Via Alpina Slovenia: Red trail Stage 1 (Premuda-Matavun)

Via Alpina follows the macadam road to Planinska koča na Kokoši (670 m), which you will reach in 30 minutes. The hut does not provide accommodation. The hike from the border crossing takes 1h 30min. From the hut, follow the marked path down along a ridge to the boundary stone. There is a crossroads from which a road branches off to the right and runs past Lipica to rejoin the Via Alpina. Turns left onto the path and follow the macadam road from Kokoši to the Lipica border crossing. Cross the regional road then continue walking along a somewhat poorer road, which eventually gives way to a dirt track on the right side and leads you to the entrance of the Lipica estate. The Lipica hotel complex lies just beyond. The hike from Kokoši takes 1h.

The world-renowned Lipica stud farm lies in a typical Karstic landscape and is the home of the elegant white Lipizzaner horses. The stud farm was established on 1580. Via Alpina bypasses the hotels to reach the junction between the Sežana and Lokev roads. Continue walking along the tarmac road for another 300 m until you reach the first iron gate, then turn right onto the macadam road, which crosses a meadow and leads you to the Lipica quarry. 20 min. After a 15-minute walk you will come to a crossroads. Turn left and cross an overgrown meadow. When you reach the regional road, cross it and continue walking along the footpath to the Vilenica speleological hut, right next to the Vilenica cave. Walk straight ahead across the meadow and through the opening in the Karstic wall, then make a sharp right turn towards the hamlet of Lokev on the other side. Follow the narrow tarmac streets through the hamlet. 40 min. The hike from Lipica takes 1h.

Turn left at the church and walk to the Divača - Lokev regional road. Cross the main road and continue along the village road going to Prelože. Turn left at the junction at the end of the tarmac road. Cross the meadow to reach the railway pedestrian underpass and continue walking below the motorway until you reach the main road. Cross the road and continue walking past the houses. At the next group of houses, turn left onto the macadam road, which eventually gives way to a dirt track. Go northeast across the field to the macadam road and walk up the slope along its right side. After 10 minutes, the terrain levels off on Na Prevalu pass. Climb down the other side to the tarmac road next to the Škocjan caves tourist information centre. The hike from Lokev to Matavun takes 1h 10 min.