The Lakes & Julian Alps

Bled, Bohinj & the Sava Dolinka
 
Discover the beautiful lakes of Bled and Bohinj on this self-guided hotel-to-hotel walking holiday, with luggage transported. Stay in comfortable hotels set in traditional villages – as well as the historic Vila Bled – and explore some of Slovenia’s most iconic landscapes on foot.
The Lakes & Julian Alps. 7 nights
The Lakes & Julian Alps. 7 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Julian Alps

This walking route through Slovenia’s Gorenjska region leads you to discover some of the country’s most renowned landscapes, including Lake Bled, where tiny Bled Island is almost a national symbol, and the wilder beauty of dramatic Lake Bohinj. Enjoy the majestic backdrop formed by the jagged summits of the Julian Alps, including Triglav, the country’s highest mountain.
Though the landscapes are dramatic, our walks are relaxed and accessible to all of average fitness, with some delightful routes linking old villages where you will see traditional hayracks and colourful beehives and a pace of life that has hardly changed for centuries. You stay in comfortable apartments and hotels and, for a special end to your holiday, finish at the historic 4-star Vila Bled, which enjoys an idyllic position above the lake of the same name.
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The region has an Alpine climate, with cold winters and warm summers, though breezes can make it cooler in the mountains. The best time for flowers is usually May and early June.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 1 3 6 10 16 19 21 21 17 12 6 2
    mm 106 101 121 149 164 173 159 160 170 165 195 120
  • Arrival in Kranjska Gora
    Night 1: at Rožle House Apartments or Hotel Miklič (the first of three nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of walks from Kranjska Gora: 14.5km to 19km

    Circular walk from Kranjska Gora via Sava Dolinka Valley: 19km, 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 660m
    For your first day in Kranjska Gora, we suggest this circular walk through the Sava Dolinka Valley, which is framed by splendid mountains. You follow tranquil paths by the river – which has its source here and ends its journey in the Black Sea – eventually leading to a narrow gorge, before taking a gentle track back into town.

    Circular walk from Kranjska Gora via Koca v Krnici: 17.5km, 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 475m
    This second route follows an easy-going forest track south to reach the mountain hut of Koca v Krnici, where you can pause to take in the awe-inspiring scenery. Its setting is peaceful and isolated, and is framed by a fearsome and spectacular range of mountains. You return via an alpine road, stopping to admire a Russian chapel en route.

    Linear walk from Lake Fusine to Kranjska Gora: 14.5km, 5hrs; ascent 255m/descent 380m
    Shorter option: 6.5km, 2hrs
    This option starts with a taxi ride (pay locally) over the border to Italy's Lago di Fusine – actually two glacial lakes – which you circumnavigate before gradually descending to the border post at Rateče (where the shorter option begins, accessible by bus). The route then criss-crosses the Upper Sava valley framed by splendid mountains close to the tri-border with Italy and Austria and returns to Kranjska Gora via small rural villages.
    Circular walk from Kranjska Gora via Sava Dolinka Valley: 19km
    Circular walk from Kranjska Gora via Koca v Krnici: 17.5km
    Linear walk from Lake Fusine to Kranjska Gora: 14.5km
    Walking around Kranjska Gora
  • Kranjska Gora to Ribcev Laz: 15.5km, 4.5hrs; ascent 70m/descent 920m
    The day starts with a transfer to a high-altitude location in the mountains known as Rudno Polje, which is also a popular spot used by hikers and climbers to make the epic ascent of Mount Triglav. From here, you cross high, panoramic meadows before descending through woodland to the lower Bohinj Valley. Wandering through rustic villages surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside, you then continue along the shore of beautiful Lake Bohinj, the mightiest peaks of the Julian Alps mirrored in the calm waters. Your hotel for the next two nights is the Hotel Jezero in Ribcev Laz, or you can choose to upgrade to the Hotel Majerca (or Hotel Bohinj, if this is full).
    Kranjska Gora to Ribcev Laz: 15.5km
    Lake Bohinj
  • Choice of walks from Ribcev Laz: 13.5km to 14.5km

    Circular walk via Slap Savica: 13.5km, 4.5hrs; ascent 340m/descent 360m
    The shorter of the two options leads you to the dramatic nearby waterfall of Slap Savica, one of Slovenia’s famous sights, with a 60-metre drop.

    Circular walk via Mostnica Gorge: 14.5km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 340m
    There is also a longer route to the Mostnica Gorge, known for its erosion potholes, a natural bridge and numerous waterfalls.
    Circular walk via Slap Savica: 13.5km
    Circular walk via Mostnica Gorge: 14.5km
  • Ribcev Laz to Bled: 12km*, 4hrs; ascent 400m/descent 385m
    Today's walk starts with a transfer, after which you criss-cross the River Sava Bohinjka, passing through woodland and farmland (across which are scattered numerous handsome farmhouses), to the Ribno Plateau, where you are greeted by a sweeping panorama of Lake Bled and the surrounding mountains. Descend from here via the picturesque village of Milno to your hotel. (*The route is 12km to Vila Bled, but 13km to Vila Preseren and 15km to Hotel Triglav.)
    Ribcev Laz to Bled: 12km
    Lake Bled
  • Choice of walks from Bled: 11.5km or 16.5km*

     

    Circular walk via Vintgar Gorge: 16.5km*, 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 380m
    For your final day we recommend the long but scenic walk to the Vintgar Gorge (for which a small entrance fee is payable), which takes you along the shores of scenic Lake Bled initially then on a gentle country trail and through villages to the gorge. Here, a series of boardwalks and bridges lead you spectacularly downstream along the entire length of the gorge. Ascend a wooded trail to another excellent viewpoint before descending through a string of small villages. Visit panoramic Bled Castle, then descend back to the lakeshore. (*The route is 13.5km from Hotel Triglav and Vila Preseren.)

    Linear walk via Radovljica: 11.5km*, 3.5hrs; ascent 195m/descent 170m
    Another option for your day here is to wander across the surrounding countryside to reach the delightful town of Radovljica for a spot of lunch and sightseeing, before returning by bus (pay locally). (*The route is 15.5km from Hotel Triglav and 13.5km from Vila Preseren.)

    Around Lake Bled
    Alternatively, you may well prefer to spend your last day relaxing by the lake and enjoying the memorable setting, perhaps hiring a boat to row across the lake to ring the ‘wishing bell’ on the island!

    Circular walk via Vintgar Gorge: 16.5km
    Linear walk via Radovljica: 11.5km
 

Accommodation

Your comfortable apartments and hotels are all set in traditional villages and offer high standards of service. Please note the star ratings are official Slovene ratings and may not correspond exactly to British star ratings.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

To make your holiday all the more special, opt for our upgrade hotels in Ribcev Laz. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.

We recommend additional nights in both Ribcev Laz and Bled to relax and enjoy extra walking.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.

Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.
  • 7 nights: 01 May 2024 - 15 October 2024 & 01 May 2025 - 15 October 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 15 May 2024 £1130 £285
    16 May - 30 Jun 2024 £1255 £290
    1 Jul - 31 Aug 2024 £1305 £315
    1 - 30 Sep 2024 £1240 £285
    1 - 8 Oct 2024 £1130 £265
    1 - 15 May 2025 £1180 £300
    16 May - 30 Jun 2025 £1310 £305
    1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 £1360 £330
    1 - 30 Sep 2025 £1290 £300
    1 - 8 Oct 2025 £1180 £280
    3rd & 4th person discount -£100 to -£104
    Single traveller supplement £100 to £104

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • 7 nights, staying at Hotel Majerca: 01 May 2024 - 15 October 2024 & 01 May 2025 - 15 October 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 15 May 2024 £1570 £580
    16 - 25 May 2024 £1590 £580
    26 May - 30 Jun 2024 £1640 £585
    1 Jul - 25 Aug 2024 £1695 £630
    26 Aug - 23 Sep 2024 £1640 £585
    24 - 30 Sep 2024 £1590 £580
    1 - 8 Oct 2024 £1570 £580
    1 - 15 May 2025 £1635 £605
    16 - 25 May 2025 £1655 £605
    26 May - 30 Jun 2025 £1710 £610
    1 Jul - 25 Aug 2025 £1765 £660
    26 Aug - 23 Sep 2025 £1710 £610
    24 - 30 Sep 2025 £1655 £605
    1 - 8 Oct 2025 £1635 £605
    3rd & 4th person discount -£94 to -£98
    Single traveller supplement £94 to £98

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Vila Bled, Bled
    Suite with lake view: 01 May - 15 Oct 2024 £54
    Suite with lake view: 01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £56

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Rozle House Apartments, Kranjska Gora (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 09 Jul 2024 £79 £98
    10 Jul - 20 Aug 2024 £88 £108
    21 Aug - 15 Oct 2024 £79 £98
    01 May - 09 Jul 2025 £82 £102
    10 Jul - 20 Aug 2025 £92 £113
    21 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £82 £102
    Hotel Jezero, Ribčev Laz (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 03 Jul 2024 £84 £141
    04 Jul - 23 Aug 2024 £97 £174
    24 Aug - 11 Oct 2024 £84 £141
    12 Oct - 15 Oct 2024 £64 £99
    01 May - 03 Jul 2025 £87 £146
    04 Jul - 23 Aug 2025 £101 £181
    24 Aug - 11 Oct 2025 £87 £146
    12 Oct - 15 Oct 2025 £67 £103
    Vila Bled, Bled (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 15 Oct 2024 £155 £265
    01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £165 £279
  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Vila Bled, Bled
    Suite with lake view: 01 May - 15 Oct 2024 £54
    Suite with lake view: 01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £56

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Rozle House Apartments, Kranjska Gora (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 09 Jul 2024 £79 £98
    10 Jul - 20 Aug 2024 £88 £108
    21 Aug - 15 Oct 2024 £79 £98
    01 May - 09 Jul 2025 £82 £102
    10 Jul - 20 Aug 2025 £92 £113
    21 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £82 £102
    Hotel Majerca, Bohinjsko Jezero (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 15 Oct 2024 £117 £231
    01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £122 £241
    Vila Bled, Bled (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 15 Oct 2024 £155 £265
    01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £165 £279
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Ljubljana
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Ljubjlana. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Ljubljana easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Ljubljana British Airways 
    Heathrow - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Ljubljana (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Ljubljana Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Ljubljana (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Manchester - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Ljubljana (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Ljubljana (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Manchester - Ljubljana (via Zurich) Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Ljubljana (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Newcastle - Ljubljana (via Heathrow) British Airways 
    Newcastle - Ljubljana (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Ljubjlana. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Ljubljana

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi airport to hotel (1h) £68-£71 1500
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to airport (0h45) £55-£57 flexible
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 1 dinner
    1 picnic
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • transfers on days 3 & 5
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Slovenia, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Slovene, although Italian is spoken by many people along the border with Italy. The currency is the Euro. Slovenian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 4/18/2024 9:43:02 AM

currency iplookup:

cookie value: null

querystring value: null