The Mangart Saddle, additionally known as the Mangart Go or Mangartsko sedlo, is the best mendacity street in Slovenia. It’s a winding, white-knuckle drive by way of the mountainous area of northwest Slovenia. When you have nerves of metal and need to add a cool mini street journey onto your tour of Slovenia, this can be a nice choice.
Our Expertise
We drove the Mangart Saddle on a one-day street journey by way of Slovenia. Our day began with a drive over the Vrsic Go, a go to to Bovec, and a stroll by way of Tolmin Gorge. Somewhat than drive again to Kranjska Gora the identical method, we determined to take a detour by way of Italy.
As we drove up route 203 from Bovec, we noticed indicators for the Mangart Saddle. Curious, we determined to test it out.
As quickly as we turned proper onto route 902, the street that results in the Mangart Saddle, we knew we had been in for an journey. The street is extraordinarily slender, simply extensive sufficient for one automobile in most spots, and it didn’t take lengthy till we drove on our first hairpin turns.
About 2 km into the drive there’s a small ticket sales space. It’s right here we paid the toll to proceed the journey (€5 in 2018). No turning again now!
Simply previous the toll sales space is the place the true enjoyable begins.
For a number of kilometers you wind your method up by way of a forest. The timber and vegetation give the impression of security since it’s tougher to see the drop-offs from the sting of the street.
However when you climb above the timber, this begins to actually really feel like an journey. Now the views are phenomenal, the hairpin turns are a thrill, and you might be hoping you don’t meet too many oncoming vehicles. For the reason that street is so slender, it may be very troublesome to squeeze previous one another. And if you’re the automobile on the sting of the street…watch out!
In the meantime, simply to actually preserve issues fascinating, an enormous thunderstorm was closing in on us. Earlier within the day we drove by way of a depraved storm in Bovec and we weren’t too enthusiastic about being caught in a single on the Mangart Saddle. Fortunately, the climate held off. However the distant rumbles of thunder added to the thrill.
As soon as on prime of the Mangart Saddle, we parked within the small parking zone and walked on a really brief mountaineering path for among the most spectacular views of the day. From right here, we had wonderful views over the Log Koritnica Valley in Slovenia and the Lakes of Fusine in Italy.
For us, this drive up the Mangart Saddle was an surprising surpise. Even after Tolmin Gorge, Vrsic Go, and the attractive Soca Valley, this was the spotlight of our day. And to assume that we knew nothing concerning the Mangart Saddle when our day began!
For the reason that street ends on the Mangart Saddle, you’ll drive down the identical method you got here. Driving down the street was not practically as scary as driving up it.
Your entire round-trip drive took us one hour.
Discover ways to plan a street journey by way of the Soca Valley, the Vrsic Go, Tolmin Gorge, and the Mangart Saddle in our article Slovenia Highway Journey: Vrsic Go, Soca Valley, and Tolmin Gorge.
Concerning the Mangart Saddle
Topping out at 2,072 meters, the Mangart Saddle is the best mendacity street in Slovenia. The Vrsic Go, a extra well-liked excessive mountain go in Slovenia, tops out at 1611 meters.
In lower than 12 km, this street climbs 980 meters and winds its method by way of 5 tunnels carved out of the rock.
The Italian military constructed this street in 1938 as a part of its protection in opposition to the Yugoslav military.
Permit an hour to an hour and a half to do that drive. Our drive was fast as a result of we by no means obtained caught behind a bicycle owner or a slower driver. Nonetheless, we simply could have been fortunate.
To drive to the Mangart Saddle you’ll have to pay a toll at a ticket sales space (€5 in 2018). This ticket sales space is situated 2 km previous the purpose the place you flip onto route 902 from route 203.
This street is extraordinarily slender. In lots of locations, huge blocks of concrete type a makeshift guardrail. Nonetheless, there have been a couple of locations with no safety.
Sometimes, the street widens and this can be a good place to go different autos, if the timing works out. On the uncommon event we met an oncoming automobile, we did handle to squeeze previous one another on the slender street. Happily, on the day we did this, there was very gentle site visitors on the Mangart Saddle (we did this drive in August).
To be able to do that drive, you’ll want to have glorious driving expertise, head for heights, and nerves of metal. If you happen to meet an oncoming automobile, you’ll want to be ready to reverse right into a pull-off to let site visitors go. It’s uncommon, nevertheless it does occur.
Be ready to share the street with cyclists and motorcyclists.
The street is closed within the winter as a result of snowfall and the potential for avalanches. Generally, it’s open from Could by way of November, though these dates can change based mostly on climate circumstances.
As soon as on the Mangart Saddle, you will have the choice to hike or climb to the summit of Mangart Mountain. There are a number of routes from the highest and a few routes contain using through ferrata gear.
Do you will have plans to drive the Mangart Saddle? Remark beneath in case you have any questions.
Extra Data for Your Journey to Slovenia:
- SLOVENIA ITINERARY: 10 Days in Slovenia: The Good Itinerary for Your First Go to
- BEST OF SLOVENIA: 20 Epic Issues to do in Slovenia
- JULIAN ALPS: Mountain climbing the Julian Alps of Slovenia: Vrsic Go to Sleme and Slemenova Spica
- LJUBLJANA: 14 Greatest Issues to do in Ljubljana
- LAKE BLED: 8 Wonderful Issues to do in Lake Bled
- PIRAN & KOPER: One Day in Piran and Koper: How you can Plan Your Day Journey
Planning a visit to Slovenia? Learn all of our articles in our Slovenia Journey Information.
