A superb adventurous short break to the summit of the highest peak in Slovenia Mount Triglav and stay in Lake Bled. Superb trekking to the summit of Triglav Slovenia`s highest mountain Fantastic introduction to Via Ferrata and alpine scrambling Relax in the pretty town of Bled and swim in its crystal clear lake Enjoy a night in a traditional alpine hut in the heart of the Julian Alps HOLIDAY CODE SWE Slovenia, Trek & Walk, 4 Days 1 night mountain hut / refuge, 2 nights hotel, 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners, max group size: 16, 2 days trekking, max altitude - 2864 metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE
PAGE 2 Introduction Described as one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Europe, the Julian Alps are dominated by Mount Triglav (2864m), one of the most respected mountains in the world. This combined with the beautiful lake of Bled, ensures the perfect location for a short break and a spot of adventure. This superb journey starts in the stunning town of Bled, with its crystal clear lake and incredible mountain backdrop. From here we head up onto Pokljuka Plateau, a timeless area of alpine meadows, mountain flowers and wildlife, shepherd huts and soaring birds of prey. Following dramatic mountain trails we snake up into the heart of the Julian Alps before setting off along one of the most famous ridge walks in Europe. This stunning section of via ferrata takes us to top of Mount Triglav where the views from the summit are totally jaw dropping and includes a panorama which extends all the way from the Italian Dolomites to the Austrian Alps. This excellent short-break finishes back in Bled, where its laid back atmosphere, pavement cafes and lovely promenade ensure you finish the weekend in style. Is this holiday for you? This is a wonderful mountain journey on alpine trails and you ll be walking between 7 and 9 hours on each of the two trekking days. For 1 night the group will stay in a mountain hut which is inaccessible by vehicle, meaning group members carry a via ferrata harness, helmet and their personal equipment for two days. However as all bedding is provided in the hut it is possible to trek for two days without carrying a heavy backpack. On the final optional ridge walk to the summit there is exposure, but the trail is equipped with fixed cables. No previous via ferrata experience is needed and this holiday is suitable for hillwalkers with a good level of fitness. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Bled. A single timed transfer from Ljubljana Airport is included. Meet at the group hotel in Lake Bled which is 40 km (30 mins transfer) from Ljubljana Airport. KE Land Only package services begin with a single, timed group transfer. The alpine town of Bled at the foot of the Julian Alps is one of the most picturesque towns in the world with a superbly located castle and alpine lake. In the centre of the lake sits a tiny island complete with church and wishing bell! The whole area is charming and depending on your arrival time you may like to enjoy a 7km circular walk of the lake, which offers spectacular views of the Karavanke Mountains, the natural border between Slovenia and Austria. On a clear day the three-headed peak of Triglav is visible dominating the surrounding Julian Alps. The main promenade has cafe bars for people watching and a number of places sell the famous "Creme Rezina" - cream cake of Bled. KE Land Only package services begin with an overnight at the hotel. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL Day 2: From Pokljuka High Plateau up to the charming Planika Mountain Refuge (2401m) An early start is needed today as we take a scenic transfer (30-40mins) to the high plateau of Pokljuka. This beautiful forest area is rich in spruce, mountain flora and fauna plus shepherd huts. Also during the month of December approximately 6000 spectators make their way to Pokljuka to support the World Biathlon Championships. As we leave our transport immediately the air feels fresh and crisp. We're now in the Triglav National Park which is the country's only national park and one of the oldest in Europe. This beautiful area is 70% forested and home to all of the country's glaciers lakes. Initially we snake through rich forest until and then start to make our way above the tree line. We'll be rewarded with magnificent views of Lake Bohinj, the largest natural lake in Slovenia and a charming area known as the Bohinj meadows. Next we ascend to the Vodnik Mountain Hut (1817m) named after the poet Valentin Vodnik who was a passionate mountaineer. We'll stop here to enjoy the stunning views of Triglav as the hut has a small restaurant where alpine dishes and drinks can be bought. In the
PAGE 3 afternoon we reach Planika Mountain Hut (2401m) where we stay the night. Dom Planika has two small restaurants, a bar and excellent views. Depending on weather and mountain conditions, we may leave our bags at the hut and immediately head to the summit of Triglav. Using our via ferrata equipment the ridge walk is spectacular and on reaching the top the views are jaw dropping. Alpine valleys below us and the Julian Alps dominate the view, however on a clear day the highest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner is visible. After the all-important summit photos we head back down to the hut to celebrate our summit success. ACCOMMODATION MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 1450M DISTANCE 12KM GPS DATA VIEW NOW MEALS BD DESCENT 500M TIME 7 HRS TREKKING HOURS Day 3: Enjoy the summit of Mount Triglav before descending through spectacular scenery. If we didn't climb Mount Triglav yesterday we'll head up to the summit this morning before descending down to Krma Valley. Initially our route takes us across Konjsko Sedlo or the Horse Saddle (2020m) as we head through the area of the legendary Golden Horned chamois - Zlatorog. Gracing the label of Slovenia's beer, our leader will most definitely tell us the story of Slovenia's most famous golden-horned goat We are surrounded by majestic summits and can keep our eyes peeled for chamois, alpine marmot, wild cats, mouflon, foxes, deer, eagles and it's not unusual to see griffon vultures of neighbouring Croatia soaring overhead. Alongside a rich variety of fauna, the park is home to some wonderful flora including gentians, bell flowers, the Julian poppy, Triglav rose and extremely rare Edelweiss! In the afternoon we reach the Valley of Krma, which alongside Vrata and Kot are the three main valleys that lead to Triglav. As we walk along the valley floor and look up to the right we'll be able to see the peaks that dominated Pokljuka where we started our journey. We finish our trek at Kovinarska Hut (870m) and here we'll meet our transport and transfer through the Radovna Valley back to Lake Bled. This evening we'll re-group and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Bled. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 650M ASCENT 1100M TIME 6-7 HRS TREKKING HOURS DISTANCE 9KM MEALS BD Day 4: Departure day. A single timed transfer to Ljubljana Airport is included. KE Land Only package ends with breakfast at the hotel. The morning is free to relax and enjoy this pretty town and its lake. In the afternoon there will be a single timed group transfer to Ljubljana Airport. Alternatively if you wish to extend your stay in Lake Bled we can book you additional nights at the group hotel. If you are flying late in the evening and wish to explore the country's capital for a few hours, it's possible to take a public bus (http://www.alpetour.si/) from Bled to Ljubljana. With its wonderful old centre, colourful buildings and meandering river, Ljubljana is a pleasant place to explore for a few hours. A lot of the capital's buildings were designed by the Slovene Architect Joze Plecnik who famously redesigned the old town and castle in Prague. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included
PAGE 4 A professional English speaking Slovenian mountain guide Single timed group airport transfers on day 1 and day 4 All accommodation as described in the trip dossier Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Vehicle transfers on Day 2 and on Day 3 A via ferrata safety harness and a climbing helmet are also provided locally What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers (other than the single group transfers on day 1 and day 4 of the trip itinerary) Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc. Meal Plan All breakfasts and 2 dinners including 1 evening meal in the mountain refuge and 1 dinner at a restaurant in downtown Bled are included in the holiday price. Hill food, picnic items and bottled water can be purchased from the excellent supermarkets in Bled and from the huts. We estimate a budget of around 15 per day should cover your spending on lunches and snacks. Food Slovenian cuisine is very varied being very much influenced by its neighbours, Austria, Italy and Hungary. You will find smoked meats, sausages, Wiener snitzels, pastas, ravioli, risottos, potato dumplings and goulashes served all over Slovenia. Bread is freshly baked everywhere (except in the hut) and is usually excellent. In the hut, breakfasts consist of bread with jam, honey, a selection of cheeses and sometimes cooked eggs. Dinner will be 2 courses - either a soup with meat or a stew, risotto or a pasta dish. A vegetarian option can be provided in the hut. Snack food items, bread, chocolate bars etc. can be purchased at the hut for lunches or purchased in the local supermarket in Bled before the trek starts. In the refuge it is possible to buy beers and soft drinks too. Lake Bled is famed for its Cream Slice which has to be tried before leaving Slovenia! The country is well know for its wine which is normally served with most meals and very reasonable in price. The red wines of the coast, Teran and Refosk are excellent as are the open wines that are served by the glass. Joining Arrangements & Transfers A single group transfer from Ljubljana Airport to Bled is provided on day 1 of the itinerary. This transfer is coordinated with the arrival of the first Easyjet flight from Stansted, London but anyone may use it. The transfer will normally depart Ljubljana Airport at approximately 16.30. At the end of the trip (on day 4) there will be a single group transfer from the group's hotel in Bled to Ljubljana Airport. This transfer will normally arrive at Ljubljana Airport by 14.00. If your flight schedules mean that you are unable to take advantage of these group transfers, you will need to make independent arrangements to join the group at the hotel in Bled. The low-cost airline Wizz Air also flies on a Thursday and Sunday departing from London Luton direct to Ljubljana. A taxi taken from the airport to Lake Bled costs approximately 45 Euro and can be picked up outside the main entrance of the airport. There is a shuttle service from Ljubljana Airport to Bled costing approximately 13. Reservations for this shuttle can be made in advance at www.zup-prevozi.eu/ If you are departing on a later flight and wish to visit the city of Ljubljana, a limited weekend public bus service runs between Bled and the main bus station in Ljubljana, taking approximately 1 hrs 20mins. Tickets are less than 7 Euro and are purchased direct from the driver. From Ljubljana there is a shuttle service between the main bus station and the airport. Independent meet & greet transfers
PAGE 5 between Ljubljana Airport and Bled can be also be arranged through KE at additional cost. All clients MUST forward their flight details to the KE office and should let us know if transfers are not required. Accommodation During this trip the group will spend 2 nights in a 3-star traditional pension/hotel in Lake Bled. Accommodation here is twin sharing with en-suite facilities. There is 1 night staying in a hut set up by the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia in the protected area of the Triglav National Park. Accommodation here is in dormitory style rooms that vary in size. Sleeping bags are not required in the hut, as bed sheets and blankets are supplied. Please note that water for washing is limited at the huts, and bathroom facilities are basic. However, overnighting in the heart of the mountains and staying in a traditional mountain hut, more than makes up for the lack of showers! For the 2 hotel nights in Bled, single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. Additional hotel nights in Bled are also available. For hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website. Single rooms are not available in the mountain huts. Group Leader & Support Staff During this holiday the group will be led by a locally based, professional, English-speaking mountain guide. Spending Money The currency in Slovenia is the Euro. We estimate that 100 will cover your personal spending and miscellaneous expenses including lunches and reasonable tips for the local guide. Cash can be withdrawn from ATM s in Ljubljana Airport and in Bled using a credit or debit card. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for 24.95. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance Since you will be carrying the personal equipment you need for two days of trekking you should make every effort to keep this to a minimum. With careful planning, and considering that you will not have to carry a sleeping bag or camping mattress, it should be possible to keep the weight of your sack down to around 8 kgs. Please note that the via ferrata safety harness and helmet required for the ascent of Triglav will be issued to you at the start of the trek as there is no place to store this equipment safely. You will need to carry this with you throughout, and you should ensure that you have room for this equipment in your daypack. Your main luggage with your travel clothes etc can be left at the group hotel in Bled. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.
PAGE 6 General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Currency The unit of currency in Europe is the Euro. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Running, cycling and swimming are good for developing better stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.
PAGE 7 Climate From July to September the weather is generally very good. We can expect daytime valley temperatures in the range 24 30 C in July and August, dropping to around 15 C overnight. September temperatures will be a few degrees cooler and whilst high up in the mountains temperatures will also be cooler but should be comfortable for trekking in shorts and short sleeved shirts (should you wish). As with any alpine area there is the risk of some unstable weather. However Slovenia usually enjoys a very pleasant and stable climate and we should expect mainly clear and sunny days even in September. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes The dates above are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining in Ljublijana. The nearest airport is Ljublijana. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' and 'Flights' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK there are a number of low cost airlines offering flights to Ljubljana. These include Easyjet who have flights from London Stansted.Other airports/airlines may be available but these may not run on the group dates If you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you
PAGE 8 contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such
PAGE 9 as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
PAGE 10 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. weight of your equipment to a minimum. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the You Should Bring The Following Items: Strong walking boots with ankle support Socks Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Underwear Shorts Thermal baselayer shirt T-shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Lightweight waterproof jacket Sun hat or cap Warm hat Sunglasses Lightweight thermal gloves Daypack 30 litres max. Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 litre (x2) Small towel Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial hand gel Small padlock (to lock main luggage) Basic First Aid Kit including plasters (band aids), blister treatment, headache tablets etc. Via Ferrata Equipment (Provided Locally) Via ferrata lanyard Climbing harness Climbing helmet (These items will be issued to everyone at the start of the trip for the ascent of Triglav, you should ensure you leave room for them in your daypack) The Following Items Are Optional: Travel clothes Trekking poles Camera Insect repellant Earplugs Swimming kit (for the lake in Bled) Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage)
PAGE 11 Sleeping bags/extra shoes: These are NOT required as bedding and hut shoes/slippers are provided at mountain huts. Please note: This document was downloaded on 23 Apr 2018, and the trip is subject to change.