Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail

Europe's oldest connecting long-distance mountain trail, the Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail runs about 617 km from Maribor in the north-east to the Adriatic at Ankaran, crossing the country's three great mountain groups. Opened in 1953, it takes fit walkers about a month and traverses the Pohorje, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Julian Alps.

The route is a grand tour of Slovenia's high country, taking in the forested Pohorje, the dramatic Kamnik-Savinja peaks, and the Julian Alps around Triglav, the nation's highest summit and a symbol of the country. It ends by descending to the vineyards and coast of the Adriatic, linking mountain, karst and sea in a single line.

This is a serious alpine trek, with exposed ridges, cabled sections and via ferrata terrain in the Julian Alps that demand sure footing, a head for heights and, in places, a via ferrata set. A dense network of mountain huts (koča) provides beds and meals, so tents are unnecessary, and a trail logbook is stamped at checkpoints along the way. No permit is required.

Created in 1953 as the first trail of its kind in Europe, it inspired the connecting long-distance routes that followed across the continent. The reliable season for the high alpine sections is July to September, once the snow has cleared the ridges; even then, afternoon storms are common, so early starts and careful weather-watching are essential on the exposed Julian Alps stages.