The Alpe Adria Trail is one of the most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in Europe. It consists of 37 stages and runs from the Alps in Austria through Slovenia to the Adria coast in Italy. After I walked it in 2022, I put together a 2-week itinerary that allows you to hike the most scenic stages along the Alpe Adria Trail from Austria to Slovenia.

Overview of my 2-week itinerary for the Alpe Adria Trail (week 2)

Here’s an overview of the second week‘s stages of my 2-week itinerary for the Alpe Adria Trail. If you’ve missed the first part, check out week 1 here.

8. Day: A Meditative Ascent And Watching the Moon Rise
Stage 18 AAT Arriach - Gerlitzen Alpe

9. Day: Along Magical Forest Paths to a Boat Ride on Lake Ossiach
Stage 19 AAT Gerlitzen Alpe - Ossiach

10. Day: From Gorges and Lakes
Stage 20 AAT Ossiach - Velden

11. Day: Across the Jepca Saddle, Through the Shire and into Slovenia
Stage 22 AAT Baumgartnerhöhe - Kranjska Gora

12. Day: Breakfast in Charming Kranjska Gora Before Talking to The Girl in Stone
Stage 23 AAT Kranjska Gora - Trenta Part 1

13. Day: Finding the Soca Spring
Stage 23 AAT Kranjska Gora - Trenta - Part 2

14. Day: Jumping From the Big Soca Gorge Into Whooshing Emerald Waters
Stage 24 AAT Trenta - Bovec

Day 8: A Meditative Ascent And Watching the Moon Rise

Transfer: Döbriach to Arriach (Hinterbuchholz)
Route: Arriach to Gerlitzer Alp
Distance: 15,1km
Elevation: 1245m (-218m)
Accommodation: Gipfelhaus Gerlitzen

We’re starting week two with another early morning transfer to the starting point of stage 18 of the Alpe Adria Trail. I’d highly recommend being dropped off in Hinterbruchholz, right at the beginning of the forest road rather than in Arriach. The ascend from Arriach to Hinterbuchholz winds along concrete serpentine roads, which have relatively frequent traffic and are not particularly enjoyable to walk. From Hinterholzbuch on you first follow a broad forest road which then leads across smaller paths and serpentine roads up the mountain. The long and steady ascend of this stage can become quite meditative once you’ve found your walking rhythm. Try focusing on the sounds around you, on the clean, fresh air you’re breathing, and let your mind become quiet. Maybe this is the moment of your journey (and hopefully only one of many), where you actually arrive. Arrive while walking. The second part of the stage starts at a large horse ranch, where you can take an excellent break at some cute tables & benches under some trees. The road then leads through meadows and forests and you conclude this stage at the Gipfelhaus Gerlitzen, in the middle of one of the largest skiing areas in the region. It’s quite eerie (and dismaying) to walk along the ski routes in summer. You can definitely skip the fake “lake”, not worth the detour, and walk straight up to the hut. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend staying at Gipfelhaus Gerlitzen, there is no good alternative to it. There really isn’t much magic of the winter wonderland left during summer. But watching the moon rise over the Julian Alps from the viewing platform does make up for it quite well.

Day 9: Along Magical Forest Paths to a Boat Ride on Lake Ossiach

Route: Gerlitzer Alp to Ossiach
Distance: 16km
Elevation: 178m (-1581m)
Accommodation: Naturgasthof

After several sights (such as the Steinerne Madln or the path of philosophy) and plenty of souvenir pictures with stunning views over the lake and mountain backdrop, the ascend leads you into a quiet, ancient forest. In here, the beautiful sound of silence is deafening, the glittering sunlight dancing on the forest ground dazzling and the smell of pine and larch trees takes you right into the middle of a beautiful fairy tale. The magic is nearly tangible. Take a moment to listen, to breathe, and to dive into that moment of absolute calm. The spell of the forest will accompany you for most of the stage until you’re able to take a break at a beautiful little bench overlooking lake Ossiach (yep, another lake, who’d have thought!). Ascending to Steindorf is fairly easy, yet not very scenic, mostly along the main road. From here, you can take a ferry across the lake to Ossiach, rather than walking around. This is a nice and fun event, yet the touristy vibe also poses quite a strong contrast to the peace and calm of the forest you just came from. Make sure to check out the timetable of the ferry (Ossiacher See Schifffahrt) online, you want to go from Steindorf (9) to Ossiach (8). The ticket price is 9,5 Euro and can be bought online as well as when getting on the boat.

Day 10: From Gorges and Lakes

Route: Ossiach to Velden
Distance: 17,1km
Elevation: 541m (-602)
Accommodation: Hotel Garni (no recommendation)

After a short leg back through Ossiach and along the lake, the road follows an exciting and adventurous ascend - the “Schluchtenweg”, climbing you climb up an impressive gorge. A small stream continuously flows by your side and the climb is in parts facilitated by some wooden or metal stairs. Once you’ve reached the top (which sounds easier than it actually is 🥵) you’re rewarded by a beautiful little lake, which is surrounded by gorgeous trees. Once you’ve nearly passed it, you find a great spot with a couple of benches, ideal for a little tea break. The next leg isn’t quite as scenic as it proceeds mostly along “main” roads (although main roads here are still comparably small). However, it also leads through several cute little villages and there’s little traffic. Once back in the forest, you pass by the ruin of an old castle (the small detour to climb up to the castle is worth it!) and slowly ascend to lake Saisser and on to Velden.

Day 11: Across the Jepca Saddle, Through the Shire and into Slovenia

Transfer: Velden to Baumgartnerhöhe
Route: Baumgartnerhöhe to Kranjska Gora
Distance: 21,4km
Elevation: 990m (-1179m)
Accommodation: Rooms & Apartments Banic

Today is the day! On stage 22 of the Alpe Adria trail, you will cross the border to Slovenia. We’re again using a transfer to skip stage 21, as it’s one of the least beautiful stages of the trail. Make sure to start as early as you possibly can, as it will be a long day. Ahead lies a breathtaking hike, both in terms of nature & views as well as physically. The first long ascent will take you up to Schwarzkogel summit - around 1000m of elevation. Hiking along the narrow path of the Jepca Saddle can be quite challenging and you should not be afraid of heights. But the views are worth it. Along the entire walk on the saddle, Slovenia and the impressive Julien Alps rise to your left while on your right peaceful, picturesque lake Faaker sparkles in the sunlight. Definitely take an extended break once you’ve reached the summit of Schwarzkogel. Recharging your batteries will be especially important, as the following descent is just as challenging (maybe even more so). There’s lots of gravel, which is very slippery and requires a lot of focus. Walking poles are a must for this one. But again you’re compensated for your efforts by extraordinary nature - I felt like stepping into the Shire from The Lord of The Rings and Frodo and Sam would literally cross my path any second. Overall, it’s one of the most challenging stages of the trail in all regards (distance, elevation, technique), so I’d recommend, only walking it when weather conditions are optimal. But don’t let that stop you, it’s definitely doable and one of the most scenic stages along the Alpe Adria trail.

Day 12: Breakfast in Charming Kranjska Gora Before Talking to The Girl in Stone

Route: Kranjska Gora to Vrsic pass
Distance: 10,66km
Elevation: 707m (-3m)
Accommodation: Erjavceva Koca

Stage 23 is quite a long one again. Given the exhausting stage from the day before, I decided to split it into two, which was a very good decision. Especially as staying at Erjavceva Koca, just below the Vrsic pass was a fabulous experience. Right from the terrace, you can see the famous “Girl in Stone”, which according to an old tale was bewitched by the mountain spirits. But if you tell her your woes, she might be able to relieve them. In any case, food will definitely not be one of them, because it’s very good here and you can try some homemade traditional Slovenian dishes. Splitting the route also allows you to take it slow in the morning. I enjoyed the stroll through Kranjska Gora, which is a super cute little village. Also, I can recommend having breakfast at Sport Point, amazing Croissants, good coffe,e and really nice nutrition-packed Smoothies (you’ve got to get your vitamins somewhere right?). The hike itself is easy to moderate, along a beautiful little lake and along a gorgeous emerald-green river. Once you’ve crossed the river the route steadily ascends through forests and across a few moderately busy roads until you reach Vrsic pass.

Day 13: Finding the Soca Spring

Route: Vrsic pass to Trenta
Distance: 15,69km
Elevation: 263m (-1055m)
Accommodation: Apartments Nastja (book directly with them not via booking.com, where the price is double!)

You can look ahead to a beautiful day’s hiking. After a hearty and delicious breakfast with freshly made scrambled eggs, a slow & steady ascend takes you ever closer to the Girl in Stone. You can actually read up on the tail once you’ve reached the top. The route of the Alpe Adria Trail now leads you down the road, but there’s another, slightly more hidden path, which is much more adventurous, but also a lot more exciting. Afterward, you’re following a beautiful path through another gorgeous forest (I just love forests so much!), which then opens up to some stunning views of the mountains. Following another challenging descent with a lot of gravel, you’ll reach the spring of the Soca river. If you’re hiking in early summer you might be lucky and munch on some strawberries on the way. Be careful to not miss the Soca spring (like I did 🙁), because the Alpe Adria Trail doesn’t actually pass by it. Definitely take the detour to see the spring because the Soca river will actually follow you a long way along the trail. Staying at Apartments Nastja, was perfect for what I needed. A large room with a comfortable bed, shared bathroom, an amazing shower, and a washing machine with (!!) some detergent to use (you would never imagine how excited you can get about not having to hand wash your clothes in the evening).

Day 14: Jumping From the Big Soca Gorge Into Whooshing Emerald Waters

Route: Trenta to Bovec
Distance: 21km
Elevation: 400m (-564m)
Accommodation: Soca Rocks Hostel

I’m feeling a little repetitive, but this definitely is one of the most scenic stages of the Alpe Adria Trail. Really! Almost the entire route follows the ravishing river along the “Soca Pot”. You constantly hear the soothing humming of its waters while passing through forests, jumping over rocks and roots, and crossing several rope bridges. You will pass both the small Soca gorge as well as the big Soca gorge. Both are breathtaking! And if you’re feeling brave, you can even jump from several rocks into the deep, freezing clear water at the foot of the big gorge (if you rather pass on the swimming, there’s also a nice secluded bench overlooking the river a bit further down the trail). The only downside about this stage is, that the Soca Pot is quite famous and passes by several camping sites, meaning it’s quite busy, especially in summer. My recommendation is to start as early as possible, a.k.a. well before 6 am, to a) give the crowds a miss and b) not sizzle in the blazing summer sun for too long. The last leg takes you through forests and roads right into Bovec, a gorgeous little village, which is famous for offering all sorts of sports activities such as wild water rafting, zip lining, or paragliding. So you could extend your stay for a few days if two weeks of hiking still haven’t given you the adrenaline rush you were looking for.

This was the last stage of my 2-week itinerary along the most scenic stages of the Alpe Adria Trail in Austria and Slovenia. I hope my pictures and descriptions have given you a good impression of what awaits you on this beautiful trail. Jump back to week one here.

Or if you’re ready to take off right away, here’s a detailed packing list for hiking the Alpe Adria Trail in spring to help you prepare.