Slovenia is a riveting destination for adventurous and challenging hut-to-hut hiking.
Hut to Hut hiking is a type of multi-day trekking, where you overnight in mountain huts along the way. In Slovenia, there are both managed huts (Dom and Koฤa) and unmanaged shelters (Bivouac). Weโll be concentrating exclusively on the managed hut system.ย
Managed huts offer shared rooms and mattresses or beds in dormitories. Bathroom facilities are always communal. Warm food and beverages are served throughout the day.
Some huts have showers and most have running water, with the exception of the high-altitude huts. A Slovenian mountain hut is like a hostel with food, but far better, because everyone is on the same schedule.
Unlike other alpine regions in Europe, thereโs very little ski infrastructure (cableways/chairlifts) in the Slovenian Alps. That means that the most majestic landscapes and trails cannot be easily accessed on a day hike, unless youโre willing and, or able to hike 12-13 hours in a day.
Hut-to-hut hikes enable you to explore quieter paths and peaks in the Slovenian Alps. Itโs the best way to experience the incredible beauty and wildlife of the mountains. Itโs also the only way to overnight in the backcountry. Wild camping is strictly forbidden in Slovenia.
An added bonus of overnighting in Slovenian huts is being able to watch the sunrise and sunset in the heart of the mountains.
In our guide to hut-to-hut hiking in Slovenia, youโll learn when and where to go hut-to-hut hiking, how to make hut reservations, what to eat and drink, what to pack, and what to expect (checking-in, payment, hut facilities, etcโฆ).
- When to Hike Hut-to-Hut: July, August, early-mid September
- Permits: None Needed
- Mountain Hut Reservations: Necessary
- When to Make Reservations: 3 weeks – 2 months in advance
- Who Can Make Hut Reservations: Anyone
- Essential Packing Items: Sleeping bag liner, passport, house slippers (we bring crocs), earplugs, and Kindle.
- Hiking Gear: Cat 4 Sunglasses like these Julbo Shield Mountain Sunglasses; Trekking Poles like these Unisex Black Diamond Hiking Poles; and Grade B/C Hiking Boots.
- Best Self-Guided Hut-to-Hut Hiking Tours in Slovenia: Crossing the Julian Alps (5-day hut hike + arrival/departure), Mountains and Lakes Hut-to-Hut (4-day hut hike + arrival/depature), and Triglav National Park Adventure (4-day hut hike)
- Best Guided Hiking Tours in Slovenia: Discover the Slovenian Alps (3-day hut-to-hut hike + day hikes) and Best of the Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut (3-day hut-to-hut hike with Triglav summit option)
When to Go Hut to Hut Hiking
Most mountain huts in Slovenia are seasonally managed from late-June/early July until late-September. Opening and closing times shift each year, depending on snow conditions.
We recommend planning your hut-to-hut hikes in July, August, and early-mid September.
Itโs possible to hike hut-to-hut in June, after a short winter. However, we recommend planning June trips spontaneously, when you’re certain that the conditions are favorable.
The only hut-to-hut hiking trail that is doable starting in mid-May is the Alpe-Adria trail (Slovenian Stages). Consider booking this private, 3-day guided Best of Alpe-Adria Trail hiking tour, or these self-guided hiking tours: 4-day Alpe Adria Trail Adventure or 8-day Best of Alpe-Adria and Juliana Trail.
Some huts may stay open until early-mid October, weather depending.
October can be either the beginning of winter, or a brilliant extension of summer. It changes each year. So, we donโt recommend hut-to-hut hiking in October. October is better for day hiking and road trips. Read visiting Slovenia in October for tips on what to see and do in autumn.
How to Plan a Hut-to-Hut Hike in Slovenia
Choose Your Destination
The Slovenian Alps are made up of three mountain ranges: the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Karawanks. We recommend planning a hut-to-hut hike in either the Julian Alps or the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
The Julian Alps – home to Mount Triglav – attract the most visitors each year. The Kamnik Alps are just as majestic, but far less popular. We always encourage experienced hikers to consider a hut-to-hut hike in the Kamnik-Savinja range.
Decide How Long You Want to Hike
Some people like short and sweet 3-day hikes. Other hikers like trekking hut-to-hut for 2 weeks, or longer. Kati and I prefer hiking for 4-6 days. After 6 days, we just need a proper shower and fresh clothing.
Plan Your Hut-to-Hut Hiking Route
This is the hard part. So, unlike other Alpine States, there arenโt a lot of established multi-day hiking routes in Slovenia.
The only official alpine hut-to-hut hike in Slovenia is the Slovenian Mountain Trail (30+ days). You can use the Slovenian Mountain Trail (Slovenska planinska pot) as inspiration for shorter treks, or hike the whole thing. Read this Cicerone Guide: Trekking in Slovenia: The Slovene High Level Route.
The newly-created Juliana Trail circuits the Julian Alps, bypassing the high-alpine areas. Learn more: Trekking Slovenia’s Juliana Trail: Three-week trek: Bled, Triglav and the Julian Alps. The advantage of this trekking route is that it’s easy and can be hiked during shoulder seasons.
In addition, several long-distance trails traverse Slovenia, including the Alpe Adria Trail and the Via Alpina purple route. You may want to hike a section of those famous long-distance routes.
Book a Self-Guided Hiking Tour in Slovenia
If you’re interested in sampling the most beautiful stretches of the Juliana Trail and the Alpe-Adria trail, we recommend booking this self-guided Best of Alpe-Adria and Juliana Trail hiking tour, available between May and October.
The easiest way to plan a hut-to-hut route in Slovenia is to book a self-guided hiking trip with a local hiking tour operator like Slotrips.
Check out these self-guided routes in Triglav National Park: Crossing the Julian Alps (5-day hut-to-hut hike + arrival/departure), Triglav National Park Adventure (4-day hut-to-hut hike), and Mountains and Lakes Hut-to-Hut (4 day hut-to-hut hike + arrival/departure).
For an off-the-beaten-path adventure, take a look at this 4-day Trekking the Karawanks route.
Create Your Own Hut-to-Hut Route
Experienced hikers can purchase a paper trail map and use the following resources to plan trekking routes across Slovenia.
Hribi.net is a resource for all Slovenian mountain huts, peaks, and trail connections. This site is a reliable source of information for all things hiking and mountaineering in the Slovenian Alps.
Pzs.si is the official Alpine Association of Slovenia website. Use this site to find out opening times of huts, hut contact information, ascent routes and more.
stanje-poti.pzs.si/ – the interactive map on this PZS page indicates which hiking trails are closed. We always double check trail closures with the local tourist office, because sometimes this map isnโt up-to-date.
Our Hut to Hut Hiking Routes
Here are several hut-to-hut hiking routes we created. These hikes easily rank in our top 10 treks in Europe of all time. And, many readers have since followed our itinerary and loved their experience.
Triglav National Park Traverse: Vrลกiฤ Pass to Lake Bohinj
This is a 4-day hike in the Julian Alps suitable for hikers with alpine hiking experience who are confident hiking in limestone/karst/scree terrain. There are some secured passages along the route, but no via ferrata equipment is needed. Climbing helmets are always advisable in the Slovenian Alps.
You can book this trek across the Julian Alps independently. All the huts are bookable online.
However, there are many benefits to booking this self-guided Crossing the Julian Alps hiking tour with Slotrips.
It resolves many issues hikers encounter while organizing this point-to-point trek, including getting to the trailhead, extra luggage storage, extending the route, and the option to climb Mount Triglav with a certified guide.
Kamnik-Savinja Alps Traverse: Kamniลกka Bistrica to Zgornje Jezersko
This is a 4-day hike in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps suitable for highly experienced alpine hikers who are confident hiking and scrambling across exposed ridgelines and very difficult terrain. Stages 1 and 4 are relatively easy, but stages 3 and 4 are extremely long and challenging. A climbing helmet is a must.
Recommended womenโs helmet: Black diamond women’s climbing helmet
Recommended men’s helmet: Black diamond men’s climbing helmet
Learn More: Kamnik-Savinja Alps Hut to Hut Hike
Triglav Summit Hike
There are many ways to ascend to the summit of Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. All hikes require a minimum of two days with an overnight in a mountain hut. The easiest ascent route starts on Pokljuka Plateau. To learn more about this ascent route, read Climbing Mount Triglav the Easy Way.
To reach the summit of Triglav, all hikers must tackle a via ferrata (secured climbing route). If you don’t have any via ferrata experience, we recommend booking this 3-day guided Best of the Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut with Slotrips, a local and reputable hiking tour company. During the booking process, make sure to add the Triglav summit climb (optional add-on).
During this trek, an IFMGA-licensed guide will lead you up to the summit and provide all necessary via ferrata equipment.
Additional benefits of booking this trek include pick-ups and drop-offs from Ljubljana, Bled, and Bohinj, guaranteed departure dates on Mondays between July and September, and a more interesting circular route which includes Seven Lakes Valley.
Veliko ล piฤje & Seven Lakes Valley
This 2-day circuit hike in the Julian Alps combines the thrilling Veliko ล piฤje summit and ล piฤje ridge with the Seven Lakes Valley. This is an extremely challenging hike for fit and surefooted hikers.
Learn More: ล piฤje Ridge Trail
Hiking Trails: Waymarks and Signage
Generally, trails are well-kept and well-marked.
Trails are marked with Knafelc markers and red lines, which indicate direction. Sometimes these waymarks are badly fading, which is only problematic in high karst environments, where thereโs no obvious footpath.
We use Maps.me offline maps app, when weโre unsure of the trail direction. Make sure to download the Slovenia map before you start your hike.
How good is the signage? It depends what youโre used to. The signage is pretty good. Itโs not as clear as it is in Austria, but itโs far better than signage in the Balkan states.
Compared to Austria, there are far less metal trail signs indicating destination and time needed. Instead, directions are lettered and painted in red on stones and boulders.
Also, trails are not color-coded according to difficulty.
Mountain Hut Reservations
When to Make Overnight Reservations for Mountain Huts
We recommend making reservations 3 weeks – 2 months in advance. You can also make reservations at shorter notice, if your dates are flexible and you donโt mind sleeping in large dormitory rooms.
If you need to cancel your reservation, inform the hut as early as possible.
How to Make Overnight Reservations for Mountain Huts
There is no uniform system for booking huts in Slovenia. You must contact each hut individually with your arrival date, name, and room preference (if applicable).
We always try to email huts first. If we donโt get a response in 1 week, we usually follow-up with a phone call.
The Alpine Association of Slovenia website (PZS) is where youโll find every mountain hutโs contact information (email and phone numbers).
This year, we’re seeing more and more huts on the Alpsonline reservation platform. If a hut can be booked online, the PZS hut page links directly to the Alpsonline booking page. Look for the blue button with the following text: “Rezervacija leลพiลกฤ.”
Note: Some huts may ask you to re-confirm your booking several days before arrival.
Check-in Process and Payment
- Check-in before 5 p.m.
- Present your passport and alpine club membership card (if you have one).
- Inform staff that you have a sleeping bag liner.
- Decide whether you want half board (breakfast and dinner).
- Ask for a shower token.
- Pay for your stay.
- Take off your shoes, before entering the sleeping quarters.
What Time Can You Check-In?
It depends on the hut.
Some huts are very casual. The staff will let you check-in anytime after noon, and they’ll show you to your room/mattress right away.
However, other huts are more rigid and have strict check-in times (e.g. 3 pm). Recently, we stayed in Vodnikov Dom, and they didnโt let anyone access the rooms until 6 pm (which is frankly absurd).
Officially, your overnight reservation is valid until 5 pm. If you think youโll be arriving later, you should communicate your approximate arrival time to the hut in advance.
Check-in Documents
When you check-in, you should present the following:
Passport. Not all huts will accept a driverโs license as a form of ID.
Alpine Club Membership Card (if you have on). This will save you a lot of money on your overnight stay. You can learn more about Alpine Clubs in Tips for Hiking in the European Alps.
Weโve never had to show proof of our reservation (e.g. Alpsonline document/email confirmation).
Sleeping Bag Liner
Slovenian mountain huts provide basic bedding (sheets/comforter/pillow), but this bedding isnโt washed regularly. For hygienic purposes, a sleeping bag liner is mandatory.
Make sure to inform the staff that you have a sleeping bag liner with you. Guests who do not bring a sleeping bag liner must purchase disposable sheets, which creates a lot of waste. Note: you are not allowed to sleep in a sleeping bag in the huts.
Recommended Silk-Cotton Blend Liner (what we use): Sea to Summit Silk-Cotton Blend Travel and Sleeping Bag Liner
Recommended Silk Sleeping Bag Liner: 100% Mulberry Silk Ultra lightweight (150 g)
Recommended Cotton Sleeping Bag Liner: Cocoon Cotton TravelSheet
Half Board or ร La Carte
The staff will ask you if you want half board (breakfast and dinner). If you say yes, youโll pay for your overnight stay and half board right away. If you say no, youโll just pay for your overnight stay and you can purchase breakfast and dinner on an ร la carte basis.
Kati and I always opt for ร la carte in Slovenian Huts. Unlike huts in Austria and Italy, half board doesnโt equate to a 3-course dinner and a generous breakfast buffet.
In Slovenia, half board is usually a 1-course dinner (stew or pasta dish of your choice) and a meager breakfast (sliced bread, marmalade and other spreads, and 1 egg).
Also, when you order half board at some huts, coffee is not included. Tea, or a white coffee is included, and you have to pay extra for real coffee.
By ordering ร la carte, you have the most flexibility and you can eat exactly what you want.
Shower
Some huts have showers. These showers are usually token-operated and cost around 3 or 4 EUR for a 3 min hot shower.
When you check-in, you can inquire about their shower facilities. We recommend purchasing the shower tokens right away and showering earlier rather than later. Sometimes the hot water will run out, and youโll end up paying for a cold shower.
Payment
You will pay for your stay upon arrival (not in the evening like in Austrian huts). Some huts accept credit cards, but not all. We recommend always bringing sufficient cash.
Itโs extremely rare for mountain huts in Slovenia to ask for a deposit in advance.
How Much Does it Cost to Stay Overnight in a Slovenian Mountain Hut?
The price will vary depending on the category of hut you’re staying in and the type of room you’re sleeping in. We wrote about that in detail in our guide to Slovenia mountain huts. Huts at higher elevations will be more expensive than huts at lower elevations.
Your overnight stay may cost as little as 9 EUR per person (dormitory with alpine club membership) and as much as 28.50 EUR per person (double room with no alpine club membership).
In addition to your overnight stay and any food/drinks you consume, you also have to pay a tourist tax (~2 EUR per person).
Checking-Out
Thereโs no formal process for checking-out. However, itโs commonplace that you need to vacate your room by 8 or 9 am.
Food and Drinks
All managed huts in Slovenia sell warm food and a variety of beverages. The food can quickly get monotonous, as some Slovenian huts only serve 2-3 dishes per day and those dishes are usually the same in each hut.
The cost of food and drinks will sharply increase the higher you go, as high-elevation huts can only be serviced by helicopters. The more accessible the hut, the cheaper the food.
Vegetarian soups and stews usually cost 4.50 – 7 EUR. If you add sausage to a stew, it’ll cost 6.50 – 9 EUR. Goulash costs 7 EUR – 11 EUR. A slice of apple strudel will cost around 3.50 EUR. Pasta with bolognese sauce will cost 7 – 9 EUR.
Soups & Stews
Zelenjavna Juha – vegetable soup
Gobova Juha โ mushroom soup
Jota โ thick stew made with sour cabbage (Sauerkraut), potatoes and beans.
Jota s klobaso – cabbage stew with sausage.
Jota s mesom – cabbage stew with meat.
Riฤet โ barley stew made with beans.
Riฤet s klobaso – barley stew with sausage.
Riฤet s mesom – barley stew with meat.
Pasulj โ bean stew
Golaลพ – goulash
Savory Dishes
Kranjska klobasa โ Carniolan sausage, a sausage made with pork meat and bacon and spiced with salt, pepper, and garlic.
Ajdovi ลฝganci โ buckwheat spoon bread, or buckwheat porridge, served with pork cracklings.
Makaronovo meso – macaroni with minced meat/bolognese sauce
ล truklji
ล truklji is a dough roll (or dumpling) made with various fillings. It can be served savory, or sweet. For the best blueberry ล truklji, hike to Kofce mountain hut.
ล truklji Sirovi โ cheese filling
ล truklji Borovniฤevi โ blueberry filling
Desserts
Jabolฤni zavitek – apple strudel
Palaฤinke ฤokolada – crepes with chocolate
Palaฤinke marmelada – crepes with jam
Nonalcoholic Drinks
Fanta, Coca Cola
Jabolฤni sok – apple juice
Water – still or sparkling
Alcoholic Drinks
Pivovarna Laลกko – Beer
Union – Beer
Union Radler – grapefruit juice and beer
Vino – wine, available by the glass ( ,1 L) or by the liter.
Borovniฤke – blueberry Liqueur
Hot Drinks
ฤaj – Tea
Kava – Coffee. Most huts serve Turkish-style coffee. Only a few huts have espresso machines.
Kava z mlekom – Coffee with milk
Kakav – Cacao
Where Do I Order Food and Drinks?
Slovenian mountain huts are always self-service. Usually, youโll order inside directly at the counter. Some huts may have an outdoor window.
Is the Water Safe to Drink?
It depends on the hut. Some huts have drinking water, directly from the tap or outdoor fountain. Other mountain huts do not have potable water. If they donโt, you can always purchase bottled water.
Can I Bring My Own Food?
You can. However, you should prepare and eat your food outside. If you use the hut tables, they have the right to charge you a โsetting fee.โ
Hut Hiking in Slovenia Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions we frequently receive. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below.
Can I Bring My Dog?
No. Dogs arenโt allowed inside mountain huts in Slovenia.
Do You Feel Safe Hiking in Slovenia as a LGBTQ Woman?
Absolutely. Slovenia is very safe. Weโve visited several times and we’ve never had a negative experience.
Can I Meet People in the Huts?
Yes, you certainly can. Weโve met many interesting people in the mountain huts.
A lot of people ask us if they can meet people in the huts to hike with. Iโm assuming thatโs a common question for solo hikers who have experience hiking the Camino routes.
While itโs possible, itโs unlikely. Unlike a Camino route, you wonโt necessarily be hiking at the same speed or even the same trail/direction as other hikers. Furthermore, hiking in the Slovenian Alps isnโt an inherently social, or casual endeavor. Itโs a serious undertaking with real risks.
In a high alpine environment, no one wants to assume responsibility for someone they’ve never hiked with.
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What are the huts like at night, temperature wise? I’m trekking in mid-June and was wondering weather which liner to take; the basic cotton bag liner or my extra warm (adds ~25 degF to bag rating) liner. Thanks….
Hi,
It depends on the elevation of the hut. The higher the hut, the colder it is.
We always use the cotton liner. The Slovenian mountain huts provide blankets. Note: the high-elevation huts (near the summit of Triglav) can be really cold and we’ve had to sleep in our puffer jackets as well.
Happy hiking,
Sabrina
Hi,
We are planning to do the hut to hut hiking trip of 4 days in Triglav National Park. Since we aren’t able to go by car, we would like to use public transport. However, we don’t really understand how to plan our bus trip from Ljubljana Airport to Vrsic Pass via the site alpetour.si.
How did you do this since the site is not in English?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Joran,
Use Nomago.si. You can also consult the Kranjska Gora Tourist Page for a timetable for the KRANJSKA GORAโVRล IฤโBOVEC bus line. They haven’t updated it since last year, so you can also reach out to them directly.
All the best,
Sabrina
Hi, I’ve been reading all your blog on Slovenia and found them so useful! Does everyone in the group need the Alpine Club Membership Card in order to get the discount on a booking, or only the person who made the reservation? We are a group of three, and it would be great to know if only one of us needs to get the membership! Thanks.
Hi Sara,
Yes, everyone needs the alpine club to get the discount.
All the best,
Sabrina
Thank you so much for the reply
Another thought we have, is that if climbing Triglav from Dom Planika only takes a few hours, are there ways to extend or add on another short walk? We have booked two nights at Dom Planika and concerned it might be too much since we are experienced hikers. We are considering walking to Dom Valentina Stanica for example.
Best wishes,
Sara
Hi Sara,
After ascending to Mount Triglav, you could descend to Triglavski dom na Kredarici. From here, you could continue to Dom Valentina Starnica and then circle back to Dom Planika. We haven’t hiked that route, so I can’t offer any guidance.
Have fun hiking in Slovenia,
Sabrina
Good day, Considering mid-end July time, in case of sudden change of plans during hiking, and subsequently, if I need to stay in the hut, which was not booked in advance, and if the hut is already full for that night, is there any chance that hut owners could find some place to sleep for me?
Hi Vlad,
It’s unlikely that they’ll let you stay if the hut is at full capacity. Huts are only obliged to shelter hikers in severe weather/emergencies.
All the best,
Sabrina
Hi there,
First of all, thanks a lot for the effort you have made to write all your blogs. I’ve found them by chance and they are all insanely useful.
I have two brief questions regarding these hut-to-hut treks in Slovenia:
– Did you have to use at any point the offline trail maps in your Kamnik-Savinja trek? If yes, where did you find the .gpx of each track?
– Do you know if bivouacking is allowed? I have read many articles about the ban of free camping, but nothing about passing the night just with you mattress. All the main huts in the Julian Alps are practically full in August, and this might be the only way we have to make some of the trails you write about.
Thanks a lot in advance. You have already won a loyal follower!
Greetings from Spain,
Kike.
Hi Kike,
Thank you so much! Glad to have you here.
When we hiked these routes, we used paper trail maps and a mobile app with offline maps for navigation. We don’t supply GPX tracks for legal/safety reasons as we can’t guarantee that the trails don’t change due to rockfalls, etc…
If you are interested in the Kamnik-Alps Traverse, please reach out to the Jezersko tourist office to confirm that the trail is open.
I believe bivouacking is only allowed in the case of an emergency.
Happy trails,
Sabrina