NC Planica - Tičarjev dom na Vršiču

Access to starting point:
a) First we drive to Kranjska Gora, then continue driving towards Rateče. When we reach the roundabout near Rateče, we take the exit in the direction of Planica. This is followed by some ascent and we arrive at the large parking lot next to the Nordic Center Planica, where we park in the paid parking lot. The price for passenger cars is 2.5 eur / day (March 2019).
b) Through the Rateče border crossing (MP Rateče) we drive into Slovenia, then we soon turn right towards Planica. This is followed by some ascent and we arrive at the large parking lot next to the Nordic Center Planica, where we park in the paid parking lot. The price for passenger cars is 2.5 eur / day (March 2019).

Path description:
From Planica we continue along the macadam road towards Dom v Tamarju, before the road enters the forest it splits into two parts. We continue along the slightly right road in the direction of the footpath towards Tamar (slightly left is the drivable road, which is closed to public traffic).

The path ahead leads us along the road that passes the last parking lot of NC Planica, enters the forest and which in the winter time is converted into a cross-country ski track. This is followed by an ascent along a gentle road that mostly runs through the forest, when the path leaves the forest, there are viewpoints along the path with inscriptions of what can be seen. Higher up the forest often thins or we leave it for a while, so that beautiful views open up of the mountains rising above Planica and Tamar. When we get quite close to Dom v Tamarju a wonderful view of Jalovec opens up, the path branches.

We continue slightly left (slightly right is the source of Nadiža) and a few minutes later we join the drivable road, along which we continue left, back towards Planica (right Dom v Tamarju, two minutes).

We don't walk along the road for long and soon arrive at a crossroads, where we turn right in the direction of Vršič and Slemenova špica through Grlo (we can also get here by road).

We head onto the mentioned path, which after a few steps takes us out of the forest onto vast gravel areas. The path ahead gently ascends slightly to the left to the end of the mighty gully we see in front of us. The path then leads us right into the gully along which the path continues. Further we ascend up the gully looking for passages, which are different after every heavier rainfall. The path through the gully is marked but many markings are upside down and where the marking is, the passage is often almost impossible. The entire approximately 45 minutes long crossing through the gully is also exposed to falling rocks. The ascent through the gully is difficult but nowhere exposed. We exit the gully at the Grlo saddle, where a barely noticeable unmarked path from the Mala Pišnica valley joins us.

We continue right in the direction of Slemenova špica and Vršič. The path ahead crosses a short stretch of forest and a bit higher takes us to scree slopes, which the path crosses in a gentle ascent to steep slopes. Here the path steeply ascends, some pitons and a steel cable help us. Further we ascend along a moderately overgrown slope quite steeply upwards to the place where we join the Vršič - Slemenova špica path.

Here we continue left in the direction of Vršič (right Slemenova špica) and we continue along a pleasant trail that runs through sparse larch forest. Further the path ascends gently for a short time, then in a few minutes of further walking it takes us to the Vratca pass. Here we continue straight down (left unmarked path to Prednje Robičje, right Hanzova pot to Mala Mojstrovka) along an initially quite steep path that slowly begins to turn right. Lower down from the crossroads we go right (left Erjavčeva koča na Vršiču), a bit lower we cross a belt of dwarf pine, the wide and well-trodden path quickly takes us to the Vršič pass. Here we continue right to the hut where souvenirs are sold, then we continue left onto a somewhat narrower road, along which in a few dozen steps we ascend to Tičarjev dom.


Planica - turnoff for Grlo 0:45, turnoff for Grlo - Grlo 0:55, Grlo - Čez Sleme 0:50, Čez Sleme - Vratca 0:25, Vratca - road at Vršič 0:25, road at Vršič - Tičarjev dom 0:05.

On the way: Dom v Tamarju (1108m), Odcep za Grlo (1090m), Grlo (1451m), Odcep v Pišnico (1489m), Čez Sleme (1773m), Vratca (1800m), Odcep k Erjavčevi koči (1705m), Prelaz Vršič (1611m)

Trip can be extended to: Poštarski dom na Vršiču , Vršič vrh , Sovna glava , Planja , Prisank / Prisojnik