Winter Hiking in Slovenia's Julian Alps
Snow-blanketed plateaus & forests, epic mountain peaks and ridgelines - hike hut to hut through a wild winter wonderland in Slovenia
Winter Hiking in Slovenia's Julian Alps
Snow-blanketed plateaus & forests, epic mountain peaks and ridgelines - hike hut to hut through a wild winter wonderland in Slovenia
3 nights
Slovenia
2 days off work
Dec—Mar
Up to 12 people
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Slovenia
Hotel · Mountain hut
Moderate
You’ll need to be reasonably fit and comfortable hiking for 5-6 hours a day. No previous snowshoeing experience is required.
Clip on your snowshoes for an epic hut-to-hut hike in one of Europe's most stunning mountainous corners (with plenty of snow-angel and panoramic-photo stops)
Stomp up 2000m high peaks and ramble along dramatic mountain ridgelines for sweeping 360-degree vistas of the Julian Alps
Keep warm and cosy in traditional Slovenian mountain huts, with bountiful hot tea, home cooked food and local schnapps
Included
Guides
Professional, English-speaking guides
Accommodation
1 night in a hotel in Pokljuka. 2 nights in a mountain hut
Meals
3 breakfasts, 2 dinners
Transfers
To and from the airport and everything in-between
Equipment
Snowshoes
Not Included
Flights to and from the meeting point
Travel insurance
Some meals as described
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Ljubljana Airport
Arrive anytime on day 1
Ends
Ljubljana Airport
Ends late afternoon in either Bled, Ljubljana centre or back at the the airport
Transfers
You'll be met at Ljubljana Airport and taken to the Hotel Jelka in Pokljuka, around an hour's drive away. You can also meet up with your host on Day 1 in Bled if you are already in Slovenia.
On Day 4 you can either be dropped off in Bled, Ljubljana city centre or at the airport. If you are flying on from Ljubljana on Day 4, we recommend you book any flight that departs after 7pm.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Ljubljana from major airports across the UK and Europe, with plenty of connection options for those heading to Slovenia from outside Europe.
Ljubljana and Bled are accessible by train via various routes across Europe. A popular and easy route from Western Europe is via Munich. You can travel by rail from there to Slovenia's capital, through beautiful Austrian scenery on daytime services or on a sleeper train from Munich-Ljubljana.
What about all the carbon?
We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.
Day 1
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Mountain hut · Mixed dorm
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Departure day
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
At Hotel Jelka you'll enjoy traditional Slovenian foods, such as soups made from the abundance of fresh mushrooms in Slovenia, sweet & sour crackling and cheese dumplings. Blueberries are another plentiful local produce. You may come across steak with blueberry sauce, blueberry cake and shots of 'borovnica' - homemade blueberry schnapps.
The mountain huts serve simple, hearty food including: meat or vegetable stew, goulash, sausage, ham and eggs, polenta, bread with honey, wine, beer, tea and coffee. You can purchase sandwiches and snacks at each hut to take with you for lunch while on the hikes, though we also recommend packing some of your favourite snack bars, dried fruit and nuts too.
Most food requirements can be accommodated, including vegan and vegetarian. The huts also list potential allergens in each dish, as well as serving some allergen-free options. Please let your host know your dietary requirements in advance.
What is the accommodation like?
Pokljuka
You’ll stay in twin-share rooms at Hotel Jelka, an alpine hotel nestled within Triglav National Park and surrounded by the Pokljuka Mountains. The hotel has modern facilities and saunas for you to enjoy before you head out to the more rustic cabin the following day.
Blejska mountain hut
The Blejska mountain hut is nestled amongst the spectacular scenery of the Julian Alps. The hut is basic but comfortable, with dormitory-style bunks, electricity, water, central heating and a small restaurant that serves a range of foods. Beds are equipped with pillows, sheets and blankets - however, you may wish to bring a sleeping bag liner for extra comfort.
Uskovnica alpine hut
Another remote and rustic retreat awaits you on the final night of the trip at Uskovnica, a beautiful alpine meadow dotted with traditional shepherds' huts. This alpine hut is another classic, rural Slovenian experience with traditional foods and a warm atmosphere. You'll stay in a mixed dorm.
Bedding is provided, however, you may wish to bring a sleeping bag liner for extra comfort.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, private rooms are available on night 1 at Hotel Jelka, subject to availability. See Optional Extras for more info.
It is not possible to have private accommodation in the mountain huts.
Day 1
Welcome to Slovenia
Meet your host in Ljubljana, hop in the van and head straight for the Julian Alps. After an hour or so of winding through stunning winter scenery, you'll arrive at Pokljuka, a small village nestled in a forested plateau beneath dramatic mountainous peaks. Check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day enjoying the fresh air and mountain views, or head out for a little warm-up hike to prepare you for the big hiking days ahead.
Day 2
Snowshoe to the summit of Debela Peč
Hiking
2hrs · 5km · 300m up · 50m down
Snowshoeing
3-4hrs · 7km · 400m up · 400m down
Grab a big breakfast at the hotel and set out on foot towards the first of your mountain hut retreats. After a couple of hours, spent hiking through forested valleys and gradually climbing higher into the National Park, you'll arrive at the Blejska mountain hut. Refuel here with some lunch before the big push this afternoon as you strap on the snowshoes and climb Debela Peč - your highest point of the adventure at 2014m. If the skies are clear you'll have 360-degree views across the Julian Alps, Mount Triglav and the forested valleys and plateaus below. A cosy evening awaits you back at the mountain hut - maybe brave a shot of the local schnapps to warm you back up.
Day 3
Hike to Uskovnica mountain hut
Snowshoeing
4-5hrs · 9km · 100m up · 500m down
Enjoy breakfast at the mountain hut before wrapping up and venturing out into the crisp winter air. It'll be another big day on the snow as you hike and snowshoe over to Uskovnica; a small village set in a picturesque alpine pasture. Today's route takes you deeper into Triglav National Park, offering up more scenery of the snowcapped jagged peaks of the Triglav range before entering densely forested areas and a gorge crossing at Ribnica. The final section towards the mountain hut at Uskovnica delivers another panorama of the Triglav mountain range, with the Bohinj and Tolmin Mountains in the distance.
Day 4
Hike to iconic Zajamniki, drive back to Ljubljana
Snowshoeing
3-4hrs · 10km · 200m up · 100m down
Bid farewell to Uskovnica mountain hut as you hike back down the valley towards one of this area's most iconic and 'grammable locations: the picturesque hillside village at Zajamniki. From here, you'll head down to Rudno Polje - hopefully have time for a quick celebratory beer at the ski lodge - before jumping back in the van for the drive back to Ljubliana. Your host can drop you at the airport, or in town if you are staying on longer in Slovenia.
Please Note
All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.
15% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.
What's included in the price?
- Snowshoes
- Poles
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- 1 main backpack suitable for hiking, 40-60 litres
- 1 smaller 30-litre backpack if leaving your main pack in Bled and doing the hike with a lighter load
Clothes
- Waterproof jacket and trousers (ideally windproof as well)
- Warm, synthetic or down jacket for winter
- Thermal top and bottoms (ideally woollen)
- A warm sweater or fleece jacket
- Wicking shirts and trousers (not cotton)
- Sturdy, worn-in hiking shoes
- 2 warm woollen hats; one for hiking, one for at the mountain huts
- 2 pairs of thermal gloves (ideally one pair waterproof)
- Several pairs of good, thick hiking socks
- Comfortable clothes and a change of shoes to relax in at the mountain huts
Other
- Sunglasses
- Universal travel plug adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel Insurance documents
- Earplugs
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (including blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Reusable water bottle x1 litre (two if you have room)
Optional
- Sleeping bag liner
- Thermos flask/bottle
- Biodegradable wet-wipes
- Energy bars and snacks
Snowshoeing is a type of hiking that uses a special type of footwear - a snowshoe - to spread your weight over a larger area to help you move easily across pristine powder snow-covered terrain. While today's snowshoes look modern, snowshoeing has actually played a vital role in mountain life for centuries, with traders and trappers using early wooden incarnations of snowshoes to move freely through the wilderness.
Snowshoeing is incredibly easy, comfortable, and safe. You simply clip your snowshoe to the outside of your hiking boot and off you go. You'll be in the hands of local, experienced, and trained mountain guides who know the area intimately and will guide you safely throughout the hike.
The hikes are of moderate difficulty, suitable for reasonably fit people who are happy hiking for up to 6 hours a day with regular stops. You will also need to carry your own pack each day, so keep that in mind when packing.
No previous snowshoeing experience is required.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Yes! Your host is based in the lakeside town of Bled, which you will pass through en route to the hike starting point in Pokljuka. Bled is a great place to spend a day or two on either side of the trip. Your host can arrange accommodation for you in Bled before or after the trip, please see the Optional Extras section for prices and to add to your booking.
The Julian Alps in winter will be cold, with heavy snowfall on most days throughout January and February - just what you came here for! Daytime average high temperatures hover around 1-2 degrees Celsius, while nighttime lows can be down to minus 8 degrees. You'll need to bring adequate winter clothing for the hikes and the mountain hut will keep you snug and warm during the evenings.
On your way from Ljubljana to the start point in Pokljuka on day 1, you'll pass by the town of Bled where your host is based. You can leave any extra luggage at your host's office here. Please remember to take another, smaller backpack with you to carry your gear for the adventure ahead.
We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.
We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
All of our group adventures are especially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded.
"I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I've ever been on!" Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that 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.
Transferrable Deposits
Cancel up to 31 days before departure and we'll transfer your deposit into credit for a future booking.
Free Date Changes
Free date changes up to 31 days before departure.
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