Hike and Wild Swim in Slovenia's Julian Alps

Outdoor swimming in Slovenia’s lakes and rivers is a popular activity for both locals and visitors, with the tourist board actively promoting it as a way to enjoy nature and monitor water quality in various locations. On this trip, you’ll have the chance to visit several lakes in the afternoons after your hikes, a perfect way to cool off and unwind in stunning surroundings. Your guide will take you to each lake, where you’ll usually have a couple of hours to relax, enjoy a picnic, and take a dip if you fancy. Swimming is entirely optional and intended as a refreshing cool-down, rather than a guided open-water swim where you're expected to cover a specific distance. Your guide will remain on the shore, and these wild swim spots do not have lifeguards or other supervision, so please don’t swim out of your depth or beyond your comfort level. Water temperatures in summer can reach a pleasant 19–25°C, but this can vary with the season and weather - always test the water before jumping in. As these are natural spots with limited facilities, we recommend bringing a large towel or robe for changing.

In the event of bad or extreme weather, your guides will suggest a suitable alternative hike or activity or adjustment to the itinerary to adequately manage any risk whilst ensuring you still have a wonderful experience.

You'll have one guide for up to 8 people, with a driver handling hotel transfers. For groups over 8, a second guide will join on longer hikes, and for groups over 10, you'll have two guides every day.

Excess luggage can be left in the hotel and is available each evening. Luggage will be transported between the hotels you are staying in.

Tap water throughout this trip is drinkable. You'll also come across a few mountain springs during the hikes. We recommend bringing two 1L water bottles so you're able to carry sufficient water on the hikes.

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 accommodation, 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 on 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 is 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 favourites.

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 that 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 favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure. Note: For Coeliac 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 Coeliac 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 travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling 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 are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

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 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.

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 are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers 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. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

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.

From May to October, the Julian Alps offer ideal conditions for hiking. May and June bring mild temperatures (10–20°C) and blooming alpine meadows, with cooler mornings and occasional rain showers. July and August are warm and sunny (25–30°C), perfect for getting up high in the mountains, though afternoon thunderstorms can occur. September offers crisp air, fewer crowds, and stunning autumn colours, while October is cooler and may bring early snow at higher elevations. Layers and waterproof gear are essential for changing mountain conditions.

Please note that the itinerary and hikes may be adjusted or changed due to weather conditions. Your local host may switch the order of days or modify hikes and activities when necessary, to ensure the safety and well-being of the group.