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Classic Slovenia – 5 nights

  • 6 Night Route

    Price: from £1030
  • 5 Night Route

    Price: from £925
  • 4 Night Route

    Price: from £830

The Karst - culture and landscape

Back to Routes
The Ferrari Gardens, Stanjel

The Ferrari Gardens, Stanjel

Ljubljanica River, Ljubljana

Ljubljanica River, Ljubljana

Ljubljana's Triple Bridge

Ljubljana's Triple Bridge

First walk towards Predjama

First walk towards Predjama

Walking to Sezana

Walking to Sezana

Walking towards Nanos

Walking towards Nanos

Climbing from Goce

Climbing from Goce

Skocjan caves

Skocjan caves

Green meadows and distant hills

Green meadows and distant hills

Lipizzaner horses

Lipizzaner horses

Trieste

Trieste

Trieste waterfront

Trieste waterfront

Vipava

Vipava

Trieste by night

Trieste by night

Vineyard (Margaret Soraya Photography)

Vineyard (Margaret Soraya Photography)

  • 6 Night Route

    Price: from £1030
  • 5 Night Route

    Price: from £925
  • 4 Night Route

    Price: from £830
Price: from £925
Nights: 5
Grade:
Walk: 3¾ - 5 hr/day

I contacted [local contact Miha] first a week or so before the holiday. We found him very very helpful. He strongly advised us not to try the walks on the 2nd day as there was a severe rain and wind warning for the area. He arranged a wonderful wine tasting instead.

Bron & Margaret, UK - September 2024

Everything was wonderful! The country landscape is stunning. The people were welcoming, kind and fun. The accommodations were beyond exceptional.

Ruth, USA - September 2024

It was our first time doing a family walking holiday but were short on time, needing a mix of walking and a few days doing other things, the holiday went very well. Route was great and places to stop were overall very good and above expectation. The [local contact] was excellent and very informative along the journey to the drop off.

Denise, UK - September 2024

Superb office staff! Professional, friendly, prompt, responsive service! Accommodating & so eager to help! If only every business had OFH employees! Liked most: hiking through pear, apple & plum orchards, olive groves & vineyards & seeing WWI & II memorials in every town. Also, enjoyed walking past cows, sheep, goats, horses & donkeys along the way. Liked the idea of a self-guided hike with OFH handling heavy lifting (lodging arrangements, providing route & itinerary, moving our bags daily) & exploring an unknown area (for us).

Karen, USA - September 2024

Our holiday was tailored to our requirements and included a day of the Slovenian Highlands walk. Communication was excellent throughout, even though we dealt with different people. Really easy to contact by telephone. Great customer service. Slovenia was a new country for me and one which I understood to be good for walking and very scenic. It seems less popular and populated than some other countries. We looked around for a self-guided holiday as we had done one before and my sister had used On Foot previously.

Amanda, UK - June 2024

For us it was the flexible options in your tours, and the fact that the flexibility was obvious from your website.. We requested lots of special changes, shortening options, etc. And then of course we asked for potentially even more last-minute changes after an injury, and you guys were always flexible and friendly. Great service.

Debra, USA - June 2024

It was a great holiday. The amount of walking was really well-judged and I loved being able to do specific things along the journey (like Predjama Castle or Skocjan Caves) which made it feel varied and interesting.

Jamie, UK - May 2024

Miha was fantastic, knowledgeable, easy to WhatsApp with when we had questions. Hosts were great, especially Luka at Hisa Posebne Sorte and Matthais at Hudecevec.

Scott & Allison, USA - May 2024

The route was beautiful and the people we interacted with at every stop were very friendly & accommodating. I was surprised that almost everyone we met (including waitstaff and merchants) in Slovenia spoke excellent English. The OFH app worked extremely well and gave us great confidence in navigating the route. But most importantly, the route was loaded with amazing scenery and the 'side trips' to visit castles in Ljubljana and Predjama were fun.

Lee & Jennifer, USA - May 2024

Everything went so smoothly, and everyone associated with OFH was fabulous. Hard to pick the highlights as it was all pretty amazing. We really appreciated the quality of the hotels/guest houses - they were all so clean and welcoming after a day walking. The route was very varied from day to day, and the GPS app was a huge help too. Not sure how the holiday could be improved, really - we loved it. Special mention to the frog chorus on the final day, in the old ice wells.

Louise, UK - May 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. We wanted to try a different company and are glad we did! On Foot is the best holiday company of the several we have used in past for walking holidays. Accommodation as expected and good to have a variety.

Linda, UK - May 2024

About Tourist Farm Hudicevec: "The family who owns the accommodation is very friendly and interesting. We chatted with several family members. Also, the food that mostly comes from their farm was delicious."

Vladimir & Nadya, USA - September 2023

We thought the information provided was excellent and gave us confidence that the holiday was going to be great! We wanted something special for our honeymoon, and we found it!

Julian, UK - August 2023

We had a great time. Highlights - walks were beautiful, peaceful and your ratings were spot on; Vipava meal (Gostlina Podfarovz); friendly and high quality staff and service in good/excellent accommodation.

Robert, UK - July 2023

Thanks for the planning and arrangements - everything went wonderfully and we had an absolutely brilliant time. We loved Slovenia - and the walks and the accommodation and food were all exactly as promised. The GPS was particularly useful but the personal notes were also great and we appreciated meeting Miha who was full of insights.

We now have a new appreciation of an area we didn’t know at all - and a real taste for prsut, honey and teran wine!

Anon - April 2023

We wanted to go walking in Europe but without the bother of sorting it all out ourselves especially in a country we were unfamiliar with. Even though I now know that the vast majority of Slovenians have excellent English, I'm still glad we booked the whole thing through you as you made everything so easy and relaxing.

Alison, UK - September 2022

More independent feedback
A self-guided walking holiday in Slovenia (5 night) with On Foot Holidays

At a glance

5 nights (4 days walking) - missing Vipava. Add extra nights in Ljubljana or Trieste, and in Tomaj for extra walking, Lipizzaner horses and cave visit. See 'Prices' tab for what's included.
Suggested route pairing: Slovenian Highlands, Southern Tuscany, Lake Maggiore

How much walking?

Full days: 11-16km per day, 3¾ - 5hrs walking
Using shortening options: 11-16km per day, 3½-5 hrs (using lifts) (two days shortened)

Max. Grade:

Prsut, Teran wine and disappearing rivers

The “Kras”, or Karst, in the west of this tiny country, is an area of woodlands, meadows and unspoilt villages with an ever-present backdrop of mountains. Its extraordinary geological phenomena include vast cave systems and rivers that vanish into cliffs and, en route to your first day’s walk, a disappearing lake. The rock is mother also to some fine vineyards producing the unique Teran wine, a ferocious red to be drunk as accompaniment to the local prosciutto (“Prsut”). After a first night in the pretty Slovenian capital Ljubljana, you stay in farms that produce their own wine, hams and honey, and grow all manner of fruit. You end your holiday in the lively Italian seaport of Trieste and, with extra nights, can visit the original Lipizzaner stud (small supplement) or part of the extraordinary Skocjan cave system, both on foot or by mountain bike (this way you can potentially see both!).

Walked by On Foot staff: Simon, Debbie, Fi and Harriet

Consider pairing this route with Slovenian Highlands (max 5 hrs by train),  Southern Tuscany (6½ hrs by train, recommended overnight stop at Venice or Florence) or Lake Maggiore (7 hrs by train, recommended overnight stop at Venice, Verona or Milan) – for more details click here.

REVIEWS: For independent walker reviews submitted to the Association of Independent Tour Operators visit Aito.com.

ARTICLES: Read an article about On Foot’s holiday in Slovenia from Your Time Magazine here.

TRAVEL ADVICE: To find the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for UK citizens travelling to Slovenia, click here. Citizens of other nations will also find it useful, but should always check their appropriate local agency.

Route Highlights

  • Green Europe at its most beguiling
  • Stay on working farms and eat delicious produce
  • Prsut (prosciutto) and Teran wine
  • The hilltop settlement of Stanjel
  • Predjama Castle
  • The disappearing lake and rivers
  • Optional visits to the Skocjan Caves or the Lipizzaner horses
  • Trieste and Ljubljana and the Hapsburg legacy

This route features the following characteristics and interests: Villages and farms, Drive to route, Food, Wine

Things you should know

  • Excellent, locally sourced/produced food is a highlight of this route, although vegetarians may tire of herb omelettes and vegans will struggle.
  • There are almost no cafes and shops en-route on this essentially rural walk. Picnics are included most days, but stock up on snacks when you get the chance!

We Recommend

Extra nights in Tomaj for walk to the Skocan caves or Lippizaner stud, or hire mountain bikes to see either or both, or just to have a relaxing day exploring other parts of the region (include lunch at pretty Pliskovica). Good bikes and maps provided, and Sasha, our local bike provider, would be happy to take you on a guided ride too (supplement) to take in some good places to eat...!

VENICE: This route can be efficiently combined with a trip to Venice at the start (see "How to get there").

Eating and Drinking

As you progress into the Karst proper, the Mediterranean influences become more pronounced with herbs, olive oil and Prsut important elements of the cuisine in contrast to the heartier stews and mushroom soups further east in the route.  Wines in the east are Malvasia (white) and Cabernet Sauvignon (red) based, while nearing Trieste you can not escape the unique Teran either in meat-based dishes or to drink.

How much Walking?

Full days: 11-16km per day, 3¾ - 5hrs walking
Using shortening options: 11-16km per day, 3½-5 hrs (using lifts) (two days shortened)

Well-marked paths, no steep sections. Highest point on route: 750m.

Easy-medium: Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 431m (225m-670m) per day.

Acrophobia/vertigo warnings: None.

On Foot Holidays Companion app available from 2025, for GPS navigation/mapping and all other documentation and advice. Separate GPX files for your own device also available.

Important note: Times given for each day are  walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops.  “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb.  See “Walk Grading” for more information.

When to go?

The best months to walk: April, May, June, September, October

Other possible months: July, August

Late spring, with its profusion of wild flowers and butterflies, is an ideal time to walk through this gentle Slovenian countryside. July and August can be quite warm, but as September arrives, so the countryside is bathed in autumnal light and whilst the days become shorter, walkers can enjoy the fruits (and drink) of the Slovenian harvest in the evenings.

Do consider a two night stay in Sepulje – there are walking options on the second day (to see the Lippizaner horses or the Skocjan Caves – see the ‘itinerary’ tab).

Start Dates

Recommended
Possible
Unavailable

Weather Chart

 

Temperature and rainfall chart for Slovenia

Itinerary

About the Route

Day 1 - Arrive in Ljubljana

Arrive in Ljubljana and, having checked in to your hotel, promenade along the river of this pretty Slovene capital.

Day 2 - Landol to Hudicevec

After a lift from Ljubljana, you will walk through lovely meadows and sleepy villages via the restored castle of Predjama (drawbridge, secret tunnels, disappearing river and all). (Medium: 5 hrs walking (allow 6¾ hrs), 15 km (9½ miles), CUSs 400m). Alternative – start at Predjama Castle then walk to Hudicevec (easy-medium: 3½ hrs walking (allow 4¾ hrs), 12 km (7½ miles), CUS 370m)

Day 3 - Loze to Kodreti

A lift from your hosts to the walk’s start point at Loze (or earlier if you prefer).

Over the ridge to the Karst via lovely meadow and woodland walking to little Kodreti and our beautifully situated B&B with its excellent kitchen. (Medium: 3 hrs walking (allow 4 hrs), 11 km (7 miles), CUSs 550m)

Day 4 - Kodreti to Tomaj

Onto the wooded Karst proper, via the hill village of Stanjel with its castle museum and iconic church tower, to the small settlement of Sepulje and a popular Guesthouse with excellent kitchen. (Easy-medium 4½ hrs walking (allow 5¾ hrs), 15 km (9½ miles, CUSs 390m)

Alternative: Lift with the luggage (pre-arrange; supplement possible) to below Stanjel (save 1 hr / 5 kms)

Option

Have an extra night in Sepulje, and ...

EITHER taxi to Lipica and a walk on to the famed Skocjan Caves (Easy: 3½ hrs walking (allow 4¾ hrs plus time for tour), 12 km (7½ miles), CUSs 50m); taxi back (both taxis payable locally);

OR on the right day (Sundays only in April, Fridays and Sundays May to October), the Lipizzaner horses.  If you're aiming for a tour of the stud farm, then a taxi there in time for the horses being released at the start of the day, a visit to the stud farm, and then a  gentle walk back via Sezana with its botanical gardens.  However, if your dates coincide with a Presentation day, then it's a walk to Lipica (start early to arrive on time for a presentation of the Classical Riding School at 3pm - book direct on the Lipica website), and a taxi back to your accommodation afterwards (Easy: 4 hrs walking (allow 5¼ hrs plus time for tour/presentation), 15 km (9½ miles), CUSs 160m). All taxis payable locally.

Hire mountain or e- bikes to do both in one day! from around £25 pp, plus pick-up to/from Lipica or Skocjan at end if required (supplement). We provide a GPS track with five potential itineraries.

The options above all require pre-booking at least 30 days in advance of your holiday, so the final alternative is to have a free day and perhaps do a local there-and-back to nearby Tomaj.

Day 5 - Tomaj to Trieste

Head off for your high point today, the tower on the hill that is Repentabor – and your final experience of the karst before you descend gradually towards the coast and Trieste from Opicina. (Easy: 5½ hrs walking (allow 7¼ hrs), 21 km (13 miles), CUSs 430m)

Alternative: Walk to Opicina and catch a bus to the centre of Trieste (3¾ hrs walking (allow 5 hrs), 15 km (9¼ miles), CUSs 430m)

Departure day

Depart hotel (or choose to stay further nights)

Travel Information

ARRIVING BY TRAIN

Nearest railway station:
Start: Ljubljana.  If coming from Italy, get as far as Trieste, then bus to Ljubljana.
Finish: Trieste (5-10 mins walk) or Ljubljana (7 mins walk if staying in standard hotel)

Sample journey by rail:
Via Frankfurt: Frankfurt to Munich, Munich to Ljubljana ~10 hrs
Trieste to Frankfurt: Trieste to Verona, then Verona to Munich, Munich to Frankfurt ~13 hrs

We suggest thetrainline.com for times, ticket booking and other information.

ARRIVING BY CAR

Park in the village of Tomaj or Sepulje. Taxi back (supplement) to your first night; taxi back from Trieste (supplement) to Tomaj/Sepulje at the end.

ARRIVING BY AIR

The best ‘local’ airports are Ljubljana (inbound), and Trieste (return). Intercontinental flights may use Venice – also Frankfurt, Vienna and Paris – then change onto another flight to Ljubljana.

Land by (Ljubljana): any time (as your first night is in Ljubljana and the transfer into the city an easy one).

Land by (Trieste): 16:00 for bus transfer to Ljubljana.

Return flight earliest (Trieste): No time limit.

Return flight earliest (Ljubljana): 13:30 (bus Trieste/Ljubljana, then shuttle service from the station to Ljubljana airport).

Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines’ websites or Skyscanner (see below) before finalising any booking with us. Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you.

For up-to-date schedules and flights from all airports check Skyscanner.

 

Getting to the start of the walk

The first hotel is in Ljubljana and the last in Trieste. Transfer times and methods are suggested for the outward journey from Ljubljana airport and the return journey to Trieste airport, the best combination. If flying into Trieste or out from Ljubljana, you will need to transfer between the two by public transport.

LJUBLJANA AIRPORT:

Shuttle bus (or taxi off the airport rank) direct to your Ljubljana hotel (or bus/train station).  For larger groups, tuamv.com offers a good service to the town (and returning from Trieste).

TRIESTE AIRPORT:

Airport bus or local taxi between airport and bus/train station

VENICE:  This route can be efficiently combined with a trip to Venice at the start.  From Venice, train to Trieste, then bus to Ljubljana.  Returning, train from Trieste to Venice Mestre then shuttle to airport.

Train/bus station transfers:

Ljubljana station is a 7-minute walk from our standard hotel, or a 20-minute walk/5 minute taxi ride from our alternative.

Trieste train and bus stations are a short walk from your final hotel.

Full transfer advice, including timetables, is provided in your Walkers’ Pack.  Contact us if you would like additional pre-booking information.

Where You'll Stay

Sandwiched between stays in carefully chosen city hotels, you’ll experience simple accommodation sometimes at working farms on this route, with delicious home-cooked food and home-produced food and wine (which the owners will be proud to talk about!).

Ljubljana – Pension Slamic (B&B)

Night 1

Ljubljana – Pension Slamic (B&B)

Charming, family-run pension with lively cafe-bar and weekly jazz.

Ljubljana – Lesar Hotel Angel (B&B)

Night 1 (Upgrade)

Ljubljana – Lesar Hotel Angel (B&B)

Stylish small hotel in old town.

Hudicevec – Emilijan and Katya Simcic (dinner, B&B)

Night 2

Hudicevec – Emilijan and Katya Simcic (dinner, B&B)

Katya and Emilijan welcome you to their excellent Slovene cooking and Alpine-style farmhouse (near busy main road).

Kodreti – Hisa posebne Sorte (dinner, B&B)

Night 3

Kodreti – Hisa posebne Sorte (dinner, B&B)

Charming accommodation with excellent kitchen, on edge of small village at junction of the karst region and the Vipava valley.

Sepulje – Guesthouse Sajna (dinner, B&B)

Night 4

Sepulje – Guesthouse Sajna (dinner, B&B)

A traditional Karst stone building. Friendly service and an excellent kitchen.

Trieste – Hotel Coppe (B&B)

Night 5

Trieste – Hotel Coppe (B&B)

Modern-style interior to old family-run hotel, conveniently situated.

Prices

Price: from £925 for 5 nights

Total 5 nights in double/twin room, all breakfasts, 3 picnics, 3 evening meals, transfer from Ljubljana to start of first walk, luggage transfers between all hotels on walking route; full Walkers Pack with route directions, maps, transfer and background information; local telephone support. Locally levied tourist taxes are not included.

Also included: On Foot Holidays Companion app (from 2025), providing navigation/mapping and digital version of the Walkers’ Pack as above. Separate GPX files for your own device also available. If choosing to walk with app only (no printed materials): Discount of £40 per pack (based on one pack per room) from 2025.

All prices are per person unless otherwise indicated, and are based on a standard booking in May. Prices may vary seasonally and a fixed price will be given to you before you commit.

Single Room Supplement (SRS): From £185
Lone Traveller Additional Supplement (LTAS): From £190
Large Party Saving (LPS): Groups of more than 2 people (on an identical itinerary, on the same booking and booked at the same time) –  discount of at least £40 per person
Maximum party size: 8

 

Add Ons

For further nights in any hotel: Contact On Foot Holidays
Bike hire from Sepulje: From £20 per mountain bike/£40 per e-bike per day plus delivery and pickups (pre-book)
Extra half board night in Sepulje to enable visit to Lipica or the caves, mountain bike hire, or just a day of relaxation: Adds from around £78 per person; £22 single supplement
Sending Walkers Packs to addresses outside the UK:  £20-£60 (per pack, location dependent)

Reserve your dates Add to shortlist
Miha Kramberger

Our local team

Miha Kramberger

Miha is a native of Ljubljana, and is happy to have found his "dream job" in tourism. He is proud that he gets to share the beautiful countryside of Slovenia with visitors, and is an enthusiastic traveller himself, as well as a keen sportsman.

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