Technical Slovenian Ice
Level 3 : Guided Climbing
Explore the unique limestone mountains of the Julian Alps on our Technical Slovenian Ice Week, combining challenging ice climbing, remote valleys and spectacular winter landscapes away from the crowds.
Our Technical Slovenian Ice Week offers the chance to climb and explore among the spectacular limestone peaks and hidden valleys of the Julian Alps. This is a true alpine adventure, combining technical ice climbing with the opportunity to discover quieter, less-travelled venues in and around Triglav National Park.
With remote valleys, dramatic mountain scenery and a fantastic variety of frozen waterfalls, Slovenia provides the perfect setting to refine your ice climbing skills, tackle challenging routes and experience a unique winter climbing destination away from the crowds.
Course Highlights
Enjoy the rich taste and cultural heritage around climbing in Slovenia
Explore remote quiet, valleys away from the crowds
Climb some fantastic icefalls that form readily in the Julian Alps
Expert guiding and coaching from experienced local ISM Guide
Is This Course or Me?
This course is designed for experienced ice climbers who are ready to move beyond the fundamentals and challenge themselves on steeper, more technical icefalls in one of Europe's most spectacular winter mountain environments.
To get the most from the week, you should already be a confident second on WI4 ice and be keen to develop your skills on longer, more sustained and technically demanding routes. Throughout the week you'll refine your movement, improve your efficiency on steep ice and gain valuable experience climbing classic Slovenian icefalls under the guidance of an experienced ISM Guide.
When you book, please let us know which ice climbing venues and routes you've climbed previously. This helps us tailor the week's objectives to the experience and ambitions of the group. As always, our choice of climbing venues will be guided by the weather, ice conditions and temperatures, ensuring we make the most of Slovenia's exceptional climbing opportunities.
Although the approaches are generally short, you'll need a good level of fitness to enjoy full days in the mountains. Strong climbing movement, developed through regular rock climbing or indoor climbing, is a real advantage. More importantly, you should arrive with a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and the ambition to take your ice climbing to the next level.
Kranjska Gora
Nestled beneath the dramatic limestone peaks of the Julian Alps, Kranjska Gora provides the perfect base for a week of technical ice climbing. From here we'll head into the surrounding valleys each day, selecting the best icefalls based on the prevailing weather, temperatures and conditions, ensuring you enjoy the finest climbing available.
Operating with low guide-to-client ratios allows us to choose routes that are well matched to the experience and ambitions of the group, opening up opportunities to climb more adventurous and rewarding icefalls throughout the week.
We'll normally stay in comfortable accommodation in Kranjska Gora, although we may relocate our base if conditions elsewhere offer exceptional climbing. This flexible approach ensures we always make the most of Slovenia's outstanding ice climbing potential.
More than just a climbing trip, this is an opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the Alps' hidden gems—developing your technical skills while exploring quiet valleys, spectacular frozen waterfalls and the unspoilt beauty of the Julian Alps.
Course Content
This technical ice week is designed to refine your skills and develop the advanced techniques required for climbing steeper, more sustained and more adventurous icefalls in the Julian Alps.
Throughout the week we'll focus on becoming more efficient and confident on technical ice, including:
- Improving movement technique on steeper and more sustained ice
- Efficient use of ice tools and crampons for higher-grade climbing
- Rapid placement and removal of ice screws while climbing
- Equipment selection and racking for steep ice routes
- Advanced rope techniques, including double rope systems
- Building secure stances, ice belays and anchors
- Abseiling and retreating safely from ice climbs
- Assessing ice conditions and making informed route decisions
- Developing mixed climbing techniques where required
- Adapting climbing style and tactics for harder icefalls
The week is built around climbing and learning in real mountain situations, with coaching tailored to the experience and ambitions of the group. We'll select objectives based on current conditions, weather forecasts and the abilities of the team, ensuring you get the most rewarding experience from Slovenia's spectacular winter landscape.
When completing your booking form, please include details of previous ice climbing venues and routes you have climbed. This allows us to plan the week effectively and choose objectives that provide the right level of challenge and progression.
Sample Programme
The itinerary below is an example of how the week may run. As with all our courses, the final programme will be guided by the weather, ice conditions and the experience of the group, allowing us to select the best possible objectives each day.
Sunday – Arrival in Slovenia
Arrive at Kranjska Gora from Ljubljana Airport and meet your ISM Guide and fellow climbers at the hotel. We'll discuss the plans for the week, check equipment and prepare for the days ahead in the Julian Alps.
Monday – Technique Development & First Icefalls
We begin the week by heading into the spectacular Saisera Valley, where a short approach gives access to a selection of excellent icefalls.
Placche Parallele (WI3+/4, 200m) provides a fantastic introduction to the week, with its broad lower section offering ideal terrain for refreshing and refining movement technique, ice tool placement and crampon skills.
Alternatively, depending on conditions and the ambitions of the group, we may head to Cave del Predil, where a variety of routes from WI3+ to WI5+ provide excellent opportunities to develop technique and experience on steeper ice.
Accommodation: Kranjska Gora
Tuesday & Wednesday – Classic Julian Alps Icefalls
Over the next two days we'll explore some of the classic icefalls beneath the dramatic summit of Mount Prisojnik.
Depending on conditions, objectives may include:
- Levi Slap (WI4, 150m)
- Desni Slap (WI4+, 200m)
- Centralni Slap (WI5/5+, 200m)
These routes provide a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills on longer, steeper icefalls while experiencing the unique character of climbing in the Julian Alps.
(Slap means “waterfall” in Slovenian.)
Accommodation: Kranjska Gora
Thursday – Adventure in the Tamar Valley
A real mountain adventure awaits in the beautiful Tamar Valley. After approximately an hour's walk in, we'll reach a spectacular collection of icefalls close to the mountain hut.
With routes ranging from WI4 to WI6 and heights of approximately 100m to 180m, the valley offers an impressive choice of technical objectives in a stunning alpine setting.
Accommodation: Kranjska Gora
Friday – Damocles Sword, Mangart
For our final climbing day, we'll head towards Mangart, home to one of the Julian Alps' classic ice climbs: Damocles Sword (WI4+).
With its remote atmosphere, impressive setting and adventurous feel, this is a fitting finale to the week. Away from the crowds and surrounded by the wild beauty of the Julian Alps, it captures the unique character of Slovenian ice climbing.
Accommodation: Kranjska Gora
Saturday – Departure
Breakfast before departure.
Course Dates & Booking
Meet the Team
Adrian Nelhams
ISM Director and IFMGA British Mountain Guide
As a Director of ISM, Adrian splits his time between guiding, the ISM office, family and climbing for himself. During his 30+ year commitment to the team, Adrian has played a key role in the development of ISM.
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Matt Stygall
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
Originally from the flatland of Norfolk, Matt soon escaped to the highlands of Scotland, to cut his teeth on the Scottish winter climbing scene there. He then worked full time at Plas Y Brenin in North Wales…
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Terry Ralphs
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
Terry learnt to climb on the gritstone edges of the Peak District then after graduating from Leeds University he decided to make his living in the outdoors, moving to North Wales to work at Plas y Brenin…
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Steve Monks
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
A well known international climber, Steve has climbed and explored all over the world.
Read MoreVital Information
Please check the vital information below to help when booking a course
- Equipment
- Fully Inclusive Prices
- Getting to Leysin
- Insurance Information
- Paying Information
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