Slovenia - wildflowers and mountain wildlife
A wonderful opportunity to explore one of Central Europe’s lesser know corners.
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Dates
To be confirmed
Leader
To be confirmed
Price
To be confirmed
Included
Return flight London Gatwick to Ljubljana. Local transport as specified in itinerary. Eight nights accommodation, full board.
Not included
Refreshments. Gratuities. Travel insurance. ETIAS/visa costs. Covid tests and associated costs.
Group size
Minimum 4, maximum 14.
Slovenia is a meeting point of Mediterranean, Alpine and Continental climates and this new holiday provides an opportunity to explore all three, as we set off on a journey that takes us to the colourful alpine meadows of the Julian Alps, ancient woodlands haunted by Eurasian Lynx and Capercaillie, and some of Europe’s most southerly high peat bogs, home to fascinating insectivorous plants.
For the first half of our holiday we are based close to the beautiful Lake Bohinj, with a ‘wilder’ feel than nearby Lake Bled. We will spend time in Triglav National Park, Slovenia’s only national park where traditional mountain huts dot the alpine meadows, and forests give way to upland bogs.
We can hope to find a good range of early-summer butterflies including Blue-spot Hairstreak, High Brown Fritillary, Scarce Copper and with a little luck perhaps even the elusive Woodland Brown or the charismatic Apollo. In the old Beech woodlands Black Woodpeckers join Willow Tit, Wood Warbler, Hawfinch and Crossbill, with White-backed Woodpecker, Nutcracker and Red-breasted Flycatcher also present, but harder to find. We will of course also keep watch for Golden Eagles, Alpine Chough and Alpine Swift sweeping across the mountain skies.
The second half of our holiday sees us travel south to see a different side of Slovenia. We will walk along the historic Rake canal and visit the intermittent waters and wet meadows of Cerkniško Jezero, before a visit to one of Europe’s deepest underground canyons as we take a tour of Škocjan caves.
Day 1 Our flight takes us to Ljubljana, from where we drive to our accommodation on the shores of Lake Bohinj, Slovenia’s largest permanent lake, set within a scenic valley of the Julian Alps. There should be time for a walk around the lake to start our familiarisation with the wildflowers of the area
Day 2 We catch the cable car up to Rjava Skala (1,535m) on Vogel Mountain with magnificent views over Lake Bohinj. Our time here will be spent exploring the alpine pastures where we hope to find a range of colourful plants including Julian Columbine Aquilegia iulia, Hairy Alpenrose Rhododendron hirsutum, Edelweiss Lentopodium nivale, Carnic Lily Lilium carniolicum and the delicate Zois’s Bellflower Favratia zoysii. Interesting fritillaries, ringlets and burnet moths can be found, and we will keep watch for Rock Thrush and Ring Ouzel, and listen for the loud alarm calls of the Alpine Marmot.
Day 3 Today we visit Pokljuka Plateau, nestled in the midst of Triglav National Park, which comprises a patchwork of mountain pastures, bogs and forest. We will visit areas of meadows and bogs in search of interesting plants including carnivorous sundews. Eurasian Lynx and Alpine Ibex have both been reintroduced to Triglav, joining populations of Brown Bear and Wolf, which have dispersed into the area in recent years. Big mammals are of course elusive, but we may get lucky!
Day 4 This morning we have a longer walk that will take us alongside the emerald waters leading into Mostnica Gorge. Following the wooded valley we pass alongside waterfalls and potholes, before reaching the wide open meadows of the Voje Valley dotted with traditional mountain huts, where we will have time to enjoy the wildflowers and butterflies.
Day 5 We say goodbye to Bohinj this morning, and take the scenic drive south to the small town of Idrija. Here we will follow the historic Rake canal, before we cross the Idrijca River and head to Divje Jezero lake fed by a karst spring. We continue our drive via the Vipava valley before reaching our home for the remainder of the trip under the high karst plateau of Nanos.
Day 6 Our day is spent exploring Cerkniško Jezero, one of Europe’s largest intermittent lakes: when full it is the largest lake in the country. Depending on the water levels we may have the chance to take a canoe tour here with a biologist. Cerkniško Jezero is a wetland of international importance and we will look out for various herons, ducks and waders, and perhaps a White-tailed Eagle, Black Stork or Pygmy Cormorant. The wet meadows surrounding the lake are home to many warblers along with Common Rosefinch and Red-backed Shrike, along with interesting wetland plants including Marsh Helleborine.
Day 7 We head underground for a tour of Škocjan caves, a series of deep underground canyons that are one of the country’s treasures. The sinkholes here are globally significant and the networks of tunnels are an important site for roosting bats as well as specialised investebrates, and Olms, which make their home in the waters flowing through the caves. There should also be some time to explore the interesting area around our accommodation, where we can hope to find some interesting dragonflies, plants and birds in the wet meadows and channels.
Day 8 This morning we make our way back to Ljubljana for our morning flight home.
Please note that the itinerary may be changed to suit the weather or other practicalities at the discretion of the leaders.
We stay at two comfortable local hotels All rooms are en-suite. Evening meals will be taken in the hotel restaurant and we will take picnic lunches out with us. Requests for special diets can be accommodated.
Transport will be by small bus or smaller ‘people carrier’-type vehicles if necessary. The boat trip at Cerkniško Jezero will be by small, open canoe.
Group flights
Group flights are with Easyjet from London Gatwick to Ljubljana.
Overland travel
You can reach Slovenia by train from the UK. From London you can reach Ljubljana in one night. Contact us to find out more, and to make your holiday flight-free.
Time zone
Slovenia is one hour ahead of UK time.
Entry requirements
If you hold a British passport you can travel to countries in the Schengen area (including Greece) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be issued less than ten years before the date you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
Starting in mid-2025 British passport holders will need to apply for the ETIAS European Travel Authorisation to visit Schengen countries. This must be applied for online prior to travel, at a cost of €7 (free for over 70s). Once granted, your ETIAS will be valid for three years.
At this time of year the weather should hopefully be warm and sunny, with average temperatures in the low to mid 20s°C. As with everywhere, the weather is less predictable now than it used to be, and there may be cooler or hotter weather and some rain. We will do our best to adapt our walks and excursions accordingly.
On several days, we are walking for much of the day, albeit at a relatively slow pace. The day walks are mostly between 3 and 6 miles, with some rougher ground and some slopes, both up and down. Walking boots (e.g. lightweight) are essential. The pace will be relaxed, with plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings and enjoy the wildlife along the way. If you are a slow walker, please contact us to discuss whether any of the walks will be a problem for you. There are steps at our hotels, with no lift.