Jun
01
2013
Sep
30
2013
Camp Out at Awe-some Lake Bled
The Experience
Stepping off the train, a cool breeze welcomed us to Lake Bled. This glacial lake located in the Julian Alps harbors Slovenia's only island, a quaint and charming pastoral haven. We had originally planned to set up camp by the water, but as we peered into the distance under the dim moonlight, we learned that the lakeside near us was smothered in cement. The mountain it was, we decided.
Setting out, the hike was easy. The path was wide and the moon shined down on us with a welcoming glow. Within 20 minutes we had wound our way fairly far up the mountain, but visibility started to dwindle. The foliage grew thick and dappled moonlight shed only faint gleams on the ground before us. The backpacks grew heavier and the light from our tiny flashlight began to flicker. After an hour of hiking, with the moon barely visible above us we climbed to our resting plateau guided only by the light of a cell phone.
As we lay there, exhausted yet relieved, lightening flashed in the distance. Faint at first, we managed to convince ourselves that the flashes were extreme bursts of energy from powerful Slovenian fireflies. As the thunder began to roar, and the raindrops spattered on our faces, they washed away all of our admiration for this feigned species. Once it finally stopped, the air smelt of tilted earth and fresh cut grass. All was calm. We were surrounded by gorgeous mountains staring down onto the most spectacular niche of earth. The feat had been arduous, but worth it a hundred times over. With the dim moonlight casting a reflective glow over the accepting waters of Lake Bled, we quietly soaked in the moment.
Setting out, the hike was easy. The path was wide and the moon shined down on us with a welcoming glow. Within 20 minutes we had wound our way fairly far up the mountain, but visibility started to dwindle. The foliage grew thick and dappled moonlight shed only faint gleams on the ground before us. The backpacks grew heavier and the light from our tiny flashlight began to flicker. After an hour of hiking, with the moon barely visible above us we climbed to our resting plateau guided only by the light of a cell phone.
As we lay there, exhausted yet relieved, lightening flashed in the distance. Faint at first, we managed to convince ourselves that the flashes were extreme bursts of energy from powerful Slovenian fireflies. As the thunder began to roar, and the raindrops spattered on our faces, they washed away all of our admiration for this feigned species. Once it finally stopped, the air smelt of tilted earth and fresh cut grass. All was calm. We were surrounded by gorgeous mountains staring down onto the most spectacular niche of earth. The feat had been arduous, but worth it a hundred times over. With the dim moonlight casting a reflective glow over the accepting waters of Lake Bled, we quietly soaked in the moment.
When to Go to Lake Bled
One of the main attractions on the Lake is Bled Island. Here you can delight in the curious charm of the quaint establishments as well as the Church of the Assumption of Mary. A visit to Bled Island wouldn't be complete without the customary climb of the 99 steps up to the Church, and ringing the wishing bell to set your hopes free! Bled Castle perched on a rocky outcropping above the Lake, is the oldest castle in Slovenia according to written sources dating back to 1011. Occupying a strategic as well as scenic location, Bled Castle has long been a conferencing site for political figures in Slovenian history. Nowadays, the castle offers visitors a dining experience 130 meters above Lake Bled. It also hosts a museum in its baroque rooms, a wine cellar and a herb gallery for those who wish to bring home a taste of Bled.
The best time of year to visit Lake Bled is in May, when it's still too cool for mosquitoes but just cold enough for a thick sleeping bag. Anytime between June - September is also a good bet, as there is an abundance of outdoor activities to partake in and the weather allows for hours of enjoyment on the Lake.
Odds n' Ends
Island entry costs 3 Euros, and is open daily from 9am - 7pm, May through September, and 9am to typically between 4pm and 6pm from October - April. If the lake is frozen, visits to Bled Island are not possible.
If you’re looking to spend the day in the woods, Triglav National Park, only 4.5km away is a great place to go. One of the most popular sites to visit at the Park is the Vintgar Gorge, which ends at Šum Waterfall, the highest river fall in Slovenia. For further adventure you can enjoy the Pokljuka Plateau, about 20km from Lake Bled, lined with numerous trails that lead into the surrounding peaks and meadows.
If you’re looking to spend the day in the woods, Triglav National Park, only 4.5km away is a great place to go. One of the most popular sites to visit at the Park is the Vintgar Gorge, which ends at Šum Waterfall, the highest river fall in Slovenia. For further adventure you can enjoy the Pokljuka Plateau, about 20km from Lake Bled, lined with numerous trails that lead into the surrounding peaks and meadows.
Recommended Places to Stay
- From Hotels to Hostels
- If you don’t care to camp out for the night, or if you plan on visiting in the winter, there are accommodations within the vicinity. From 5-star hotels (e.g. Grand Hotel Toplice) to youth hostels (e.g. Youth Hostel Bledec, Hostel Villa Victoria or Hostel Bled Backpackers), there are available rooms throughout the year. For 2009, their price list just came out. The top-notch places, such as the aforementioned Grand Hotel Toplice would cost you 151-181 Euros for a single room with breakfast. On the low end, a hostel bed would only diminish your wallet by 21 Euros per person. (For more information, visit http://www.bled.si/en/filelib/lto_bled_cenik-www.pdf)
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Welcome to Vila Istra, the Design hotel Bled lets you enjoy quick free WiFi, spacious, well designed rooms, friendly common area with big screen TV, ... 0 miles away
$88 EUR+
Pension Mlino is located on the coastline of Lake Bled where a beautiful view of the castle and the island opens. Approximately 1 km long ... 0 miles away
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While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
Another old town is Skofja Loka with most preserved medieval parts in Slovenia. Throughout the centuries the inhabitants of the town and its surroundings were ...29.26 miles away via Ljubljana.
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Only 9 km away stands one of the most interesting baroque castles of Slovenia, the Predjama castle. It hangs dramatically in the middle of 123 ...29.26 miles away via Ljubljana.
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Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!
Bled is often mentioned as the pearl of the Alpine region. It is unique with its emerald-green lake, a church on the island in the ...
Starting from $58.13 per person.
Starting from $58.13 per person.
Books and DVDs
Elsewhere on the Web
- Lake Bled - Bled.si.en
- With immense natural beauty, Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water.
- Camping Bled Slovenia - Camping-Bled.com
- Every visitor to Bled is charmed by its fantastic range of views and its captivating alpine lake.
- Triglav National Park - TNP.si
Media References
- A Distant Corner of Europe - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- A FEW minutes after the border guard on the train to Ljubljana handed back our passports, we spotted a long-legged, bluff-gray heron standing calmly in the shallows of the Savinja River in Slovenia.
- Suddenly Slovenia - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
- We later toured medieval castles in Bled and Ljubljana, and took a walk through Pleterje, a six-centuries-old Carthusian monastery whose residents still take a vow of silence.
- Slovenia: Unheralded Gem on the Adriatic - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- STANDING in the turret of a hilltop castle, leaning with a sigh of bliss against a stone parapet, I took in the old part of the city: curving cobblestone alleys and avenues; a dark river that traced a slender crease between centuries-old buildings; handsome plazas with statues and fountains; a patchwork of red-tiled roofs
- FRUGAL TRAVELER; Slovenia's High Alps and Low Prices - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- THE train entered the tunnel, and the lights went out, plunging the compartment into a spooky blackness. Emily, an Australian backpacker in her early 20's, broke the silence.
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