Slovenia The Julian Alps - Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled

07.09

Up early and onward to the seaside village of Trpanj where we caught the car ferry to the mainland port town of Ploce, a one hour trip (38 euros).  We have a big drive to chip into the 700kms to Bled.  Wound our way inland through the mountains passing little villages, vineyards and fig orchards onto the motorway. 

Filled up with petrol and bought a vignette (16 euros), covering us for seven days motorway travel in Slovenia.  There is an alpine feel as we get closer to Zagreb, the landscape is much greener. 

35 euro motorway toll from Ploce to our turn off at Josipdel (about 400kms), onto Duga Resa and our chosen camp, Camp Slapic (16 euros), situated on the banks of the Mreznica river.

A fabulous schnitzel dinner at the camp restaurant warmed us up, it’s chilly and we’re dressed in jeans and thermals!  The duvet is going back on the bed tonight!

 

08.09

We travelled via Zagreb, through Border control into Slovenia.

Little alpine villages, fields of corn, ski fields with a backdrop of Alps.  Via Ljubljana to Bled where we caught a glimpse of the beautiful lake which we will return to in a few days.  Onto our campsite 20kms away, Camp Danica (16 euros) in Bohinjska Bistrica on the Sava river, which we will use as a base to explore Lake Bohinj and it’s environs.

We’re in the Julian Alps the highest mountain range in Slovenia, and we’re looking forward to getting into them.  

09.09

We set off on the ‘Kolesarska Pot Bohinj’ an asphalt path through the valley all the way to Lake Bohinj.  We cycled through alpine meadows alongside the Sava river, fast flowing and crystal clear and full of trout (fishing licences available in the camp).

Cows grazing and farmers chopping wood, through the forest and up into ski villages to the end of the path in the mountains at Jereka.

It’s stunning and not unlike our South Island. 

Down again to the little ski village of Ribcev Laz, across the bridge to beautiful Lake Bohinj, the largest permanent lake in Slovenia. 

It sits under the Julian Alps and is in the Triglav National Park.  There is a pretty little Baroque style church beside the bridge over looking the lake, built in the 16th century.  We rode through the village passed the bronze stag monument to Ukanc, up to the cable car to the Vogel Ski Resort (13.50 euros per adult) then back for coffees in the village.  50kms later back at camp.

10.09

We followed the bike path to Lake Bohinj and continued around the lake to Ukanc.  Hiked 5kms up into the mountains following a stone trail and steps up to the Savica Waterfall in the heart of the Triglav National Park. 

 

It’s a great time to be here, it’s beautiful, there are fewer people and it’s warm enough in the day (and sunny) and cooler in the evenings, good for sleeping.      




 
11.09

A cup of coffee ‘hit the spot’, it’s 7 degrees!  A twenty minute drive to Lake Bled and our camp on it’s shores, Camp Bled (16 euros).  We chose a grassy pitch about 100 metres from the water.  This crystal clear lake is situated in a picturesque environment surrounded by mountains and forests.

We set off on an orientation walk around the 8km lake, a beautiful walk admiring it’s most famous feature, Bled Island, crowned by the 55-metre tower of the Baroque Church of the Assumption built in it’s current form in the 17th century.  We then veered off the lake path for a climb up to another iconic feature, Bled castle, perched 120 metres above the lake and dating back to 1011.   

Back onto the lake path at the northern end where most of the eateries, shops, boat, horse and carriage hire are,   More touristy than Lake Bohinj but still nice.

We continued following the lake path through the forest back to camp.  We met Claudia and Rupert from Austria.

12.09

It’s Pam’s birthday today, and it’s a perfect crisp sunny day!!  The lake is sparking!!

After chats with Claudia and Rupert we biked to the start of Osojnica, a 45 minute trek up a steep forest path rising to a peak of 685 metres, to the ‘look out’ point!  Enjoyed spectacular views across the lake, the Julian Alps and the Gorenjska plain. We chatted to an English couple then made the descent.

Collected our bikes and rode into the mountains, through the little villages of Spodnje Gorje and Podhom to the Vintgar Gorge (8 euros for two).  The gorge was created during the Ice Age and it’s sheer canyon walls reach up to 100 metres.  A spectacular walk along the boardwalk running along the entire length of the gorge.  Crystal clear water, trout and an old viaduct.

Biked back through Bled and checked out a couple of surrounding towns near Kortino then back towards the camp.  On the way, we stopped at Villa Bled, Jesip Tito’s summer residence overlooking the lake and a great place for afternoon coffee especially on ‘your birthday’!!  Villa Bled is an elegant 1950’s building with a grand entrance where the likes of Prince Charles, Nikita Krushchev and Paul McCartney have walked.  A pot of coffee each and a stunning view!!     

Back to camp, then drinks at the bar on the lake followed by dinner at the camp restaurant.
Enjoyed a tasty homemade traditional grilled meat and vege meal with a complimentary blueberry shot to finish off!

The end to a perfect day and one to remember!!  Off to Austria tomorrow.