In the morning the guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Ljubljana or Bled and head northwest to the town of Kranjska Gora, where our hike begins. The starting point is located super close to the three-country border of Slovenia, Austria, and Italy. It boasts spectacular mountain backdrops wherever you look, but it’ll leave you breathless at the tiny green Jasna Lake. From the beginning, the trail is fairly flat and wide as you approach the Krnica valley and are surrounded by white limestone walls on some of the highest Slovenian peaks. As the trail becomes a bit steeper, we will reach the Russian chapel. It was built in remembrance of the Russian prisoners who built the road over the Vrsic mountain pass during World War One. As we walk the Russian road we’ll make a side trip to a jaw-dropping viewpoint to feel the dramatic yet warm embrace of the mountains. In the afternoon we reach our cosy mountain hut, where we’ll leave the Alpe Adria Trail stage and overnight.

Starting on a fresh morning, we will offer an extra hike: early risers can add a climb to a stunning peak above Vrsic Pass to enjoy the solitude and morning light over the Julian Alps. We will rejoin the rest of the group on Vrsic Pass and head down to nature’s paradise, Trenta Valley. This horseshoe-shaped valley used to be mined for iron ore. Yet today it is still a fine example of the most unspoiled countryside in Slovenia, where time stands still. The trails take us from the highest mountain pass in the Eastern Julian Alps through the foothills of Mt. Jalovec to Trenta Valley. After a long descent, you’ll reach your hut for the night. Just a few minutes walk away is the Soca Spring, the headwaters of the emerald Soca River. If you still have a high spirit and some strength in your legs, you can discover some hidden waterfalls and have a beer in one of the cutest alpine hotels in Slovenia. Actually, you can also stay there if you don’t mind spending 200 € per room and skipping the shared rooms of the mountain hut. Either way, you’ll love how the mountains change color as the stars come out at the end of the day.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Mountain hut in shared rooms 1/4, 1/6, and 1/10 and shared bathroom: Mountain hut

Today you’ll hike & bike the Soca Trail, taking in the most beautiful section along the 138km-long Soca River. You’ll absolutely love its verdant green landscape. All around you, water will sparkle in the sunshine, and you’ll have lots of chances to swim in turquoise ponds along the way. The lionhearted can jump into the Great Soca Gorge, the biggest canyon on the emerald river. The 750 m-long canyon is also home to the marble trout fish, which is endemic to Slovenia. You’ll find the fish mysterious, chilling in the freezing cold water. Yet they swim really well, as should you because, on the first jump in, you’ll want to rush out as never before. Stay in a little longer to become cold-blooded, too. You’ll walk mostly downhill along the Soca Valley until lunchtime. Later, we’ll hop on mountain bikes and ride a mix of gravel roads, forest paths, and asphalt back roads all the way to Bovec, the adventure capital of Slovenia. After reaching the town late afternoon, you can return to Bled or Ljubljana with your guide or spend a few extra days in Bovec for world-class outdoor adventures, such as rafting on the Soca, canyoning, kayaking, zip-lining, and more.

Meals: Breakfast