> Explore the Kamnik-Savinja Alps on a 5-day mountain loop
> Cross Europe's last active shepherd settlement on Velika Planina
> Spend a night in a traditional shepherd's hut on the plateau
This five-day loop through the Kamnik-Savinja Alps is one of the most characterful treks in the region, built around a night on the Velika Planina plateau where Europe's last active shepherd settlement still lives on. It is a great choice for intermediate hikers who want a genuine mountain experience with a bit more distance and climbing, without the exposure of the higher alpine routes nearby.
Note: on Day 2 there is no food or drinks available on the plateau. Make sure to bring enough food and water for the full day.
The terrain is varied and rewarding, with forest paths, open mountain pasture and the wide alpine plateau all in one loop. The walking is mostly straightforward, with some longer climbs and a few short technical sections that call for sure footing. Daily distances are moderate, so a reasonable level of fitness will get you through each day comfortably.
From Kregarjevo, this is a compact but very uphill route to Mala Planina. The distance is modest, but the 1,110 m of elevation gain makes it a demanding climb from start to finish. The profile rises almost continuously, with only a short easier section high on the route. Expect a steady mountain approach through forest, open pastureland and a few steeper sections before reaching the high plateau area.
The route leaves Kregarjevo and climbs past the Church of St. Primus and Felician at 820 m, a clear landmark early on. From there, the path keeps gaining height through wooded slopes towards Sv. Primož nad Kamnikom, a small hilltop church area above the valley. Along the way, you pass benches where you can stop and enjoy views of the Alps and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, before the surroundings open towards the alpine meadow and Mala Planina.
The final stretch leads across the higher pastures towards Domžale Hut on Mala Planina. After the long climb, the arrival feels well earned, with open views around the plateau and the hut placed right in the mountain pasture setting.
This stage begins high on Mala Planina and stays mostly in open alpine country, with a long middle section across the Velika Planina area. The route includes 550 m of ascent, so there is still a good amount of climbing, even though the day begins on the plateau. You first lose height towards the forested side of the route, then climb back up to the pastures and scattered wooden huts.
The route descends towards Rakov Rob Parking Area before turning back uphill through forest and pasture. This extra loop is worth it, as it gives you a fuller experience of Velika Planina, including the open pastureland, the lavender fields and the wider stretch of the plateau. After the climb, you reach the Mala Planina Alpine Pastures and continue across Velika Planina, where wooden huts, grazing land and open mountain scenery define the route.
In the final part, the route leads through the shepherds hut area, surrounded by open pastures and traditional wooden huts. This is one of the most special parts of the route, because one of these small huts will be yours for the night. After crossing the plateau, you can settle in and enjoy the quiet mountain setting around you.
This is a long descent from the Velika Planina area towards Kamniška Bistrica, with 1,480 m of elevation loss and 430 m of ascent along the way. The route is not simply downhill, as it first crosses the higher pastures and includes one clear climb before the main descent begins. Expect a varied stage with open alpine meadows, forest paths, a winding mountain trail and a gentler final stretch towards the valley.
From the shepherds hut area, you leave Velika Planina and pass Koča Gorenjka, a mountain hut on the plateau, before the route opens into wide grazing land. The path then continues across quiet pasture areas, including Konjščica and Dol, where the landscape feels spacious and open. As you approach Planina Rzenik, another high pasture area, the terrain becomes more rugged and the climb towards Konj Peak begins.
Around Konj Peak, the highest point of this part of the route, you get views of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps before the descent takes over. The trail then drops in a long zigzag through forested slopes, with many tight bends, so take your time on tired legs. Lower down, the route reaches the Kamniška Bistrica valley and follows easier terrain near the river before the final gentler kilometres to the end point.
From Kamniška Bistrica Riverside, the route starts near the river and soon passes the lower station of the Velika Planina Gondola, a clear landmark at the edge of the valley. After this, the climb becomes more steady as you leave the valley behind and enter the forest. With 1,320 m of elevation gain and only 280 m of descent, this is a long uphill day towards the Krvavec area.
The first part of the climb winds through forest, with a mix of steady paths, short steeper sections and calmer stretches where you can find a good rhythm. As you gain height, the trees slowly start to open and the route reaches the high pasture areas of Kriška Planina and Planina Koren, where the landscape becomes wider and you get views towards the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
The final section continues across the higher Krvavec area, passing near the radio and TV tower before reaching Dom na Krvavcu. From there, the route continues towards Ambrož pod Krvavcem. After the long climb from the riverside, the arrival marks the end of a steady and varied uphill stage.
This final stretch is mostly downhill, leaving the high ground around Dom na Krvavcu and dropping steadily towards Kregarjevo. The day is defined by a long descent, so your knees will feel it. You move from open slopes and higher views into forest, then gradually down towards smaller settlements and the lower valley.
The route begins on open ground near Dom na Krvavcu, passing a few mountain huts before the path starts to lose height more clearly. At first the landscape is still wide, with grassy slopes and open mountain views, but trees soon appear along the trail and the route becomes more sheltered. Further down, the forest thickens and the descent follows quieter paths through the hillside.
As you continue lower, the trees open again and the route reaches a more settled landscape, with fields, houses and small village roads around Županje Njive and Stahovica. The final part is easier underfoot and brings you gradually back towards Kregarjevo. After a long descent from the higher slopes, the finish feels like a clear return to the lower valley.
