Backpacking in Slovenia offers immense variety for outdoor enthusiasts, from the rugged peaks of the Julian Alps to the winding trails along the emerald Soča River Valley, including popular destinations like Triglav National Park.
And that’s what this post is all about – backpacking in Slovenia. We’ll provide tips to help you prepare for backpacking in this diverse country as well as showcase the TOP 5 multi-day trails in Slovenia.
Whether you’re an experienced thru-hiker or new to backpacking, the tips and trails highlighted in this guide will inspire your next adventure.
Let’s get started.
Explore Slovenia’s best scenic trails for epic adventures:
Length: 27.1 mi / 43.6 km
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 7401 ft / 2256 m
Location: Tolmin
Estimated Hiking Calorie Burn: 8640 calories
More Details: See on AllTrails
This challenging 15+ hour, 16.8-mile loop near Tolmin offers beautiful views year-round. The trail starts in Zatolmin. Head northwest, keeping the Soca River visible. Reach Po Greben loop after 3 miles. Follow almost to the saddle, then head south to Casera a Sud. Continue upwards through grazing land to the peaks of Vodel. Descend the steep, 1600-ft south side to a concrete road. After 0.6 miles, arrive back in Zatolmin. Highlights include panoramic views from Po Greben and Vodel. Follow the ridge, not watershed. Wet descent is demanding but quick. Enjoy autumn colors from surrounding hills.
Length: 26.4 mi / 42.5 km
Type: Point to point
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1515 ft / 462 m
Location: Piran
Estimated Hiking Calorie Burn: 6900 calories
More Details: See on AllTrails
This 26-mile point-to-point trail near Piran offers moderate challenges along its 9-hour route. The trail is popular for backpacking, camping, and hiking, with opportunities for solitude during quiet times. Open year-round, the route is beautiful in all seasons but can be tricky to follow at times. Starting near Muggia, a scenic town, the trail passes through Trieste before reaching the scenic highlight of Piran on the Adriatic Sea.
Length: 62.3 mi / 100.2 km
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 5164 ft / 1574 m
Location: Lendava
Estimated Hiking Calorie Burn: 14 400 calories
More Details: See on AllTrails
This challenging 62-mile loop near Lendava offers moderate to difficult terrain along its 23-hour route. The trail is popular for backpacking, biking, and running, with opportunities for solitude during quiet times. Open year-round, the scenic route is beautiful to visit in any season. The loop provides over 20 hours of continuous adventure through the countryside.
Length: 22.7 mi / 36.5 km
Type: Point to point
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 2106 ft / 642 m
Location: Bovec
Estimated Hiking Calorie Burn: 4900 calories
More Details: See on AllTrails
This challenging 22-mile point-to-point trail near Bovec offers adventure along its 9-hour route. The trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping in solitude, with few other people encountered. Open year-round, the scenic route is beautiful to visit in any season. The trail provides a great test of endurance through the countryside near the scenic town of Bovec.
Length: 21.6 mi / 34.8 km
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 4681 ft / 1427 m
Location: Ljubljana
Estimated Hiking Calorie Burn: 5700 calories
More Details: See on AllTrails
This challenging 21-mile loop near Ljubljana offers adventure along its 11-hour route. The forested trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking in solitude, with few other people encountered. The rolling hills provide a good workout with some steep sections. Easily accessible from Ljubljana by train, the scenic route is beautiful to visit and cooler in summer months. Overall, it’s a secluded natural escape from the city.
Slovenia has a diverse climate due to its varied geography, ranging from continental inland to Mediterranean near the coast:
Spring (March to May):
Summer (June to August):
Autumn (September to November):
Winter (December to February):
Before grabbing your backpack and heading to the trailhead, take a look at some weather statistics for Slovenia (Ljubljana):
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 39 | 43 | 52 | 60 | 69 | 75 | 80 | 79 | 70 | 60 | 48 | 40 |
| Low °F | 26 | 27 | 34 | 41 | 49 | 55 | 58 | 57 | 51 | 44 | 35 | 29 |
| Rain/Snow (D*) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Not sure if Slovenia is right for you?
Don’t forget to check out our backpacking guides for Austria and Italy.
In Slovenia, when you’re out backpacking or camping, you can usually have campfires. But there are rules that depend on where you are and the weather. You’re allowed to have fires in certain places like special fire rings in national parks and forests. However, if the authorities say there’s a high risk of fires, they might ban all fires to keep wildfires from happening.
Backpackers traveling to experience Slovenia’s diverse wilderness and outdoor explorations should take precautions. Tell others your travel plans with locations and return estimates. Pack supplies like maps, first aid kits along with extra food and water in case travels take longer than expected. Be aware of potential wildlife including bears, wolves and snakes to avoid encounters off trails. Also bring protection from different weather expected on mountain routes. By following proper safety measures during your backpacking adventures, you can fully immerse in nature while ensuring a safe trip filled with memorable experiences in Slovenia’s great outdoors.
While exploring Slovenia’s various trails, it’s important to be aware of potential wildlife one may come across. If encountering a bear, do not run but instead slowly back away and avoid direct eye contact to calm the animal. Give wolves and lynx a wide berth if spotted from a distance. Use noise to your advantage when hiking in areas with moose or boars and watch for snakes sunbathing on paths. Always store food securely and never intentionally approach any wild animal. By being attentive and letting wildlife have space during hikes, nature enthusiasts in Slovenia can travel safely and enjoy fascinating close-up looks.
Triglav National Park is a big attraction for outdoor lovers in Slovenia. It’s in the northwest, centered around Mount Triglav, which is the highest peak in the country. Hikers and campers go there because of the amazing Alpine scenery – there are rocky mountains, deep forests, sparkling lakes, and lots of wildlife. Other popular places include Plitvice Lakes National Park, known for its beautiful emerald-colored lakes and waterfalls, and Kozjansko Regional Park, loved for its rolling green hills and cultural heritage sites. Slovenia is small, so you can easily explore multiple parks that are close to each other.
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to visit Slovenia for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days. When entering Slovenia, U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport that will not expire for at least 3 months after the planned departure date from the Schengen area.
