Planning your trip to The Julian Alps in 2026

The Julian Alps in Slovenia should be on your radar for your next adventure holiday. Though not well-known, Slovenia and the Julian Alps are fast becoming a paradise for outdoor adventure. Including the beautiful Triglav National Park, this beautiful region never fails to wow tourists. Book a trip to the Julian Alps today!

We were so blown away by the beauty of the Julian Alps combined with the friendly people of Slovenia. It’s also a great value compared to the rest of the Alps, with good prices for food, accommodation and guided holidays.

The Julian Alps were named after Julius Caesar. This section of the Alps boasts Mount Triglav as its highest point at 2,864 m. Mount Triglav is an important symbol in Slovenia. Its three peaks are depicted on the nation’s coat of arms.

In this trip-planning guide to the Julian Alps we will discuss the four main sections of the Julian Alps. It happens that they sit almost perfectly onto the points of a compass.

In the north there is Kranjska Gora - a popular alpine resort. To the east you’ll find the Bled Lake region, and although a lot of our hikes are on the eastern side of the park, Bled lake itself is a bit of a drive to some of our hikes. The town of Bled is very picturesque and the surrounding area is beautiful. To the south you’ll find Bohinj Lake, as well as the majority of our hikes. On the western point there is the Soča valley.

Slemenova Spica hike in Julian Alps has amazing scenery

Which airport to fly into to get to The Julian Alps

The main airport of the region is the Ljubljana Airport (LJU). From LJU you can easily get a bus into Ljubljana proper, and from Ljubljana you can get connections, trains and buses to lots of regions in Slovenia.

LJU gets traffic from Adria Airways, Air France, Air Serbia, EasyJet, Wizz air, Montenegro Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

The Path of Pagan Girl takes you to overview of Jasna Lake and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia

When to go to The Julian Alps

You can hike comfortably between the months of May and early-October in the Julian Alps. Often if the snows come late you can hike well into November, though each year is different. Bled Lake and Bohinj Lake both get quite busy in July and August (but that seems to be the case no matter where you go). Bled Lake also sees an uptick on most weekends between May and September.

If you’re looking for a snow holiday, then the months of December through to March are your best bet. The ski resorts in Slovenia are nice, but not as expansive as those in other parts of the Alps.

If you do want to stay in Bled Lake, consider that in July there is both the “Festival Bled” and “Bled Days” taking place in that month. Both festivals bring markets, festivities and live music to the region, and are a heck of a lot of fun.

If you want to stay in the Lake Bohinj region you can visit in mid-September for The Cow’s Ball (a celebration of the cows coming down from their high pastures) where you’ll find folk dances, eating and drinking (especially wine and cheese). You can also enjoy the month-long Hiking Celebration in Lake Bohinj usually starting sometime in September, or the two-week long International Wildflower Festival starting in late May.

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How to get around The Julian Alps

Given the distance between the hikes we recommend renting a car. Of course, if you’re heading to Slovenia only to ski then check with your hotel about shuttle services. The road system through Slovenia is very good and lots of buses to make there way from city to city, but we found that we really preferred the freedom that a rental car gave us.

Debela Pec trail takes you to beautiful Slovenian alpine meadows in Julian Alps

Best Tours in the Julian Alps

The Julian Alps are epic, with endless options for stunning mountain trekking tours or flowy mountain bike tours. Some of the most popular Slovenian tours that go through the Julian Alps are:

• Mount Triglav is the highest peak in the Julian Alps, and a very popular scramble.  It can be done in two massive days, however we think it's better as a 3-day tour.  You can choose a self-guided Mount Triglav climb, but we prefer the guided Mount Triglav Tour.
• Trekking in the Julian Alps is spectacular, and staying in cozy, remote mountain huts is extra special. We love this three-day Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut trek as a great introduction to trekking in Slovenia. For those with more time, there is also a 6-day Slovenian Hut-to-Hut Trekking Tour in Triglav National Park.
• If you're looking for a guided Slovenian Hiking tour, then The Best Walks in Slovenia Guided tour could be the one for you!
• Slovenia is great for families, and the Lake Bled region is an ideal base for a Family Adventure Tour in Slovenia.
• For those that like to cycle, this bike tour starts in Bled and takes you all the way to Venice. Enjoy la Dolce Vita while cycling in Slovenia and Italy!
• While not technically in the Julian Alps, this self-guided Alpe Adria trek passes in the NW corner of Slovenia.  You can also cycle the Alpe Adria.
• For those looking to get off the paved roads, you can either to the self-guided Trans-Slovenian Mountain Bike Tour, or an epic Slovenian Gravel Riding tour.

Cable car lift above Bohinj Lake in Julian Alps, Slovenia

What else can you do besides hiking in The Julian Alps?

Slovenia is all about adventure. If you’re planning a trip to the Julian Alps, you better be expecting to experience nature in its most extreme.

Soča valley

In the beautiful Soča valley region the rivers and rapids are legendary for their white water. We loved the guides with XPoint Outdoor Experience, plus they offer more than just rafting. They’re located in Kobarid. If you’re more north of Kobarid then check out Bovec Sport Center. They too have much more than just rafting. There’s kayaking, canyoning, an adventure park and more.

If you want to try some awesome mountain bike trails check out Emotion Sports in the Soča valley. They rent bikes and e-bikes too. They’ll also shuttle your bikes out to the trails too.

If you have a larger group, consider getting in touch with the people from Maya Team Building. They have lots of neat activities for larger groups.

The last thing we’ll recommend in the Soča valley is Slocally. Slocally is a network of Slovenian locals that will do various tours with you. You can do wine tours, food tours, and more. It’s a great program and everyone is always so nice.

Kranjska Gora

In Kranjska Gora there’s of course great skiing. If you’re new to skiing check out Skischool.si to book a lesson. If you’re already experienced, head to Plancia Nordic Center. That’s one of our favourite hills in the region.

Past that we liked the folks at Kolfler Sport if you were looking to do more ice climbing, and ski touring. They also have van and shuttle services that might make your adventures easier.

Scenery from the Valley of the Seven Lakes hike in Julian Alps, Slovenia

Bled Lake

Check out Koala Sport if you’re in Bled Lake and you need some gear before you head out on your adventure. They carry lots of good outdoor gear. Once your outfitted, you can get in touch with either the folks at 3glav, or TinaRaft. Both companies offer rafting and canyoning. 3glav offers ballooning as well, while TinaRaft has paintball, and the Zorb ball.

The kids will love Pustolovski Park in Bled. This adventure park has five different tracks to try each harder than the next!

Bohinj Lake

In the Bohinj Lake region the adventures never stop. With AlpinSport you can find gear and guides to help you downhill ski, cross-country ski, go canyoning and paragliding. They let you rent bikes, kayaks, and canoes. Plus, you can hop in a small airplane and get a one-hour tour of the region (this is a really unique way to see the region if you’re not up for paragliding). Alpe Bohinj is great for climbing instruction in the summer and ski school in the winter. Keep them in mind if you’re looking to pick up a new skill.

Julian Alps view from the top of Mount Krn on a trail in Slovenia

Dangers when hiking in The Julian Alps

• Thunderstorms are very common in the summer. Always check the weather before you go out, and if you hear thunder get down from points of elevation.
• Even though it may look pristine, make sure you boil, treat or filter all water before drinking it.
• Weather can change quickly. Make sure to bring multiple layers.
• Always bring sunglasses, a hat and wear sunscreen - even in winter. The sun at the alpine altitude is very strong.
• The nights can get very cold - even in summer. Pack a warm sleeping bag.
• If any serious medical issues occur in the mountains, call 112 and you will be put through to the Search & Rescue
• Wright your name in the registries of the mountain huts to log your journey and help you get rescued in a search and rescue scenario.

Blato is one of the pastures on Bohinj Pastures loop hike in Julian Alps, Slovenia

What else you need to know about The Julian Alps

• Slovenians are kind people, and you’ll enjoy the hearty hospitality of the Slovenian people. However, theft can be an issue. Be careful of your belongings including any bikes or gear you might rent.
• Triglav Mountain is a very important symbol for people in Slovenia. All the Slovenian climbers and hard-core hikers insist that you have truly become a Slovenian once you climb to the top of the Triglav.

Book a Tour in the Julian Alps

Inspired to take a trip to the Julian Alps to explore Triglav National Park? Check out our amazing selection of adventure tours in the Julian Alps to find a trip that matches your style. Not keen on the Julian Alps, but still want to visit Slovenia? We also have plenty of tours along the Slovenian Adriatic Coast that will also make for an incredible adventure! No matter which tours in Slovenia you ultimately decide to book, you can rest assured that exploring this picturesque European country will be the adventure of a lifetime!