If you are a keen tourer in search of somewhere new and off the beaten track, then our Slovenia ski touring week could be just what you are looking for. Set in the extraordinarily beautiful Julian Alps, the region retains a ‘wild’ feel more commonly associated with the Greater Ranges and offers great skiing and plenty of challenging terrain.  Planned and guided by our good friend and well known Slovenian guide Klemen Gricar, this is a very descent focused week, using a mixture of uplift and skinning to access the best backcountry terrain around the range.

Please visit our Covid-19 Ski Information page for Covid FAQs, details of our new participation requirements, travel advice and what to expect on your trip.

Ski Touring in Slovenia – the Julian Alps

The Julian Alps are part of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretch from north-eastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 metres at the summit of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. The range is named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of these mountains.

Our good friend and local guide Klemen Gricar has planned this trip to show you the finest ski descents in his home mountains; so expect to plenty of challenging terrain and a few secret spots exploring Klemen’s own back yard!  A large part of the week is spent skiing in the Triglav National Park, from our comfortable base in the village of Kranjska Gora in northwest Slovenia, which lies close to the Austrian and Italian borders. Kranjska Gora is a well known winter sports town, annually hosting World Cup slalom and giant slalom events, as well as ski jumping in the nearby Tamar valley.

Suitability

This is an intermediate/advanced level trip. To take part you should be at Fitness Level 3 and Tech Level 3-4 (see our Fitness/Experience guidelines below). Solid ski touring experience is required to join this tour.  The week involves 5-6 hour days with some steeper skinning involving kick turns and boot tracks up steeper terrain on foot.  On several days we use some uplift, with a couple of 100% skinning days during the week too – so you can expect 3-1100m of ascent a day, with 1.5 – 3-4 hours skinning a day. Type of ascent: we use 50% uplift and 50% skinning on this tour – with approximately 3500-4000m of skinning up, and 7000-8000m skiing down during the week.

Guiding ratio

One IFMGA guide skiing with 6 clients.

Included in price

• 6 days of guiding
• All guides expenses
• 7 nights hotel accommodation in Kranjska Gora, including breakfast and evening meal
• Local travel in resort
• Return transfers from Ljubljana airport to Kranjska Gora

Excluded from price (see factsheet for extra cost estimates)

• Cable cars
• Lunches and drinks
• Flights
• Insurance
• Equipment hire

Hotels

Our base is the cozy Pri Martinu Inn, in Kranjska Gora. The Inn is a friendly place full of character and located in the centre of the village, close to ski hire shops, bars, restaurants and bakeries, all within walking distance of the local pistes and in the heart of the regions’ best touring terrain. Rooms are provided on a twin (or occasionally triple or quad) sharing basis, but if you wish to book a single room please let us know and we will confirm availability. Hotel details can be found on our Accommodation page.

ABTOT Protected

This trip is protected by ABTOT – Alpine Guides Ltd, Membership Number 5394.  For further information, please visit our Financial Protection page.

Saturday

You should arrange outward travel on Saturday, arriving at Ljubljana airport in time for your pick-up. Upon arrival at the hotel, your guide will run through kit checks and safety routines, as well as hand out any rental equipment, before going on to discuss the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our plans. We’ll have maps and guidebooks of the area to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up. Overnight in the valley.

Sunday

We start with a short 15 minute drive to Italy. From Tarviso we’ll ascend with the cable car to Monte Lussari and spend the first hour or so getting our ski legs back. Your first ascent of the week is the Cima del Cacciatore which is a gentle 1 hr 30 minute climb. We’ll enjoy a traditional lunch in Rifugio “Pri Juretu” before skiing back down to the hotel in Kranjska Gora.

The maximum gradient (in ascent/descent) is 40°, with 500m of ascent and 1500m of descent during the day.

Monday

From the hotel it’s another short drive to the trailhead on the Vrsic pass. Today’s climb is up to Slemenova Spica (90 minute climb) from where we enjoy the 1000m descent to Planica and lunch in the “Tamar” hut. Our recommended dish here is Jota, a typical Slovenian cabbage dish and apple strudel. At the end of the run in Planica, we will see one of the biggest ski jumps in the world and remember “Eddie the Eagle” who jumped there! Return to the hotel.

The maximum gradient (in ascent/descent) is 40°, with 400m of ascent and 1000m of descent during the day.

Tuesday

Drive to Sella Nevea (40min). Sella Nevea-Kanin is the biggest ski resort in the Julian Alps. Ascend with the cable-car up to the Prevala saddle. Ski descent to Krnica “B” station. Use the cable car to return to Kanin from where it’s a short skin/climb to the “Window” in Mont Prestreljenik. Amazing ski descent back to Sella Nevea. Return to Kranjska Gora.

The maximum gradient (in ascent/descent) is 45°, with 300m of ascent and 2200m of descent during the day.

Wednesday

Drive to Bohinj (50min), to take the cable-car up to Vogel for a morning of off piste skiing. In the afternoon we’ll climb Mt Sija, before returning to the car and back to Kranjska Gora.

The maximum gradient (in ascent/descent) is 40°, with 200m of ascent and 1400m of descent during the day.

Thursday

A full day’s ski touring to the Fussine Lakes and the Mangart saddle. We return the same way.

The maximum gradient (in ascent/descent) is 35°, with 1100m of ascent and descent during the day.

Friday

A full day’s ski touring to Mt Mala Mojstrokva. The day starts with a short 15 minute drive to the trailhead on the Vrsic pass. Mt Mala Mojstrovka is a classic, beautiful mountain. We enjoy a great ski descent to Drevesnica and the short skin back to Vrsic pass. Return to Kranjska Gora for our final night.

The maximum gradient (in ascent/descent) is 35, with 1000m of ascent and descent during the day.

Saturday

After breakfast we return back to airport Ljubljana. Depending on our flight time you may have time for some sightseeing in this delightful city.

Your course meeting point is Ljubljana airport (LJU), before onward travel to Kranjska Gora.

Fly to Ljubljana – Easyjet offer direct flights from London Gatwick, Whizz Air fly direct from Luton, and Swiss air and Lufthansa fly from several other airports in the UK including one change. 

Your guide will collect you from the airport on Saturday 17th Feb 2024 around mid afternoon (to meet the 11.55am arrival from London Gatwick/others at a similar time), please do not book flights arriving later than the pick-up, to avoid the rest of the team having to wait too long!  For transfer to our hotel (approx. 1 hour) and travel during the trip, your guide will drive the team in a 9 seater minibus.

You will be dropped off the following Saturday morning 24th Feb, in time for flights departing from 10am. If you wish to leave the resort earlier or  later you can arrange your own taxi/transfer from the hotel.

If you are not able to meet the pick-up, or want to travel to resort earlier in the day, please let us know and we will recommend a shared airport transfer service (similar to Mountain Drop-offs etc in Chamonix).

For flights and other travel options, including train, coach and driving, visit our Travel Planning page.

Next Seasons Travel Details

Watch this space for next seasons trip dates and travel details. We aim to advertise our ski program in the springtime, ready for the following season.  Flight/public transport timetables may not be available until the summer (or autumn in some cases), but our travel plans will be updated as soon as possible thereafter, ready for the following ski season.

To enjoy this trip you should be comfortable operating at Fitness Level 3/4, and Ski Tech Level 3/4:

Fitness Level 3
You do 3-4 hours cv training/sport per week. At this level you are happy doing a 5-6 hr hillwalk, 40-50ml cycle or 3-4hr mountain bike ride without being totally exhausted. If you are into challenges – then the thought of doing a road sportive, or training to do a 1/2 (or maybe even a full) marathon, wouldn’t seem too ridiculous. On foot: you should be able to do the full Langdale Horseshoe: Langdale – Pike of Stickle – Angle Tarn – Bow Fell – Crinkle Crags – Pike of Blisco – Langdale in a day without finishing up exhausted. On skis: you can skin uphill at 300-400m/hr for 3-4 hrs a day (ie 8-1200m of ascent each day)

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Tech Level 3
Confirmed Off Piste Skier. You can put down a reasonable set of tracks in powder, but difficult snow types – eg heavy wet snow, crusts, poor visibility or 40dg slopes – can all cause problems (though you can cope with them safely, if not elegantly!) *Equivalent to Ski Club of GB Off Piste Level: Purple – Advanced*
Likely to say: ‘I’d like to handle difficult snow/steep slopes more confidently in better style’
Our Advice: Off piste coaching still useful. Intermediate off piste weeks are at your level too. If you want to get into ski touring, try a touring course or intro level ski tour. If you’re an established ski mountaineer, then intermediate level tours are generally suitable.

Tech Level 4
Advanced Off Piste Skier. You can put turns in through heavier snow and on icy 40dg slopes, but difficult breakable crusts and skiing a fresh track off piste in zero visibility are still somewhat challenging! *Equivalent to Ski Club of GB Off Piste Level: Gold – Expert*
Likely to say: I’ve been skiing ten/twenty years – I’d like to do your ‘……’ tour.
Our Advice: You will enjoy our advanced level trips, but don’t overlook the touring skills and physical fitness needed as well. Mileage is the best way to improve your ability level.

To view all of our Ski Fitness Levels and Off Piste Technical Levels, please visit our Ski Ability page.

If you need to top up your fitness for this trip, please see our Ski Touring Training Advice page.

Day Touring/BC Ski Course Equipment List

Just remember, every extra kilo on your back knocks 10% off your enjoyment on the descents – so try and keep the weight down!

Technical Clothing

• Waterproof Jacket – preferably lightweight and breathable
• Overtrousers/ski pants – preferably with side zips
• Fleece mid layer or equivalent
• Spare fleece or lightweight insulated duvet jacket
• Socks – specialist ski socks or a warm loop lined pair of mountain socks
• Wicking thermal top – not cotton please…
• Thermal leggings or ski pants
• Thin inner gloves
• Warm ski gloves or mittens, if you suffer from cold hands
• Warm hat

Personal Items

• Water container – at least 1 litre
• Personal medications and blister kit – regular meds, zinc oxide tape, compeed and painkillers etc
• Ski goggles
• Sun glasses – CE rated 3 or 4 with side protection
• Sun and lip cream – factor 30+
• Wallet, passport and insurance docs

Technical Equipment

• Rucsac 25/35l – try and avoid ones covered in too many features, just ski and ice axe attachments required
• Freeride boots or ski mountaineering boots – check detailed factsheet kit list for preferred boots
• Skis with touring bindings – check detailed factsheet kit list for preferred skis and bindings
• Ski strap – to keep skis together on your rucksack if we need to carry them
• Ski poles – with good size 5cm+ baskets (telescopic poles are not needed)
• Climbing skins – they come with the skis if you hire your kit
• Harscheisen (ski crampons) – they come with the skis if you hire your kit
• Metal snow shovel – must be a full metal shovel (plastic blades don’t work in real avalanche debris!)
• Avalanche probe
• Avalanche transceiver – must be a modern digital model (older analogue models are now obsolete)
• Harness, with 120cm sling and locking karabiner
• Crampons – bring them if you have them
• Ice Axe – bring if you have one
• Ski helmet – a lightweight helmet is recommended for off piste skiing

Your guide will have all other safety kit, first aid and survival equipment.

Recommendations and Advice
Visit the Knowledge Base section of our website, where we publish an annual review of the years best new skis, boots and touring equipment, plus a range of other interesting tips and recommendations. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch!

Purchasing Equipment
Backcountry UK in Otley offer an excellent ski touring boot fitting service, one of the best ranges of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK and top notch advice.

Hiring Equipment
Please visit our Equipment Hire page for recommended hire shops in your resort, and Alpine Guides hire equipment price list.

For this trip you must have specialist travel insurance providing medical, emergency search/rescue and repatriation cover for off piste skiing and ski touring, as outlined in the trip itinerary. We also strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation cover, in case you’re unable to attend your trip due to personal circumstances or injury. Please arrange your insurance as soon as your trip is confirmed to run.

Further details can be found on our insurance info page.