Group of women snowshoeing in a snowy mountain landscape under a clear blue sky.
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Backcountry Snowshoeing in Slovenia

Available Jan - Feb for bespoke bookings. Prices start at £1650pp for 6 nights.

I had the most amazing trip with More to Explore. Mikaela was an outstanding guide. Extremely knowledgeable about the local area from food to culture to history to ecology.

(Lauren, WAAC, 2024)

  • Five women in ski gear hiking in a snow-covered mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky.

    Inspire me!

    Join us as we venture into Slovenia’s incredible winter backcountry, seeking out fresh snowy landscapes and a real taste of Slovenia in Winter. We’ll journey over vast winter plateaus, seek out animal tracks and marvel at the winter mountain peaks of the Julian Alps.

  • A fox resting on snow with snowy mountains in the background.

    Who's coming?

    This week will be particularly suitable for those with a comfortable amount of summer mountain hiking experience with some in alpine terrain, looking to expand their journeys into the winter season. Equally, this itinerary is ideal for those with some winter skills looking for a refresher and to expand into multi-day tours.

    Although the trip will take place in rolling terrain, many of the plateaus in Slovenia require sustained uphill walks from the valley to access them. Therefore, you should feel comfortable embarking on long full-day hikes, including sustained ascents and descents whilst carrying a 38-40ltr rucksack.

  • Person lying on snow in a mountainous winter landscape with snow-covered peaks and green bushes in the background under a clear blue sky.

    Leading Together

    Mikaela is passionate about supporting others to safely access the outdoors in winter. The magic of breaking trail in fresh snow, and finding wolf and lynx tracks in the forests, and then warming ourselves up in welcoming alpine huts, is something she truly loves to share.

Itinerary

A group of people hiking in the snow on a mountain trail with snow-covered hills and trees under a clear blue sky.

Mikaela’s itineraries are always bespoke and planned around each unique group. Depending on conditions, weather and group dynamics our routes may change to ensure an incredible experience is shared by all.

The below overview forms the basis of our planning and will inspire each day but part of the adventure is adapting to change and making positive decisions!

 Day-by-day

  • Arrive in Slovenia at Ljubljana Jože Pečnik Aiport, where Mikaela will be there to meet you with our pre-booked transport. From the airport we will transfer to our accommodation on the Pokljuka plateau, situated at around 1200M.

  • We will have a relaxed start for breakfast, giving the opportunity to soak in our beautiful surroundings in the forest and get to know each other. Once we are ready to start the day, we will introduce the equipment, fit our snowshoes and head off for a journey up through the forest to a nearby Alpine pasture, identifying animal tracks and traces as we go and introducing some basic movement techniques.

    In the afternoon we will have time to relax and enjoy our surroundings before dinner.

  • Today we will head out on a longer journey, including some ascent, introducing additional movement techniques and avalanche awareness. We will have the opportunity to view some incredible perspectives of the snow-covered Julian Alps visiting a mountain hut (known as Koča in Slovene) for a traditional alpine lunch. In the evening we will pack our bags ready to depart for the next phase tomorrow.

  • We will set off from the hotel in the morning, driving along the edge of lake Bohinj to the start of our hiking trail. Following a winding and in places steep forested ascent, we will make our way up to the Komna plateau and Dom na Komna (1520M) .

    Arriving in the afternoon, we will have time to pause and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the higher mountains surrounding us, before sharing an evening meal together.

    We will be staying in Dormitory style accommodation and some time in the evening will be spent discussing route options and conditions for the following the day.

  • Setting off after breakfast we will embark on a longer snowshoeing journey across the Komna Plateau. There are plenty of options for adventure here, and as a group we will plan and explore the best route to suit the conditions, whether that is a journey to a peak, saddle, or plateau circuit.

    Returning to our hut for our evening meal, we’ll relax and share an alpine evening together.

  • After packing up, enjoying a warm breakfast and thanking our hosts, we will make our way out for another winter circuit, seeking out historic settlements and remnants from WWI. Returning back to the valley we will enjoy one last evening together, reflecting on our experiences, and celebrating with a little luxury in our accommodation and a special dinner in a wonderful local restaurant.

  • As we bid farewell to the mountains we will have the chance for a cold water dip in the iconic waters of lake Bled before enjoying a final celebratory lunch together and transferring to the airport or Ljubljana for our journeys home.

Accommodation

We will stay at a mix of comfortable, welcoming hotels, and classic Slovenian Alpine Cottages as part of this trip, giving you a real taste of mountain culture, food and friendly hosts.

  • A large wooden chalet-style building in a snowy landscape, with multiple snowy roofs, surrounded by snow-covered trees, under a blue sky.

    Hotel Jelka

  • Snow-covered mountains with a dark multi-story building on a hillside, leafless trees in the foreground, under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

    Dom na Komni

  • Snow-covered mountain landscape with a rustic wooden house and a few smaller structures, under a clear blue sky.

    Koča pod Bogatinom

Inclusions

Person wearing winter hiking gear snowshoes, backpack, and using trekking poles in a snow-covered mountain landscape under a blue sky.

Inclusions

  • All in-country transfers (including airport pick-up and drop-off) 

  • 6 nights accommodation

  • Equipment rental (Snowshoes, Avalanche trio, Walking Poles)

  • All of your breakfasts, lunches and dinners

  • Expert guidance and instruction. 

People hiking in a snow-covered mountainous landscape on a clear winter day.

Exclusions

  • Arrival costs (eg flights, trains etc)

  • Personal equipment and clothing

  • Individual Insurance (we will ask for copies of this in advance)

  • Additional Drinks

  • Additional snacks

A group of nine women is standing in the snow with snowshoes and trekking poles, smiling and posing for a photo with snow-covered mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

 FAQs

  • The essence of snowshoeing is built on hiking, using a greater surface area to prevent you from sinking into the snow. This is achieved through the use of specially designed wide-framed rackets, which you attach to your boots with bindings. Snowshoeing is a wonderful low-impact activity, perfect for exploring the winter environment away from the crowds, ski resorts and prepared tracks. This is referred to as the winter backcountry.

    For mountaineering, snowshoes can be used to approach routes and access hard-to-reach places with deep snow.

    It is estimated that the first snowshoes were created 4000-6000 years ago and were made from wood, woven baskets and sometimes fur. Modern snowshoes are mostly made from plastic and aluminium, although some still prefer traditionally crafted shoes.

  • A full kit list will be sent upon booking, but all technical equipment, including Snowshoes and Avalanche trio (Transceiver, Probe, Shovel) will be provided for you. To get started you’ll need to think about warm clothes, waterproofs, gaiters and a warm 4 season sleeping bag.

  • Snowshoeing itself is very easy to get started, and you can learn the initial techniques required in just a few hours. As you gain confidence, more skills can be developed and journeys can be extended into more remote places. The most challenging skills to develop are avalanche awareness and route planning. You don’t need any prior snowshoeing experience for this tour, it is suitable for winter beginners with a good level of summer mountain hiking experience and for those with some winter experience looking to explore Slovenia’s winter backcountry.

    Whatever your base level is, we will work together to create an appropriate level of challenge to suit the group’s needs.

  • This tour would be suitable for anyone with a good level of fitness from regular hillwalking in the UK or similar, which can be developed in the time leading up to departure. Although this tour is suitable for beginners there will be elements of challenge throughout the journey. Moving through fresh snow is tiring and we will have some long ascents to enable us to reach some amazing and remote places. Our routes and distances are carefully planned so we will have plenty of time to move slowly, rest and work together.

    • Route planning, Research, Avalanche forecasting and Equipment.

    • Slope aspect and angle and why it matters in winter.

    • Winter navigation skills and techniques.

    • Transceiver, Probe and Shovel techniques, including avalanche awareness, checks and searches.

    • Use of huts and cottages, including booking, etiquette and safe winter access.

    • Understanding the winter environment; tracks, traces and adaptations.

  • This is not a winter mountaineering course, so we will not be using or requiring crampons, axes or the skills and techniques of Alpinism.

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