Saso, from Helia, had given us vouchers, maps (large and small), and directions for our inn-to-inn hike through Slovenia. (A hint on telephone calls: you don’t want to even think of making a phone call from your hotel room. One telephone call to Saso cost $3.00 for about two minutes!)

We took a public bus to Kranjska Gora. The bus station personnel speak English and will print out schedules for you. The drivers even load your bags on and off the bus (that was a shock)! It was about a two-hour drive and cost $10/person.

Kranjska Gora is in the foothills of the Julian Alps, close to the southern borders of Austria and Italy, and at the crossroads of three cultures – Slovene, German and Roman. World Cup alpine skiing events are held here every year: Men’s Slalom and Giant Slalom. A very attractive alpine resort.

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

We are staying at the Hotel Alpina***, about four-five blocks UPHILL from where the bus left us off. Strenous exercise, just pulling our suitcases uphill to the hotel. (Bless whoever invented “rollies.”) Hotel Alpina is very large with many German and English tour groups. Half-board is included from now until Piran with huge breakfast and dinner buffets.

We took our first out-and-back hike into the Pisnica Valley. (See map below.) It was a very easy trail even though you climb about 700 feet in elevation. There were people doing this hike in running shoes! Our first impression of Slovenia is how GREEN and forested it is. We walked along a crystal clear glacial stream, through pines and woods, with only the sounds of birds singing. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, snow in little hollows along the trails. It seems that Slovenia had mega-amounts of snow this winter and not all had melted.

hiking in the Pisnica Valley, Slovenia