Velika Planina in Its Purple Carpet of Crocuses – You’re Invited on a Magical Walk Through Nature!
Velika Planina has wrapped itself in a gentle purple hue, as crocuses bloom in all their springtime glory! These spring days offer an unforgettable experience for all lovers of nature, hiking, and photography. We warmly invite you to visit this unique piece of paradise, to marvel at the stunning views and help preserve the natural beauty of Velika Planina for generations to come.
To make your visit as enjoyable as possible, we’ve gathered useful information about access, the best times to visit, and a few kind suggestions on how we can all take care of this wonderful landscape together.
Read this guide for a pleasant, safe, and respectful visit to Velika Planina.
HOW TO REACH VELIKA PLANINA?
By Cable Car and Chairlift from Kamniška Bistrica – Comfortable and Carefree
For the quickest access to Velika Planina, we recommend taking the cable car. There is a large, free parking lot at the lower cable car station.
The lower station is located at Kamniška Bistrica 2, about 10 km from Kamnik.
Schedule: The cable car and chairlift run regularly, and continuously on days with many visitors.
Tickets are available at the cable car ticket office.
After the cable car ride, you can continue on foot or take the comfortable chairlift, which brings you in just a few minutes to scenic trails and shepherds’ huts. From the top chairlift station, it’s a 10–15 minute walk to the shepherds’ settlement.
By Car – Where to Park?
If you’re driving, several designated parking areas are available, all connected to marked walking paths leading to the shepherds’ settlement.
- Rakove Ravni – approx. 1.5-hour walk
- Ušivec – approx. 1-hour walk
- Mačkin Kot – approx. 40-minute walk
The daily parking fee at these lots is €12 per vehicle.
Tip: On busy days, we recommend arriving early (by 9 a.m.) to ensure a parking spot and enjoy a quieter stroll. On weekends and public holidays, parking fills up quickly. You can find more about parking access [here – insert link].
Important Notice for Drivers:
Please use only official access roads and avoid shortcuts suggested by navigation apps, as these may lead through private or impassable roads. Access is via the Podlom – Kranjski Rak or Luče – Kranjski Rak state roads.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
A Weekday Visit for Peace and Magic
If possible, we highly recommend visiting from Monday to Friday, when there are fewer visitors and you can fully immerse yourself in the natural serenity.
Weekend Visits? Come Early!
Weekends are very popular. To avoid the crowds, aim to arrive before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Sunrises and sunsets here are truly enchanting – don’t miss them!
LET’S PRESERVE VELIKA PLANINA TOGETHER
In cooperation with local grazing communities, you’ll come across signs beside the blooming crocus fields that kindly remind visitors to respect nature. There are twelve signs across the plateau – find them, read the messages, discover alpine flowers, and look through the heart-shaped cutout to capture a photo with a view. Share it on social media and tag us – help spread the message of responsible nature exploration to all who come after you.
For a respectful and fulfilling visit to Velika Planina – for both visitors and locals – let’s follow a few simple rules:
- We are only guests in nature – let’s help preserve it so it can enchant many more generations to come.
- Leave flowers where they bloom – so that Velika Planina can be cloaked in crocuses again next year.
- Stay on marked trails – to protect the delicate alpine flora.
- Keep dogs on a leash – so our furry companions respect mountain paths too.
- Take your trash with you – nature is not a bin; let’s leave the mountain as we wish to find it.
- Photograph responsibly – stunning pictures don’t require stepping into fragile meadows.
A little care from each visitor means a great deal to nature – thank you for helping us keep Velika Planina beautiful!
