2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Hiking in Slovenia ADVENTURES FROM THE JULIAN ALPS TO THE ADRIATIC SEA

From alpine peaks and mountain lakes to tiny villages of Venetian Gothic architecture along the Adriatic, Slovenia is gorgeous—and still relatively undiscovered by travelers, which makes it perfect for a WT adventure. We’ve created a journey with a fantastic mix of hiking, history, and culture as we make our way from the snow-capped Julian Alps to medieval Piran nestled along the sea. Along the way, we taste Slovenia’s regional wines and delightful cuisine fresh from the sea

and mountains. At one of our hotels, the family-run Hisa Franko, we dine at its acclaimed restaurant— the chef, Ana Ros, was named the “World’s Best Female Chef” in 2017. Days 1-4 Ljubljana / Ptuj / Logarska Dolina Ljubljana is wonderful to explore on foot, and we head to Ptuj for a vineyard hike, lunch at an organic farm, and a private wine tasting. In Logarska Dolina, a stunning valley dotted with tiny churches and traditional farmsteads, we hike through meadows and forests to the 300-foot-high Rinka waterfall, with views of snow-dusted peaks. Days 5-6 Radovljica / Lake Bled / Mostnica Gorge We explore Renaissance-era Radovljica, taste honey at its museum of beekeeping, and take a gondola across the fairytale setting of Lake Bled, followed by a hike through sun-dappled beech forests along the river that cuts through Mostnica Gorge.

DAN HELLER

we head to the Soca Valley, an Old World realm of tiny villages, translucent rivers, and deep forests that formed the infamous Soca Front during World War I. One of our hikes traces a route below snow-capped Mt. Krn (7,300'), with a descent to the peaceful village of Dreznica. Days 9-11 Piran In Slovenia’s karst landscape, we walk through the breathtaking world of the Skocjan Caves, a World Heritage Site, then head to the coast at Piran, a spectacular hub of the Venetian Republic. We boat to Piran Bay’s wetland reserve and visit the historic salt flats at Secovlje. Depart on Day 11 via Ljubljana. ON OUR WEBSITE FROM BRATISLAVA TO PRAGUE Castle to castle hikes, medieval treasures of Cesky Krumlov, and Prague. Apr 30-May 9, Jun 12-21, Sep 4-13, Sep 18-27, 2019. From $4495.

HIGHLIGHTS • Enjoy superb hikes in an uncrowded alpine realm of Old World villages and limestone peaks • Hike in Logarska Dolina (the Logar Valley), with its amphitheater of stone • Cross Lake Bled by gondola, enjoy beautiful Piran on the Adriatic • Savor renowned local wines and delightful cuisine with influences from Italy and Austria, dine at the celebrated Hisa Franko restaurant DETAILS • 11-day trip begins and ends in Ljubljana • 10 nights hotels • All meals included except 2 dinners

Days 7-8 Mt. Krn / Dreznica / Kobarid After a hike below the face of the spectacular Triglav north wall,

Our hiking journey reveals Slovenia’s wild beauty and Old World culture from the mountains to the sea. PHOTO: MATTHEW WILLIAMS-ELLIS

DATES May 14-24, 2019 Jun 10-20 Jul 23-Aug 2 Sep 4-14

TRIP COST $4895 (11-15 members) $5395 (4-10 members) Single supplement: $560

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 hiking days on moderate trails (some steep sections), 3-5 hours a day, van support

DAN HELLER

FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS, VISIT WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/EUROPE 79