Stuart Forster outlines reasons to go hiking in Slovenia, highlighting some of the best trails for trekking in the central European country.
Disclosure: Some links below and banners are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Trekking in Slovenia
After touching down in Ljubljana, you might be tempted to hire a car, board a train or travel by bus. However, one of the most rewarding ways of exploring Slovenia is on foot, going hiking in Slovenia.
Trekking gives you the quietude and time to appreciate the chirp of birdsong and the relaxing sound of foliage whispering and rustling as it sways.
Slovenia occupies just 20,151 square kilometres of Europe’s landmass. But if you take the percentage of ground covered by woodland as the measurement for ranking the continent’s most forested nations, then it is third. Remarkably, around 58 per cent of Slovenia is covered by forest. Only Sweden and Finland have more.
Woodland and conservation zones
In addition to being one of Europe’s greenest nations, roughly 36 per cent of the country’s surface falls within the boundaries of conservation zones and nature protection areas. They form part of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network.
One of the strategic aims of Natura 2000 is to conserve the continent’s natural habitats and wildlife. Inevitably, trekking provides opportunities to catch glimpses of animals and birdlife and to form impressions of the project’s impact.
The country has more than 7,000 kilometres of marked walking trails. Within Slovenia’s borders, you’ll have opportunities to trek through Alpine meadows, alongside the shores of lakes and approximately 27,000 kilometres of waterways, on rugged uplands and by the country’s 46.6 kilometres of Adriatic coastline.
Two European long-distance footpaths
Two of the twelve European long-distance footpaths created by the European Hiking Federation intersect the country. Experienced trekkers need around 30 days to follow the 600-kilometre (373-mile) course of footpath E7 within Slovenia. That’s just a fraction of the transnational trail connecting El Hierro in Spain and Novi Sad in Serbia.
Long-distance footpath E7 crosses Slovenia between Robič, on the Italian border, and Hodoš, by the frontier with Hungary. Approaching Hodoš will take you through rolling vineyards and onto a 418-metre (1,371-feet) high hilltop in the Nature Park Goričko, giving views into neighbouring Austria and Hungary. These are some of the best Slovenian hiking trails, and why walking in Slovenia is a fantastic experience.
The highest point on the trail is (5,892 ft), 1,632 metres above sea level. The peak offers views of the Julian Alps and, in clear conditions, the sea. The region witnessed heavy fighting during World War Two, so has points of interest for aficionados of military history.
Peace allows wildlife to flourish. Chamois live on the slopes. Above, you may see golden eagles soaring gracefully on the thermals as they watch for prey.
Walking from Finland to Greece
The other long-distance footpath, the E6, cuts 6,300 kilometres (3,915 miles) across the continent on a north-south axis, between Finland and Greece. The trail runs for 350 kilometres (217 miles) within Slovenia.
From Radelj, on the border with Austria, it takes around 20 days to reach the coast at Strunjan, by the elegant coastal town of Portorose, once a destination favoured by the well-to-do of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The path encompasses the Pohorje Mountains and Posavje Hills, meaning a trek on Mount Snežnik, whose peak reaches 1,796 metres (5,892 ft) above sea level.
If you enjoy mountain scenery, pack your boots and head to Triglav National Park, which covers an area of 838 square kilometres (323.5 square miles). It became a conservation area in 1924 and remains Slovenia’s only national park. This area can give you some of the best hiking trails in Slovenia.
The three-peaked mountain that gives the park its name features on the country’s flag. Peaking at 2,864 metres (9,395 ft) above sea level, Mount Triglav is Slovenia’s highest mountain.
Mount Triglav and the Vrata Valley
Mountain huts provide refuge for those making an ascent to the peak, an exercise that normally requires a couple of days’ effort. Walking along the Vrata Valley provides views of the Peričnik Waterfall, where water first tumbles 16 metres (52 feet) before dropping a further 52 metres (170 feet).
The area is popular with photographers and planning a trip in autumn means avoiding the steady stream of summer visitors. If water sports are your thing, plan to spend time at nearby Lake Bohinj, the country’s largest glacial lake.
European Destinations of Excellence
Walking here places you close to the Soča Valley, which in 2008 became the first of Slovenia’s five European Destinations of Excellence, known by the idyllic-sounding acronym EDEN. The scenic area is crisscrossed by trails revealing the horrors of conflict during World War One, including the Walk of Peace.
Kluže Fortress, built by the Austrians in the late 19th century, hosts exhibitions about the history of the fortifications and the ecology of the region.
If you enjoy outdoor activities, then canyoning and kayaking are among the reasons to take off your boots. So too is Slovenia’s seasonal trout fishing.
Hiking and Slovenian cuisine
Hiking, of course, burns calories and Slovenians are proud of their cuisine. In 1799, the first Slovenian cookbook was published and a memorial to the author, Valentin Vodnik, stands at Ljubljana’s central market. Refuelling is essential but dining is also a means of tasting local produce. Freshwater fish plus Tomlin and Bovec cheeses are among the delicacies of the Soča Valley.
Map of Slovenia
Zoom into the map of Slovenia below to locate points of interest mentioned in this blog post:
Accommodation in Slovenia
Locate and book hotels in Ljubljana and elsewhere in Slovenia using the map below:
Books about hiking in Slovenia
Planning on going hiking in Slovenia? You can purchase the following maps and books from Amazon:
The Cicerone guidebook to Hiking Slovenia’s Juliana Trail.
Cicerone’s guidebook to Walking the Julian Alps of Slovenia.
The Bradt Guide to Slovenia.
Further information
Find out more about the country and its attractions on the Visit Slovenia website.
Photos were supplied courtesy of www.slovenia.info. The photographer of the headline image is Ana Pogacar.
If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for the free Go Eat Do newsletter. It’s a hassle-free way of getting links to posts once a month.
‘Like’ the Go Eat Do Facebook page to see more photos and content and check out the Pinterest page for more travel inspiration.
A version of this post was originally published on Go Eat Do on 17 January 2016.
