Reisebericht: Wandern in den julischen Alpen & im wilden Soča

Arrival at Lake Bled

When we arrive in Bled, unfortunately, the weather isn't quite on our side yet. So we make the most of it and relax in the hotel's pool, which offers a beautiful view of the lake and the castle. Luckily, the rain eases off by the evening, giving us the chance to stroll through Bled and try out one of the many restaurants.

Three colorful wooden Pletna boats moored on Lake Bled at sunset. Bled Castle sits atop a forested cliff in the background.

Triglav National Park at Its Best

The next day brings sunshine and a transfer to Kranjska Gora and Lake Jasna. From there, we set off on our first hiking stage towards the Vršič Pass. Of course, we can't resist lingering at the lake for a while. Its stunning setting, surrounded by an impressive mountain panorama, is simply breathtaking. The trail starts with a gentle climb and repeatedly rewards us with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. The route isn't particularly difficult, and with a few shortcuts along the way, we even manage to make it all the way to the Vršič Pass with our daughter.

Once we reach the top, she's more than earned a proper treat at the mountain hut. After such an effort, the hot cocoa and apple strudel naturally taste twice as good! Then it's time to start the descent. It's quite a long way down, so we decide to skip the detour to the source of the Soča River to make sure we don't arrive too late for our transfer to Bovec. Our taxi is already waiting for us in Trenta, and we're more than happy to finally give our tired hiking legs a well deserved rest.

Two hikers standing at Lake Jasna shore with wooden boathouse, surrounded by forested mountains and dramatic clouds in the Julian Alps.

Hiker in pink jacket walking through alpine meadow with purple wildflowers. Rocky peaks of Julian Alps and coniferous forest in background.

Crystal-clear Lake Jasna with emerald green water reflecting mountains and forests. Dense coniferous forests surround the lake in the Julian Alps.

Hiker on mountain trail near Vršič Pass in Julian Alps with rocky peak Bavha. Path winds through green alpine meadows with pine trees.

Two hikers crossing a wooden footbridge over a rocky stream in a forest. One wears a blue backpack, the other a pink top.

The Soča: Our Companion for the Next Few Days

The fantastic weather doesn't let us down the next day either! Our taxi from the day before takes us back to Trenta, where the next hiking stage begins. First, of course, we have to try out the playground in Trenta before setting off. This route follows the Soča at a leisurely pace and offers stunning views of the river and the surrounding mountains. We especially love the moss covered forests, the wobbly suspension bridges and, of course, the beautiful Soča itself. Swimming in the mountain river is a little too cold for us, but dipping our feet in is wonderfully refreshing. We finish this stage at the large Soča troughs and take the hop on hop off bus from there, as we don't want to push our daughter too hard. We spend the evening relaxing in Bovec, a lively town known for its outdoor sports.

Turquoise Soča River flowing through narrow rocky gorge surrounded by lush green forest with Julian Alps mountains in the background.

Two hikers sitting on a stone wall in Trenta, Soča Valley. Green meadows and forested mountains of the Julian Alps rise in the background.

Female hiker walking on rocky forest path in Trenta, Soča Valley. Tall pine trees line the trail with Julian Alps mountains visible in background.

Hiker with backpack and girl in pink cap standing on wooden bridge, looking down at crystal-clear turquoise Soča River in the Julian Alps.

Two hikers wading in the crystal-clear turquoise Soča River in the Julian Alps. Large white rocks in shallow water, pebble beach and forest.

A Challenging Day with Incredible Views

And it turns out to have been the right decision, as today's stage is a real challenge. It isn't particularly demanding in terms of elevation, but it is very, very long! At the beginning, we take the Alpe Adria Trail route. However, I wouldn't recommend this section in rainy weather, as part of the trail runs through what is essentially a dried up riverbed. Apart from that, the trail through the fields and forests is lovely to walk. Naturally, we also stop at the first highlight of the route, the Virje Waterfall. And I have to say, it is absolutely beautiful! We would have happily stayed longer, but we still have quite a bit ahead of us today. Soon after the waterfall, we reach the Soča, which becomes our faithful companion for the rest of the day.

We also take a look at the second waterfall from the viewing platform, but unfortunately there isn't much water flowing, so it isn't quite as spectacular as we had hoped. The trail continues along the Soča on easy paths, where we can watch numerous rafting groups making their way down the river. Following a recommendation from our product manager Rey and his favourite spot, we take a break for a swim. And I have to say, after a dip in the Soča, you feel like you've just discovered the fountain of youth! We certainly need that boost of energy for the rest of the route. The trail once again turns into a beautiful narrow path with several ascents and descents before we finally reach the Napoleon Bridge in Kobarid. We have reached our destination for the day. Kobarid is a beautiful and picturesque town that I would definitely love to visit again.

Two hikers with backpacks viewing the turquoise Soča River from Trnovo viewpoint in the Julian Alps, surrounded by rocky riverbed and forest.

Turquoise Soča River flowing through a wide gravel bed in the Julian Alps valley, surrounded by green forests and mountains under blue sky.

Stone arch bridge spanning a narrow gorge with turquoise Soča River below, surrounded by lush green vegetation and Julian Alps mountains.

Virje Waterfall in Soča Valley cascading over moss-covered rocks into a clear turquoise pool, surrounded by lush forest and rocky terrain.

Two hikers with backpacks on rocky forest trail with wooden steps in the Julian Alps, Soča Valley. Sunlight filters through green canopy.

Woman with pink cap and braids overlooking Plužna Reservoir in Soča Valley. Clear turquoise water reflects mountains and sky.

Pokljuka Plateau Under a Moody Sky

Unfortunately, the weather has taken a turn today, so we decide to shorten the first part of the route by taking the bus. We take the bus to Koprivnik and from there walk through beautiful forests filled with mushrooms, gradually making our way up to the Pokljuka Plateau. On our way to the hotel, we pass lush alpine meadows dotted with charming holiday cottages. We also come across a raised bog, and since we are early enough, we decide to add this short circular trail to our day. The route takes us along forest paths and wooden boardwalks, with plenty of information panels explaining more about the raised bog and its unique ecosystem. We end the evening with some traditional Slovenian cuisine and enjoy the peace and quiet of the plateau.

Dark wooden cabin with steep roof in Pokljuka, with fire pit area, green meadows, wooden fences, and forest in the background.

Green meadow with fruit trees in Koprivnik, Soča Valley. Traditional houses and forests visible, Julian Alps mountains in background under cloudy sky.

Golden chanterelle mushrooms growing on mossy forest floor in the Soča Valley, surrounded by grass, leaves, and green vegetation.

Hiker with blue backpack walking on wooden boardwalk through Pokljuka moorland forest in the Julian Alps, surrounded by conifer trees and grass.

Colorful wildflower meadow in Koprivnik, Soča Valley, with white, yellow, and purple flowers. Rolling green hills, farmhouses, and forests under a cloudy sky.

Pokljuka Gorge

The weather isn't on our side again today, so we decide to take the bus once more and head to Bled. Once we arrive, the weather starts to improve, so we take our car back to the Pokljuka Gorge. We don't want to miss this natural gem. The gorge is dry at this time of year, but it is still incredibly impressive, with caves, a narrow walkway built along the rock face and some tight passages to squeeze through. We spend the rest of the day in Bled, enjoying the lake and, of course, treating ourselves to a delicious slice of the famous Bled cream cake.

My Conclusion:

Slovenia, with its warm and helpful people, has definitely won me over! We will certainly return for another trip to the impressive Triglav mountains and the beautiful Soča, so that we can explore the area in even more detail. This trip gave us a whole new appreciation for Slovenia as a hiking destination. Our daughter was especially impressed by the Soča and its crystal clear water. That said, I would only recommend this tour for children who really enjoy hiking and love being out in nature. There aren't any adventure playgrounds or other little distractions along these trails, but what you do get instead is truly breathtaking scenery.

My Favorite Place

Our favorite place is the Vršič Pass. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views of the impressive Triglav mountain range, and it definitely makes you want to embark on even more mountain adventures. We are also very proud of how well our daughter managed this stage of the journey. Slovenia will definitely see us again! And one last tip for everyone who loves a hot shower: Slovenia will be your dream destination. No matter where we stayed, the water in the hotels was always wonderfully hot!

Three hikers with backpacks viewing dramatic rocky peaks in the Julian Alps near Vršič Pass. Green meadow and pine trees in foreground.