"I’ve come back with a lot of memories, a fuzzy heart and a pining desire for more such adventures. I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys to be in nature, wants to get away from the touristy areas and truly experience Slovenia.” (Shubhi, guest, Slovenia Winter Adventure 2026.)

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SLOVENIA WINTER ADVENTURE

15th-22nd January 2027

Price £1800 pp

Bookings now open!

A circular turquoise badge with white a logo featuring handwritten text that says 'Love the Wild'.

Slow down and let the magic of Slovenia’s lesser-known wild landscapes reveal themselves on our unique winter experience in collaboration with the wonderful Love Her Wild community. Led by Mikaela, this journey on foot offers the perfect way to explore Slovenia's pristine backcountry environments, immersing ourselves in nature, identifying tracks and traces, and understanding the places that are home to some of Europes most diverse ecosystems.

Throughout our journey we will reset, learn, engage our senses, make connections and experience the powerful wellbeing benefits of snow in wild places.  After mastering the basics of hiking in winter (with the potential for use of snowshoes and/or micro-spikes), we invite you to embark on a multi-day winter journey, exploring the vast Pokljuka and/or Komna plateaus, weaving in and out of alpine pastures, forests and visiting incredible viewpoints, all on the edge of the Triglav National Park in the Julian Alps.​

  • Snow-covered landscape with pine trees, wooden houses, and a setting sun in a winter forest.

    Inspire me

    Slovenia is a small country rich in nature, with a deeply ingrained mountain culture. 68% is covered in forest and there are 3 Alpine ranges, each with their own distinctive characters. The Julian Alps, The Karavanke Alps and the Kamnik Alps. Hiking is widely considered the most popular activity, and in winter, downhill, alpine and cross-country skiing prevail, alongside snowboarding and mountaineering, with ski jumping attracting tens of thousands of spectators. However, unlike other European countries, there are currently no dedicated trails marked for snowshoeing in Slovenia, making it a true adventure, and with comparably few ski lifts and gondolas, the winter mountains are pristine.

  • Group of eight women in winter clothing and polarized sunglasses standing in snow with ski poles in front of a wooden hut and dense pine trees on a sunny day.

    Who's coming?

    This trip is created uniquely for Love Her Wild, and is for LHW community members and women who connect with the Love Her Wild ethos, who want to share, celebrate and explore the magic of winter!

    Wild Winter Slovenia is ideal for complete beginners and for those with some winter experience looking to experience Slovenia’s winter backcountry. Whatever your level of experience, you can rely on our guidance, support and encouragement throughout the trip.

    This tour would be suitable for anyone with a good base 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 moderate ascents to enable us to reach our amazing viewpoints. We believe these challenges are part of what makes this experience so special and as our distances are carefully planned, we will have plenty of time to move slowly, rest and work together.

  • Group of eight women in colorful winter gear and snow boots, smiling and holding ski poles, posing on snowy mountain terrain with snow-covered peaks in the background.

    Leading together

    Mikaela is passionate about meaningful collaboration. Bringing people together, building relationships and supporting one-another. That’s why this year we are excited to be collaborating with Love Her Wild to offer this unique trip. Created and led by Mikaela, founder of More to Explore, and long-term member of Love Her Wild, this unique trip has our shared ethos at its heart. With a focus on providing opportunities for genuine awe, making connections and leading together, our Slovenia Winter Adventure will offer a truly unforgettable experience.

Itinerary

Two people standing on a mountain overlooking a sunset sky with clouds and pine trees in the foreground.

"Wild winter Slovenia is a holistic journey, combining mindful adventure in wild snowy mountains and forests, with a healthy dose of great hotels, local cuisine, saunas, rest and rejuvenation..."

We will start our tour on the Pokljuka plateau, shaped by glaciers in the last ice age and forming the largest rounded forest area in Slovenia. The environment is a balance of Spruce, Pine, Beech and Larch forests with Europe’s highest most southernly peat bogs, characteristic sinkholes and alpine pastures.  Pokljuka is also one of the gateways to the higher mountains of the Julian Alps and on each day we will be treated to incredible mountain views.

The itinerary, including routes and accommodation may change depending on conditions and we may complete some or all of our journey with micro-spikes, potentially carrying snowshoes on our bags, so it is important your bag has some simple side straps with buckles for this.

 Day-by-Day

  • Arriving at Ljubljana airport, pre-arranged transport will transfer the group to the beautifully luxurious Hotel Elegans, named after the blue-tailed damselfly found on the Brdo estate, where we will enjoy the sauna, ice room and wellness facilities, a delicious dinner and spend the night together before continuing our journey on day 2.

  • After a leisurely, locally sourced breakfast together, we'll continue to the beautiful Pokljuka Plateau stopping at a traditional bakery for lunch on the way to Hotel Jelka where we will be staying for two nights. Once we are all settled we'll start gently, introduce the equipment we’ll be using and have a very short afternoon walk to enjoy the surroundings and get your first taste of winter journeying, potentially searching for Lynx and Wolf tracks in the forests. In the evening there will be time to enjoy Hotel Jelka’s wellbeing facilities including a beautiful Finnish Sauna.

  • After a hotel breakfast we will set out on a journey using snowshoes to one of the nearby alpine pastures, immersing ourselves in the environment, searching the animal tracks and gaining confidence with some of the skills and techniques needed to enjoy winter hiking. We will return mid-afternoon and pack our bags ready for the multi-day journey. After enjoying an evening meal together we will share, reflect and look forward to our upcoming journey.

  • (Approx 7km, Ascent 500-800M Koča depending, Descent less than 100M)

    After a good breakfast in Hotel Jelka, we'll check out of our rooms and set off on our journey to a classic Slovenian Alpine Koča or dom (Cottage or house). We’ll journey up through rich spruce forests, taking our time to enjoy the amazing views across the valley.

    Arriving at the koča/dom, we’ll settle into our rooms, and have plenty of time to enjoy the views of our surrounding mountains before enjoy a group meal together prepared by our hosts.

  • (Approx 8.7km, Ascent 225M, Descent 225M)

    Today we’ll leave our overnight kit behind, and venture forth onto an incredible journey around a snow-covered plateau. As we walk we’ll enjoy folk tales, sweeping views and an afternoon strudel stop, with plenty of fun sliding and playing in the snow.

    Returning to our accommodation, we’ll relax together, perhaps playing cards, or other mountain games, as we await another hearty and comforting evening meal.

  • (Approx 8km, Ascent less than 100M, Descent 800M)

    In good conditions, guests may choose to rise for sunrise today, welcoming our final mountain morning with a glorious natural display.

    After breakfast we will begin our forest journey back to the valley. The welcoming turns take the steepness out of the descent, a we gently return to our transport.

    A short drive away will bring us to our wonderful boutique hotel, where we’ll relax and enjoy our final two evenings together.

  • After our amazing journey, now it’s time for some comfort and reflection. For those interested in cold water immersion, there will be an opportunity today to dip in the crystal clear waters of Bohinj lake, with some hot čaj (tea) waiting for you as you emerge. Or you may just choose to find one of the many quiet spots around the lake to pause and soak in the beauty of this special place. We will round off our last night in Slovenia with a little luxury, enjoying a beautifully prepared meal together, using local produce and inspired by tradition. This will be the perfect celebration to complete our Slovenia Winter Adventure and come together before our journeys home begin tomorrow.

  • After breakfast and one last look at the view it will be time to board our transport and start the journey back to Ljubljana airport. We will have time along the way to visit lake Bled and its iconic island church, as well as tasting some more local specialties before continuing on our journeys home.

Accommodation

From luxury hotels, with salt and ice rooms, saunas and hot-tubs, to simple mountain cottages, with cosy fires and home-cooked food, this trip will share a beautifully selected mix of stays, celebrating Slovenian mountain culture and known by Mikaela for their hospitality and friendly hosts. Occasionally our accommodation may change but the warm welcome and comfort will always remain the same.

  • A multi-story wooden chalet with snow-covered roofs and balconies, surrounded by snow-covered trees and a bright blue sky.

    Hotel Jelka

  • Snow-covered mountain range with a dark-colored building on a hill in the foreground and a partly cloudy sky.

    Dom na Komni

  • Group of five people dressed in winter clothing, with snowshoes and trekking poles, sitting and standing in front of a wooden mountain cabin with a sign that reads 'Lipanca Blejska Koca 1633', snowy mountain landscape in the background.

    Blejska Koča

  • A large wooden house with a snow-covered roof, surrounded by bare trees on a bright, clear winter day.

    Uskovnica Koča

  • A wooden house with outdoor seating on a deck during nighttime, with lights illuminating the area, surrounded by trees and mountains in the background.

    Majerca

  • A modern multi-story building with large windows in a snowy landscape, with mountains and trees in the background and a pine tree in the foreground.

    Hotel Bohinj

  • An aerial view of a large complex with modern white buildings, surrounded by green lawns, trees, and parking lots, with a mountain range in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Hotel Elegans

What’s included?

Snow-covered wooden heart-shaped sculpture in winter landscape with snow-covered trees, small house, and pink sunset sky.

Inclusions

  • Fully guided experience with Mikaela

  • In depth local knowledge of & passion for the area

  • All in-country transport, including transfers to and from the airport (provided you are able to take the suggested flight - detailed below)

  • All accommodation as described above (based on twin/triple sharing)

  • All meals starting from and including dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on day 8

  • One session using the Wellness Facilities at each of our wonderful hotels (Hotel Elegans, Hotel Jelka and our Bohinj hotel) including Finnish and Turkish Saunas, Ice Fountain and Massage Pool

  • Equipment rental (snowshoes, micro-spikes and snow safety equipment)

  • Required group safety kit

Snow-covered forest with tall pine trees on a clear winter day, mountain range in the background, and a small skier on a trail.

Exclusions

  • Flights to and from Slovenia (please see below for recommended flights)

  • Additional use of Wellness facilities at our hotels (15-30E)

  • Additional food/snacks not mentioned above

  • Personal travel insurance (required)

  • Personal kit (full kit list will be provided on booking)

  • Any other food or drinks not mentioned in inclusions

  • Personal spending money

A group of hikers walking through a snowy mountain landscape with towering snow-covered peaks under a clear blue sky.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Snowshoes are the tools we use to enable hiking in specific winter conditions, 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. We only use snowshoes when we need to, and sometimes other alternative equipment is needed, or indeed simply boots can be enough.

    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.

  • Winter hiking 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 experience for this tour, it is ideal for complete beginners and for those with some winter experience looking to explore Slovenia’s winter backcountry. Whatever your level of experience, you can rely on our guidance, support and encouragement throughout the trip

  • Our fun, inclusive and gentle approach to teaching the skills required for snowshoeing will lay the perfect foundations for winter journeys. We are passionate about the magic offered through snowshoeing, and invite you to join us as we find animal tracks and traces, breathtaking views, cosy huts, and experience the benefits for our winter wellbeing.

  • Aside from micro-spikes and snowshoes, which we provide, you do not need anything we class as specific 'snow kit'. If you are already a keen hillwalker in the UK, then the chances are you probably have a lot of what's needed. Here's a full it list of what we suggest to pack and bring with you. You'll also be provided with this kit list as part of your adventure pack as soon as you sign up.

  • ​As soon as flights are launched we will notify you of the flight we recommend. Please wait until advised before booking flights.

    We always try to be flexible with our pick-ups and drop-offs, and will advise you on the best options to suit your needs.

    Often, guests choose to arrive a day earlier to enjoy a night in Ljubljana, and I always include an option for a pick-up close to the centre on my way to the airport on the first day. There is also an option to be dropped in Ljubljana on the last day if you choose to extend your trip.

    Once the trip begins, all the transport for is looked after by Mikaela, leaving you time to sit back and enjoy the journey. 

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