Slovenia - Alpine Flowers of the Julian Alps

Tour Code: SVN01

An 8-day, single-centre, holiday focusing on the flora and stunning scenery - as well as the birds, mammals and butterflies - of Slovenia's Triglav National Park and Julian Alps.

8 days from
£1,895 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£1,695
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Slovenia is a small, little-known and delightfully unspoiled country lying in the heart of Europe where the Alps meet the Mediterranean. Its meadows and mountain slopes host a rich flora of over 2,900 species, many of which are restricted to the Julian Alps. Our tour begins with a flight to Ljubliana, the capital of Slovenia, after which we transfer to Ribcev Laz on the shores of Lake Bohinj. We will make daily walks in search of the wild flowers, butterflies and other wildlife, breaking at lunchtime for a picnic and to soak up the spectacular mountain scenery. Our botanical searches will focus on key sites around Lake Bohinj, on Mount Vogel, the Mostnica Gorge and Pokljuka Plateau in a variety of alpine, pastural, forest and meadow habitats. We will also visit the beautiful Lake Bled on our drive back to Ljubliana on our final morning to enjoy one last view of the area’s mountains and wildlife before our return flight home.

  • Birdlife includes Black &Three-toed Woodpeckers, Bonelli’s Warbler & Red-backed Shrike
  • Look for butterflies such as Large Copper, Apollo, Common Glider & Spotted Fritillary
  • Stay in Ribcav Laz, home of Slovenia’s annual International Wild Flower Festival
  • Look for clustered Bellflower, Siberian Iris, Erect Clematis & Purple Colt’s-foot, Lake Bohinj
  • Pink Cinquefoil, Red Vanilla Orchid & Edelweiss
  • Chamois, Alpine Marmot & Alpine Ibex live in the mountains
  • Bog Rosemary, Marsh Cinquefoil, Common Sundew & alpines, Pokljuka Plateau
  • Carnic Lily, Sweet William, Alpine Butterwort & Astrantia carniolica among wayside flora
  • Clusius’ Gentian, Crimped Bellflower & Alpine Snowbell grow on Mount Vogel
  • Led by expert botanist guide

Grading

Grade A/B. Easy to moderate day walks.

Slovenia is a small, little known and delightfully unspoiled country lying in the heart of Europe, where the Alps meet the Mediterranean. A member of the European Union since 2004, and about half the size of Switzerland, it is bordered by Austria to the north, Croatia to the south, Hungary to the east and Italy to the west. Predominantly mountainous, and with more than half its area thickly forested, it is a wild and beautiful country where the sharp peaks of the Julian Alps overlook tranquil lakes and spectacular waterfalls. With such a wealth of wild habitats, Slovenia remains a paradise for the natural history enthusiast. Its meadows and mountain slopes host a rich flora of over 2,900 species, many of which are restricted to the Julian Alps, and, although rarely seen, Brown Bears, Wolves and Lynx all still roam the forests in good numbers whilst, in the mountains, Chamois, Alpine Marmots and Alpine Ibex can be found. Bonelli’s Warblers and both Black and Three-toed Woodpeckers are amongst the avian highlights, and butterflies to look out for include Apollo, Large Copper, Common Glider and Spotted Fritillary.

Our tour begins with a flight to Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, from where we transfer to a comfortable hotel in the picturesque village of Ribcev Laz on the shores of Lake Bohinj. Ribcev Laz is surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Julian Alps and the Triglav National Park and is home to Slovenia’s annual International Wild Flower Festival. Over the next week we will spend our days exploring the surrounding mountains and forests on foot. We will walk throughout the day in search of flowers, butterflies and other wildlife, breaking at lunchtime for a delicious picnic and to soak up the spectacular mountain scenery.

On our first day we will walk from our hotel around the north coast of the beautiful Lake Bohinj. We will explore the meadows in search of Erect Clematis, Carnic Masterwort, Clustered Bellflower, Purple Colt’s-foot and Sternberg’s Pink, whilst within the Beech forests we hope to find Lily of the Valley. After an excellent first day of botanising we can catch the tourist boat from Ukanc on the far side of the lake all the way back to our hotel.

The majestic Mostnica Gorge will be our focus on another day, en route to which we will enjoy the beautiful views of the Voje pastures and such avian residents as Redbacked Shrike, Common Redstart and Grey Wagtail. Our walking route first takes us high above the canyon, then drops right to the edge of the emerald green water before reaching the magnificent Mostnica waterfall. Along the way the abundant flora includes the wonderful orange Carnic Lily, Martagon Lily, Sweet William, Alpine Butterwort and Astrantia carniolica.

We will also venture further into the Triglav National Park in search of alpine species on the Mangart Sadel (2,678 metres), where we will find a rich and unique flora, unrivalled in the Julian Alps. Here, walking down through alpine meadows, we will be on the look-out for Long-flowered Primrose and Dwarf Snowbell. Several saxifrages grow on rocky outcrops, along with Paederota lutea and Potentilla nitida (Triglav Rose). In the short turf grow an interesting selection of louseworts, alongside the beautiful Trumpet Gentian and patches of Spring Gentian.

Later in the week we will visit the Pokljuka Plateau and explore the Sijec peat bog which is home to a unique flora including Bog Rosemary, Marsh Cinquefoil and Common Sundew. We also have another opportunity to look for higher alpine species, by ascending Crna Prst, hoping to find Alpine Clematis, Alpine Snowbell, Bear’s-ear Primrose, Oxlip and Alpine Pasque Flower.

Our exploration of the pastures, rivers, forests and meadows around Lake Bohinj ensures that we will visit a full complement of habitats during our week away. During each day of our holiday the bright forests and flower-filled meadows provide endless opportunities to enjoy the wonderful wildlife this country has to offer, with the beautiful rivers, lakes and mountains ensuring stunning views at every turn.

Our return journey to Ljubljana takes us via the beautiful Lake Bled, where we spend our final morning enjoying the spectacular views and the flowers, birds and butterflies one last time. If time permits we may choose to take a boat out to Slovenia’s only island, at the centre of the lake, where we can visit the 15th century church, ring the bell and make a wish, before continuing on to Ljubljana for our return flight home.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Ljubljana; transfer Ribcev Laz.
Day 2/7
Botanical and natural history walks in the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park.
Day 8
Fly London.
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    This is a single-centre holiday staying in the comfortable Hotel Jezero in Ribcev Laz on the shore of Lake Bohinj. All rooms have private facilities.

  • Food:

    All food is included in the price.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Tue 24th Jun – Tue 1st Jul 6 £1,895
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,695
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£265 
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Botanical Tours – See Wild Flowers with our Expert Botanical Guides


There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.  


Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.


Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?


    

  • All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
    • 

  • All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
    • 

  • We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife
    • 



What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?


    

  • Travel with a group of like-minded people
    • 

  • Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
    • 

  • Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora
    • 



In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.  




Our specialist recommends...






"I'd recommend 'Wengen – Alpine Flowers of the Swiss Alps', 'Crete' and 'The French Pyrenees', which all offer some fascinating European botany, along with plenty of wider natural history and some stunning scenery. If you’re keen to travel a little further afield, I’d suggest joining us in South Africa for our 'Wild Flowers of the Cape & Namaqualand' tour” 

David Tattersfield - Tour Leader




All Botany Tours

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Butterfly Watching Holidays Led by Expert Naturalists


Who can fail to be delighted by butterflies – the intensity and variety of their colours, their delicate beauty and fascinating life cycles? Our tours allow butterfly-watching enthusiasts to observe marvellous species all around the world. Sadly, butterflies are in decline in many regions. To help prevent the loss of these beautiful creatures, our butterfly holidays make a direct contribution to their conservation.




Naturetrek Butterfly Tours


    

  • We offer an excellent range of dedicated butterfly holidays
    • 

  • All tours are led by a Naturetrek butterfly-watching expert
    • 

  • Although butterflies are the main focus of our butterfly tours, we also take time to observe other wildlife
    • 

  • By booking one of our dedicated butterfly holidays you will automatically be making a contribution to their conservation.
    • 



Here’s a selection of our dedicated butterfly tours:
Although we include butterfly-watching in many of our holidays, we offer a wide selection of dedicated butterfly tours, including:



Naturetrek & Butterfly Conservation 
As a top category ‘Gold’ corporate sponsor of Butterfly Conservation (BC), we donate around £1,500 annually to the charity. As well as this, since 2002 we have donated 10% of all income generated by our annual programme of butterfly tours that we run in partnership with BC, and give BC membership to all non-members joining the tours.




Our specialist recommends...







"I'd recommend Naturetrek's Butterflies of South Africa holiday. On this butterfly holiday we look for butterflies in the Wajkkerstrom (montane grassland), which supports a wonderful diversity of species. Closer to home I'd suggest our Butterflies of Hungary tour, or Butterflies of Croatia for unspoilt landscapes and a density of butterfly-life rarely seen in western Europe now." 

Tom Brereton - Operations Manager




 


All Butterfly Watching Tours



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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!