Hiking across the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Slovenia

Make Reservations for Mountain Huts

It’s important to make reservations for overnight stays at least 1-2 weeks in advance.

Note: If you’re staying in a mountain hut during the weekend, you should book earlier.

The most reliable way to make reservations is by calling the hut directly, or – if available – by booking via the Alpsonline platform. Email response rate is 50%.

You can choose between sleeping in a shared-dormitory, or a private room.

Here are the contact numbers/pages of the mountain huts mentioned in this guide:

Dom v Kamniški Bistrici +386 1 832 55 44 | Booking.com online reservation (not always available)

Kamniška koča na Kamniškem sedlu +386(0)8 16 14 989, or +386 (0)1 83 91 345 | Alpsonline online reservation

Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu +386 (0)1 83 91 345, or +386 (0) 81 615 115 | Alpsonline online reservation

Češka koča na Spodnjih Ravneh +386 40 28 33 00 | Check their Facebook page for trail updates

Buy a Paper Trail Map

When planning a trek through the Slovenian Alps, a hiking map is essential.

Via Ferrata trails are typically denoted by dotted lines. Routes that are difficult are denoted in broken lines.

We recommend the Kartografija or Grintovci 1:25 000 for all hikes in the Kamnik Savinja Alps.

Pack your Passport, Sleeping Bag Liner, and …

• Sturdy, Grade B/C, High-Cut Hiking Boots like the women’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX / Meindl Schuhe Island Lady or the men’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX.
• Hiking Poles.We love these Black Diamond trail poles.
• Polarized Cat 4 Sunglasses 
• Hut to Hut Hiking Backpack: The Osprey Kyte 36 (for women) and the Osprey Kestrel 38 (for men).
• Climbing Helmet like this women’s helmet and this men’s helmet. The Julian Alps and Kamnik Alps are prone to rockfall. You need a helmet for tackling any high-altitude trails or peak climbs.
• Climbing Gloves (optional, but highly recommended) like these black diamond half-finger gloves.
• Via Ferrata Harness (optional)
• Via Ferrata Lanyard (optional)

Though we carried the full via ferrata kit for this trek, we never used the harness and lanyard. We only used the helmet. That being said, some people may feel far more comfortable and at ease with the kit.

Read our complete hut to hut hiking packing list.

Bring enough Cash and Budget for 45 EUR per person per day

Note: budget an additional 15 EUR per day if you don’t have an alpine club membership card.

• Tourist Tax: 1.15 EUR per person per night
• Dormitory Mattress: 22-28 EUR, with Alpine Club Discount: 9-14 EUR per person
• Private room (2-bedroom): around 28 EUR, with Alpine Club Discount: 18.90 EUR per person
• Breakfast: 5 EUR
• Dinner Meal: 6-7 EUR
• Soup: 5 EUR
• Beer & Wine: 3-4 EUR
• 1 Liter Water Bottle: 2.50 EUR
• Appliance Charging (phone, camera batteries): Free

Learn these Slovenian Words

dober dan – hello

hvala – thank you

dom, koča – mountain hut

gora – mountain

vhr – summit

greben – ridge

jezero – lake

planina – open pasture, alp

sedlo – saddle

dolina – valley

slap – waterfall

Follow the Knafelc Waymark

All trails are marked with the Knafelc Waymark, which is a red circle with a white center. Trail markings are generally well-maintained and easy to follow.

Become a member of an Alpine Club

You’ll get a significant discount on your overnight stay if you present your alpine club membership card. There are tons of alpine clubs throughout Europe, so just confirm with the hut owner whether your alpine club is accepted.

If you don’t have an Alpine Club membership, you can apply for the Alpine Association of Slovenia. Processing may take a few weeks.

We’re members of the Österreichischen Alpenverein (Austrian Alpine Club), and so we receive discounts on all mountain huts that have contracts with the Austrian Alpine Club. We received a discount in every hut in Slovenia.

You can learn more about European Alpine Clubs in our Hiking in the Alps guide.

Travel to Kamniška Bistrica / Kamnik

If you’re arriving in Ljubljana, you can catch a direct train (or bus) to Kamnik (1 hour), where you have to change to another bus to Kamniška Bistrica (20 min.). 

Another option is to spend the night in Kamnik, before making your way to the trailhead the next day.

Where to Stay in Kamniška Bistrica

Budget | We stayed at Dom v Kamniški Bistrici, a hut located directly at the trailhead. The food was great and the hosts were really friendly and helpful.

Budget | Guest House Kraljev Hrib

Midrange | Skalca Tinyhouse

Midrange | U Konc Glamping

Where to Stay in Kamnik

Budget | Guest House Pri Cesarju

Midrange | ABC apartments

Look for accommodation in Kamnik.

Stage 1: Dom v Kamniški Bistrici (600 m) – Kamniška koča na Kamniškem sedlu (1864 m)

• Distance: 5.4 km
• Time Needed: 3:30 – 4 hours
• Elevation Gain: 1270 m
• Elevation Loss: 0 m
• Minimum Elevation: 599 m
• Maximum Elevation: 1869 m

Though continuously uphill, today’s stage is very manageable and doesn’t present any technical difficulty.

The trail begins at Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. Follow the paved road from the hut to a small parking lot. At the parking area, there will be red signs indicating the direction to Kamniškem sedlu (our trail) and Kokrskem sedlu. 

The trail begins steeply and ascends through the forest via a narrow path. Simply follow the Knafelc trail markers, which are white dots surrounded by red circles.

After 2 hours of ascending through the forest, you’ll reach a resting area with an A-frame shelter called Pastirji.

Soon after the shelter, you’ll clear the bush and walk into a glorious meadow covered in wildflowers. From here, you’ll see the beautiful limestone mountains Brana and Planjava.

After the meadow, the trail continues to ascend to the mountain saddle.

The destination of day 1 is a mountain hut situated on a green meadow at the saddle between Mount Brana and Mount Planjava.

Extending the Hike to Mount Brana (2253 m)

After lunch and some rest, we decided to hike to the summit of Mount Brana. It takes about 1:30 hours round-trip.

It’s a rocky climb that requires the use of both hands in many places and some scrambling. There are some assisted ropes to aid with your ascent and descent.

Though you don’t need a full via ferrata (Klettersteig) kit for this, you should wear a helmet like this women’s helmet and this men’s helmet.

Stay in Kamniška koča na Kamniškem sedlu

• This Slovenian mountain hut offers dormitory and private rooms.
• Showers are provided at no extra cost.
• Charging is available at no extra cost.
• The best part about this hut is its location. The outdoor seating area is perfect for soaking up the sun and enjoying the sublime alpine environment.
• The food was okay. We won’t oversell it.

The hike today is challenging and technically difficult. A huge segment of the trail follows an assisted climbing route.

While you don’t have to have a ton of via ferrata experience to successfully hike this trail, you should have alpine hiking experience and the right equipment.

Stage 2: Kamniška koča na Kamniškem sedlu (1864 m) – Turska Gora (2251 m) – Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu (1793 m)

• Distance: 7.5 km
• Time Needed: 6:30 – 8 hours
• Elevation Gain: 704 m
• Elevation Loss: 781 m
• Minimum Elevation: 1792 m
• Maximum Elevation: 2226 m

The trail takes officially 6:30 hours. It took us 8 hours (with breaks).

From the hut, follow the trail towards Mount Brana. There will be an intersection marked by red signs, indicating left and up to Mount Brana and straight towards Turska Gora (mountain).

The trail to Turska Gora initially plummets abruptly. Your descent is aided by fixed ropes, footholds, and other climbing aids. You’ll need both of your hands for much of this trail.

The first few hours of the trail require concentration as you manage the secured passage to the summit of Turska Gora (2251 m). If it’s raining, don’t attempt this trail – it’s not safe.

From the summit of Turska Gora, the trail descends gently.

To reach the mountain hut Cojzova koča, you can decide between the trail via Sleme (presumably the easier way) or via Skuta (2533 m). We opted for the former.

The trail traverses a high plateau characterized by slabs of limestone, scree, and boulders.

At Mali Podi, the beautifully designed shelter Bivak pod Skuto na Malih podih (2045 m) is reachable via an unmarked footpath to the left (according to Maps.me). We didn’t do a detour, because of the thick fog and our desire to get to our destination before any rainfall.

There’s another secured segment about halfway between Turska Gora and the modern shelter, Bivak Pavla Kemperla pod Grintovcem (2104 m).

From the black box-shaped shelter Bivak Pavla Kemperla, it’s another hour to the final destination Cojzova koča.

Stay in Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu (1793 m)

Cojzova koča sits on the Kokrskem sedlu mountain saddle. It’s a splendid sight when you finally get a glimpse of the mountain hut straddling the saddle.

The hut has private rooms as well as shared dormitory rooms. The walls are paper-thin, so make sure to bring earplugs.

For bathroom facilities, there is running water sourced by rain. However, there’s no shower.

The food was definitely an upgrade from the night before. We ate the Goveji Loned, a stew with vegetables and ground beef, as well as their goulash. We also tried the traditional Slovenian dish Jota, which is a bean and sauerkraut soup.

Stage 3 is as challenging as Stage 2. It requires a fair amount of scrambling and use of both hands. Though the route is partially secured, there are challenging parts that require concentration and a strong head for heights.

After summiting the highest peak in the Kamnik Alps, you’ll climb a mountain ridge and descend through scree to the charming mountain hut Češka koča. Only hike this route in good weather.

Stage 3: Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu (1793 m) – Grintovec (2558 m) – Dolška škrbina (2270) – Češka koča na Spodnjih Ravneh (1542 m)

• Distance: 6 km
• Time Needed: 7 – 9 hours
• Elevation Gain: 915 m
• Elevation Loss: 1167 m
• Minimum Elevation: 1539 m
• Maximum Elevation: 2536 m

The hike today officially takes 7 hours. It took us 9 hours with breaks.

The hike begins surprisingly gently as you make your way to Mount Grintovec. It takes 2 hours to reach the summit.

Unlike the ascent, the descent is significantly trickier. Soon after you start the descent, you’ll be faced with a short (somewhat) secured segment that was challenging (especially if you’re not a tall European man).

The trail is exposed and requires sure-footedness. For more info, read Summitpost’s Grintovec.

After the secured section, the trail will split. You can go left and towards Dolška škrbina (the “easier” route), or right and towards Mlinarsko sedlo (the more difficult route).

We opted for the left trail. Dolška škrbina (notch) is basically the saddle between Grintovec and Kočna, or better described as the lowest point of the ridge.

The path down Grintovec is mostly characterized by loose rocks and scree. Though we were hyper-focused on our footing, we were able to admire the devastatingly beautiful peaks around us.

After hiking Spremova pot (trail) and traversing a steep snowfield (hiking poles were essential), we followed the trail markings in the direction of Kočna. The trail leads you vertically up a ridge, which you’ll follow for some time.

Next, the trail turns into another assisted climbing route (via ferrata), called the Kremžar route, Kremzarjeva pot. This secured path was unforgettable.

The mountains envelop you and you’ll have magical views of the Ravenska Kočna valley. For more info, read Summitpost’s Kremžar route.

The trail continues and ultimately intersects with the trail from Mlinarsko sedlo at 1800 m.

You’ll continue along difficult terrain towards your ultimate destination Češka koča, the Czech Hut. This last stretch traverses scree slopes, so please be extra careful.

Stay in Češka koča na Spodnjih Ravneh

• This was our favorite hut in the Kamnik Savinja Alps.
• Dating back to 1900, this mountain hut has barely changed in a century. There’s ample outdoor seating as well as a cozy interior dining room.
• The food is delicious.
• The hut offers shared sleeping quarters. You can either sleep in a shared room or the dormitory room in the attic (cheaper).
• There’s running water, but no showers.

Day 4 rewards you with an easy finish. We slept in as long as possible and enjoyed a slow breakfast.

There’s absolutely no hurry today, as the hike to the village Zgornje Jezersko takes only 2 hours.

Stage 4: Češka koča na Spodnjih Ravneh (1542 m) – Zgornje Jezersko

• Distance: 4.6 km
• Time Needed: 2 hours
• Elevation Gain: 39 m
• Elevation Loss: 680 m
• Minimum Elevation: 881 m
• Maximum Elevation: 1539 m

Follow the Slovenian Mountain Trail #1 in the direction of Jezersko.

After 20 – 25 minutes, the trail splits. You can take the left trail through the forest, or the right trail through the Ravenska kočna valley to Jezersko.

We opted for the left trail because it had rained all night and we were informed that it would be less slippery.

The forest trail (#1) was a welcome relief for our tired feet.

The trail intersects the road and it’s a short walk into the village. From the road, you’ll have jaw-dropping views of the Kamnik Alps.

Stay in Zgornje Jezersko

Budget | We stayed the night at Glamping and B&B Cvet Gora, which was delightful. They have fun “glamping” A-frame huts to sleep in. Showers are communal but very clean. Breakfast is only 5 EUR. The guesthouse is located right on the road, so it’s easy to find.

Midrange | Tourist farm Šenkova domačija is a top-rated farm stay in Jezersko celebrated for its hospitality and fabulous location.

Luxury | Boutique Hotel Vila Planinka is a dreamy and stylish hotel offering comfort, delicious food, and scenic views. Guests have access to a wellness center, outdoor terrace, and an on-site restaurant.

Look for accommodation in Zgornje Jezersko.

Tip: From your accommodation in Zgornje Jezersko, it’s a 10-25 minute walk to the beautiful lake Planšarsko jezero. At the lake, you’ll find the restaurant, Gostišče ob Planšarskem Jezeru. We had a delightful dinner here.