Don't miss this one in a lifetime chance to climb the highest mountain is Slovenia, Mt. Triglav on our unique 6 day tour. You will also enjoy a day in the capital city Ljubljana and experience the breath taking scenery that surrounds the striking Lake Bled. One Life - Live It !

Extreme Ireland have been organising holidays to Slovenia for the last 3 years and they are one of the most successful and enjoyable international tours that we offer. For 2013 we will be organising 2 trips to climb Mount Triglav and visit the National Park of Triglav. You will also get to spend a day relaxing on Lake Bohinj followed by a day touring in the capital city.

Book early to ensure your spot as they fill up fast and availability is limited.

This year was a complete success with a summit rate of over 100%.

You will be guided by a BAIML, qualified international mountain leader, Keith McDonnell.

This trip costs €699 euro.

2013 Departure Dates:

July 25th - 30th AND August 15th - 20th

Recommend Flights To Take from Dublin:

July 25th: Aer Lingus Dublin to Venice departure 7:25 am and arriving Venice 11:05 am

July 30th: Aer Lingus Venice to Dublin departure 11:45 am and arriving Dublin 13:30 pm

For the August trip the best ones are as follows:

August 15th : Aer Lingus Dublin to Venice departure 7:25 am and arriving Venice 11:05 am

August 20th : Aer Lingus Venice to Dublin departure 11:45 am and arriving Dublin 13:30 pm

"These are only recommended flights. If you have another option or are extending your holiday please let us know so we can work around it. If you make your own way to Slovenia, we will want you to be in our accommodation in Bled the first night where we will meet for your introductory dinner"


What's included:

·         Transfer to and from Airport in Venice

·         Accommodation in Bled, Lake Bohinj and Ljubljana based on twin room basis

·         Accommodation in huts on mountain in Triglav National Park

·         Qualified international mountain guide

·         Transfers within National Park

·         All meals in Bled, Triglav National Park and lunch in Ljubljana

·         Entrance into Ljubljana Castle

·         Personal safety equipment on mountain including helmets and via ferratta kit

What's not included:

·         International flights and departure taxes

·         Personal travel insurance, personal items and single rooms

·         Dinner on last night of tour in Ljubljana

·         Drinks during tour

·         Rental of kayaks in Lake Bohinj

·         Tips for guide

·         Spending money

ITINERARY 2013

The trip itself will be 6 days long departing on Thursday and returning on Tuesday morning. This is an amazing opportunity to see Slovenia at its best. The itinerary is as follows:

Day 1

Depart Dublin to Venice, Italy. You will be met by a minibus and transferred to Bled a beautiful lake town in the Julian Alps. We will have dinner that evening and discuss the following day's adventure. Bled is a beautiful little village with one of Slovenia's most beautiful lakes and an amazing little church in the middle of the lake with its castle looking down over the lake.

Day 2

We will begin our ascent of Mount Triglav and most likely that night we will stay in the Triglavski hut. In 2010 we ventured up a different route where we stayed in the Dolic Hut and we found this to be very satisfying for a number of reasons. In 2013 we will decide the route up a few weeks prior to the walk depending on weather predictions etc. You will get a great welcome here, wholesome dinner and a great sleep. Expect this day to last anything up to 6 and a half hours depending on the group.

Day 3

Summit day. This morning we will all live our dream and summit this fantastic mountain. We will spend the morning around the summit before traversing to the other side of the mountain to the Dolic Dom. We may spend the night here or return lower to the Vodnokov Dom through a beautiful glaciated valley with good possibilities to see the elusive edelweiss flower.

Day 4

We will walk off the mountain and make our way to the scenic village of Lake Bohinj where we will kayak on the lake and spend the day recuperating after a wonderful few days on the mountain. This is an amazing way to finish off your time in this region.

Day 5

We will drive to the capital city, Ljubljana where we will meander through the old city and take a visit to the medieval castle overlooking the city. Feel free to take your time today and enjoy your last day in Slovenia.

Day 6

It will be an early morning start to get us back to Venice Airport.

Difficulty Rating of this Trip:

The average walker who walks every few weeks will have no problem with this. There are some exposed ridges close to the top, which make it very exciting. There is a small section where there is via Ferratta, but any experienced scrambler will just walk this section, but for extra safety we will require everyone to wear their Ferratta kit and helmet on summit day. All this gear will be provided by the Extreme Ireland team.

You will be in the hands of experienced guides who will look after you all the way.

Contact our office staff info@extremeireland.ie or by telephone on +353-1-4100700 or +353864076985 for further details.

This really is a trip of lifetime and you can be in no better hands than us.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT Mt. TRIGLAV

Triglav is in the Julian Alps and is the highest mountain in Slovenia at 2864 m (9390 ft). It stands majestically in the centre of the National Park named after it. The name Triglav has its root in pre-history and probably described a god. In modern Slovenian the word also means three heads. This describes the mountain well because from afar it looks as though it has three peaks. The mountain is the Slovenian National Symbol and appears on the country's flag.

The first recorded climb to the summit took place in 1778. It is now said that you are not a complete Slovenian until you have climbed Triglav. Many thousands do so every year. It is not easy but can be done by most able-bodied persons who are reasonably fit and have a good head for heights and are properly equipped. The best season to climb it is from beginning of June (or when the snow melts) till the middle of October (or before the snow comes) but the best months are August and September. Most people allow two days for the trip, one day up and one down.

There are various ways to approach the summit ridge. The South and East side approaches are easier. The most difficult is the North Wall (3000 ft of III - VII grade climbs; though there are paths on the face which do not need climbing gear - not recommended without a guide). There is also a path that comes up from the Dolic Valley - this does not require climbing gear but is more difficult than the Southern and Eastern routes.

The easiest way:

Rudno polje na Pokljuki - Vodnikova koca na Velem polju - Triglavski dom na Kredarici - Triglav - Dom Planika pod Triglavom - Vodnikova koca na Velem polju - Rudno polje (16 hrs or 2 days)

The basic route from the Bohinj Valley and back (Triglav national park):

Stara Fuzina v Bohinju - Voje valley (Mostnica canyon) - Vodnikova koca na Velem polju - Triglavski dom na Kredarici - Triglav - Dom Planika pod Triglavom - Seven lakes valley - Koca pri Triglavskih jezerih - Stapce - Koca na planini pri Jezeru - Prsivec - Vogar - Stara Fuzina v Bohinju (23 hrs or 2-3 days)

Outline timings:

These will of course depend on weather and the individual's state of fitness.

Start:
- in Bohinj (Voje valley) and go to Vodnik hut: 5 hrs

- in Pokljuka (Rudno polje) and go to Vodnik hut: 3 hrs

From Vodnik hut to:

- Triglav hut (Triglavski dom na Kredarici): 2,5 hrs

From Triglav hut to:

- Summit: 1,5 hrs (can be more - due to queues at height of season)

From Summit to:

- Planika hut (the easiest path to the top): 1,5 hrs

From Planika hut to:

- Vodnikova hut: 2hrs

- Seven lakes hut: 4-5 hrs

From Seven lakes hut (Koca pri Triglavskih jezerih) to:

- Komna hut: 3,5 hrs and down in the valley: 3,5 hrs

- Vogar hut (via Planina pri Jezeru hut): 5hrs and down to the valley a further: 1hr

Triglav is not just a mountain, Triglav is kingdom, wrote Julius Kugy, famous explorer of Julian Alps, in his book Aus dem Leben eines Bergsteiger (From the Life of the Mountaineer), after the WWI. He couldn't be more right. Silhouette of Slovenian sacred mountain and nation's highest peak proudly stands on national flag as national coat of arms. Triglav does not only have an appeal on its people, it is truly an international giant as people from all over the world pilgrimage to its kingdom. Germans also address it as Kšnig Triglav. It is certainly one of the most desired and climbed mountains of whole Alps! First president of Slovenia, Milan Kucan, said that it is obligation of every Slovenian to climb Triglav once at least.

Triglav summit

Triglav rises very high above its foothills. From all sides it is surrounded with deep valleys. It is like they are supporting high pedestal on which The King sits. And that pedestal is something like high lying plateau on which the main body of peak stands. On the N is Vrata valley, probably the most beautiful in Slovenia. Above it Triglav rises almost 2km and shows its most powerful side, the magnificent Stena or The Face. It is over 1km high and 3km wide (more below). On the other side of the valley, towards north, is Skrlatica (2740m) and its group. Towards NW the edge of the Face gradually descends till Luknja pass (1758m), which connects Triglav with Prisojnik - Razor group. On the W, slopes of Triglav are steep and high, they descent 2km into the Zadnjica valley, this is subsidiary to Trenta valley. On the SW first neighbour of Triglav is Kanjavec (2568m) from which it is separated by Dolic pass (2164m). On the S is, around 1000m lower, Velska Dolina valley and Velo Polje field. These slopes, although high and quite wild, are much more subdued when comparing to western and northern ones. On the SE is Konjsko Sedlo pass (2020m), over which Triglav is connected with Tosc (2275m) and its group. On the E is long and deep Krma valley, while on the NE is Kot valley. Bottoms of both valleys are 2km lower than Triglav. Between them is wild ridge and group of peaks with impressive sides above both valleys. Highest of them is Rjavina (2532m). At the NE foothills of summit pyramid is Zeleni Sneg. It used to be glacier, the only one in Julian Alps. Sadly, global warming reduced it to large snowfield.

The Name

The origin of Triglav name is still not completely clear. People used to be believe that it is home of Gods. Triglav means three heads (tri glave). Although mountain is compact, from south it shows 3 heads. On the left is Rjavec (2568m), in the middle is main summit, Triglav (2864m) and on the right is Mali Triglav (2725m, small Triglav), which is actually just a shoulder, not a real peak, like what is Monte Bianco di Courmayer to Mont Blanc.

Today

Triglav is by far mostly climbed high peak in Slovenia and wider. Last 108 years, on the summit proudly stands Aljazev Stolp (more in objects section). Just below the summit is Stanicevo Zavetisce refuge, carved in stone. Four secured routes lead to Triglav. Some say that Triglav was humiliated with all that steel on the mountain. It became easy for anyone in better shape to climb Triglav, so today crowds can sometimes be unbearable and you have to wait on the ropes for long lines of people to pass as so many want to climb this magical mountain. Triglav regains respect in winter when security pegs and steel ropes are covered with snow. Then it is reserved only for experienced mountaineers and climbers. There are many huts around Triglav. In summer they are often overcrowded.