Sept.2-7 Slovenia 1: Julian Alps; Soca Emerald Trail; Bovec Water Activities

Having been to Slovenia 5 times, due to demand we have decided to go there again.

Click this link to see the reviews & photos of 2012. (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/events/63919772/)

September 14-19 2013 Slovenia and Julian Alps (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/events/118151442/)

September 11 -16 2014 Slovenia and Julian Alps (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/events/176801032/)

September 8-13 2015 Slovenia & Julian Alps (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/events/221055622/)

September 7-12 2016 Slovenia & Julian Alps (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/events/226724934/)

Slovenia is a tiny country, about half the size of Switzerland (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=360810), and counts just over two million people. But the only way to describe pint-sized Slovenia (Slovenija), an independent republic bordering Italy (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=359845), Austria (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=358584), Hungary (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=359519), Croatia (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=358781) and the Adriatic Sea, is that it's 'a mouse that roars'.

If you sign up for both Slovenia Trips: 1 and 2, you will have one night B&B hotel accommodation for free + transport in between for free!

Most of the photos below were taken during our past trips in Slovenia.

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Last day of our Slovenia trip in Sept.2016, visiting Fusine Lakes in Italy

Slovenia has been dubbed a lot of things since independence in 1991 - 'Europe (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=358537) in Miniature', 'The Sunny Side of the Alps', 'The Green Piece of Europe (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=358537)' - and, though they may sound like tourist-brochure blurbs, they're all true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9vUyVyQyok

Nestled between Austria and Italy, Slovenia is a superb hiking destination, from the ridge top trails that cross the snow-capped Julian Alps (http://www.slovenia.info/en/Tourist-destinations/Julian-Alps.htm?destinacije=135&lng=2) to the outrageously picturesque Logarska Dolina, a stunning glacier-carved valley flanked by the sheer peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

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Hiking in Slovenia (http://www.inntravel.co.uk/Destinations/Slovenia) is all about immersing yourself in scenery of incredible natural beauty.

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During one of our challenging hikes in 2016

There are many different routes in Bovec area, most of them have been hiked by the group in previous years, some of them starting in Italy and hiking back to Slovenia but there are still more trails to discover.

You may go scrambling with the challenging team and experienced leader.

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You may also follow the pleasant and fairly easy Trenta/Soca Emerald trail and check out pure water of Soca river.

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Here is a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlOIC07t29Q) nicely presenting this amazing country.

The Triglav National Park (http://www.tnp.si/national_park/), the only national park in Slovenia, lies in the immediate vicinity of Bled. It comprises one of the most beautiful and attractive areas of Slovenia, almost the entire Slovenian part of the Julian Alps. The territory of the National Park is very picturesque and varied. The highest mountain in Slovenia, Triglav (2864 m), after which the park was named, lies in its centre. From Triglav, deep and sharply cut valleys, mainly of glacial origin, open on all sides in the form of a fan.

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During this trip we will be based in Bovec town in the Soca river valley. Bovec is very close to Italian border, this is why some of the hikes may start in Italy. We plan to finish the trip with lunch in the Italian mountain hut.

The region of the Soča Valley (Posočje) stretches from Triglav National Park to Nova Gorica (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=360723). Its most dominant feature is the 136km Soča River, which can widen to 500m and narrow to less than a metre but always stays a deep, almost unreal aquamarine colour. The valley has more than its share of historical sights, but most people come here for rafting, hiking and skiing.

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Getting ready for Rafting with a group in 2016

Deeply carved into the white limestone of the magnificent Julian Alps is the Soča Valley. It is a valley of wonderful colours, full of waterfalls, pools, ravines and canyons, with its own distinct flora and fauna. The impossibly blue-green River Soča flows over white gravel and through this fairy-tale valley. The Emerald Trail (http://www.hotelclub.com/blog/emerald-route-slovenia/) follows the river in the most amazing places.

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Rafting with a group in 2016

WATER ACTIVITIES

The town of Bovec offers world class adventure sports, great for the adrenaline junkie. We may arrange this on our arrival. Last year we had great time rafting down the river Soča, which is known to be among the most beautiful rivers in Europe.

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We plan to visit and hike in all above places, the trip will also involve some optional activities: Rafting, Canyoning, Kayaking, Zipwiring and many more. We can not tell you a day to day agenda at this stage because it always depends on the weather conditions.

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HIKING

There will be at least 2-3 experienced hike leaders on this trip plus we have a local guide - Nejc who has been guiding our group for the last 5 years, if we need we may split a group into 2-3 smaller groups so members can choose a hike according their fitness and abilities!

But we can tell you one thing, you will remember this holiday forever....

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Hiking from Italy to Slovenia in 2016

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Hiking/Scrambling with a group in 2016 at Kanin summit "Moon like" area

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Hiking with a group in 2014 to the Kozyak waterfall

Price of £459 includes:

5 nights 3 star hotel accommodation in twin rooms (free WiFi),

all meals : 5 (buffet) breakfasts and 3 dinners (buffet) in hotel restaurant

(except 5 lunches & 2 dinners),

all transport on local coach,

Financial Consumer Protection according Package Holidays and Tours Regulations 1992,

and guided hikes by

Mountain Leader trained at Plas Y Brenin ( The National Mountain Centre http://www.pyb.co.uk/... (http://www.pyb.co.uk/)) ) guides, and certified First Aiders.

(You can have a single room for £75 extra, please contact us).

The price does not include flights, any activities (around 40-50 Euros each) and 5 lunches (8-10 Euro a day), 2 dinners when we will go out to try some local cuisine.

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Rafting with a group on Soca river in 2016

ONLY PAYMENT CONFIRMS YOUR RSVP!!!

After you RSVP yes, to secure your place you will need to make a bank transfer of £459 to

Account Name: AAA LG

Sort Code 60-09-02

Account 69543038

Please, make sure you have got your name as a reference as on your profile on

Meetup (to avoid misunderstanding) in your payment so I will be able to recognize it as yours. ALSO DROP A LINE TO aaalondon.meetup@yahoo.co.uk WHEN YOU HAVE TRANSFERRED FUNDS PLEASE

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Hiking with a group in 2015, Bovec town where we are based is below in a valley

FLIGHTS:

We plan to meet up on Saturday September 2 at 4:30 pm at Ljubljana airport after the recommended Easyjet flight:

London Stansted to Ljubljana (http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Booking.mvc)

Dep Saturday , 2 September 2017 13:05

Arr Saturday , 2 September 2017 16:10

Flight: Easy 3245

We will drop you off back at Ljubljana Airport on Thursday September 7 at 2:45 pm for the recommended Easyjet flight:

Ljubljana to London Stansted (http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Booking.mvc)

Dep Thursday 7 September 2017 16:45

Arr Thursday 7 September 2017 18:00

Flight: Easy 3246

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Conditions: You will need to have travel insurance and provide details before travel. It is strongly recommended to have this in place at the time of paying the deposit or the flight.

Visa: Please check with the Slovenian Embassy if you need a visa to travel there. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary travel documents, including visa. It is also essential that you take out travel insurance that covers hiking activities up to 3000 meters.

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"Friends", taken by our regular member Spencer Davis in Sept. 2016, more of his photos are above.

If you have signed up to the event you acknowledge the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions. (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/pages/AAA_London_Group_Terms_and_Conditions/)

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This and below one: Lower Fusine Lake in Italy, Mongart summit in Slovenia on the background, taken in Sep.2016

Safety is always paramount with AAA London Group!

All participants (members and their guests) on any AAA London Group walk or activity are personally responsible for their own fitness, safety and welfare and must be equipped accordingly.

Everyone in the group has to obtain appropriate insurance.

The BMC: http://www.thebmc.co.uk/modules/insurance/Policies.aspx

offer excellent policies for all outdoor enthusiasts at competitive rates.

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© AAA London Group Ltd 2016.

Errors and Omissions Excepted