore the varied landscapes of the Julian Alps, from rocky peaks and lush alpine meadows to crystal clear lakes and hidden waterfalls. Whether you’re sleeping in a farmhouse or a mountain hut, you’ll feel in sync with nature and get to know the traditional way of life. If you want a feast for the eyes and the stomach, venturing to Slovenia is your best bet!
Arrive to Ljubljana and check into your room. Use the day to explore the city: walk along the river banks, discover bridges, explore the historical city center, or visit the colorful marketplace. See the Ljubljana Castle and admire the city from the Outlook Tower. In the evening, you’ll have a welcome dinner with traditional Slovenian food.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ljubljana
First stop of the trip is Lake Bled, a picture-perfect lake with a small island in the middle of it with a church and a castle. A good start to hiking will be traversing the spectacular Bled Vintgar Gorge, a narrow canyon with an emerald river coursing through. Don’t miss out on the Bled custard-cream cake, the local specialty. Continue on to the glacial Lake Bohinj in a peaceful alpine valley, located in the heart of the Triglav National Park.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 2.5 miles (4km)
Hiking: 2.5 hours
Elevation gain: 692 ft (211m)
Accommodation: Hotel in Pokljuka or Bohinj
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll start your 3-day hut-to-hut hiking adventure in the heart of Triglav National Park. Walk past shepherds’ cottages and pass through lush meadows of the charming alpine pastures. Continue on rocky terrain to mountain ridges that offer some of the best views of Slovenian Alps. Spend the night in a quaint mountain hut encircled by surrounding peaks.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 5 miles (8km)
Hiking: 5 hours
Elevation gain: 3,609 ft (1,100m)
Accommodation: Mountain hut
Go into the Valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes—traverse along the mountain trail, connecting 7 lakes in a verdant, high-altitude alpine valley. Touring Triglav will help you see why it’s also called the Kingdom of the Golden Horn, a source of pride for all Slovenians. Spend the night in a cozy mountain hut, just next to one of the lakes.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 4.6 miles (7.5km)
Hiking: 6 hours
Elevation: +778 ft (237m), -2,306 ft (703m)
Accommodation: Mountain hut
Leave the rocky terrain and highest peaks behind and enter the land of alpine pastures. On the walk back, you’ll enjoy incredible views of the Bohinj area. Stop at one of the typical shepherd huts you’ll walk past, and taste traditional Slovenian delights. Continue on to Lake Jasna, a turquoise lake surrounded by jaggy peaks, where you’ll have time to take a dip. End the day with a tasty Slovenian dinner.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 4 miles (6.6km)
Hiking: 5 hours
Elevation loss: 1,765 ft (538m)
Accommodation: Hotel in Kranjska Gora
The scenic mountain road will take you to Vršič Pass at 5,331 ft (1,625m), from where you’ll hike through rocky terrain to Sleme Peak. After lunch at a mountain hut, continue driving into the unspoilt Soča River Valley and explore the historical Kobarid town. The evening is reserved for a gastronomic experience—relish the slow food dinner prepared by Ana Ros, World’s Best Female Chef for 2017, at her restaurant Hiša Franko with two Michelin stars, one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2021.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 4 miles (6km)
Hiking: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 1,148 ft (350m)
Accommodation: Hotel or farmhouse (Kobarid)
Follow the path near the Soča River and reach the hidden Kozjak Waterfalls and its pool. Visit the WW1 Museum in the area and learn about its history. Continue along a route to Slovenia’s winegrowing region of Goriška Brda and marvel at the land of gently rolling hills covered with orchards and vineyards. You’ll have time to swim in the pool or relax with a glass of wine. Your farewell dinner will be served in a family-run farm—each dish will be accompanied by a selection of your host’s wine and a stunning view of Goriška Brda.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 2 miles (3.5km)
Hiking: 2 hours
Accommodation: Farmhouse in Goriška Brda
After breakfast, you will be transferred either to Ljubljana Airport or, if you’re keen on staying a bit longer, to your next accommodation in Ljubljana.
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The hike and culinary tour in Slovenia is beginner-friendly! While it requires no hiking experience, make sure you’re physically prepared for this trip. The most you’ll hike is 5 miles (8km) per day with a 3,609-foot (1,100-meter) elevation gain. If you’re ready to keep up with the tempo, you’re good to go!
There will be a hut-to-hut portion of the trip (Day 3 — Day 5), which is when guests will carry a backpack with their clothes and other necessary things for 3 days in the mountains. All other luggage will be left in the hotel and you’ll pick it up once you come down from the mountain. The backpack should weigh around 15 lbs.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
An authentic culinary experience awaits
Slovenia is a small country, but its gastronomic offer is rich and varied—22 Slovenian dishes and food products are protected at the European level. Your guides are experts on the local cuisine, and they’re eager to take you on a tour to fantastic restaurants, quaint farms, and premier wineries.
Relish gourmet meals at exquisite restaurants
The highlight of the tour might just be visiting a 2-star Michelin restaurant—Hiša Franko—where Ana Roš, World’s Best Female Chef for 2017, will prepare gourmet meals for you! The restaurant was ranked 21st on the prestigious list of 50 Best Restaurants in the World for 2021 and it features a cooking style rooted in the surrounding Alpine landscape, spiced up with modern trends.
Support locally-owned farms and wineries
When it comes to this tour, you can always count on fresh and local ingredients proudly presented at locally-owned businesses. With a massive selection of delicious sweet and savory dishes and products—such as the Karst prosciutto, the semi-hard Tolminc cheese, or the Bled cream cake—you’ll find it difficult to choose your favorite one. You don’t have to, though, just think of this trip as 8 days of pure flavor bliss.
Vegetarians welcome!
This tour can accommodate vegetarians without any additional fees, which means that you can experience the beauty of Slovenia through all of your senses regardless of your preferences.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Slovenia can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
In case you would like to ensure a room to yourself, and not share it with anybody, there is a possibility of a single supplement for an additional $285. However, keep in mind that you’ll be spending two nights at mountain huts, where there’s no possibility of single rooms.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Ljubljana, most people fly into Ljubljana Airport, a 30-minute drive from the city. From there, you can take a shuttle service into town.
On the first day, check-in is available after 12:00 PM, while the meeting with the guide and other guests is scheduled for 6:00 PM. The guide will select the appropriate terrain and confirm the details of the itinerary depending on conditions and the ability of the group. On the last day, the return to Ljubljana from Goriška Brda is planned between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Slovenia, please refer to Slovenia’s Travel Information.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 50% deposit. The remaining 50% of the trip price is to be paid 120 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
