SLOVENIA SHORT BREAK:
Exploring Kobarid on foot

Arrival in Kobarid

Arrive in Kobarid and settle into your accommodation. You can immediately immerse yourself in the timeless atmosphere of this town immortalized by Ernest Hemingway in his famous novel Farewell to Arms. You would not be surprised to see the famous writer turn the corner, so little seems to have changed since then!
There are many things to do and see in and around the town center. You can visit the fine museum devoted entirely to the Isonzo Front and the famous ‘Battle of Kobarid.’ The museum has received Slovenia’s highest museum award and the Council of Europe’s museum prize. A 10-minute walk will take you to the Italian ossuary, completed in 1938, from which there is an excellent view of the Kobarid valley. Ethnologically interesting, on the other hand, is a visit to the Planika dairy, where a permanent exhibition will introduce you to the heritage of the mountain pastures of the Upper Soča Valley.

Hike the beautiful valley of Drežniški kot

This pleasant hike departing from Kobarid will have you explore the beautiful Drežnica basin that opens high above the Soča Valley at the foot of mighty Mount Krn (2245m). Surrounded by a crown of mountains and hills in this valley are scattered five hamlets: Drežnica, Koseč, Jezerca, Magozd and Drežniške Ravne. The scenery is spectacular with sunny slopes, pastures and meadows embracing villages and churches against the backdrop of high mountains. The route initially visits Kozjak waterfall (entrance fee), one of Slovenia’s most beautiful waterfalls hidden by high, dark walls that sunlight can transform into an enchanting fairy cave. The route then climbs on a comfortable trail to the pretty alpine hamlet of Magozd and then continues to the larger village of Drežnica. Returning to Kobarid, the forest trail winds above the gorge of the Ročica River.

NOTE: there is a reastaurant in the village of Drežnica, open only on Sundays and holidays.

Excursion to Mount Matajur (1.641m)

After breakfast by private transfer you will reach the village of Avsa where the hike to Mount Matajur begins. You will walk on a well-marked trail first through an enchanted beech forest strewn with boulders shrouded in lush green moss. In an almost mystical silence you will then reach the open spaces of the wide ridge now bordering Slovenia and Italy. From the summit you will enjoy a simply fantastic panorama, especially on a clear day, with views ranging from the Dolomites to the Alps, from the Friulian plain to the Adriatic Sea. For the return journey you will descend to Avsa from the north side until you rejoin the trail you took on the outward journey, which will take you through the enchanted forest to the starting point of the trek. Here you will take the transfer back to Kobarid.

NOTE: The Dom na Matajure refuge (1,545m), 10min. from the summit, is open only on Sundays.
NOTE: The ascent to the mount does not present any particular technical difficulties due to the shallow slope of the flanks.

The Soča Trail

Today’s ‘excursion winds almost entirely along the Soča, Europe’s most beautiful river famous for its emerald color. You’ll follow it almost all day on the stretch where its waterway becomes more picturesque and wild, a true paradise for canoeists and rafters. The scenic trail, part of the long-distance Juliana Trail circuit, begins soon after Kobarid along the left bank of the river. Here the valley narrows, squeezed between the steep slopes of Polovnik on one side and Stol on the other. Arriving in Trnovo, the trail widens into a cart track that you will follow to Log Čezsoški and then to a cozy side road that will lead you through the village of Čezsoča to Bovec. Splendid in this section are the views of the mighty Boka waterfall and the peaks of the Kanin mountain range. From Bovec you can return to Kobarid by using the regular bus or, upon request, by private transfer. You can also shorten the route by taking the bus in Trnovo ob Soči or at Hotel Boka just beyond the village of Log Čezsoški.

NOTE: In low season, it is preferable to travel the route in reverse starting from Bovec as return bus connections are infrequent (for bus connections between the two locations see www.nomago.si).

Goodbye Kobarid

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and our tour package will come to an end. You will have the whole day to devote some more time to Kobarid and the beautiful Soča Valley, perhaps to visit the museums you were unable to see in the previous days. If you are in the mood for adventure, you can instead try your hand at water activities such as kayaking or rafting, while, if you still want to walk, there will certainly be no shortage of new opportunities for other exciting excursions. From Kobarid you can then continue your journey to Slovenia or return home: frequent bus lines connect Kobarid with the city of Nova Gorica, which is well served by trains and bus lines to all the country’s main destinations.