Slovenian Mountain Trail

The Karavanke Mountains are a natural border between Slovenia and Austria, This section is known for its spectacular, iconic views, offering stunning panoramas of the Julian Alps, including Slovenia's highest peak, Mount Triglav. The trail also provides beautiful vistas of the lush Sava River valley below and the rugged Kamnik-Savinja Alps to the east, making it a highlight of this historic European trail.

🟢 Trailhead (Start Point): Tržič

🚌 Access: Bus from Bled, transfer at Lesce or Naklo

🔴 Trail End (Finish Point): Mojstrana Dovje

🚌 Access: Bus from Mojstrana Dovje, transfer at Lesce or Naklo

Base: Bled

Day one of the Karawanks section of the SPP, a fantastic hike from Tržič to Koča na Dobrča. The trail was a beautiful warm-up, but the real excitement begins in day 2 as we push higher and into the true alpine sections of the range.

On a side note, the journey took an unexpected turn as I became the one-night housekeeper for the hut! With the regular housekeeper hospitalised, I had the rare and quiet experience of being completely alone for the night. A truly unique memory to kick off this trip.

Day 2 from Koča na Dobrča to Roblekov dom na Begunjščici through a day of mist. What was suggested as a 5-hour hike turned into almost 6 hours as a whiteout set in along the ridge, making it incredibly difficult to find the trail markers. It was a challenging situation, but with a good map and a lot of instinct, I managed to navigate my way through.

Day 3 of the SPP Karavanke range, from Roblekov dom na Begunjščici to Planinski dom na Zelenici was a challenging one. What was supposed to be a 1.5-hour journey took me almost 2 hours. The mist and wet rocks needed extra caution, and I took my time to safely navigate the more demanding sections.

** Note that the standard route from Roblekov dom na Begunjščici to Prešernova koča na Stolu takes about 5 hours. Due to an unfavorable weather forecast for the following day, the hike was instead divided into two shorter stages. This adjustment allowed the ridge walk along the Austrian border to be reserved for a clear-weather day, when views are at their best.

A relatively short and easy day 4 from Planinski dom na Zelenici to Prešernova koča na Stolu. I couldn't resist a detour on the higher trails to grab a better view of the mountain range. I was incredibly fortunate that it only started raining and sleeting a few minutes after I safely reached the mountain hut.

Met a few other hikers heading the same way, and it was great to share stories from the trail. It's a good reminder that even on a solo journey, you're never truly alone out here.

My perfect day 5 started with waking up to a truly picturesque sunrise. After several days of challenging weather, the hike from Prešernova koča na Stolu to Koča na Golici was pure bliss. The skies were clear, offering up a truly amazing show of the Julian Alps and the king of them all, Mount Triglav.

The highlight of the day was walking right along the border, with Slovenia on one side and Austria on the other. It was an unforgettable experience to literally peep over into another country from the trail. A well-earned day of breathtaking scenery.

Day 6 and the final day started with a dramatic sunrise over the mountains, but the real jolt came while hiking along the Austrian border. I got an electric shock from a wire fence, which was a shocking (and memorable) way to cap off a truly wild journey! Made my way down to Aljažev dom v Vratih, the mountain hut at the entrance to the Vrata Valley. Staying here instead of a hostel in Mojstrana felt like the perfect alpine ending to an incredible Edventure.