The Slovene Mountain Trail - Front Cover

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Slovenska planinska pot

Guidebook to trekking the Slovene Mountain Trail or Transverzala, 550km across Slovenia. Beginning at Maribor near the Austrian border to Ankaran on the Adriatic coast, the route is described as a series of 3 to 6-day treks through the region of Pohorje and the limestone mountains of the Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja and Julian Alps.

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Quick facts

Location: Slovenia, from Maribor (Austrian border) to Ankaran (Adriatic coast)
Number of stages: 12 stages, each 3–6 days; total of 49 days for the full route
Distance: 550km (342 miles)
Duration: 49 days (full route; each stage can be walked separately or linked for a longer trek); daily stages vary in length and difficulty
Areas covered: Pohorje plateau, Julian Alps, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Karavanke, Karst region, Adriatic coast
Route type: Long-distance mountain and upland trail, classic hut-to-hut walking
Difficulty: All levels, from gentle track-based days (Grade 1) to technical alpine terrain with via ferrata (Grade 3); suitable for hikers with varying experience
Terrain: Forested plateaus, limestone peaks, alpine pastures, flower-strewn ridges, karst hills, olive groves, mountain and coastal landscapes
Navigation: Illustrated sketch maps, route profiles, detailed descriptions, and stage-by-stage information
Best season: Mid-June to end of September (snow-free and stable weather; mountain huts open)
Highlights: Julian Alps, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, traditional summit stamp collecting, Slovenian mountain culture, panoramic ridge walks, scenic Adriatic finish
Equipment: Good walking boots, weatherproof clothing, via ferrata kit (for technical sections), and suitable gear for multi-day trekking
Accommodation: Mountain huts, lodges, and inns at stage endpoints and along the route

Author Highlight

"Slovenia is only a tiny country, but within its small area lies some of the most varied and beautiful mountain scenery in the whole of Europe. From the stark heights of the Alps, through forested plateaus and rolling hill country scattered with small farmsteads, to the fascinating limestone karst areas, Slovenia has it all. And to explore it, there are thousands of kilometres of waymarked tracks and paths, from wine routes to high mountains and via ferratas. The series of treks described in this book together form the Slovene Mountain Trail and constitute around 550km of walking that is by turn beautiful, impressive, magnificent and spectacular, and will richly reward all who undertake the journey.”

Justi Carey and Roy Clark, authors of The Slovene Mountain Trail

Detailed overview

Discover the remarkable beauty and diversity of Slovenia as you walk from Maribor near the Austrian border to Ankaran on the Adriatic Coast on the legendary Slovene Mountain Trail (Slovenska planinska pot or Transverzala). This inspiring long-distance route traverses the heart of Slovenia, crossing the Julian Alps, the Karavanke, and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, as well as the forested Pohorje plateau and the rolling hills and olive groves of the Karst, offering a unique blend of dramatic mountain landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

Perfect for fit walkers and mountaineers with some alpine experience, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook presents the complete Slovene Mountain Trail, described in 12 stages of 3–6 day treks, covering 550km (342 miles) and taking a total of 49 days to complete. Each stage can be tackled individually or linked together, allowing you to tailor the adventure to your own plans and ambitions.

Explore Slovenia’s most iconic mountain regions, including the vast forests of Pohorje, the sheer limestone peaks of the Julian and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the flower-strewn alpine pastures and ridges of the Karavanke, and the scenic limestone Karst on the approach to the Adriatic. Each day brings new scenery, from high summits to tranquil woodlands and traditional villages.
The Slovene Mountain Trail is best enjoyed from mid-June to the end of September, when routes are generally snow-free, and mountain huts are open.
Stages of the Slovene Mountain Trail are clearly described with daily distance, ascent/descent, grade of difficulty, and estimated walking times, making it easy to plan each day, whether you seek a gentle track-based stage or challenging technical terrain with via ferrata and fixed protection.
The stages are designed for maximum flexibility, with ease of access via public transport and the option to complete sections in any order, whether you dream of a continuous 49-day trek or prefer to savour individual highlights of the Slovene Mountain Trail at your own pace.
Each route description includes essential information on start and finish points, public transport connections, mountain huts, accommodation, refreshment options, and facilities, making it easy to plan every stage of your Slovenian Mountain Trail journey.
Features detailed sketch maps, profiles, and photographs for every stage, plus practical advice on Slovenian wildlife and flora, waymarking, traditions such as collecting summit stamps, and enjoying local food and drink along the trail.

Plan your adventure along the Slovene Mountain Trail with this definitive Cicerone guidebook and discover one of Europe’s most varied and rewarding long-distance walks, where each stage reveals a new facet of Slovenia’s natural and cultural treasures, from alpine peaks to the sparkling Adriatic coast.

Where and when to go

Seasons

June-September; some of the easier treks can be made in May and October, but note that huts will be closed

Centres

Maribor, Slovenj Gradec, Solčava, Zgornje Jezersko, Tržič, Dovje/Mojstrana, Vršič, Trenta, Petrovo Brdo, Idrija, Col, Matavun, Ankaran.

Difficulty

each day has a subjective grade of 1-3, but even the easiest days require a good level of walking fitness. The most difficult, grade 3 sections, require mountaineering experience as they are strenuous, often very exposed, and will have sections of fixed protection; helmet and self-belaying equipment are recommended here.

Must See

the Pohorje uplands; the Kamnik-Savinja Alps; the Julian Alps; including Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia, the Triglav Lakes valley, and the Vršič Pass; the Karst region; the mining town of Idrija; the Škocjan caves; the Adriatic coast.

Map key
Overview map

Introduction
Landscape and geology
Climate and weather
Wildlife and flowers
The route
When to go
Getting there
Travelling within Slovenia
Accommodation
Food and drink
Money and shopping
Communications
Health and hazards
Language
Maps
Waymarking
Equipment
Mountain safety
Using this guidebook

The Slovene Mountain Trail

Stage 1 Maribor to Slovenj Gradec
Stage 2 Slovenj Gradec to Solčava
Stage 3 Solčava to Zgornje Jezersko
Stage 4 Zgornje Jezersko to Tržič
Stage 5 Tržič to Dovje/Mojstrana
Stage 6 Dovje/Mojstrana to Vršič
Stage 7 Vršič to Trenta
Stage 8 Trenta to Petrovo Brdo
Stage 9 Petrovo Brdo to Idrija
Stage 10 Idrija to Col
Stage 11 Col to Matavun
Stage 12 Matavun to Ankaran

Appendix A Bibliography
Appendix B The Slovene language
Appendix C Transport to and facilities at the stage start points
Appendix D Hut telephone numbers
Appendix E Route summary table

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN	9781786310200
Availability	Published
Published	19 March 2019
Reprinted	13 February 2023
Pages	256
Weight	290g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

Updated 24 May 2023
Maps for the TRansverzala route
We have had reports of difficulty finding the maps for the TRansverzala route. The Slovene Alpine Club, PZS, list the required maps on their English page about the route: https://en.pzs.si/vsebina.php?pid=58. All of these except Pohorje are available in PZS's own shop for €9.10 if you click the map title it takes you to the shop, but not directly to the specific map; the five that are available are all on pages 1 and 2 of the shop, with blue covers - just match the name up).
The Pohorje and Nanos maps appear to be out of print. It may be possible to still buy them locally, but they do not seem to be available online.
PZS has released all the maps of Slovenia on a free app, https://mapzs.pzs.si/home/trails, the page has an English translation, if it comes up in Slovene first) which cover the whole country.
Updated 1 August 2019
Updates
Thank you to two walkers, Lorraine and Andrew, who have sent updates to us after walking the route. See below for some advice on this:
1. STAGE 3 DAY 1: The hut Kocbekov dom which was burned to the ground in October 2017 see margin note on p73) has not yet been rebuilt, and we haven't been able to find any projected date for when a new hut will open.
The problem is there is no alternative accommodation in these high, rocky mountains, so there is no real option other than to go on to the next hut. The next nearest hut is Kamniška koca na Kamniškem sedlu, which is reached in 5h30 according to the next stage Stage 3 Day 2), or can be reached in 3 hours via Srebrno sedlo not marked on our sketch map, but the route is clear on the sheet map). This latter alternative omits Ojstrica and Planjava.
2. STAGE 3 DAY 4: A section of the path which goes to the summit of Skuta is closed and has been for the last 12 months. In this case, walkers should go directly to Cojzova koca after the ascent of Turska gora, following the path which is clearly marked on the sheet map but not our sketch map in the book), avoiding the summit of Skuta altogether. The route can then be picked up again the following day.
We always recommend that guidebook users check the route with PZS or the local tourist office in advance, because the mountains of Slovenia are a mobile, evolving landscape - increasingly so due to the climate crisis. Floods, landslides, rockfalls, even fallen trees etc that can damage parts of the route are common even if hut fires are not).

Meet the authors

Justi Carey

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Justi Carey and Roy Clark started visiting the British mountains in their teens, a discovery which has shaped their whole lives. Their passion and love for the outdoors has since led to travels across the world - taking in Iceland, North America, Jordan and New Zealand - and a deep commitment to the environment, while their continuing interest in being 'out there' has resulted in an enthusiasm for downhill and cross-country skiing, canoeing, cycle touring, horse riding and even rollerblading! Since moving to Slovenia in 2002, Justi has worked as an English teacher, while Roy has developed his skills in, and passion for, landscape photography. They now run a Bed and Breakfast in the mountainous north-west corner of Slovenia.

Roy Clark

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Roy Clark and Justi Carey started visiting the British mountains in their teens, a discovery that has shaped their whole lives. Their passion and love for the outdoors has since led to travels across the world - taking in Iceland, North America, Jordan and New Zealand - and a deep commitment to the environment, while their continuing interest in being 'out there' has resulted in an enthusiasm for downhill and cross-country skiing, canoeing, cycle touring, horse riding and even rollerblading! Since moving to Slovenia in 2002, Justi has worked as an English teacher, while Roy has developed his skills in, and passion for, landscape photography. They now run a Bed and Breakfast in the mountainous north-west corner of Slovenia.