recommended route
Via Alpina Slovenia: Red trail Stage 14 (Tamar-Thörl-Maglern)
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Planica valley, towards Koren passPhoto: TIC Kranjska Gora, TIC Kranjska Gora
The Tamar valley (tamar means Alpine stable) cuts deep into the Julian Alps and ends in a natural amphitheatre below Jalovec. Jalovec (2,645 m) viewed from any direction looks like a crystal, for which it has been dubbed the "Matterhorn" of the Slovene Alps.
Tamar gives way to Planica, a 7 km-long glacial valley with thick deposits of moraine and scree. The valley is renowned for the biggest ski jumps in the world and the record-breaking jumps achieved here.
The Sava Dolinka River originates as the Nadiža just above the hut in Tamar. After a short and picturesque journey, it disappears into the moraine and continues as a subterranean stream collecting the waters from surrounding landscape ridges. The river re-emerges at Zelenci, a stretch of swamp and marsh at the beginning of the valley.
The trail continues and crosses the Upper Sava valley, which runs along the geological border between the Julian Alps and the Karawanken, and follows the road across Korensko sedlo pass (1,073 m).
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
No special safety precautions required.Tips and hints
The railway station at Thörl-Maglern is not operational.Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
From the hut at Tamar, go north past the chapel. At the end of the clearing, turn left and walk along the edge of the clearing then climb over the wooden fence. There is a broad forest road running north through the Planica valley. Follow the road downhill and keep to the left at the junctions. After 20 minutes, you will come to a clearing which opens up a spectacular view of the valley below. The road begins to descend steeply here. Continue past the many junctions and follow the widest road, which eventually turns northeast towards a mountain stream. To the left can be seen the huge ski jump at Planica. Cross the mountain stream to reach the road and pass the ski jumps to get to the road junction. 25 minutes.
Walk in the direction of Dom na Planici and turn left just before reaching it. Follow the track to the clearing under the ski jump. Follow the track on the other side of the clearing, where it is crossed by a footpath, across a dry river bed and through a small wood to a larger clearing, then turn east at the junction on the right side of the clearing. Cross the dry river bed again to a reach an improved dirt track and follow it to the tarmac road leading to Podkoren. Keep to the right of the road and turn left after the last ski jump, and cross the road to reach the main road in Podkoren. (850 m). 35 minutes.
Cross the main road and climb up the steep village road. Cross the square to the bridge crossing the stream. Turn left onto the macadam road just before reaching the bridge. Pass the houses and climb over a wooden fence onto a clearing. After climbing over the fence, follow the dirt track along the right edge of the clearing. The track leads into a wood and begins ascending.
After a 15-minute climb you will reach a wooden fence. Follow the footpath leading into the woods. There is a spacious clearing at the transmission line. Climb up the clearing to the track in the middle. Turn right and walk to the end of the clearing, then through a small wood to the next clearing. On the opposite bank is a road at the border crossing. Follow the road to the Korensko sedlo border crossing (1,073 m). 50 minutes.
Note
Public transport
Possible to reach Thörl-Maglern by bus, the railway station at Thörl-Maglern is not operational.Getting there
You can reach Planica by car or Thörl-Maglern by train or bus.Parking
Payable parking at Planica.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Vodnik po Julijskih Alpah ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (ISBN 961-6156-08-x)
Vodnik po planinskih postojankah v Sloveniji ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (ISBN 961-6156-10-1)
Karawanken, Hans M, Tuschar ~ Bergverlag Rudolf Rother München (ISBN 3-7633-1262-5)
Author’s map recommendations
Julijske Alpe, vzhodni del ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (1 : 50 000)
ÖK 200 ~ Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen (1:50.000)
WK 224, Faakersee, Villach, Unteres Gailtal ~ Freitag & Berndt (1:50.000)
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