Lake Bled to Bovec via the Julian alps
Reluctantly we left Lake Bled the following day bound for Bovec, via Lake Jasna, the Vrsic pass and the Soca valley. We thought this might be a memorable journey but we had no idea how epic it would turn out to be. The first part, Lake Bled to Lake Jasna was an easy 50km drive along the E61 and then the 201 and 206.
Lake Jasna is in fact two artificial lakes connected by a small causeway, there are a few cafes and restaurants to the north and west of the lakes. We spent a pleasant hour wandering around the lakes, taking in the stunning views of the Triglav mountains to the south, and enjoying a snack. The other attraction is a bronze statue of an Ibex, created by Stojan Batic. Then it was on to Vrsic Pass.
It depends whether you ask Helen or myself about the 30 minute drive, you will have two very different experiences. The scenery is breathtaking and so are the 50 hairpin bends and turns! It was actually a pretty easy drive, the road is in perfect condition with fairly light traffic, it’s mostly motorcycles and cyclists along the way. We stopped at the Russian church (Ruska kapelica) built by 1st WW POW’s, said a prayer before the most challenging part. It was without question one of the most amazing drives we have ever made and should be on everyones list of things to do in Slovenia. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, at some of these places there are little walks you can take to get better views of the mountains, I especially recommend the Prisank View.
At 1611m Vrsic Pass is the highest in Slovenia. Parking is easy, even here you will find a souvenir shop and cafe, but walk past these and enjoy the view from the platform. You won’t need a great deal of time here, so take those photos and carry on with the drive. You still have the hairpin bends that follow the Supca viewpoint to enjoy before the road leads to the Soca Valley and River, and finally on to Bovec.
For the best in hiking tours in Slovenia I highly recommend RAW Travel. They are an Australian based company (though you can book from anywhere in the world) and are highly regarded in the industry. Take a look at their fabulous guided or non-guided multi-day options to some of the most amazing places on earth, including Japan, the European Caminos, European Alps, New Zealand, Australia, the Dolomites, and the UK.
Bovec
Situated in the Soca River Valley, Bovec is an adrenaline junkies haven offering rafting, kayaking, canyoning and paragliding. This link gives the best options. The town has many tour operators offering some awesome experiences, and it has an adventurers vibe, but don’t worry there are plenty of other more sedate things to do. The Soca Valley also offers some lovely walks to some beautiful waterfalls, we visited Slap Virje with its emerald pool and Slap Boka, with its two stage falls, the highest fall is 106m. The town is also very nice to spend a couple of hours wandering around, there are some nice restaurants and the Thirsty River Brewery. We enjoyed local trout for dinner at the Gostilna pod Lipco.
One of the highlights of Bovec for us was the lovely Hotel Sanje Ob Soči. The hotel is wooden chalet in style, and has a spa with a sauna. Our lovely room was up quite a steep set of stairs so book a ground floor room if that’s an issue. It was very peaceful and we loved sitting on the small balcony in the evening listening to the cuckoos calling in the distance. The breakfast the following morning was one of the best we have ever experienced, with everything being homemade from local ingredients.
