Meet at the group hotel in Bled. A timed transfer from Ljubljana Airport is included. The pretty town of Bled is located on the shores of Lake Bled and is surrounded by a magnificent Julian Alps backdrop. With its charming church, fairy-tale island and magnificent medieval castle, Bled is also home to lake waters fed by natural springs and is a fantastic place for a swim. The relaxed promenade is home to pavement cafes and bars which are perfect for people watching as well as sitting and looking at the view. Bled is also a great pace to enjoy a few days pre or post-holiday. You'll find a 7kms footpath around the lake which is popular with local families, walkers and runners. There are also plenty of places to take a dip from including the public lido (entrance fee) or form near the camping site at the far end of the lake. In the evening there will be opportunity to meet up with the leader and head out to dinner.

After breakfast we will take the short transfer to the Mencingarjev Hut which is situated near Bohinjska Bistrica in the Lower Bohinj Valley. As we start walking we follow the lovely Sava Bohinjka River upstream as it snakes its way through the valley. We ascend gradually through open pastureland which provides an easy start to the trek on a trail which is well marked and soft underfoot. As the path starts to get steeper, the scenery becomes more dramatic and as we pass Crna Gora - the Black Hill we can look ahead and see the course of the upper Sava River as it descends from its source, Lake Bohinj. Soft ground gives way to a rugged trail as we continue ascending before finally reaching the day's high point at Crna Prst (1844m). Today's walk ends at the Zorko Jelincic Hut (1835m), which is where we spend the night. In a remote location, this hut has water lifted by cable from the valley. Washing facilities tonight are limited but the feeling of being away from civilisation makes up for that.

This morning as we set out we are immediately rewarded with a stunning panorama which includes a bird's eye view of the largest glacial lake in Slovenia, Lake Bohinj. We're now in the Bohinj Mountains and today's spectacular ridge walk provides a feeling of closeness to nature. Up here the trails are relatively little-used and there is a sense of peace and tranquillity, as well as breath-taking scenery. Part of today's trail is along a ridge which has narrow sections and a few areas of scrambling. As we approach Rodica (1966m) we'll be walking on the border separating the two counties of Gorenjska and Primorska. Gorenjska is the mountainous region of Slovenia whilst Primorska is the lush region with gently rolling hills all the way to the coast. As we walk we'll see perfectly the two contrasting areas: towering limestone mountains to the right and rich green valleys to the left. and if we're really lucky we'll be able to see as far as the sea. In the afternoon we head over the top of Mount Vogel (1922m), one of Slovenia's most successful ski resorts before today's trail finishes at the Razor Planina Hut (1300m) where we spend tonight.

Today we say goodbye to the Razor Planina Hut and head even further into the Triglav National Park. As Slovenia's only national park this incredible showcase of nature is home to golden eagles, black grouse, red deer, marmots, chamois and ibex. We'll keep our eyes peeled too for the magnificent mouflon, a breed of wild sheep that is very distinct due to its enormous curved horns. During the summer months it is not unusual to see griffon vultures soaring ahead. These magnificent birds nest in neighbouring Croatia and it is not unusual to occasionally spot them. Flora in the park includes the pretty yellow Triglav Hawksbeard, bell flowers, gentians, the rare Edelweiss and tiny blue King of the Alps. If we are lucky we may spot the pink cinquefoil or Triglav Rose, which the national park gets its name from. As we travel through a rugged limestone landscape, we follow forest trails up to the tree line and then continue climbing to our high point - Skrbina pass (1891m). Translated as Tooth Pass, crossing over the pass is a highlight of today as we follow rugged trails that turn into scree as we near the top of the pass. Our descent takes us through pretty alpine pastures to reach our overnight at Dom na Komni Hut. Here we'll have an uninterrupted view of Lake Bohinj and hopefully see a fantastic sunset.

This morning we'll have time to enjoy a magnificent morning view of the lake. Lake Bohinj is 4.2km long and 1km wide making it the largest glacier lake in the country and it is incredibly beautiful. The lake is fed by the stream Savica which flows from the Black Lake or Crno Jezero, the lowest lying lake in the Valley of the Seven Lakes. The whole atmosphere and setting of Lake Bohinj is beautiful due to the limited development on its shores and magnificent ring of mountains that circle the crystal clear water. After taking plenty of photos we'll leave the hut and walk into a hidden valley following mountain trails which take us towards the famed Valley of the Seven Lakes. These pretty mountain lakes each have their own colour and are strung like jewels between the peaks. Walking through the valley we'll pass the lakes of Ice, Green and Yellow. Today's scenery is starkly beautiful and the landscape is a world away from the green slopes of the lower valleys. Tonight we overnight in the Prehodavci Hut (2071m) which is one of the smallest huts in the park. Due to an extremely remote location, tonight we sleep in the loveliest setting in the Valley of the Triglav Lakes.

Fingers crossed we'll wake up to a clear morning and a fantastic view especially down into Trenta Valley. We'll be surrounded by steep limestone peaks as we walk today but nothing can prepare us for the close up Mount Triglav (2864m) with its bare rock slopes and dramatic ridges. The path becomes progressively more rugged as we pass the plateau of Hribarice (2306m) and the saddle of Dolic (2164m) as we make our way to Dom Planika Hut (2402m). Dom Planika Hut mountain refuge has a particularly rugged setting and is one of the most popular place to stay before climbing Triglav and a great place to meet fellow trekkers. Close by is Kredarica Hut, not only the highest mountain hut in Slovenia, but also the highest meteorological station in the country. It stands on a small plateau just under the peak of Kredarica nestled on a ridge between Rjavina and Triglav. Sitting a few metres away is a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows. (Please note there are two huts on the shoulders of Triglav: Kredarica and Planika. Depending on the time of the year and availability we may use either of them. However this doesn't affect the length of trekking days, the logistics for climbing Triglav or the overall holiday experience). On reaching the hut the leader will check the weather conditions of time available before deciding if we will attempt Triglav today or in the morning.

If we have not climbed Mount Triglav the previous day we'll have an early start for the optional ascent to the summit of the highest peak in Slovenia. We'll leave our daypacks at the hut and travel light on the ascent along the main ridge which has exposure but is very well protected by cables. Wearing our helmets and harnesses we cross scrambling sections which are truly excellent alongside a breath-taking setting and stunning views. As we focus on the ridge, the climb to the summit will pass quickly and before we know it, we'll be stood on the highest point in Slovenia. The views from the top are simply stunning and include the peaks of the Julian Alps whilst the valleys of Kot, Krma, Vrata and Trenta are spread out below. We'll clearly see the neighbouring peaks in Italy and if the weather is clear we'll be able to see as far as the Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria. After taking the all-important summit photos and enjoying one of the most jaw-dropping panoramas in Europe, we return to the hut to collect our bags and start the walk out via the hut at Vodnikov and the dense forest of Pokljuka. It's a great way back down to the rich forest of Pokljuka where we meet the road at Rudno Polje (1340m). Here we pick up our transport for the 30mins drive back to Bled. This evening we'll head out for dinner and am sure we'll end up celebrating an excellent holiday, hopefully with a few local schnapps!

After breakfast the morning will be free to enjoy Lake Bled, maybe a last minute walk around the lake or a famous Lake Bled Crem Rezine - cream cake! There will be a single timed transfer departing to the airport in the afternoon. If you would like to extend your time in Lake Bled then please feel free to contact the KE office and we can book you extra nights in the group hotel. The capital of Ljubljana is a 90mins public bus journey away, whilst the lake of Bohinj and alpine resort of Kranjska Gora can all easily be reached by public bus from Lake Bled.