Triglav National Park, Slovenia
An Incredible Piece of Nature
Triglav National Park is located between Italy and Austria and in the north-western part of Slovenia. It is the only national park in Slovenia; therefore it has great value for Slovenian people in their wish to preserve all the natural wonders in the park. Also, it is one of the oldest national parks in Europe, because the legal protection dates back to 1924, when the Triglav National Park was established. Legal means and public institution protect the park since that year and their basic mission is the protection of nature, as well as carrying out research and professional tasks.
Triglav National Park was named after Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. In contrast, the lowest surface area in the national park is in the Tolmin Gorges, which represent the most beautiful entry point to the area. The area of the park is quite big, because it covers four percent of the surface of Slovenia and that is exactly 880 square kilometers. The Triglav National Park in Slovenia offers a unique experience, because of an exceptional natural beauty and cultural heritage.
There are so many things to do and see that visitors may have a tough time to select some of their favourite places.
In this article we will try presenting several places that are best for hiking, sightseeing and exploring. In case you have some special desires and wishes about tours, sport activities or any other information, please feel free to contact our team members and they will give more detailed information.
Top things to do in Triglav National Park
Tours to Mt. Triglav in the heart of the Triglav National Park
Mount Triglav is situated in the heart of the Triglav National Park and is part of the Julian Alps. Mt. Triglav is 2864 meters high and with this height is the highest mountain in the territory of Slovenia. At the top is the Aljaž tower, which was constructed in 1895 by Jakob Aljaž, catholic priest from nearby village Dovje. Today, the Aljaž tower is protected as a cultural monument and as such, vital in preserving the cultural heritage. From the top of Mt. Triglav, a spectacular view opens from the Adriatic Sea, through the Dolomites and high peaks to the Karavanke and to the Kamniško Savinjske Alps and lastly to plateau Pohorje.
Many hikers visit and climb Mt. Triglav in the summer and autumn and there are many different tours available how to get to the top. Most hikers select their tours based on their knowledge of the trails and their physical capacities. Climbing Mt. Triglav is a unique experience with professional guides who will safely guide you to the top from different alpine valleys. The famous northern wall is the largest mountain wall in the Eastern Alps. You can also climb the lower western part of the wall, as the alpine climbing multi-pitch German Route offers plenty of adrenaline in the presence of an experienced guide. Most popular tour to the top of Mt. Triglav begins and ends in a beautiful Alpine valley called Vrata. However, there are many other hiking tours to the top of Mt. Triglav. Tours to Mt. Triglav can start from valleys Kot, Krma and Trenta, but also from the village Bohinj and plateau Pokljuka. The tour from the Krma valley is most common and hiking friendly route and the tour from Vrata valley is the shortest route.
In spite of everything, Mount Triglav is a national symbol and brings together all Slovenian people.
Book your tour with our experienced guides and see for yourself why this highest mountain is so unique.
Hiking around the valley of Triglav’s seven lakes
The valley of the Triglav’s lakes is a hight mountain Alpine valley located between Lake Bohinj and Trenta Valley. The valley of seven lakes is eight kilometres long and is considered as one of the most beautiful parts of the Julian Alps. The area was officially protected in 1924 as the Alpine Conservation Park, but later in 1961 Triglav’s seven lakes were protected under the state institution of the Triglav National Park in Slovenia.
Therefore, all seven lakes are located in the heart of the Triglav National Park. In fact, there are ten lakes in this valley, but the name of seven lakes was nevertheless kept for several reasons.
First, because of the magic of the highlands in the Julian Alps, especially in the winter time and as a result number seven was taken as a fairy-tale number. Secondly, there are three out of ten lakes that are left without water in the warmer months of the year, but remaining seven lakes are filled with water all year round.
Triglav National Park hiking around the seven Triglav Lakes is an exciting adventure, as you will hike along the length and as well as the altitude and discover all seven lakes one by one. The lakes are something special, as they glisten in a green, turquoise and emerald colour. The trail through mighty forests and alpine meadows will also lead you to the mountain cottage.
Discovering the valley of Triglav’s seven lakes
Otherwise, the area in the Julian Alps offers many different tours that excite hikers, but the valley of the seven lakes is something special. With each step, we move further along the length and as well as altitude and discover all the seven lakes one by one. First, we see the Črno Lake, which is the warmest among all lakes and is located in the middle of the forest.
Then we move towards the Dvojno Lake and on the way up we see a Veliko Lake, which is the largest and deepest lake among all the lakes. After Big Lake we reach the Zeleno Lake, famous for its beautiful green colour. If you are interested in a hiking tour along this magnificent valley of seven lakes, you can sign up here.
Emerald Soča River as a valuable source in the Triglav National Park
For many, the Soča River in Slovenia is one of the most beautiful European rivers. Because of its natural beauty, preservation and historical circumstances, the Soča River contains special significance and value in the hearts of the Slovenian people.
The valley of the Soča River and the surrounding mountains are also known for its history. Between 1915 and 1917 there were battles of the Isonzo, where more than 300 thousand Italian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers lost their lives.
The emerald flow of the Soča River is lively, flowing over rocks and carves its 136 kilometers way towards the Adriatic Sea, creating numerous lagoons and embankments in its delta. Soča River originates in Trenta Valley, in the heart of Triglav National Park.
Soča River keeps torrential stream on its way, repeatedly forced to squeeze into tight gorges and canyons. Soča River in Slovenia is known for its deep and narrow gorges, carved into the lively valley bottom and beautiful waterfalls. The most stunning alpine river in Europe develops its emerald green color in the lower part of the Trenta Valley, where its riverbed spills over the white river gravels.
Due to the withdrawal of the glaciers, the river has carved in the outgoing valley floor and produced a narrow ten meters deep gorge.
Water sports on Soča river
The Soča River is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, where exciting river activity is accompanied by unspoiled nature and breath-taking features of the river.
These natural features of the river provide superior canyoning experience for all adventure fans. During the spring and confluence with Tolminka, the Soča River is unspoiled and as such declared as a natural monument in this region. Further down the village Solkan, the stream of the river is very lively and for that reason popular with kayak enthusiasts. See for yourself and book your kayaking adventure here.
The upper stream valley of the river is ideal for kayaks, canoeists and rafters. Rafting and Hydrospeed journeys on the crystal-clear Soča River allow us to observe the wonderful surrounding nature and at the same time have fun at the adrenaline rapids. Also, the surrounding peaks of the nearby highlands are ideal for hiking and mountain biking.
Soča tour as the oldest natural hiking tour
From the Soča valley there are numerous hiking tours to the surrounding high mountains like Triglav, Kanin, Krn and many others. From the spring of the Soča River, there is twenty kilometres long hiking tour named after the river.
Part of the hiking tour in the in the Soča valley can be walked on foot, even better with a bike. In the wintertime, you can explore the beautiful and quiet Soča Valley in a fun way with snowshoeing. The Soča tour is one of the oldest natural hiking tours in the Triglav National Park and leads visitors from the source of the Soča River along the Trenta valley to the border of the park near Kršovec, where it ends on one of the hiking trails in Bovec.
Alpine wonders
Peričnik Waterfall and Zelenci Nature Reserve
Discovering alpine wonders on the Triglav National Park tour will lead you to the Peričnik Waterfall, which lies in the Vrata Valley, a good starting point for all hikers who ascend to the highest peaks of the Julian Alps. The picturesque waterfall falls 53 meters deep into the river pool, where you can also walk behind the waterfall.
The alpine wonders day trip through the Triglav National Park will also take you to Zelenci Nature Reserve, where the Sava Dolinka River springs in a smaller lake. Up to two meters deep alpine lake is a real eye-catcher, especially in wintertime when the emerald green colour is surrounded by the snowy white landscape.
Radovna Valley
Radovna Valley is squeezed between the wooded plateaus of Mežakla and Pokljuka. The valley is known for its unspoiled nature in the heart of the Triglav National Park. If you would like to strike out on an unforgettable adventure, you can explore this part of the alpine world with horses. Horseback riding across the valley will also lead you to crystal-clear Lake Kreda and the beautiful Krma Valley.
Radovna River originates in the upper part of the valley. The river flows from the mountains with the Kotarica and Krmarica alpine streams. One of the most magnificent parts of the valley is the wild, 1600 meters long Vintgar Gorge, where the Radovna River paved its way between the Hom and Boršt hills.
Tamar Valley and Planica Nordic Centre
Tamar Valley is one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Triglav National Park, bounded on the west by two-thousand-meter mountains such as Travnik, Mojstrovka, and Goličica. At the foot of the valley, not far from the Tamar mountain cottage, there is a beautiful spring of Nadiža River.
Tamar Valley is accessible by tracks in the woods from Planica Valley, which is world-famous for Planica Nordic Center and ski jumping on the second-largest ski-flying hill in the world, named after its constructors, brothers Vlado and Janez Gorišek.
Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge near Lake Bled is a 1.6-kilometer-long natural phenomenon, protected as a natural monument in the Triglav National Park. Here the bridges and galleries run through this wild scenery of pools and rapids. In some places, the Bled Gorge, created by Radovna River, is up to 250 meters deep. The gorge ends with the beautiful 16 meters high Šum Waterfall.
If you would like to experience the pristine nature in the Triglav National Park, then strike out on an adventure trip to the most beautiful gorges in the area. Family canyoning Bled is an excellent choice for jumping into river pools, rappelling through narrow walls and sliding on natural water tunnels.
Lake Bohinj and Savica Waterfall
Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, with many natural wonders around the lake that lies in the Triglav National Park. Bohinj also offers many outdoor activities such as rowing, fishing, rock climbing, and mountain biking. In the summer, the lake becomes a popular spot for swimmers, when the water temperature rises to 24 degrees Celsius.
Boat rides that connect the alpine villages by the lake, Ribčev Laz tourist resort and Ukanc village with Zlatorog camp, are also popular among visitors. From Ukanc village you can also take a cable car to Mt. Vogel.
Savica Waterfall is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Slovenia, as the 78-meter high waterfall drops into an emerald green river pool, from where the stream flows into the Lake Bohinj. You can reach Savica Waterfall on a pathway leading from Ukanc village near the Lakeshore to Savica cottage and then uphill on the stone steps.
Triglav national park in winter
Triglav National Park in winter is strikingly beautiful when the snow covers the alpine meadows, trees, and mountains, and when the lakes and waterfalls freeze. The first fallen snow is in the autumn when the temperature fluctuations create icy trails. Hence, you must be well prepared for taking a Triglav National Park tour to the mountains and have all the necessary equipment with you.
Trails are covered in snow and blazes are not visible, so it is important to know the terrain. The days are shorter and you will need more time to overcome certain distances. Most mountain cottages are closed in the wintertime. When nature rests, so do the animals who live here. So, hikers should be especially careful not to disturb the animals in the park.
The landscape is covered with a thick blanket of snow, so you will need to use snowshoes. You can experience a snow fairytale on a Snowshoeing tour, where you will walk almost silently through the peaceful alpine landscape in high mountain pastures, beautiful valleys, and to the alpine posts.
Winter Alpine Wonders Tour
Most hikers and nature lovers, visit Triglav National Park in the summer. Yet, wintertime in this area offers the most magnificent experience, because it is surrounded by a snowy landscape where you can find a lot of peace and beautiful places. There is one particular tour that takes you to Bohinj Lake and then to Peričnik Waterfall in the Vrata valley. Peričnik Waterfall is the great keeper of the Vrata Valley, because it is one of the highest Slovenian waterfalls with its 52 meters. Cold days turn this waterfall into an icy kingdom and create wonderful ice candles. Then the tour takes you to Kranjska Gora, a famous Slovenian ski resort. After visiting ski resort, the road takes you to Zelenci Lake. Zelenci Lake is very attractive in the wintertime, when everything around the lake is snowy and white, but the lake is coloured in a beautiful emerald green colour. See the whole winter alpine wonders tour plan here.
Ski touring, winter hiking and sledding in the Triglav National Park
Ski touring is best when heavy snow falls in the nearby mountains and consequently creates finest ski powder. The ski slopes in ski resorts offer smooth trails, but the greatest pleasure is to ski on the tracks outside the ski slopes. Ski touring in the Triglav National Park is a great experience for all adventure enthusiasts who would like to explore stunning nature in the winter wonderland.
Hiking in untouched nature also offers great pleasure, especially during the winter months when all vegetation and animals are resting. The most beautiful views are on the plateau of Pokljuka, where you can observe the surrounding mountains, especially the mountain Triglav, which is the highest among all. In spite of all the tranquillity in the wintertime, it is also necessary to have fun. You can rent sledge and go down from the surrounding hills of Lake Bled. Then again, if you are even more courageous, you can go to night sledding, which will give you a fun experience to remember.
Nature protection and rules of conduct
The purpose of protecting the park is to preserve the exceptional natural and cultural heritage. This is why a specific nature protection regime is established throughout the area. The rules apply to all visitors entering this beautiful high mountain world. The most important rules of conduct in the Triglav National Park include:
- refuse disposal, ripping of flowers and open fire is prohibited
- camping and parking is only allowed in designated areas
- dogs must be on a leash to avoid disturbing animals in the park and for their own safety
- respect for the habitat of flora and fauna
- walking on marked trails
- bathing and swimming in alpine lakes which fall under the first protective regime is prohibited
Entry points to the Triglav National Park are marked with specific signs with written rules and all the information you need for a safe journey through the area.
The animal kingdom
There are as many as 7000 animal species in the park. While on Triglav National Park hiking trip, you might encounter deer, a herd of chamois and marmots in the lowland area. In the rocky mountains, you might also encounter an ibex, the ruler and a symbol of wildlife in the Julian Alps.
Vegetation
Due to the specific climatic and geomorphological conditions, as many as 19 endemic botanical species thrive in the Triglav National Park, among which the most interesting are alpine flowers, such as a Zois Bellflower, July poppy and edelweiss, which was also the first protected botanical species in Slovenia. The Triglav flower is associated with the Goldhorn legend and has been attributed to the miraculous healing powers for centuries.
Cultural heritage
The area has a rich cultural and historical heritage with alpine villages with traditional architecture, typical pastoral settlements in the highlands, a diverse cultural landscape, remains of forts from World War I and remains of medieval mining and ironworks high in the mountains. Important cultural heritage also includes archaeological, ethnological and sacral heritage.
The Bohinj area was a strategic iron-mining central point for almost 3000 years, as there were substantially valuable deposits of high-quality iron ore. In the Middle Ages, the towns of Bohinj and Bled obtained iron ore from high mountains such as Pokljuka, Gorjuše, and Vogel.
In the Triglav National Park you can visit the sights that are closely connected with the rich cultural heritage:
- The Alpine Dairy Museum in Stara Fužina village near Lake Bohinj: a museum in an old rural cheese dairy, where original objects are exhibiting the life of alpine dairy farmers and the tradition of cheese making in the mountains.
- The Russian Chapel on a Vršič mountain pass: Chapel from 1917 was built in memory of Russian prisoners of war who built the famous road over the Vršič mountain pass.
- The gothic church of St. John the Baptist in Ribčev Laz village near Lake Bohinj
- Pocar homestead in Zgornja Radovna dates back to the 17th century and is one of the oldest homesteads in the Triglav National Park. Today it is an ethnographic open-air museum, a cultural monument, representing the folk architecture of the area.
- A monument to four brave men in the Ribčev Laz village was made in memory of four Bohinj natives who were the first to climb the summit of Mount Triglav in 1778.
Natural heritage
The diverse terrain of limestone mountain karst hides a treasure trove of natural attractions such as stunning crystal-clear rivers, mighty waterfalls, high mountain glacial lakes, and more than 250 bigger and smaller water springs.
The Julian Alps offer many unforgettable adventures on the steeper terrain, plateaus, and gorgeous valleys. In the highlands, you can also find several mountain cottages with accommodation and traditional Slovenian food.
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