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Alpe Adria Trail and Juliana Trail in an 8-day hiking trip
Alpe Adria Trail and Juliana Trail: Hike Along the Highlights of Slovenia’s
The Alpe Adria Trail, featuring Slovenian highlights, and the Juliana Trail in Slovenia are combined in this 8-day hiking trip. Of course, you can arrange this trip on your own. We organized it in collaboration with our local partner. You’ll hike independently without a guide, but your luggage will be transported, you’ll have the route, and accommodations are arranged. Are you interested in this trip? If so, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page to submit your request.
This carefully planned trip combines the highlights of both routes with additional side trips and even a bit of cycling. The result? The ultimate hiking experience in and around the breathtaking Triglav National Park.
Intermediate level
8 days – 7 nights
May through October
Useful travel app
Cost: €1,450 per person
Highlights of the Alpe Adria & Juliana Trail
Ljubljana. You’ll begin your journey in Slovenia’s charming capital, where culture, history, and gastronomy come together.
Julian Alps & Triglav National Park. Explore the unspoiled nature of Slovenia’s largest national park and admire the majestic Triglav massif.
Vršič Pass. Hike this iconic mountain pass and enjoy unforgettable views of the surrounding mountains.
Soca Valley. Let yourself be enchanted by the emerald-green Soca River and take a dip in its crystal-clear pools.
More of Bled & Bohinj: Wrap up your adventure at Slovenia’s two most beautiful lakes, perfect for relaxation and reflection.
Why choose this hiking tour?
Varied terrain: You’ll avoid rugged, high-alpine terrain and enjoy a mix of accessible hiking trails and easy bike routes. Day-by-day overview
Comfort and convenience: You’ll stay in comfortable hotels instead of mountain huts, and your luggage will be transported between accommodations.
Breathtaking nature: You’ll hike through green valleys, along emerald-green rivers, and through lush forests, while enjoying panoramic views of the Julian Alps.
Day-by-day overview of the Alpe Adria Trail and the Juliana Trail
Day 1: Arrival in Ljubljana
Accommodation: centrally located 3-star hotel in Ljubljana
You’ll arrive on your own in Slovenia’s beautiful capital, Ljubljana. Discover why it’s considered one of Europe’s most charming capitals. Lose yourself in the old town, take a stroll through the green surroundings, explore by bike, paddle through on a stand-up paddleboard, and savor the culinary delights. Let the walking adventures begin!
Day 2: Hike to the Vrsic Pass
Hike: 13 km / elevation gain +900 m, elevation loss -300 m / approx. 5 hours Overnight stay: in a mountain hut with shared bathrooms
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the ski village of Kranjska Gora, where your hiking adventure begins. You’ll hike along beautiful trails and find yourself in an amphitheater of rugged limestone peaks. The comfortable trails lead you to the famous Vrsic Pass, and you can optionally take a detour to a secluded peak offering a fantastic view of the central Julian Alps. You’ll end the day at a cozy mountain hut where you’ll have the chance to sample some authentic homemade Slovenian mountain cuisine.
Day 3: Through the Heart of the Julian Alps
Hiking: 14 km / elevation gain +470 m, elevation loss -1000 m / approx. 6 hours Overnight stay: Wonderful alpine hotel in a secluded location
Start the day with a walk along an old military road built by Russian prisoners of war during World War I. The road was designed to supply the Soca Front and climbs gradually to the top of the Vrsic Pass.
For early risers, an optional detour to a fantastic viewpoint is highly recommended before the crowds start pouring in.
From the pass, your route takes you through unspoiled alpine scenery. Stop and enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings before beginning the steep descent toward the Trenta Valley. You’ll reach the source of the Soca River, an underground spring where the emerald-green river bursts to the surface. You’ll spend the night at the most beautiful Alpine hotel in a hidden cul-de-sac valley. A true Alpine paradise!
Day 4: Hiking and Biking in the Soca Valley
Hiking: 13 km / elevation gain +200 m, elevation loss -500 m / approx. 4 hours Biking: 16 km / elevation gain +250 m, elevation loss -300 m / approx. 2 hours Overnight stay: 4* hotel in Bovec
Follow the river’s current over rapids, small waterfalls, through narrow rocky gorges, surprising canyons, and pools. You’ll cross several suspension bridges and discover inviting hidden pools where you can relax, dip your feet in turquoise water, or even take a refreshing dip.
The beauty and magic of the landscape create unforgettable moments, and you’ll see why the Soca is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world.
This part of the day is quite long, so after lunch you’ll hop on an e-mountain bike. Expect a few short climbs, but mostly an enjoyable ride along picturesque gravel and paved roads to the town of Bovec.
Day 5: From the Soca Valley to Lake Bohinj
Choose between hiking (16 km) or a morning of rafting followed by a shorter hike
Hiking: 9–16 km / elevation gain +150 to 550 m, elevation loss -150 to 550 m / approx. 3–5 hours Overnight stay: 4* hotel on Lake Bohinj
Today you have plenty of options. If you’re here purely for the hiking, you can opt for a 16-km stage. But we definitely recommend taking a “free morning” to go rafting on the Soca River or canyoning in one of the wild canyons nearby. Pure fun (and adrenaline)!
Once you’ve finished your water adventures, follow the most scenic part of the Juliana Trail past the Kozjak Waterfall to the town of Kobarid. After lunch, enjoy a beautiful 40-minute train ride through a series of tunnels to the town of Bohinjska Bistrica.
If you choose to skip the rafting, a morning transfer will be arranged, taking you directly to the train station, followed by a 16-km hike through the beautiful countryside before you reach Lake Bohinj. Take a dip in the inviting water and make yourself comfortable at the cozy lakeside hotel.
Day 6: Juliana Trail: From Lake Bohinj to the Forests of Pokljuka
Over the next two days, you’ll follow the Juliana Trail across the Pokljuka Plateau. Warm up along the Upper Bohinj Valley and hike through typical local villages before you begin your ascent of the plateau.
You’ll enjoy vast beech and spruce forests, a picnic lunch with one of the most beautiful views of Lake Bohinj, and be amazed by the stunning Alpine architecture on secluded Alpine meadows in the heart of Triglav National Park.
Hiking: 17 km / elevation gain +900 m, elevation loss -100 m / approx. 6–7 hours Overnight stay: 3* hotel in the Pokljuka forests
Day 7: Juliana Trail: From Pokljuka to Lake Bled
Hiking: 20 km / elevation gain +150 m, -950 m / approx. 7 hours Hiking Mt. Mrezce: 15 km / elevation gain +750 m, elevation loss -750 m / approx. 5 hours Accommodation: 3* hotel or a family-run B&B near the lake
Today you’ll mainly be hiking through the vast forests of Pokljuka and passing through the charming Zajavornik alpine meadow. Between late June and early September, you can sample excellent mountain cheese and Slovenian “alpine yogurt,” perhaps add some blueberries, and, of course, discover the medicinal secrets of countless homemade schnapps.
Note: Today’s stage is extremely long, and you’ll need to keep up a brisk pace to descend the mountain and the narrow Pokljuka Gorge before reaching your final destination: the picture-perfect setting at Lake Bled. Finish your long hike with a refreshing dip, or row out to the island to ring the bell and make a wish.
If you’d prefer to stay in the mountains a little longer and enjoy even more views of the Alps, climb to the summit of Mount Mrezce above Pokljuka and take a transfer to Bled.
Day 8: Departure from Bled
Enjoy one more morning in Bled. The walking tour ends here. Of course, you can extend your stay as you wish. You can travel back from Bled to Ljubljana by train and bus in just over an hour.
Practical Information
Best time to visit: May through October
Difficulty level: Moderate, 5–7 hours of hiking per day
Price: €1,450 per person
Includes: Accommodations, breakfast, transfers, luggage transport, bike rental (Day 4), navigation app, 24-hour service, and support from the organization
Optional
Rafting on the Soca River: €70 per person
Single-room surcharge at hotels: €480 for a group reservation
Surcharge for solo travelers: €1,020
Route on a map
When is the best time to hike the Alpe Adria Trail and the Juliana Trail?
In the summer (from June to early September), the weather is usually warm, with temperatures around 25–30 degrees Celsius (75–90 degrees Fahrenheit).
During the peak season (August), you can expect a heat wave with temperatures likely to exceed 35 degrees Celsius, as well as a significant drop in temperature in the mountains on a cloudy, windy, or rainy day.
Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit and a small towel. Lakes and rivers are perfect for a refreshing dip.
Book the Alpe Adria Trail and Juliana Trail
If you fill out the form below, we will forward it to our local partner in Slovenia. This means you’ll be booking direct with the local organization. We receive a small commission for this. The price remains the same for you.
Request a quote for the Alpe Adria Trail and Juliana Trail in Slovenia
When you request a quote, we’ll forward it to our local partner, who will confirm it directly with you if approved. We work with a highly reliable local travel agency that provides personalized assistance. You’ll pay the same price as if you booked directly; we receive a small commission. You’ll handle the rest of the booking and payment directly with the local provider, with whom we have a good working relationship and established agreements. We’re always available to answer any questions you may have.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
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Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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