WALK OF PEACE:
Kobarid and the mountain battles of the Isonzo Front
5 days/4 nights 
42 km in 4 days 
medium/hard Between 1915 and 1917, some of the greatest mountain battles in human history were fought in the Upper Soča Valley. The focal point of these events was the town of Kobarid, which has gone down in history books all over the world. On the surrounding plateaus, well-preserved remains from the Great War (trenches, caves, small churches and chapels, memorials, military cemeteries) represent an internationally-significant historical and cultural heritage, managed today by the Walk of Peace foundation.
Walk of Peace: walking through history
A UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate, the Walk of Peace is a historical trail that encompasses the major sites of the First World War’s Isonzo Front. The trail winds its way through the Upper Soča Valley, Gorizia and the Karst up to Trieste and the shores of the Adriatic Sea, bringing together territories, people and a rich cultural and natural heritage. An exciting journey along old military roads, walkways and trenches, exploring the iconic sites of great battles made famous by Ernest Hemingway, Giuseppe Ungaretti and Rudyard Kipling.
Route and details
Starting point
Tolmin
Finish location
Tolmin
Self-guided program
Day 1
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Arrival in Tolmin
Your adventure begins in Tolmin, where you will spend the first night. The biggest population centre in the Upper Soča Valley, this town is home to an interesting museum that exhibits and protects the rich ethnological and cultural heritage of the Soča area. Another must-see is the nearby Kozlov rob, a famous mountain just outside Tolmin where we can find the remains of a 12th century castle, which over the centuries has hosted the patriarchs of Aquileia, the counts of Gorizia and Cividale, the Venetians and the Habsburgs. From here, you can enjoy magnificent views over the Soča Valley and thus immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the place as soon as you arrive.
Day 2
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
The Kolovrat and Mengore outdoors museums
After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Mount Kolovrat, which was a strategic point on the frontline during World War I and today marks the border between Italy and Slovenia. The whole mountain is a real open-air cross-border museum, full of perfectly preserved and restored tunnels, fortifications and trenches. It was here in 1917 that the unit led by then-young lieutenant Erwin Rommel (the future ‘Desert Fox’) overcame the Italian defence positions and made its way to the Piave River. Another highlight is the view from the summit, which is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the entire Soča Valley. Next, the trail decends Kolovrat, following a section of the Walk of Peace to the Mengore hill, a heavily fortified area that formed the heart of the Austro-Hungarian defensive line near Tolmin. Here, a circular trail leads us through ditches, caves and monuments built over 29 months of war. From Mengore, the Walk of Peace takes you the few kilometres back to Tolmin.
Day 3
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Kobarid: An iconic site on the Isonzo Front
Transfer to the famous Kobarid/Caporetto, which in 1917 was the scene of the decisive events that changed the course of the war on the Isonzo Front. Famous in history books around the world, Kobarid is now a pretty little town where not much seems to have changed since Hemingway described it in his novel Farewell to Arms. Visit the town’s beautiful museum, which is entirely dedicated to the Isonzo Front and the famous Twelfth Isonzo Battle, known as Battle of Kobarid. The museum has been awarded Slovenia’s top museum prize, as well as the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize.
The Kobarid Historical trail
After leaving the museum, you will walk along the Kobarid Historical Trail, which combines the area’s key historical and natural features. In order to create a link between the past and the present, you can use the ‘Walk of Peace – Kobarid during WW1’ augmented reality mobile app, where you can find films, archive photographs or three-dimensional models of the places you are visiting. The route will take you to the Italian Charnel House, as well as exploring other aspects of the area’s rich historical heritage from the time of the barbarian migrations, Napoleon’s military passages up to the period during and after the First World War. In terms of natural features, the trail’s various viewpoints will give you the chance to take some of the most beautiful photos of your trip, such as the emerald waters of the Soča River and the Kozjak waterfall, which you can explore by following a path replete with footbridges and small bridges. Transfer back to Tolmin in the late afternoon.
Day 4
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Exploring the trenches and caves of Mrzli Vrh
Today, you will enjoy a spectacular trek through the highlands of Mount Krn, where traditional alpine pastures have coexisted with the remains of the Great War for a hundred years. A private transfer will take you to the mountain village of Krn, where the hike begins. Following the Walk of Peace signage, you will walk through splendid natural landscapes until you reach Mrzli Vrh, which is known for being one of the Isonzo Front’s bloodiest battlefields. A circular trail will take you past the remains of caves and trenches built by Austro-Hungarian and Italian troops, in some cases only a few dozen metres apart. Rusty remnants of barbed wire and countless iron fragments will remind you that some of the darkest pages of modern history of were written against the backdrop of the now-peaceful natural landscapes of these hills.
Javorca: A symbol of reconciliation
Leaving Mrzli Vrh behind, the Walk of Peace winds its way through idyllic alpine pastures before reaching the memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca. This wooden shrine, built by Austro-Hungarian soldiers during the war, is considered to be the most beautiful World War I monument in the whole of Slovenia. Set against a breathtaking mountain landscape, the church is elegantly decorated inside and out. From the church, a 15-minute walk takes you to the car park below, where your transfer will take you back to Tolmin.
Day 5
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
The Tolmin Gorges
After breakfast and check-out you, will conclude your time in the Soča Valley with a visit to the stunning Tolmin Gorges, which is considered to be one of Slovenia’s most beautiful natural wonders. An easy 30-minute walk from Tolmin, the gorges are located at the southern entrance to the Triglav National Park. The circular path through the gorges takes you on a thrilling journey across Tibetan bridges and past viewpoints, waterfalls and canyons. An unmissable, wild place and a real must-see for nature-lovers, resplendent with green woods and crystalline mountain rivers. The visit to this natural wonder marks the end of our tour package. You will return to Tolmin in the late morning or early afternoon, depending on how long you wish to spend in the gorges. From here, once you have collected any luggage you may have left at your accommodation, you can continue on to another destination independently, or return home.
What we love about this tour
The mysteries of the little church in Javorca
The views over the front from Mount Kolovrat
Losing yourself among the black and white photos in the Kobarid Museum
The peace that reigns today over the high plateaus of Mount Krn
The constant interaction of history and nature
Price per person
590,00 €
Group size
Minimum 2
Price includes
Accommodation in double room; scheduled meals (4 breakfasts and 4 dinners); GPX files for all the stages; transfer from Tolmin to Mt.Kolovrat on day 2; transfer go and back from Tolmin to Kobarid on day 3; transfer from Tolmin to Krn on day 4; helpline during the tour.
Price excludes
Travel to/from Tolmin; meals not mentioned above (4 lunches); admission to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca (4,00 €); transfer with shuttle bus from Javorca to Tolmin (2,00 €); medical insurance; tourist taxes to be paid directly on site; tips, expenses and personal extras; anything not expressly mentioned above.
Extra
Transfer to/from Tolmin on request.
Information
Important information
→ An adequate physical condition is required to support 4,5 – 6 walking hours per day with sure footing; only recommended for children aged 12 and over.
→ Please disclose any food intolerances at the time of booking.
What to bring
Backpack with rain cover; good hiking boots; water; sunscreen; anti-tick repellent; appropriate clothing (sun hat, cagoule, waterproof jacket, etc.), camera.
Mobility
This tour is not suitable for those with reduced mobility.
Other self-guided trips
Walk of Peace:
→ WALK OF PEACE: historical routes in the Gorizia region
In Friuli Venezia Giulia:
→ CIRCULAR TRAIL OF FRIULIAN DOLOMITES
→ TRIESTE AND THE KARST REGION: Soft hiking in the borderlands
Alpe Adria Trail:
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: the Three-Nation Loop
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: Triglav National Park and the Soča Valley
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: walking through wine country
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: from the Karst paths to the sea
Juliana Trail:
→ JULIANA TRAIL: walk the path of lakes and traditions
→ Slow travel between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj
Booking
30% of the total amount must be paid at the time of booking. The balance is due 30 days before departure. In the case of a reservation being made within 30 days of the departure date, payment of the full amount is required. Payment can be made by bank transfer or credit card.
Cancellation policy
In the case of cancellation by the client, the following fees will be applied:
→ 59 to 30 days prior to departure: 10% of the cost of the trip to cover the management costs
→ 29 to 15 days prior to departure: 50 % of the cost of the trip
→ 14 to 7 days prior to departure: 75 % of the cost of the trip
→ less than 6 days prior to departure: 100% of the cost of the trip
PHOTO: www.slovenija.info – Marco Coppo; Boris Pretnar; Jošt Gantar; Tomo Jeseničnik; Marko Šinkovec