A unique opportunity to join our guided walking week in the Julian Alps of Slovenia for only £600 per person. June 30th to July 7th, 2018.

Kendal Mountaineering Services is offering you the opportunity to join us on this unique trip to sample the delights of Slovenia and in particular, the beautiful Julian Alps, with Limestone peaks soaring to almost 3000 metres between wooded valleys containing turquoise rivers teeming with Marble Trout.

 

We will be based at the chalet in the photo which is set in the pretty village of Kal Koritnica nestling in the Bovec Basin under the mountain of Svinjac. Bovec is an area well known for its pristine beauty, it's history and for the many outdoor activities that can be undertaken on your mid-week day off.

 

 

 

The chalet is built on 3 levels. The ground floor has a reception area and washroom with sink toilet & shower. The first floor is open plan and has a spacious lounge area with wood fire, a TV/DVD Player where you can watch a selection of videos, a balcony where you can enjoy a drink in the sun whilst taking in the surrounding views; and a comprehensive kitchen/dining area where up to eight persons can be seated at once.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms - two double rooms with outside balconies/seats and two twin rooms. Also on this floor are a bathroom comprising of a bath/shower and sink; and also a separate toilet room.

We can accommodate, two couples; and four single persons, therefore, the group size is a maximum of eight persons. A minimum group size of six persons is required to run this trip at a cost of £600 per person for the week. We now have four persons and have decided that we will be running this week. Only four places remain so don't dally - get booked on before they all disappear!

 

 

 

 

 

So what does £600.00 buy you? Please note - flights from the UK to Marco Polo Airport, Venice are your own responsibility. From there to the chalet, we provide the transfer and also the return to the airport the following Saturday. You will be transported to each day's walk start point and collected at the end. A continental breakfast comprising fruit juices, freshly made tea & coffee, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, freshly baked bread, jam & butter is provided each day along with a packed lunch. Bread and lunch items are freshly made for you each day by our host - Matt.

Evening meals are at your own expense; a budget of 35 Euros per day should be sufficient for you to buy a two course evening meal with drinks at the local bar & restaurant in Kal Koritnica or we can pay a visit to one of several good restaurants in Bovec. If you wish to self cater, you are welcome to use the kitchen at the chalet to prepare your own food bought from the supermarket in Bovec town.

 

 

Bovec is a beautiful town nestling in a wide valley in the Julian Alps very close to the border with eastern Italy. 

 

This photograh shows the town centre, with Svinjac (1653 metres) widely regarded as the "Matterhorn of Bovec" in the distance. Svinjac, can be climbed by fit persons, in an afternoon, from the chalet.

The town is well resourced with all amenities banks/ATM's, bars, restaurants, street cafes, a supermarket and all manner of shops selling local goods. There is a good bakery; and the local ice cream is just divine! The town is also a hub for local activity providers. If you love the outdoors, but also enjoy the good life, then you'll really enjoy everything that Bovec has to offer!

 

 

 

The itinerary for your guided walking week is broadly as follows; but can be subject to change!

Day One Arrive at Marco Polo by mid-day on Saturday the 24th of June. Transfer to the chalet (about a two hour drive) with a fresh lunch provided by Matt en route. Arrive and settle in at the chalet followed by a walk to; and alongside the nearby Soca River before driving into Bovec for evening meal. Read about last year's arrival day here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day two, Sunday. Arise by 07:30. Breakfast between then and 08:30. Depart on walk from chalet.

Typically on day two, we will walk over the shoulder of Celo, visiting en route, the old battlements of the Izonzo Front before continuing on along the lower Koritnica Valley amidst stunning Alpine Scenery to visit further fortifications at Kluze and Herman before climbing the wooded slopes of Rombon for around 300 metres.

This walk then traverses north along the slopes of Rombon towards Bovec where we aim to arrive no later than around 5pm. The views all around the Bovec basin are very pretty. Total distance walked is around 10 km. Read the report about this day here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Four, Tuesday. This day will see us head into one of a number of valleys in the area. Ideally, we will want to get you up reasonably high so that you can get a real feel for the truly alpine environment that exists here. Of course this depends on the weather, as being amongst high mountains the weather can make it's own plans irrespective of what the regional forecast might be.

Due to previous weather and mountain conditions encountered in the month of May, we have moved the trip forward a month; as last year, the weather and snow accumulations at higher levels caused us to modify our plans on day four.

We had a great day out in the Koritnica Valley on this Tuesday; and you can read about that here, but this was a relatively low level day and we want to take you higher into these mountains if possible! In June and July, the weather will be warmer and more settled, but be prepared to drink plenty of water and bring sunscreen with you! Temperatures in the valley could be at least 30 degrees centigrade during the day!

 

 

 

 

 

On Day five,Wednesday, it's a day off walking in the mountains to allow you to go and sample all else that the area has to offer.

You make just want to take it easy, have a lie in and then get up and walk into Bovec via the river to soak up some of the towns charm and European culture and enjoy a coffee or lunch; or you may want to try some of the "other activities" offered by local providers in Bovec. On our day off we all chose to try out the exhilarating Zip-wire course in the nearby Ucja Valley in the morning and then a few of us went tandem paragliding in the afternoon. 

Other activities in the area include

• Rafting, Kayaking and Hydrospeed
• Canyoning, Rock Climbing and Caving
• Fishing, Mountain Biking.

During the final few days of your Guided Walking in The Julian Alps of Slovenia we intend to take you higher into the mountains to experience the the true Alpine feeling of this region. Typically, on Thursday we will drive to the top of the Vrsic Pass (1611 metres/5285 feet) at the tree-line and after a visit to the nearby viewpoint above the pass, we will begin a descent into the Trenta Valley travelling first northwards towards the very head of the valley - the Zadjna Trenta.

This photo is taken from the summit of Vrsic - the hill with the viewpoint located just above the pass and about 170 metres higher looking north to the Trenta Valley with a carpet of Alpine Gentians on the ground. Just beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

During this day, there should be excellent views of some of The Julian Alps highest peaks all around us such as Prisojnik (2547 m/8356 ft), Bavski Grintavec (2347 m/5249 ft) and Jalovec (2645 m/8678 ft) and as we continue northwards, the summit of Triglav (2864 m/9369 ft) - the highest mountain in The Julian Alps come also into view.

Its worth bearing in mind that as we start some 1200 metres (almost 4000 feet!) higher that at Bovec, it may be as little as 10 degrees C on this day - so bring warm clothing as well as your waterproofs!

 

 

 

 

 

Our route eventually descends through woodland to the valley floor and we continue on past Izvir Soca where there is an opportunity to indulge yourself with a well earned bottle of Lasko (the national Lager of Slovenia) before continuing a further 4 km to Trenta where we will be collected by Matt. Total distance on this day is likely to around 12 km with a descent of around 1000 m/3280 ft) Read more about day six of your Guided Walking Holiday in Slovenia here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As with the previous day, out final day of walking (Friday) in The Julian Alps will be aimed as getting you as high as possible amongst the really big mountains as a "grand finale" and a good progression from the easier walks earlier in the week.

Our walk will most likely start and finish in the Trenta area. On our last trip, we walked in towards Triglav and then turned north up a narrow valley under a tremendous Limestone wall (where we saw Ibex) as we climbed upwards towards our high point - the col at Cez Dol (1632 m/5353 ft).

From The Cez Dol, we have a fantastic view in both directions - back towards the summit of Triglav towering over the head of the valley (as seen in this photo) and also north along the south side of the ridge bounding the Soca Valley.

Our descent is through a beautiful meadow and then on steeply down through forests back to Trenta where the local co-operative can supply you with another well earned beer and ice cream. Read about our final day in The Julian Alps here.

Our last night will be spent in a restaurant in the locality or in Bovec celebrating the achievements of the week before one rises early on the Saturday morning for Matt to transfer you the two hours back to Marco Polo Airport near Venice.

Our Guided Walking Holidays in Slovenia give you a unique opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery the area has to offer whilst in the care of an English Guide and chalet owner with unrivalled knowledge of all that the area has to offer.

You need to be of a reasonable standard of physical fitness to get the most from this trip and a keen hill-walker with your own good quality outdoor clothing, footwear and rucksack.

Any questions about this trip? Do not hesitate to ask.....
We are now taking bookings for our next visit and hope you can join us. Contact us here to book your place on our next Guided Walking Holiday in The Julian Alps of Slovenia. We look forward to working with you!