Guide to Slovenian Mountain Trail now available in English
Ljubljana, 8 August - One of the oldest long-distance trails in Europe, the Slovenian Mountain Trial is hugely popular among Slovenians and increasingly also among foreign hikers, who will now be able to hit it with an English guide book in their pocket.
Slovenian Alps
A trail up Mt Grintovec (2,558 metres), a peak in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
Photo: Aljoša Rehar/STA
File photo
More than 10,350 people have completed the entire length of the 617-kilometre trail traversing Slovenia, among them 866 foreigners, the Slovenian Alpine Association (PZS) said in launching the English version the Slovenian Mountain Trail guidebook on Thursday.
The PZS has sold more than 100,000 trail diaries where hikers can collect stamps from sections of the trail, which starts in Maribor and ends at Debeli Rtič on the Adriatic coast taking in the Pohorje, Kamnik and Savinja Alps, Karawanks, the Julian Alps and the Kras plateau.
"Many tourists who come to Slovenia visit our mountains. Exploring deeper, they realise there is a long-distance trail traversing almost all of Slovenia, and quite a few visit Slovenia again to complete the trail," said Jože Drab, the editor of the Slovenian Mountain Trail guidebook.
What makes the trail so popular is that it crosses a variety of terrains, from forests, mountain meadows and valleys, to rock peaks affording breathtaking views. A further bonus is that the trail is short in comparison, with many accommodation facilities on the way, and the fact that Slovenia is a safe country.
However, Drab warned that the Slovenian Mountain Trail is much tougher than most long-distance trails and requires appropriate gear and experience. With an elevation gain of 37,000, the trail can be traversed in 37 days.
The trail was opened in 1953, acquiring its present name in 1991. The new guide to the trail was published in Slovenian in three volumes in October 2018, with the English version coming out this month. In cooperation with the Mountain Rescue Service, the PZS also issued an English brochure with advice for safe hiking.