Slovenia, Bohinj Lake – Waterfalls, Bathing, Trips

For some tourists it is a better choice than Lake Bled. Many mountain enthusiasts choose this place as a starting point for alpine treks. No wonder. The lake lies in a glacial valley, which is protected on all sides by the giants of the Julian Alps. In summer, you can swim in it anywhere. The water temperature is pleasant, it can rise up to 22 ° C. The lake feeds two rivers - Savica and Sava Bohinjka.

You can park at the shopping center, which is right on the outskirts of the village. First a "mandatory" photograph of a statue of three climbers pointing to the top of Slovenia's highest mountain - Triglav 2864 m - and then we head to the old stone bridge that will lead us to the church of St. John the Baptist from the 13th century. We have to wait a while for the guide before they let us in. The interiors of the church are decorated with beautiful frescoes. When we have enough love, we continue to the bell tower, which was added in the 18th century. We climb up to the lookout. You can also try the organ inside.

Lake Bohinj can be bypassed on foot. If you choose the whole circuit, get ready for 12 km. You can also take a boat in one direction and return on foot. A more picturesque is a walk along the north side of the lake, so you can cover about 8 km. The only day to visit Lake Bohinj and the surroundings is really not enough. Better plan for a longer stay, you can stay in one of the pensions in the area, but prepare for slightly higher prices, or use the camp Zlatorog, a significantly cheaper option.

We cross to the other end of the lake to the cabin of Koča, our goal is now the waterfall Savica. There is a large car park, information center and souvenir shops. The ascent to the waterfall is not difficult, so count about 30 minutes on the stone steps. The waterfall is unique in that it springs from a karst cave at an altitude of 836 m. It is 78 m high.

The car park is the starting point for several hiking trails, from here you can go hiking to Komna or to the valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes. Stroll through the Pekel valley or enjoy the beautiful views along the route to Lake Črno or Lake Dvojno, but expect more time, up to 5 hours. We choose a classic and after paying the entrance fee (3 euros) we head to the waterfall. There are not many tourists here and the waterfall is really nice.

GPS: 46°16'55.2"N 13°52'53.8"E

Text and photos: Magdaléna Radostová