Located in the far northwest of Slovenia on the edge of the Julian Alps, the mountain of Mangart straddles the Italian border. With an elevation of 2,679 metres (8,789 ft), it is the third-highest peak in Slovenia, after Triglav and Å krlatica.
The Mangart Pass is a high mountain road that ends at a point 2,055m above sea level at the Mangart Saddle. This is the usual starting place for those who wish to climb the mountain, and has a car park at the end of the road. The pass offers stunning viewpoints and panoramic vistas across the Julian Alps and beyond.
From Bovec, the '203' takes you through quiet valley villages following the route of the Koritnica river, until you reach the right turn for the Mangart Pass - the '902'. The road gets smaller, and you climb for a short way before you enter a forested area and reach the toll booth. In 2022 the 'ecological tax' was €10.
Past the barrier, the road narrows and there are several hairpins as you ascend, until you leave the cover of the trees. Be careful - the road is narrow, and it is tight squeezing past other vehicles at times. There are several unlit tunnels, too.
Past the forest, the road gets narrower still, and the sheer drop on the right hand side gets ever close to the roadside at times. Make you sure you stop where you can to take in the views - absolutely breathtaking in places.
The road is mostly paved, though there are small sections of cobblestone. It's passable by all by the lowest of vehicles - just be careful!
At the top of the saddle is a loop road with a couple of parking spots. There are a number of walking trails including some shorter ones that will allow you to take in some of the best views - both over Slovenia and across the other side of the saddle into Italy, too. On a clear day it is possible to see the highest peaks of the Julian Alps to the south and southeast, and the Fusine lakes in Italy.
This is a fantastic trip well worth the small fee and the narrow roads for the views at the top. It's not for the faint-hearted - don't assume you're going to be able to test your throttle on this one - but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. The pass is open from late Spring to Late Autumn. Best to go earlier in the morning, as it can get very busy at the top.
Check out our Slovenian Road Trip and come with us on this superb ride!
