The Julian Alps have been named one of the top regions in the world for travellers in 2018. The region receives the accolade in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018, the highly anticipated collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the year ahead. The bestselling, inspirational travel yearbook from the world’s leading travel authority highlights the top ten countries, cities, regions and best value destinations that Lonely Planet’s experts recommend travellers experience in 2018.
The Triglav National Park covers an area of over 800 square kilometres (4% of Slovenian territory), almost across the entire area of the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. (photo: Jernej Leben)
The Julian Alps have earned its place as a must-see destination for 2018 thanks to the natural appeal of the region which offers “mountain bliss in an overlooked corner of Europe”.
This is what Lonely Planet had to say: “With the natural appeal of Chamonix or Zermatt – but with fewer crowds – the Julian Alps offer mountain bliss in an overlooked corner of Europe. Over two-thirds of the region is protected by the Triglav National Park mandate, a mechanism that not only curbs development along the summits but ensures that improvements to local infrastructure are effected in a slow and studied manner. Once suitable only for the intrepid, the Julian Alps are gently opening the door to every stripe of traveller. A growing number of locally run operators are pairing pulse-racing treks with upmarket versions of homestays in stylish shepherd digs.”
Lonely Planet’s writers and experts spend time on the road in almost every corner of our planet Earth, and each year they report which places and destinations are set to take off, offering travellers the best experience available. The destinations selected for Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel meet specific criteria; it could be that something special is going on in the year ahead or there’s been recent development and a lot of buzz about the place, that it offers travellers new things to see or do, or that the Lonely Planet team of experts thinks it has been overlooked and underrated and suggests travellers visit before the crowds do.
Below is the full list of the world’s best regions:
1. Belfast & the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
2. Alaska, USA
3. Julian Alps, Slovenia
4. Languedoc-Roussillon, France
5. Kii Peninsula, Japan
6. Aeolian Islands, Italy
7. Southern USA
8. Lahaul & Spiti, India
9. Bahia, Brazil
10. Los Haitises National Park, Dominican Republic
The Julian Alps are especially picturesque in spring when nature comes to life with its most beautiful arrangements of color displays and all sorts of flowers blooming everywhere. (photo: Bojan Kolman)
The hike to the Triglav Lakes Valley which lies in the heart of the Julian Alps is a must-do for all who visit Slovenia and are eager for a taste of its mountain scenery. The valley is named for a system of ten lakes that sit in this high mountain valley in the Julian Alps. (photo: Masa Vodenik)
Lake Bohinj is surrounded by spectacular mountains of the Julian Alps. (photo: Luka Esenko)
Lake Krn is located in the south of the Julian Alps at an altitude of 1340 meters. It is 400 meters long, 150 meters wide and nearly 18 meters deep. There are actually three lakes around the Krn mountain, but this one is the most popular among hikers. (photo: Gregor Skoberne)
Triglav, with an elevation of 2,864 meters, is the highest mountain in Slovenia and the highest peak of the Julian Alps. The mountain is the pre-eminent symbol of the Slovene Nation. (photo: Luka Esenko)
