Hiking Hut to Hut across Triglav National Park in 4 days

Responsible Travel in Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is a treasure and it’s a luxury to be able to visit. Please read these rules and follow them during your visit.

• Respect the habitats of animals and plants. Picking flowers is not allowed.
• Camping outside designated areas is not permitted. Wild camping is illegal. 
• Take all garbage back with you down to the valley. Leave no trace.
• Park’s trails are allowed only for hiking, not for mountain biking.
• Bathing in mountain lakes is strictly prohibited. (source)

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Make Reservations for Mountain Huts

• It’s important to make reservations for overnight stays several weeks in advance. 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. The email response rate is 50%.
• You can often choose between sleeping in a shared dormitory or a private room.

Here’s everything you need to know about hut-to-hut hiking in Slovenia.

You can find each hut’s contact info on their PZS (Alpine Association of Slovenia) page.

• Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih (you can make a reservation on the Alpsonline platform)
• Koča na Doliču (you can make a reservation on the Alpsonline platform)
• Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih (email [email protected] to make an overnight reservation)

Learn more about making hut reservations: Slovenian Mountain Huts

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Packing Essentials

While this route involves several secured passages with fixed cables, you do not need a via ferrata kit (harness and lanyard) for this hike. A climbing helmet is advisable because rockfall is common in the Julian Alps.

• Passport & Alpine Club Membership Card (if you have one)
• Sleeping Bag Liner: Silk Liner or Cotton Liner
• Climbing Helmet: women’s helmet and a men’s helmet
• Hiking Backpack: Osprey Kyte 36 (for women) and Osprey Kestrel 38 (for men)
• Grade B/C Hiking Boots: Hanwag Tatra II GTX  or Meindl Schuhe Island Lady (for women) and Hanwag Tatra II GTX (for men).
• Hiking Poles: We love these Black Diamond trail poles.
• Cat 4 Polarized Sunglasses: We recommend these Julbo Shield Mountain Sunglasses.

Read our complete hut to hut hiking packing list

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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.

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Get Hiking Insurance

For peace of mind on the trail, make sure you have hiking travel insurance. When you have World Nomads insurance, you’ll get emergency medical insurance, emergency medical transportation, gear protection (in case of theft, loss, or damage) and trip protection (in case of cancellation). 

Learn more about hiking insurance here.

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Buy a Hiking 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 Sidarta’s Triglav 1:25 000 Map, or the Kompass Julian Alps 1:25,000 Hiking Map for this specific trek in the Julian Alps.

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Bring enough Cash and Budget for 50 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: 1.27 EUR per person per night
• Dormitory Mattress: 9 – 14 EUR per person with Alpine Club Membership discount. 11.70 – 18.20 EUR without Alpine Club Membership.
• Private room (2-beds): 11 – 18.90 EUR per person with Alpine Club Membership Discount. 14.30 – 24.50 EUR without Alpine Club Membership.
• Breakfast: 5 EUR
• Coffee: 2 – 2.60 EUR
• Dinner Meal: 6-10 EUR
• Soup: 5 EUR
• Beer & Wine: 3-4 EUR
• 1.5 L Water Bottle: 2.50 – 4 EUR
• Appliance Charging (phone, camera batteries): Free

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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
• pot – trail

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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.

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Bring Water and Snacks

We recommend bringing a few snacks with you (trail mix, bars, etc…). In terms of lunch on each day of the trek, you have a few options.

Day 1: There are no huts between Vršič Pass and Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih. Make sure to bring a snack with you.

Day 2: There’s no hut between Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih and Koča na Doliču. Bring a snack for today. We ate lunch and dinner at Koča na Doliču (one meal is enough here).

Day 3: You can eat lunch at Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih, a mountain hut located between Koča na Doliču and Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih.

Day 4: You can eat lunch at Koča na Planini pri Jezeru, a mountain hut located along the High Bohinj Pasture Route between Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih and Lake Bohinj.

We recommend spending at least one night in Kranjska Gora, before starting the trek, because this Slovenian alpine town is a lovely destination in its own right. It’s also good to stay in Kranjska Gora for acclimatization.

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Where to Stay in Kranjska Gora

Budget | Apartmaji in sobe Tina is a clean, quiet, and comfortable apartment-style accommodation in Kranjska Gora, perfect for families and groups. Guests have access to a shared kitchen, shared lounge, free private parking, and a garden. Breakfast is available upon request for a reasonable price.

Midrange: Apartments and Rooms Bernik is a top-rated accommodation in the center of Kranjska Gora, perfect for couples, families, or groups. In winter, guests receive discounts on ski equipment at Intersport Bernik, 20 meters away. In summer, Bernik organizes bike rentals and cycling tours. Breakfast is available upon request.

Luxury | Jasna Chalet Resort is a modern and stylish apartment-style accommodation, located directly at Lake Jasna. This is the most beautiful place to stay in Kranjska Gora. Guests love the breakfast, lake and mountain views, and the friendly hosts.

Look for accommodation in Kranjska Gora.

There’s a bus that departs several times a day from Kranjska Gora to Vršič Pass. The same bus continues to Trenta and Soča Valley.

Use the Nomago.si website or AlpeTour website to find out what the bus schedule is in advance. Timetables are usually published on the Kranjska Gora website as well. When we took this bus, a one-way ticket to the pass cost 3 EUR.

The road to Vršič Pass is known as the Russian Road (Ruska cesta) because it was built by Russian prisoners of war during the First World War. 

Stage 1 of this Triglav Trek follows the Slovenian Mountain Trail (marked with the number 1). There are several ways to reach today’s destination, Kriških podih.

We opted for the easiest route, which circumvented Mount Prisank. If you’re a confident alpine hiker with lots of via ferrata experience, you could hike up and over Prisank on your way to sedlo Planja. We recommend consulting a hiking map to see what your options are.  

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Stage 1: Vršič Pass (1611 m) – Pagan Girl Lookout Point – Na robu – Zadnje Plate – Sedlo Planja (2349) – Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih (2050 m)

Distance: 9 km
Time Needed: 6 – 7 Hours
Minimum Elevation: 1607 m
Maximum Elevation: 2424 m
Total ascent: 1269 m
Total descent: 855 m

• From Vršič Pass, head to the Pagan Girl Rock lookout point, marked by an info-board.
• At the Pagan Girl Rock lookout, you’ll find the turn-off to Prisank.
• After passing through dwarf pine, the first segment of the trail is initially very rocky.
• At Na Robu, the trail forks. You should head down and right. We somehow missed the trail and continued in the direction of Grintovci. Luckily, there’s a route labeled in red paint “Mlinarica” that connects to the trail we should have been on. However, it’s really easy to miss, as the trail marker is close to the ground. This trail is very poorly maintained and hard to follow. So, don’t miss the turn-off around Na robu like us.
• The trail follows just above, or just below the treeline for a long time. Eventually, you’ll reach a grassy open meadow framed by peaks. Take a break here.
• The trail traverses the meadow and then steadily climbs. You’ll reach an intersection, where the trail leads left to Prisank and right to Razor. Head towards Razor.
• The climb to Sedlo Planja, the mountain saddle between Razor and Planja, is challenging. We got caught in a thunderstorm as we were approaching the pass, which made this segment more difficult. Note: we recommend wearing a helmet like this women’s climbing helmet, or men’s climbing helmet for this part of the trail.
• At the Planja saddle, you can hike to the summit of Razor and/or Planja. Or, you can simply enjoy your first glimpse of Mount Triglav and start the descent to Kriških podih. 
• The trail is assisted by some steel cables and ropes. Be extra careful on the descent, because you’ll be hiking down scree and loose rocky terrain.
• After about 1:00 – 1:30 hours, the trail finally flattens out. As we hiked towards the Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih, we saw two amazing things. First, we saw an ibex, and then the most beloved flower of the Alps, Edelweiss. The trail makes a final ascent to the mountain hut.

Stay in Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih mountain hut

• This hut is positioned high above the Trenta Valley and surrounded by peaks and three alpine lakes. There’s nothing like lounging in a chair outside this hut with a Radler. As we soaked up the late afternoon sun, a few sheep visited us and used our table to scratch their backs (see photo below).
• From the hut, you can take a short hike to the lake: Sp. Kriško jezero (1880 m). To reach the lake, take the trail in the direction of Trenta.
• Pogačnikov dom only offers shared rooms. The prices vary based on how many people are in your room. If you sleep in the dormitory-loft (cabine), you’ll pay 9 EUR (with discount). If you sleep in a 4-bed-room, you’ll pay ~18 EUR (with discount). 

Day 2 is phenomenal. After climbing over the mountain Bovški Gamsovec, you’re met with heart-melting views of Mount Triglav. In July, the trail was lined with colorful wildflowers.

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Stage 2: Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih (2050 m) – Bovški Gamsovec (2391 m) – Luknja (1756 m) – Koča na Doliču (2151 m)

Distance: 9.4 km
Time Needed: 6 Hours
Minimum Elevation: 1456 m
Maximum Elevation: 2349 m
Total ascent: 1374 m
Total descent: 1250 m

• Stage 2 of our Triglav National Park trek begins by crossing slabs of limestone before dramatically ascending to the mountain Bovški Gamsovec.
• It takes about 1 hour to reach the Bovški Gamsovec ridge. There are assisted ropes and cables to aid your ascent. To reach the summit, you can take a short detour via a protected climbing route.
• Otherwise, the path continues over the ridge. Here, you’ll see the incredible northern wall of Triglav.
• The descent is gentle as you hike through beautiful wildflowers and grassy slopes. You’re heading to the mountain pass Luknja. We saw ibex on this part of the trail.
• As you near Luknja, you might see people climbing up the North Face of Triglav via the Plemenice trail. This is also called the Bamberg route. It’s impressive but looks incredibly dangerous.
• At Luknja, you’ll turn right and hike down a windy path.
• The trail eventually divides and you’ll want to take the trail to the left along pod steno. This part of the hike is uphill but very easy. You’ll have sweeping valley views to your right. The trail then flattens out for a while.
• The final stretch is another ascent to the mountain hut Koča na Doliču.

Stay in Koča na Doliču mountain hut

• This mountain hut is popular, due to its proximity to Triglav. Most of the hikers we met, were planning on summiting Triglav the next morning – which might be something you want to do. If so, you definitely need to bring a via ferrata kit as well as a light backpack to carry water and snacks. All the hikers left their heavy trekking packs at the hut and retrieved their stuff after their Mt. Triglav summit climb. If you want to summit Mount Triglav, also read this guide: Hiking to Triglav from Pokljuka.
• Koča na Doliču has a great location, but there are some downsides. There’s no running water. The toilet facilities are pretty gross (squat toilet). You can only check-in at 4:00 p.m., or later. If you arrive after 5:00 p.m., you need to notify them before. The food was okay, but the portions were meager. And, if you opt for their half-board rate (which includes breakfast and dinner), the breakfast includes white coffee, which is a wheat-based coffee with milk, not real coffee. If you want real coffee, you have to pay more. Other than that, it was clean and comfortable.

Today, you’ll venture into the Seven Lakes Valley, one of Slovenia’s most beautiful landscapes. The hike begins with summiting Kanjavec. You’ll have an opportunity to take a break at the perfectly situated mountain hut Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih, before starting the slow descent through the lake-dotted valley.

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Stage 3: Koča na Doliču (2151 m) – Kanjavec (2568 m) – Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih (2071 m) – Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih (1685 m)

Distance: 9.1 km
Time Needed: 5 hours
Minimum Elevation: 1688 m
Maximum Elevation: 2568 m
Total ascent: 479 m
Total descent: 943 m

• We hiked to Seven Lakes Valley via the mountain Kanjavec.
• If you’re looking at a map, you’ll notice that there are at least two other options. According to the hut staff at Koča na Doliču, the trail via Skozi rizo shouldn’t even be on the map, as it’s not a secure, or safe route. The other option is to go via Dolič saddle( 2164 m) and Hribarice (2358 m), which is a popular route.
• The hike to the Kanjavec summit takes about 1:30 hours. The trail is very manageable. However, shortly before reaching the summit, you’ll have to climb up a steep section of trail that’s secured with ropes. That secured stretch is challenging, but only 5 meters in length.
• As you ascend, you’ll see Triglav bathed in the morning light. You’re surrounded by limestone mountains and it’s a treat to hike up here in the morning. You’ll likely have the whole mountain all to yourself.
• After reaching the summit, the trail dives down over scree slopes. It feels really desolate on this side. When we hiked here in summer 2018, the trail markings were fading. We needed to use Maps.me to make sure we were going the right way.
• This rocky terrain carried on until Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih. We took a detour to visit this mountain hut because we had sufficient time and wanted to rest. On the way to the hut, you’ll see the lake Rjavo jezero (2006 m).
• To get back on the trail towards Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih (Seven Lakes Valley Lodge), simply follow the signs. The path is well-marked.
• The first gem you’ll pass is Zeleno jezero (1988 m), a emerald-colored lake with limestone boulders and a picturesque backdrop.
• The second lake you’ll hike by is Veliko jezero Ledvicka (1831 m). When illuminated by the sun, it glows with beautiful tones of teal and royal blue.
• As you lose elevation, the plants will be higher and you’ll start to hike through the forest.
• You’ll pass one more lake before reaching the hut.

Stay in Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih mountain hut

• The Seven Lakes Valley Hut is a stunner. Surrounded by crystal-clear lakes, it’s what hiking dreams are made of. One of the most spellbinding sites of this whole trek is seeing the mountains reflected in the waters of Dvojno jezero. 
• The hut has running water. There’s also a water fountain outside.
• Unfortunately, the shower is no longer in operation.
• There are both private rooms and shared bedrooms available. This is a popular destination, so definitely book in advance.

On the final day of your hut-to-hut hike in Triglav National Park, you’ll leave the high mountains and hike through alpine pastures and forests. Days 1 through 3 were filled with dramatic alpine landscapes. Day 4 is full of romantic scenes of rustic alpine pasture huts and grazing cattle.

End the day with a swim in Lake Bohinj and a stay at Hotel Majerca or Hotel Bohinj.

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Stage 4: Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih (1685 m) – Štapce (1851 m) – Bregarjevo zavetišče na planini Viševnik (1620 m) – Koča na Planini pri Jezeru (1453 m) – Kosijev dom na Vogarj (1054 m) – Lake Bohinj (526 m)

Distance: 16 km
Time Needed: 6 Hours
Minimum Elevation: 527 m
Maximum Elevation: 1854 m
Total ascent: 497 m
Total descent: 1648 m

• From the Seven Lakes Valley Hut, you’ll leave the valley and ascend to the mountain ridge Štapce.
• After hiking over Štapce, you’ll hike a gentle path through dwarf pines.
• Follow signs to planini Viševnik.
• You’ll cross a small alpine pasture with several huts called Ovčarija, before reaching Bregarjevo zavetišče na planini Viševnik (Bregarjevo Shelter on Plateau Viševnik). Bregarjevo used to be a cheese factory. In 1981, the old farm was transformed into a shelter, which offers overnight stays. It’s open from early June until the end of September.
• Bregarjevo zavetišče is a charming place to relax and enjoy refreshments.
• The trail continues to the mountain hut Koča na Planini pri Jezeru, which is situated above a lake and surrounded by tiny wooden huts. This is an ideal place for lunch. They serve traditional Slovenian stews and soups.
• From here, follow signs to Planina Vogar, signed 1:30 hours.
• The trail is wide. After about 70-80 minutes, the trail joins a paved road for about 10 minutes. Follow the paved road until you see signs and a dirt road veering left and leading in the direction of Vogar. You’ll pass by several huts and lodgings before reaching Kosijev dom.
• At Kosijev dom, take a short 3-minute detour to a Lake Bohinj lookout point. You can grab a drink and bite to eat at the hut as well.
• From Kosijev dom na Vogarj continue descending one hour to Lake Bohinj.

Stay in Stara Fužina, or Ribčev Laz

To finish the hike, walk directly to both Stara Fužina, or Ribčev Laz – two villages located along the eastern shores of Lake Bohinj.

Budget | Apartments and rooms Cerkovnik in Ribčev Lav offers clean and comfortable rooms and apartments in a great location.

Midrange | Hotel Majerca is a boutique hotel in Stara Fužina offering superb mountain views, delicious food, and great hospitality. We especially loved eating a slow and delicious breakfast in the hotel garden. You can read more about this hotel in our guide to Where to Stay in Slovenia.

Luxury | The newly renovated Hotel Bohinj is located in the center of Ribčev Laz, only a few meters from Lake Bohinj. Designed to impress as much as to pay tribute to the region’s cultural heritage, Hotel Bohinj is the most striking hotel in the region. Hotel Bohinj also has a spa and wellness area (additional fee). The wellness area encompasses a Finnish sauna, steam sauna, outdoor whirlpool, a heated salt relaxation room, and a juice bar.

Look for accommodation in Stara Fužina.

Look for accommodation in Ribčev Laz.