老澳门六合彩开奖记录

Slovenia, which calls itself 鈥渢he Sunny Side of the Alps,鈥 is a haven for hiking. That鈥檚 a surprise to some, but it鈥檚 not revelatory. This bantam-sized Central European country, smaller than New Jersey and half of Switzerland, has five mountain ranges with more than 300 peaks over 2000 meters. Within the nation鈥檚 20,000 square kilometers, there are 15,000 kilometers of trails. The paths drop you next to glacial lakes, emerald rivers and the Adriatic coast.

If the country鈥檚 credentials are still in question, these classic, long-distance hikes will put the matter to rest. They combine Slovenia鈥檚 strengths: close-knit communities, simple and stellar cuisine (Slovenia was ) and its passion for responsible tourism. Though there is great year-round trekking here, June to October are the peak months when the weather is more stable and you can count on open mountain huts.

Here's a handy guide to preparing for your trek along with the top five best long-haul hikes throughout Slovenia.

Where to stay on your trek: Slovenia's mountain huts

For many, the planning portion of a trekking or mountaineering expedition can be more daunting than the outing itself. In Slovenia, that task is made easier with a well-developed system of that service many of the routes included here. As is the case with any hike, the rule of thumb is to book ahead when possible. Most of the lodges have websites, email addresses and phone numbers. Camping, it should be noted, is not permitted outside of designated campsites. Be aware that many lodgings and huts close from late October to May. Plan your trip from June to October. For more extreme excursions: In the Slovenian highlands, in addition to mountain huts, there is a fairly extensive network of (shelters), called bivaks here. Some mountain huts also have unattended winter rooms that are open all year round.

7 expert tips for tackling your first multi-day hike

A Slovenian osmize board of meats and cheeses
An osmize board, a typical mountain-trek lunch in Slovenia locally-cured meats, cheeses and home-made wine 漏 photoflorenzo / Getty

Eating well on your trek is easy

Slovenes 鈥 in the mountains and otherwise 鈥 eat well, and locally. Sausages, cheese, goulash, game and homegrown vegetables are typical. Many of the accommodations and huts serve food to lodgers for both dinner and breakfast. Along the trail, one should feel secure about passing through towns to stock up on lunch and mid-trek rations.

What you pack matters, especially as the trails get more challenging

Within Slovenia, it is strongly recommended to carry helmets and via ferrata equipment 鈥 especially on hikes over 2000 meters in elevation. The Alpine Association of Slovenia shares a checklist of, equipment and hiking hints. 鈥淚t all depends on the time of year you are hiking, but it is best to have the equipment you might need with you,鈥 says Matija Klanj拧膷ek, a Slovenian alpinism instructor who works with, a Ljubljana-based adventure tourism operator. 鈥淚 generally keep a helmet with me and keep an eye on the trail difficulty. Easy, moderate and hard routes are depicted on maps as full, dashed and dotted lines, respectively.鈥

How to pack like a pro for a backpacking trip

Church of St John the Baptist, Triglav National Park; Julian Alps, Slovenia
The picture-perfect Lake Bled with Church of St John the Baptist as its centerpiece, Triglav National Park 漏 Paul-Oliver Neumann / EyeEm / Getty

Juliana Trail for jaw-dropping panoramas

Best Hike for Great Views
168 miles (270km), 16 days

Though just launched in 2019, the feels as if it was always part of Slovenia鈥檚 classic hikes鈥 canon. The route provides trekkers with continual front-row views of the Julian Alps, which dominate the country鈥檚 northwestern corner, as it circumnavigates Triglav National Park. make the relatively flat, circular hike simple to plan and caters to all skill levels and keeps Slovenia鈥檚 highest peak, the 9396-foot (2,864 m) Mount Triglav, in its sights. Expect stunning villages, jaw-dropping panoramas and inviting mountain towns like Bovec, which is wedged between peaks, sits on the So膷a River, and boasts some of the continent鈥檚 best kayaking and rafting. Trekkers can choose between mountain lodgings, camping and swanky hotels along the way. All of these accommodations service beautiful alpine sites like the famous, tectonic and glacial Lake Bohinj, where ordering trout and trying a local draft beer is a necessity. At the edge of Lake Bled, perhaps the most iconic photo-op in the country, the Bled Castle hangs from a bluff overlooking the Church of the Assumption, which is built atop 12th-century foundations.

There's a new way to explore Slovenia sustainably

Walk of Peace for a hike through history

Best Hike for History
137 miles (220km), 11 days

The starts in Log pod Mangartom 鈥 a village nestled in the Julian Alps 鈥 and ends in the Adriatic city of Trieste. But this isn鈥檛 just a thru-hike; it exemplifies Slovenia鈥檚 responsible tourism philosophy. The 137-mile trail, which follows the WWI frontline between Italy and Slovenia (then part of Austro-Hungary), is a historically themed itinerary for independent travelers to learn about culture while walking from locale to locale. (The main path can be extended an additional 174 miles with alternate loops and routes provided on the site.)

Like with many Slovenian routes, Walk of Peace trekkers stay in wonderful lodges and huts and visit remote communities. However, the trail鈥檚 goal and offerings are unique. Hikers will investigate preserved bunkers, memorial churches, trenches and museums from the Great War while gaining a new perspective about conditions during the conflict. The Kobarid Museum, in the town of Kobarid, displays a wide array of artifacts, artillery, photographs and interactive exhibits that bring World War I to life. The hope is the region鈥檚 immense beauty combined with history will encourage more tolerance for others.

Mountaineers climbing Mount Triglay on the Slovenian Mountain Trail, Slovenia
Mountaineers climbing Mount Triglay on the Slovenian Mountain Trail, the country's longest trek 漏 Enrique Ugarte / Getty Images

Slovenian Mountain Trail for adventure and adrenaline

Best Long-Distance Hike
383 miles (617km), 28-35 days

Established in 1953, the is the country鈥檚 longest trek. Starting in Maribor, in the Pohorje Hills on the country鈥檚 eastern side, the route rambles along the nation鈥檚 northern border with Austria and the Kamnik鈥揝avinja and Karavanke Alps, and turns south at the Juliana Alps. Along the way, there is an abundance of mountain huts (around 50 spread across the approximately 30 stages). Make sure to book your ahead of time when possible, and plan for a vast array of adventure, adrenaline and educational activities and for every trekker and skill level. In the town of Mojstrana, visit the Slovenian Alpine Museum, which is a great place to learn skills and the history of mountaineering. Make sure to pack a helmet to scale the via ferrata route and summit Mount Triglav, the country鈥檚 highest peak. From there, you cross the ethereally turquoise So膷a River on the way through the Karst region to the coast.

Hikers follow the Via Alpina hiking route, Slovenia
The challenging and steep route through the Via Alpina 漏 Milo Zanecchia / Ascent Xmedia / Getty

Via Alpina: Red and Purple trails for the challenge and reward

Best Challenging Trek
211 miles (340km), 17-20 days

Slovenia possesses sizable portions of two trails from the network, which has five color-coded routes stretching across the eight countries of the Alps. The trails provide classic European hiking: often challenging, sometimes long and steep and typically well marked. In Slovenia, lodges, hotels and mountain huts service the routes (most serving food) and make it convenient to hike approximately 10km (six miles) per day on the and around 17km per day on the . In simple terms, think of Purple as west to east and Red Trail as south to north.

Slovenia鈥檚 Purple Trail (10 stages, approximately seven days) begins near Mount Triglav鈥檚 base and hikes from the Julian Alps across the Kamnik鈥揝avinja and Karavanke Alps into Austria. Take a day to summit , Slovenia鈥檚 highest peak, before setting out. You鈥檒l need a helmet and harness (via ferrata gear), but the views aren鈥檛 just rewarding, they are necessary. As the lore goes, you are not a real Slovene until you climb the country鈥檚 tallest point. The Red Trail, which forms the overall backbone of the entire Via Dinarica network, spends part or all of 15 stages (around 10 days) in Slovenia. The route starts in Trieste, Italy, before heading into the Julian Alps and crossing country lines near the junction between Slovenia, Austria and Italy. Along the way, you鈥檒l pass two Unesco Heritage Sites: the and the town of , which has the planet鈥檚 second-largest mercury mine. In order to guarantee that lodgings are open 鈥 and for stable weather generally 鈥 it is best to hike from June to October.

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The majestic Predjama Castle tucked inside the mouth of the Postojna Cave, Slovenia
Yes, that's a castle built into a cave: Predjama Castle emerging from the mouth of the Postojna Cave, Slovenia 漏 Egeris / Shutterstock

Via Dinarica for the pace and ease

Best for Authentic Mountain Culture
94 miles (152km), 7 days

The Trail took the Via Alpina (see above) concept and transferred it south and east across the Dinaric Alps, which sprawl over the countries of the Western Balkans. The trailhead for the entire Via Dinarica route is the Nanos Plateau in 鈥檚 southwestern Karst region. Continuing eastward, the country鈥檚 portion of the path ends after reaching the tiny municipality of Babno Polje on the Croatian border.

Trekkers should be ready for a slightly more backcountry feel to the hiking experience in the Balkans. Huts, hostels and family-run hotels are still the accommodations found, but they often come with a slower and easier 鈥 and noticeably less expensive 鈥 pace. Highlights along the route include the Predjama Castle, the mammoth Postojna Cave and Adriatic views from the top of the 5,892-foot Sne啪nik Mountain.

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Slovenia is on our 2022 Best of Travel list. For more stories from some of the world鈥檚 most exciting destinations click here.

Safety recommendations and restrictions during a pandemic can change rapidly. 老澳门六合彩开奖记录 recommends that travelers always check with local authorities for up-to-date guidance before traveling during COVID-19.

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