Highlights
- Hike among the dramatic peaks of Triglav National Park in the Julian Alps
- Stand-up-paddleboard the crystal clear waters of Slovenia’s Lake Bled
- Kayak to sea caves and snorkel along pristine beaches on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula
- Ferry across the Adriatic Sea to explore historic Venice
Trip Details
- Start: Venice, Italy
- End: Venice, Italy
- Age Range: 14 - 16
- Cost: $5,699
Dates
Jul 1 - Jul 12 (Available)
Jul 16 - Jul 27 (Available)
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Trip Itinerary
A tricultural experience exploring the beauty of the Balkans. From Slovenia’s rugged Julian Alps and the crystal-clear waters of Lake Bled to the sparkling coastline of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea, this journey showcases some of the region’s most breathtaking landscapes. Beginning in the alpine beauty of Triglav National Park and iconic Lake Bled, you’ll hike through stunning mountain terrain before heading south to kayak and explore beaches along Croatia’s rocky coastline. A scenic ferry ride to the legendary city of Venice provides the perfect conclusion to this unforgettable trip.
Hiking and Stand-Up-Paddleboarding in the Julian Alps
After meeting in Venice, we will travel to Slovenia’s Lake Bled, renowned for its emerald-green waters, dramatic mountain backdrop, and storybook charm. Framed for the medieval Bled Castle and its iconic island church, we’ll spend time stand-up paddleboarding and exploring the surrounding trails in the foothills of the Julian Alps. After a few days taking in the beauty of Lake Bled, we’ll transit deeper into the mountains as we enter the stunning Triglav National Park. Our Slovenian adventure will reach its peak (or, its Apogee, if you will) with a hike from the Slovenia’s largest natural lake to a mountain hut nestled among the peaks of the national park — a true wonderland of limestone plateaus, pine forests, and brilliantly colored alpine lakes.
Paddle and Snorkel Croatia’s Coastline
After our alpine adventure, we will transit to the southernmost tip of Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, a coastal gem known for its Roman ruins and turquoise coves. We’ll spend our days here kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming in the pristine waters of the Adriatic, discovering hidden beaches and exploring sea caves. We’ll also take time to explore the wonders of Kamenjak National Park by foot – taking in the amazing white cliffs that give way to the clear water below. Evenings will be spent in a peaceful campground under the stars, enjoying good food and great company by the water’s edge.
Full Circle in Venice
A ferry ride across the Adriatic Sea will mark our return to Venice, where we will celebrate the journey we have shared. After exploring the winding alleys and canals of this historic city and enjoying a celebratory dinner out on the town, we will spend our last evening in a comfortable hostel reflecting on our accomplishments and friendships. From alpine trails to Adriatic tides, this unforgettable adventure for high schoolers is the perfect mix of mountains, coast, and cultural discovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our General FAQ page for many more frequently asked questions and answers!
How physically challenging is Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
Given a Challenge Level 5 (out of a maximum of 10), we consider Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast (SMCC) to be an intermediate hiking trip. We believe that any moderately fit, motivated student can successfully complete this trip with appropriate preparation. Compared to similar hiking trips, we believe that SMCC is slightly less challenging than our Pyrenees Mountains & Coast trip due to the lesser total mileage covered while hiking, but more challenging than our Iceland Mountains & Coast trip. The group will hike up to 8 miles on their most challenging day, while their daily mileage typically spans between 4-6 miles, sometimes with significant elevation gain. Please note that all of Apogee’s Challenge Levels are not scientific and are subjectively calculated by the Apogee staff.
Where will my child be sleeping at night on Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
Our Slovenian Mountains and Croatian Coast group will be camping for nine of the eleven nights over the course of the trip, and each of those nights will be spent in established, front country campsites. They’ll spend the other two nights of the trip indoors (one night in a mountain hut and one night in a Venice hostel). Leaders will separate students by gender into tent groups, and will rotate those groups several times over the course of our trip. Students will generally share a tent with two or three other students. Our groups will have access to running water and showers every night of the trip.
What does a typical day on Slovenian Mountains and Croatian Coast look like?
The wonderful thing about our programs is that every day is different and exciting, so no two days will be exactly the same. That said, the general layout of a day on Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast starts with a morning activity (usually from about 8:30 AM until lunchtime), then an afternoon activity (after lunch until about 4 PM). The morning and afternoon activity may be the same (e.g., hiking to a mountain hut in the morning, eating lunch by a pristine glacial lake, then completing the hike to the hut in the afternoon), or, on some days, they will be different (e.g., stand-up-paddleboarding in the morning and exploring a nearby alpine village in the afternoon). After the afternoon activity, the group settles into that night’s accommodations, prepares dinner, and plays some evening games before the evening “Apogees and Perigees” circle that wraps up each Apogee day. For more detailed information on the day-to-day schedule of this trip, please contact us.
What is the maximum number of students I can expect on Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
There are never more than twelve students on an individual session of Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast. Additionally, we limit enrollment by gender to two-thirds/one-third. Groups are always led by two of our excellent trip leaders.
How will I communicate with my child while they are on Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
We are a technology-free program, meaning that your child won’t have access to their phone or other electronics over the course of their trip. That said, students on international trips will call home at some point on arrival day, depending on schedules and arrival times. We have one email stop on our Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast program; parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to use this to send messages to our office, which will be forwarded along to the group on a designated “email day.” If you have an urgent message to get to your child, please call our office and we’ll work to get you connected with your child.
My child will be flying to the Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast trip start. How will they connect with their leaders? Given that this trip starts outside of the United States are there any special travel considerations for minors?
Please note that Apogee staff members do not travel with students; our trip leaders will already be in Venice on arrival day and will stay in Venice after the trip ends. We will ask you to share your child’s detailed flight itinerary with us prior to the trip so that Apogee staff can be fully prepared to be at the airport to greet them on arrival. Once students are with their leaders, they will contact their parents to let them know they have arrived and are with their group. Please see our blog post for specifics regarding students traveling using an airline’s Unaccompanied Minor escort service. Further, we encourage you to coordinate travel with other attendees; we’re happy to put you in touch with other enrolled families from your region. We will provide enrolled families with a Travel Information document covering details specific to traveling to and from Venice, including airport information and arrival and departure time windows. Please contact Apogee with any specific questions or concerns regarding drop-offs and/or pick-ups.
For international trips, your child will need a passport that is valid for at least 90 days after the trip start date. We will also ask you to send your child with a signed Declaration of Consent to Travel document (which we will make available to enrolled families in February). Please note that flights to Venice from the United States or Canada will leave the night before the trip start date, arriving in Venice in the morning on the trip start date.
How does the group move from place to place on Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast? Do they have a van?
No, this trip will not have a dedicated van to transport the group. The group will utilize a private shuttle company and public transit (including a spectacular ferry across the Adriatic) for their travel between locations. Otherwise, they’ll be walking and paddling everywhere they go!
What is the difference between front-country and backcountry camping? Is there any backcountry camping/hiking on Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
Generally speaking, the front-country is any area that is easily accessible by vehicles and day users. The backcountry, on the other hand, involves recreating in more remote locations without running water or other facilities. Hiking and camping in the backcountry requires more preparation because of the need to carry in all food and equipment, treating drinking water prior to consumption. Our Slovenian Mountains and Croatian Coast groups will be hiking in the backcountry when they hike to their mountain hut in Triglav National Park, but will not be backcountry camping. Practically, what this means is that the group will be carrying food and clothing for their overnight stay at the hut, but because the group will be staying indoors, they will have access to running water and showers and won’t need to bring camping gear in their packs.
How much weight will my child carry on the hiking portions of Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
During their day hikes in the foothills of the Julian Alps, students won’t be carrying overnight camping supplies. During these sections, students will be carrying between five and ten pounds during their hikes, composed mostly of an extra layer of clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks. For the overnight hike to and from a mountain hut in Triglav National Park, your child should expect to carry somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds in their pack.
Aside from the trip cost, what are the additional expenses for Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast?
Apogee’s tuition costs are meant to be all-inclusive and include all meals, accommodation, and activity fees. The most significant additional expenses on our Slovenian Mountains & Croatian Coast trip will include travel to and from Venice, Italy, hiking boots, sleeping bag and pad, backpacking pack, and personal gear. We suggest that you review the packing list (downloadable on this webpage) to determine what personal gear you already own and what you might need to acquire for this program. Please also check out our Gear Recommendations blog post for links to our personal recommendations.
