Hiking

The Julian Alps are a uniquely beautiful mountain range. Created from the purest limestone, the massive peaks compete with and push each other towards the clouds. The deep valleys carved between them are both picturesque and convenient, especially for travelers who like to observe the jagged cliffs from the comfort of their vehicles. In the Central part of the European Alps, one can only glimpse at such vistas after sever hours of hiking – however here in the Julian section, it is possible to be rewarded with the most spectacular scenery even after a relatively short hike. There are many quiet, secluded trails to explore where the solitude will only be interrupted by the occasional animal visitor and perhaps a First World War ghost inhabiting one of the many ruins from this period.

The Peace Trail

Bovec and surrounding valleys was the site of some of the most prominent battles of World War I – known by historians as the Soca Front. Time has healed the wounds caused by apocalyptic thunder and what remains are the silent witnesses; the buildings, fortresses, ditches and caverns. This violent heritage demands reflection and with this in mind we have designed a hiking tour in cooperation with the Peace Trail Foundation. The Peace Trail will take us from the Village of Log Pod Mangartom to Mengor above the township of Tolmin. The hike is divided into 5 sections, which connect local war museums with the timeless beauty of the mountains. We are able to guide you through this trail in sections, or tackle it end-to-end in which case we will need to overnight in private accommodation and at the mountain hut of Kuhinja.

Military Trail - Čelo

Route: Bovec – Ravelnik – Čelo – Jablanca – Vodenca - Bovec

Duration: up to 4 hours

Elevation: m

Degree of Difficulty: Easy

We depart from Bovec past the gothic church of the Virgin Mary across the fields towards Ravelnik. Here we will look at an open air museum situated upon the only hill in the middle of the Bovec valley; this was the first line of attack for the Austro Hungarian army. From here we will descend towards the river Koritnica, over its bridge and on to the foothills of Mount Svinjak – a place known as Čelo. Here we will observe the locations of the Austrian canons and peacefully enjoy the view of the valley and mountains that surround us. This is followed by a descent towards the river Koritnica, which we will cross via a suspended bridge – located at the confluence of the Koritnica and Soca Rivers. From here a slight uphill climb will return us back to Bovec.

Ethnology (Cultural) Trails

We offer a variety of hikes that will take you deep into the ethnic and cultural history of the Alps. During these walks, we will meet with the footprints of our elders, as we visit their abandoned homesteads and sheep stations among the rocky outcrops. These will remind us of the toughness of a bygone era, where man and nature lived in harmony – a trait that is becoming increasingly cherished with time. Respectively: the abandoned village of Lemovje, perched on the sun kissed foothills of majestic Bavški Grintavec, above the village of Soča, the beautiful Zapotok above Zadnja Trenta, the stations of Krnica, Golobar and Duplje near the Krn lakes – as well as the Margart region with its own sheep station.

Ethno (Cultural) Trail - Lemovlje

Trail: Soča Village – Lemovje – Soca Village

Duration: up to 4 hours including transportation time

Elevation:  466 m

Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

This round trip to the plateau of Lemovje begins at the village of Soca. Soca is located 10 miles north of Bovec. Before we start our walk, we will stop at the tiny village church, which was painted during the Second World War by Slovenia’s famous artist, Tone Kralj. At the outskirts of the village we will begin climbing the steep hillside, which will lead us to the sunny meadows at the foothills of Mount Grintavec. The scattered, abandoned homesteads tell the silent story of people that have moved away. We will sit here and rest and will focus on the lives of those that left this world forever. We will return via a slightly different trail to the bridge of Brvca, where we will look at a traditional Trenta house as well as take in the dancing colors of the first channel of the Soca River.

Protected Climbing Route: Via Ferrata

Trail: Bivouac Nogara – Saddle – Slovenian route – Mangart (2679 m)

Duration: up to 8 hours, including transportation

Elevation: m

Degree of Difficulty: Very Difficult

The most difficult and also most interesting part of the Via Ferrata trail is a 150m vertical section, located on the Italian side. The name Via Ferrata originates in the Dolomites, where during World War 1 they used iron pins and ropes to secure military supply routes to the tallest peaks. This 150m section is airy, but well protected and enables climbers’ continuous belay options for each pitch with all necessary safety equipment. The iron pins or ferratas are used as safety anchors only. Climbing is done only on the rock face. The highly dense  rock is stable and secure and not conducive to injuries. From the picturesque saddle, the Slovenian route will take us to the top of the third tallest of the Slovenia mountains.

Due to the degree of difficulty this tour is limited to 2 climbers per guide. All safety equipment, including harnesses and helmets are available for rent.

Customized hiking tours

We are ready to be of service! If you are seeking an adventurous or perhaps a leisurely day, we can customize a hike to suit your needs and experience. Open to any suggestions or requests we will gladly collaborate to design a memorable hiking experience for you.