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Matej's advices
 
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Alternative ways to arrive to Bled/Slovenia
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Induvidual excursions from Bled
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Excursions, sightseeing and vacation in Slovenia
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Walks and free time
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Adrenaline sports
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Visiting neighboring countires

 

Individual excursions from Bled

 

You do not really need a tourist agency if you want to visit some interesting places in the surroundings of Bled. You do not even need your own car. You can use regular bus service to go to Bohinj and Ljubljana, for example. Both trips are recommended and described below. These two places are also included in the tourist agencies programs, if you do not wish to travel on your own.

Bohinj

Take a bus to lake Bohinj. Bus departs approximately every hour. Bus station is close to hotel Jelovica. It takes 40 minutes to Bohinj (my favorite place in the Slovenian Alps; in short it is simpler and more nature oriented than Bled and it will depend on your taste if you share my opinion).

  • Step off the bus at the beginning of the lake (bus station Jezero) at a picturesque gothic church over a stone bridge, which is a landmark of Bohinj.
  • You can proceed by bus to the station Zlatorog at the west side of the lake. Take a cable car to Vogel for a great view of the Slovenian Alps. The cable car was renovated last year. Being first of all a winter resort, Vogel itself is nothing special during the summer. If you like mountaineering, however, there is great flora at a bit higher altitudes. Such a trip requires additional 5 hours and some basic equipment.

  • Some buses go as far as Savica (another 4 km to the west). There take a 20 min (each way), partly steep but easy in general, walk to the majestic waterfall of Savica.
  • From Jezero you can follow the north shore trail to Zlatorog and then return by bus. This 6 km trail is easy and highly recommended. Excellent place for nude sunbathing and swimming. In general nudism is not illegal and tolerated by most people in Slovenia (due to its urban environment Bled is an exception).
  • In June swimming in the lake of Bohinj is only for those who have a bit of courage. Water temperature should be around 20 degrees at the time of the workshop. This predominatly depends on the melting of snow (which we had a lot this year) and rain, and much less on the air temperature.
  • Rowing is great. Take a canoe.

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    In addition to these well-known places, I would like to share with you two more secret places which are my favorites (I shall be glad to explain the details) and I really recommend visiting them.

  • Visit the beautiful valley of Voje with its gorge, waterfalls, cascades and three interesting stone bridges. Mostly easy walk takes 2-4 hours. You can enter the valley also by car (fee), but you will miss many beautiful places
  • Visit the traditional alpine cattle farms in the mountains over Bohinj. Taste (sour) milk. It is an unique experience. For excellent cheese it would be probably too early in June. You need, however, at least 3 hours of moderate difficult walk. Good shoes are a must. Additional guidelines are required.

    • Visit to the national park of 7 Triglav lakes requires more serious mountaineering. There are also perfect opportunities for other (more adrenaline) sports (see special info on this).

    Ljubljana

    Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is a nice central European town. It has an interesting old part (which can be quite lively in June/July) and the castle with a fine view on a clear day. The exhibition of the paintings by the Slovenian impressionists at the National Gallery will be a pleasant surprise for you. Some people find the open market to be interesting. You might be interested in visiting our Institute. There is very fine cultural summer festival in the town. Bus for Ljublana departs Bled every hour an it takes about 1 hour drive.

    Brezje and Skofja Loka

    These two places are within half an hour drive from Bled. You may need, however, some additional guidelines to reach them.

    For those of Roman catholic belief Brezje is an important place of pilgrimage.

    Škofja Loka is a fine medieval town (dated back to the year 1000) with a fine old nucleus and castle. This is a relatively new one, because the old one was destroyed during 1511 earthquake (as most of the other castles in Slovenia were). There is an excellent ethnological display in the castle. I have led many visitors to this place and I have always enjoyed this exhibit of the ingenuity of peasant people and craftsmen at their work. There are also some fine baroque altars saved during WW2 on display.

    Excursions by your own car

    Slovenia is small and you can visit any place within a single day (see also “excursions and vacations in Slovenia”)
    Last updated: Thursday, July 29, 2004 11:10