Walk Slovenia's Soča Valley

Beauty & history in north-western Slovenia
 

Holiday Highlights

Poignant past | Discover the region’s First World War history, which inspired A Farewell to Arms.
Clear waters | Marvel at the crystalline waters of one of Europe’s most enchanting rivers.
Eat like a local | Enjoy excellent regional cuisine at locally renowned restaurants.
Sense of journey | Make your way from Mediterranean to Alpine landscapes.
Price from
£1335pp
Walk Slovenia's Soča Valley. 7 nights
Price from
£1335pp
Walk Slovenia's Soča Valley. 7 nights
Price from
£1335pp
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Soča Valley

Breathtaking views of the Julian Alps await on this self-guided walking holiday, with luggage transfers included. Explore pretty towns and villages, stay in welcoming hotels and admire the ever-changing landscapes – which bear witness to the fascinating role the area played in World War I.
It’s impossible not to be transfixed by the River Soča – the startlingly clear, emerald-green wonder that keeps its course through the deep-cut gorges and densely forested hillsides of north-western Slovenia. To lift your gaze from its banks, however, is to be richly rewarded – with views of plummeting waterfalls, vivid green mountain pastures and the mighty Julian Alps.

There’s plenty of time to take in this spectacular scenery as you wend your way through the valley, passing from its Mediterranean south to the Alpine landscapes farther north – a journey that is enriched by the region’s welcoming hotels and acclaimed cuisine, as well as by its fascinating First World War history.
 
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 0 1 4 8 13 16 19 18 16 11 5 0
    mm 92 88 104 135 137 154 148 155 147 137 168 102
  • Arrival in Kobarid
    Night 1: at Hotel Hvala (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Circular walk from Kobarid: 5km, 3-5hrs
    Today’s short but delightful walk explores Kobarid and the area immediately surrounding this well-preserved Italianate village, which boasts a number of important historical and natural attractions. The marked historical trail (which will take at least half a day, including stops) takes in a Napoleonic bridge, an Italian charnel house, the beautiful Soča Gorge and the cascades at Kozjak – one of Slovenia’s most picturesque waterfalls. It also visits the award-winning World War I Museum (pay locally) which explores western Slovenia’s central role in the First World War – the region was home to the Isonzo Front, scene of numerous clashes between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces and the backdrop to Hemingway’s semi-autobiographical novel, A Farewell to Arms. NB we are unable to provide an elevation profile for this route.
    Discover Kobarid's rich history and leafy surrounds
  • Kobarid to Bovec: 16.5km, 5.5hrs; ascent 395m/descent 270m
    The day starts with a short transfer to the beginning of a very picturesque walk that follows the course of the Soča, revealing idyllic river scenery. You criss-cross the river and rise gently to enter peaceful woods and meadows, passing through quaint villages as you approach your destination of Bovec, a popular centre for all kinds of outdoor activities. This walk can be lengthened to 23.5km, by walking door-to-door rather than taking the transfer.
    In Bovec, your two-night base is the 4-star Dobra Vila.
     
    En route to Bovec
    Kobarid to Bovec: 16.5km
  • Choice of walks from Bovec: 9km to 15.5km

    Circular walk via Kluže: 13km, 4.5hrs, ascent/descent 440m
    Perhaps our favourite option is this pleasant circular route through pastures and secluded river valleys, passing the mighty fortress of Kluže, situated above a wild gorge. From here, you cross meadows to a confluence of rivers, then follow the Soča downstream back to Bovec.

    Linear walk via the Lepena Valley: 15.5km, 5hrs, ascent 290m/descent 255m
    The second option is a pleasant linear walk upstream along the fast-flowing Soča River, and into the Triglav National Park, where you branch south into the remote Lepena Valley. This is backed by a range of impressive peaks, where you follow shady and silent paths alongside mountain streams and cascades. Return by taxi (pay locally).

    Circular walk via Plužna: 9km, 3hrs, ascent/descent 270m
    The shortest option leads to Plužna, a charming village situated on the sunny side of the Kanin mountains. Nearby is the source of River Gljuna and its waterfall, which is a lovely place to linger. You return via a small man-made lake and through attractive woods and meadows.
    Explore the Alpine pastures around Bovec
    Circular walk via Kluže: 13km
    Linear walk via the Lepena Valley: 15.5km
    Circular walk via Plužna: 9km
  • Bovec to Kranjska Gora: 9.5km, 3hrs; ascent 180m/descent 215m
    Today brings a marked shift in scenery, as you are transferred to the village of Ratece, on the Slovenian-Italian border, to begin your onward walk to Kranjska Gora. So close to Austria, the landscapes are now distinctly Alpine, with towering mountains and traditional villages. The route is easy-going, criss-crossing the Sava Dolinka Valley and passing through the Zelenci Nature Reserve before arriving in Kranjska Gora for three nights at the Rožle House Apartments or Hotel Miklič.

    It is possible to extend today’s route by requesting to be dropped off over the border in Italy, at the postcard-perfect glacial lakes of Fusine, though it’s worth bearing in mind that these can be very busy – especially in high season and at weekends.
    Kranjska Gora
    Bovec to Kranjska Gora: 9.5km
  • Choice of walks from Kranjska Gora: 17.5km or 19km

    Circular walk from Kranjska Gora via Sava Dolinka Valley: 19km, 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 660m
    Our first suggested route is a circular walk through the wide 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 Koča v Krnici: 17.5km, 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 475m
    Alternatively, follow an easy-going forest track south to reach the wonderfully isolated mountain hut of Koča v Krnici, framed by a fearsome and spectacular range of mountains. You return via the Vršič Pass on a road built by Russian prisoners of war, and pass the Russian chapel erected to commemorate them. It’s the perfect place to pause a while, and reflect on the turbulent history of a now serene corner of Slovenia.
    Tranquil trails radiate out from Kranjska Gora
    Via the Sava Dolinka Valley: 19km
    Via Koča v Krnici: 17.5km
 

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 Kranjska Gora, 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.
 

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.
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  • 7 nights: 01 May 2025 - 15 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 12 May 2025 £1345 £280
    13 - 21 May 2025 £1395 £295
    22 May - 7 Jul 2025 £1430 £295
    8 Jul - 21 Aug 2025 £1455 £300
    22 Aug - 30 Sep 2025 £1370 £295
    1 - 8 Oct 2025 £1335 £280
    3rd & 4th person discount -£60
    Single traveller supplement £65

    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.

    Deduct £72pp in 2023 or £79pp in 2024 if staying in Kobarid on a Monday (restaurant closed).

    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)

    Dobra Vila, Bovec
    Superior: 01 May - 31 May 2025 £14
    Superior: 01 Jun - 30 Sep 2025 £38
    Superior: 01 Oct - 15 Oct 2025 £14
    Superior with balcony: 01 May - 31 May 2025 £21
    Superior with balcony: 01 Jun - 30 Sep 2025 £61
    Superior with balcony: 01 Oct - 15 Oct 2025 £21

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

    Hvala Hotel, Kobarid (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £195 £220
    Dobra Vila, Bovec (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 15 Oct 2025 £130 £254
    Rozle House Apartments, Kranjska Gora (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 09 Jul 2025 £82 £102
    10 Jul - 20 Aug 2025 £92 £113
    21 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £82 £102
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Ljubljana, Trieste or Venice
    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 Venice. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Venice (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Aberdeen - Venice Marco Polo (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Venice Marco Polo easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Ljubljana (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Birmingham - Trieste (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Venice (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Birmingham - Venice (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Venice Marco Polo Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Venice Marco Polo Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Venice Marco Polo easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Edinburgh - Ljubljana (via Zurich) Swiss 
    Edinburgh - Trieste (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Venice Marco Polo easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Venice Marco Polo (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Venice Marco Polo easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Venice Marco Polo (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Venice Marco Polo British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Ljubljana easyJet 
    Gatwick - Venice Marco Polo British Airways,  easyJet,  TUI,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Ljubljana British Airways 
    Heathrow - Ljubljana (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Ljubljana (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Trieste (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Trieste (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Trieste (via Rome Fiumicino) Alitalia 
    Heathrow - Venice Marco Polo British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Ljubljana Wizz Air 
    Luton - Venice Marco Polo easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Trieste Ryanair 
    Stansted - Venice Marco Polo Ryanair 
    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 
    Manchester - Venice Ryanair,  Wizz Air 
    Manchester - Venice Marco Polo easyJet,  jet2,  TUI 
    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 
    Newcastle - Trieste (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Newcastle - Venice Marco Polo (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Venice Marco Polo (via Amsterdam) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Venice. 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.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    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 Ljubljana airport to hotel (2h) £92 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Ljubljana airport (1h) £71 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Trieste

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    ail Trieste airport to Udine (0h35), taxi Udine to hotel (0h50) £61 1800
    taxi Trieste airport to hotel (1h15) £76 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Tarvisio Boscoverde station (0h15), rail Tarvisio Boscoverde to Trieste airport (2h05) £64 1100
    taxi hotel to Trieste airport (1h45) £135 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Venice Marco Polo

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    taxi Venice Marco Polo airport to hotel (2h) £150 flexible
    rail Venice Mestre to Udine (2h), taxi Udine to hotel (0h50) £73 1800
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Venice Marco Polo airport (2h15) £195 flexible
    taxi hotel to Tarvisio Boscoverde station (0h15), rail Tarvisio Boscoverde to Venice Mestre (3h15) £69 1700
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    1 picnic
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • transfers on days 2 & 4
 
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.
  • 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.
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