We awake to a gorgeous blue sky if slightly chilly day. What a view from which to eat breakfast, Mother Nature at her best. We start our day on two wheels, pedaling away from our riverside campsite headed for Lake Bohinj. The cycle path is a very scenic route, predominantly blissfully flat and well-maintained. We meander gently through lush meadows, past charming rustic farmhouses, all under the majestic shadow of the snow dusted Julian Alps. The cycle is a relaxed 12 km one-way affair with the power being raised on our e-bikes when a couple of hills need to be ascended. We frequently stop for photos and take in the glorious, meadows filled with wild flowers set against a gorgeous blue sky.
Our plan is to get to the lake and attempt to find a cycle path that will take us around some of it. Sadly, it was not to be and It’s just the road and it’s narrow, so we cycle back to the campsite and make an alternative plan.
We jump in the car and drive for 45 minutes towards the Vintgar Gorge. situated just the other side of Lake Bled. We leave the car at the park n ride and take the courtesy bus to the gorge. We walk the path to the entrance with the powerful glacial Radovna River to our right.
Tickets scanned and safety helmets donned it’s time to explore the gorge. Ingeniously constructed wooden walkways and bridges, cling precariously to the sheer rock faces and guide us directly over and alongside the churning water. Below, the river surges with intensity. it’s a mesmerizing spectrum of emerald and turquoise, tinted by the limestone minerals of the surrounding rocks. We watch in awe as the Radovna churns into lively rapids, spirals into whirlpools known as ‘pots,’ and gracefully cascades over numerous smaller waterfalls. Sunlight filters through the dense canopy overhead, dappling the moss-draped cliffs and illuminating every detail of the gin-clear water. I can’t stop comparing the Slovenian glacial water to Bombay Sapphire gin the clarity is just crazy. It’s cooler down here and we’re glad we’ve brought our jackets, It’s a beautiful hike with every turn presenting a new, breathtaking vista – an absolute symphony of sight and sound that truly awakens the senses.
We take our time navigating the 1.6 km trail, stopping frequently to comprehend just how many shades of green we can absorb oh and of course how many photos I can take. We reach the trail’s end at the bridge over the Šum waterfall. With the cloud hugging the snow dusted mountains in the distance, water roars dramatically into a deep, emerald green pool.
The options for our return are varied, and on the advice of the man we return our safety helmets to we opt for a more adventurous route, the King’s Trail of around 4.5kms. The initial ascent is tough but it proves to be an incredibly rewarding walk, weaving through a serene mix of beech and fir forest, with breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the picturesque Sava Dolinka valley when we eventually reach the top. The trail leads us out not far from the entrance to Vintgar Gorge, where we gratefully catch the shuttle bus back to the car. We’re tired, but absolutely exhilarated by the day’s contrasting adventures.
This day perfectly encapsulates everything we’re beginning to discover about Slovenia: the joy of the outdoors experiencing the incredible raw beauty of pristine nature. It’s been a brilliant day. We walk into town for dinner at a rustic pizza place where the food is divine and large glasses of red are less than 3 euros. It’s been the kind of day we just love we cannot stop smiling as we retire to bed under canvas beside the river.
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