Hike and Kayak Slovenia in Winter

Although snowfall is common in this region from late December through March, it is never guaranteed – so it's possible that conditions may vary on each departure. All activities included in the trip can take place with or without snow, and they are equally enjoyable. Your guide may slightly alter the hiking routes and distance to offer the best and safest possible experience.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamed of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 60 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures and challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community and the environment.

The tap water in Slovenia is safe to drink. Please bring along your own reusable water bottle to fill up at the hotels to avoid buying single-use plastic bottles.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location, and lodging, and in some places, options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND Slovenian food reflects its position between the Alps, the Adriatic, and the Pannonian plain, with Austro-Hungarian, Italian, and Balkan influences shaping hearty, seasonal meals built around soups, stews, dairy, buckwheat, mushrooms, and cured meats.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. In Slovenia, there are plenty of delicious vegetarian-friendly options including staples such as štruklji (rolled dumplings, often filled with cottage cheese, tarragon, or walnuts), gobova juha (wild mushroom soup), and ajdovi žganci (buckwheat spoonbread/porridge that’s common in Alpine and farm cooking). Vegetarian plates often include grilled cheese with vegetables or vegetable pasta and pica. For something hearty, look out for jota, a bean-and-sauerkraut stew that can be made without meat, plus cheesy pastries like sirni burek. For sweet options, potica (rolled nut cake) and Prekmurska gibanica (layered pastry with cheese, poppy seed, walnuts, and fruit) are common favorites.

Vegan Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance, but you should expect fewer options and variety than you may be used to, especially outside Ljubljana in more rural areas where meals are traditionally built around meat and dairy. Vegan-friendly choices are becoming more commonplace however - look for prebranac (slow-baked beans with onions and paprika), simple vegetable stews, salads, and plenty of seasonal mushrooms and sauerkraut-based plates.

Kosher Fully certified kosher options are limited in Slovenia and are mainly found in larger cities such as Ljubljana. On this trip in more rural areas, kosher-supervised kitchens and ingredients may not be available, so vegetarian or vegan meals can be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above, and plan ahead with your guide.

Halal Slovenia is not a predominantly Muslim country so fully certified halal options are limited and are mainly found in larger cities such as Ljubljana. In more rural areas, halal-certified kitchens, meat, and supply chains may not be available so vegetarian or vegan meals can be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above, and plan ahead with your guide.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free Gluten-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However, options may be more limited compared to those without dietary requirements. While your local hosts will do their best, it’s worth knowing that gluten-free provision may vary in rural areas where it is harder to source specialist products and rural kitchens may be unable to guarantee no cross-contamination. Therefore, meals will more-often be based on naturally gluten-free dishes more often than specialist substitutes. That said, many standard meals already include several options without gluten, even without special preparation, including meats, potato dishes, rice, eggs, and salads. Please do consider bringing your favorite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure. Note: For Celiac Disease please be aware that no cross-contamination on this trip cannot be guaranteed & therefore this trip may not be suitable for you. Please see the Allergies section below.

Lactose Free Lactose-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Many traditional dishes are naturally lactose-free or can easily be prepared without dairy, such as vegetable dishes, cabbage/sauerkraut, rice and potato dishes, legumes, and salads.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy (including Celiac disease), please get in touch with our Customer team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip, and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority.

*Please note that when traveling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods, and labeling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The Julian Alps will be cold in winter, with snowfall common from late December through to March. Daytime average high temperatures hover around 34-36°F, while nighttime lows can be down to 18°F. You'll need to bring adequate winter clothing and warm layers for the hikes, but the hotels and guesthouses will keep you snug and warm during the evenings.

The Fusine Lakes area across the border in Italy is considered one of the coldest places in Italy with its own microclimate, and temperatures often plummet down to 5 or -5°F.

Please note that snow is never guaranteed on each departure, but winter hiking without snow will be equally as spectacular and enjoyable.