Stunning and rugged, the Soča Valley has an otherworldly appeal. The Soča River of a placing turquoise emerald shade snakes by way of this theatrical valley, forming gorges, crystalline swimming pools and coves, whereas the encompassing hills and mountains rise in a near-to-vertical method with numerous waterfalls plummeting down the steep partitions. The drive by way of the valley is simply an hour lengthy, but evidently each aspect street takes you to much more spectacular locations, tightly tucked away from the mainstream points of interest. One would want weeks if not months to go to all the attractive locations that the Soča Valley has to supply.
I really feel lucky to have visited the Soča Valley quite a few instances up to now with the final go to a few weeks in the past. Primarily based on my previous scoutings I’ve ready a listing of beneficial hikes within the Soča Valley, from rolling meadows, to stunning waterfalls, hikes alongside crystal-clear rivers or to the attractive mountains and alpine lakes within the surrounding Triglav Nationwide Park.
Here’s a record of hikes within the Soča Valley that you simply completely shouldn’t miss in case you love mountaineering in pristine nature.
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The drive to the Soča Valley throughout the Vršič Cross
There are a lot of roads that join the Soča Valley with the remainder of Slovenia, however there’s one route that stands out. The street over the Vršič Cross to the Soča Valley was inbuilt 1916 throughout WWI by 10,000 – 12,000 Russian prisoners of conflict with a purpose to join Kranjska Gora (or the Higher Sava Valley) with the Trenta Valley, the higher a part of the Soča Valley. Its primary function on the time was to ship artillery, meals and medical provides to the troopers on the Soča Entrance to guard the land from the opposing Italian military.
Right now, the street throughout the Vršič Cross is among the most placing drives in Slovenia which takes you as excessive as 1,661m proper on the foothills of spectacular excessive mountains. Avid hikers cease alongside the way in which for simple hikes to Slemenova Špica, harder hikes to Mala Mojstrovka and Prisojnik, and extremely scenic climbs on the through ferratas to Mala Mojstrovka and Prisojnik. Nonetheless, in case you choose to be snug in a automotive, you’re nonetheless assured epic views alongside the entire drive.
Zadnja Trenta
This picturesque glacial valley could also be your first cease whereas going throughout the Vršič Cross all the way down to the Soča Valley. Situated in Triglav Nationwide Park, it’s the very best a part of the Soča Valley and greatest recognized for the supply of the Soča River at 990m. The pristine emerald river gushes out of the Karst depths underneath the towering mountains of the Julian Alps to begin its stunning 138-km journey.
The valley cuts deep into the encompassing mountains and presents something from straightforward strolls for the households, adventurous hikes to the supply of the Soča River and Zapotoški slapovi (Eng. the Zapotok Waterfalls), to robust day climbs to the mountains above.
Zadnjica
The second cease in your approach may very well be Zadnjica, yet one more gorgeous glacial valley within the space. Situated between the Trenta Valley and the west partitions of Triglav, the very best mountain of Slovenia, it serves as a place to begin for a lot of lengthy however attractive hikes and climbs within the Slovenian mountains. It’s possible you’ll climb something from probably the most stunning mountain in Slovenia, Bovški Gamsovec, a real alpine big Mt. Razor, Triglav on a through Ferrata, or hike to the seven Triglav Lakes. You may additionally need to take a straightforward hike alongside the Zadnjica River and up the valley, and gasp in awe on the towering rocky peaks of the Julian Alps.
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest climbing excursions:
Triglav, Scenic Route
Bovški Gamsovec
Mala Mojstrovka through Ferrata
Mangart through Ferrata
Bovec
Tucked away within the mountainous Higher Soča Valley, Bovec is considered one of two exceptionally cute little cities within the Higher Soča Valley that serves as a wonderful base for exploring the very best trails within the Soča Valley. Every part stunning to see within the Higher Soča Valley appears to be solely a brief drive from Bovec. Apart from, you’ll discover a number of good eating places open all year long, an enormous grocery retailer, a spa & wellness, companies for water sports activities, and a quick charging station for electrical vehicles.
The place to remain when within the Soča Valley? There are 4 resorts in Bovec and plenty of personal lodging, however I all the time choose to remain in Skok Apartments, a small home with a number of rooms and an outdoor store in Bovec. The house owners are tremendous pleasant, they’ve a spacious parking zone in entrance of the home, whereas the flats are effectively geared up and clear, and the view from the balcony is simply stunning. If you wish to check out rafting and canyoning, in addition they organise water activities on the Soča River!
Nice Soča Gorge and Lepena
At any time when on this aspect of the Slovenian mountains, my paths on this attractive valley all the time deliver me to the divine Soča River and its Nice Soča Gorge. The emerald inexperienced swimming pools stretch right into a 750-m-long gorge, which is just a few meters broad and fifteen meters deep. It winds by way of a forest that in spots reveals breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains of the Julian Alps. The 2 worlds appear mild years aside, but they’re so unbelievably shut – actually only a 12-minute drive from the Nice Soča Gorge to the beginning mountaineering level to Lake Krn, the most important alpine lake in Slovenia, hidden up within the mountains at 1,391m.
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Krn Lake
Nestled between tall rocky peaks of the southwestern Julian Alps, the lonely Lake Krn is a picture-perfect 300-m-long and 150-m-wide lake overlooking Mt. Krn, the very best mountain of the Krn Mountains. It’s the largest Alpine lake of Slovenia and as such attracts a number of consideration of home and overseas hikers. Rightly so; Lake Krn appears dreamy in each season!
The third Krn Lake, Jezero v Lužnici
Because the day was solely awakening and we drove from Bovec to Planina Kuhinja for the beginning of a brand new attractive hike, the mushy solar mirrored on the steep forested hills and towering mountains. The valley had already been stroked by spring displaying an abundance of colourful flowers, whereas the mountaintops nonetheless remained in a strong grip of the winter. We have been headed to an actual gem, an alpine lake at 1,801m referred to as jezero v Lužnici (Eng. Lake at Lužnica).
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This deep blue lake lies beneath an extended rocky massif that connects Mt. Krn, 2,244m, on the far west and Mt. Peski, 2,035m, on the east. It’s truly one of many three Krn Lakes, of which probably the most vital one, Krn Lake, can be the most important Alpine lake in Slovenia. Jezero v Lužnici, however, is positioned on the alternative aspect of the massif at 1,801m, and is among the greatest stored secrets and techniques round right here. After we hiked there, the lake occurred to be frozen underneath a deep blanket of snow, nevertheless, we continued to a 1,903-m peak Maselnik which provided breathtaking views!
Drežnica
In case you love looking for stunning sunsets within the mountains which you can take in from a lonely bench, conveniently positioned proper alongside the street, then it’s best to have a night cease right here. Observe the slim street that climbs 300m up from the quaint little city Kobarid and cease proper if you catch the primary glimpse of the long-lasting church of Drežnica with the imposing Mt. Krn within the background. Within the closing hour earlier than the sundown, the postcard surroundings bathes within the vibrant late afternoon mild, which then slowly, slowly fades out till the very peak of Mt. Krn sinks too into the evening.
Exploring Slovenia’s greatest spring hikes:
Flower hike on Golica
Velika Planina and crocuses
Goli Vrh above Jezersko
Kozjak Waterfall
Situated between Kobarid and Drežnica, is the mysterious Kozjak Waterfall, hidden in a surprising rocky amphitheater. It’s usually named probably the most picturesque waterfall of Slovenia!
Kobarid Waterfalls
You’d be shocked to understand how quite a few waterfalls within the Soča Valley actually are! Whereas we often go to three effectively acknowledged falls within the space on our From Bohinj to Soča Valley Trek, there are lots of others that, whatever the hype of the valley, stay little recognized. In a small space of a few sq. kilometers simply ten minutes out of Kobarid, you possibly can discover three stunning waterfalls on a fairly uncooked and uncovered path.
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Boka Waterfall
Between Bovec and Kobarid you possibly can admire the mighty 144-m tall and 18-m broad Boka Waterfall. In spring, the Kanin mountains above feed it with melting snow and the waterfall turns into probably the most voluminous waterfall in Slovenia with the water gushing down at 100 m³/s (within the dry summer season months the move can decelerate to even 2 m³/s)!
Tolmin Gorge
The bottom and possibly probably the most picturesque entry level into Triglav Nationwide Park, the Tolmin Gorges take you thru the wild gorges of the Tolminka and Zadlaščica Rivers, which merge into an attractive confluence contained in the gorge.
Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca
The church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca lies on the foothills of the Bohinj mountains above Tolmin, and is a singular piece of Artwork Nouveau awarded a particular recognition by the European Fee – the European Heritage Label. This memorial church was constructed by Austro-Hungarian troopers and celebrates the fallen defenders of the Soča Entrance battlefield, a collection of 12 battles alongside the Soča River between 1915 and 1917 that demanded as many as 1.2 million casualties. The bloody historical past apart, the church’s easy however stunning building principally of wooden and stone, set towards excessive cliffy mountains, requires a calming half-day hike within the forests alongside the Tolminka River to complete with a picnic on the sunny church.
Proceed studying on Weblog:
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