Ljubljana

Lovely country, lovely people, exceeded expectations.

We found Slovenia particularly beautiful and especially the wildflower meadows of the Alpine area. The walk up the Vintgar Gorge was also impressive. The cable car at Lake Bohinj was a waste of time and money, with very limited views from the top. It was possibly a good place to start another walk. The Slovenians we met were always helpful, polite and tolerant of our lack of language skills. Slovenia also has, from our point of view, an impressive network of segregated cycle paths, even in Ljubljana.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers booked our Ljubljana City add-on after The Lakes & Julian Alps walk

The highlight was to see the sun when the walks were over and we got to Ljubljana!  It was 4 degrees C with snow every where when we arrived in Kranjska Gora, but it did warm up a bit although it remained dull and sometime wet.  But we had a lovely time and the walks and scenery were spectacular.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers enjoyed our Lakes and Julian Alps walking holiday followed by our Ljubljana City add-on.

All locations were lovely making a very special holiday. Wonderful scenery, good walking and helpful friendly people. Ljubljana was a joy especially as we were there for a music festival with free events throughout the weekend. We loved the food market on Friday morning and sampling the local wines on offer at stalls at the various locations in the centre. It was made more enjoyable as the centre is fully pedestrianised and museums are all in walking distance from the hotel.

The market in Ljubljana [Mr Young added a stay in Ljubljana to our walking holiday The Lakes & Julian Alps] was delightful with lots of fresh produce including flowers and an abundance of dried flower arrangements.  There was also a craft market on Saturdays in the old town.  We enjoyed a trip on the river, discovering the castle and buildings from different eras.
Highlights from our walks included wild flower meadows, glimpses of waterfalls as the paths wound through steep forests and the thunder of the water when we reached them, a pretty garden stop for our picnic lunch just beyond Godz Martuljek, tasting local honey and blueberry liquer and eating strudel at the mountain hut Koka v Krinici.

Would highly recommend Hotel Kotnik
Walks in Kranska Gora stunning
Although hotel in Lake Bohinj disappointing (you did point this out clearly in your information), it would be nice to spend longer in area as a lot to see there
Ljubljiana wonderful

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers extended their holiday by adding 3 nights at the Pension Slamic, Ljubljana after the Lakes & Julian Alps walking itinerary.

This was our thirteenth walking holiday with Inntravel and we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Slovenia during the last week of May 2018. It ranks up there with the best. The walking is great, with terrific views and although it is not overly demanding, there are enough uphill climbs to remind you that you are in serious walking country. The routes take in meadow paths, gravel tracks, minor tarmac roads, riverside walks and stretches of road through small, pretty villages. 

We generally did not see a lot of other hikers, but the people we met along the way were friendly and welcoming. The hotels were, for the most part, excellent and the staff went out of their way to be helpful. We had some amazing views from our rooms at each hotel. The Jezero has attracted unfavourable comments in some earlier reviews, but we found it to be fine. Members of staff, both at reception and in the restaurant, were friendly, welcoming and helpful. It is a large hotel, with a significant number of guests on “package” holidays and lots of Slovenian families with children, but this did not detract  from our pleasant stay.

The walking around Kranjska Gora was excellent, as was the walk across to Ribcev Lav. Kranjska Gora is a lovely ski resort and there were certainly enough people there in late-May to feel that it was a popular destination in the summer, as well as in the winter. We ate very good meals at Restaurant Lipa and the Skipass Hotel, both of which offer food which is of “fine dining” quality. In Ribcev Laz we had excellent food at the Foksener burger restaurant, just up the road from the hotel, with lovely views over the mountains from the outside patio. We thought the burgers were the best we had even eaten, as did the young American couple at the next table. 

We finished our holiday with a 2-day stay in Ljubljana, which we thoroughly enjoyed. There is lots to see and do in this small capital city and the outside dining, both in the pedestrian streets and along the riverfront offers a huge range of dining opportunities. We took a free afternoon walking tour on the day of our arrival, where the staff work for tips only. It was very good. We spent some 3 hours in the castle and really enjoyed our visit. On our last night we ate at JBs (world-renowned chef Janez Bratovz and top-rated both in Slovenia and world-wide), a short walk out of the city centre. The ambience, the service and of course the food, were all excellent, at sensible prices. Our best meal in Slovenia and the perfect way to end the holiday. 

We had a terrific trip. Loved Slovenia which is a beautiful country - mountains, fast-moving picturesque rivers, and beautiful hikes. We loved the places we stayed. We especially liked the hike from Italy over the mountain to Slovenia and learning more about the history and realizing we were in the place Hemmingway wrote in 'Farewell to Arms'. There was a variety of hiking options and on one occasion we were glad that they offered a taxi option for the last few miles. Best way to enjoy a vacation - nothing to worry about except walking through beautiful country in time for dinner.

Kranska Gora is a beautiful town nestled right below the Julian Alps. The hike up to the alpine restaurant was varied and lovely. Hard to judge the next location as we had some rainy weather. Bled was charming but very touristy. Ljubliana is a gorgeous city, very old, built along the river. We liked our first and last stops the best.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined the walking holiday The Lakes & Julian Alps with our Ljubljana City add-on

This was a fabulous walking holiday where the walks were so well thought out that every step was a photo opportunity and combined with perfect weather, was fautless. The countryside is incredibly beautiful and peaceful and the people friendly and welcoming and proud of their country.

The upgrade to Villa Bled was inspired. The hotel is quite atmospheric and the terrace for dinner and breakfast provides a fabulous view of the lake. Our room also had a balcony overlooking the lake so it was hard to tear ourselves away. The food was exceptional.  

For people watching and spending a happy hour with either good coffee or local wine, I don't think you can beat the little cafe on the waters edge at Mlino just to the left of the Pletna. The tables have an uninterrupted view of the lake and the Pletna Oarsmen are real characters, with the boats regularly filling up and disgorging parties of all nationalities. 

The Vintgar Gorge walk is a demanding finale to the trip - day 6, 28 degree heat and sore feet. At the end of the walk, for Vila Bled you turn right at the lake to return to the hotel. Opposite the spectator stand there is a wooden platform for sunbathing and swimming. Sit on it, take your shoes and socks off and plunge your feet in the water - pure bliss!

Ljubljana - on Sundays it seems to mostly close down where many of the street cafes / restaurants are closed during the day. A recommendation of the hotel, who booked the table for us, was the restaurant at Ljubljana Castle. We had a long and excellent lunch there followed by a very surreal walk in the town and Tivoli gardens where there was hardly anyone around. A huge contrast to the previous two days and nights. We were lucky to be there when there was a music festival so live bands, singers, orchestras and Argentine dancing could be found on street corners, the bridges and in the squares. Totally mad and thrilling.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers enjoyed our Lakes & Julian Alps walking holiday followed by a 2 night stay at the Allegro Hotel in Ljubljana.