Mount Krn rises above me, its 2,244m summit silhouetted by the midday sun. It has been in my sights all morning, as I hiked through wildflower-carpeted valleys and open-air war museums. But this final push to the top – the highest point in this south-west corner of Triglav National Park – feels monumental.

My pulse quickens. The slopes fall away like a magic trick to reveal the Krn Range, its corrugated sweep of peaks and dips reaching all the way to the Adriatic. And far below – toy-sized and glittering like a sapphire – is Lake Krn.

I have hiked solo many times. But for my first multi-day trek in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, I did something different – I hired a private guide. At €990 (£860) for three days, it turned out to be worth every cent.

Local outfit Exploring Slovenia organise

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