Slovenia is the most mystical country I have been to thus far. It is home to the majestic Julian Alps, a mountain range that will take your breath away. Last summer, I had the pleasure of visiting Triglav National Park, named after Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s tallest mountain and the highest peak in the Julian Alps. I had hoped to summit Triglav, but unfortunately, the weather conditions were far from ideal. Thankfully, I was still able to go on an amazing hike despite the rain!

Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj is the perfect place to base yourself for exploring Triglav National Park. Just a short 45-minute bus ride from Lake Bled, it is easily reachable by the local public transport. In comparison to Bled, Lake Bohinj is a lot less touristy—you will mostly find hikers here. This is not to say that Bled is not worth visiting. On the contrary, both places have very unique selling points! Check out my article on Lake Bled here if you have not done so already.

I was greeted by this noble statue upon my arrival. The Goldhorn seemed to watch over the mystical lake. The sun had set but the turquoise blue water of the lake continued to glow, exuding energy from within. There was something magical about the lake; I felt its presence as I stood next to it. There are a couple of options for accommodation, but I recommend staying at Hostel pod Voglom. It has a lovely cabin in the woods feel with the lake just steps away. What more can you ask for?

Friendship and Hiking

I only managed to get in one day of hiking due to the rainy conditions, but it sure was a good day. I will remember this day for the rest of my life because I got to combine my two loves: hiking and making new connections. Pablo and I crossed paths for a brief three minutes as I was checking in and as he was leaving the hostel. We hit it off immediately and planned a hike. The next day, we trekked a total of 26 kilometres, through the mountains, in the pouring rain. Let’s goooooo!

Picture this: two strangers getting to know each other while getting lost in the mountains. Sounds like a perfect day to me! The setting was ideal; there were no distracting screens or gadgets, just two people, walking and talking. We spent the entire day in nature, exchanging stories and making jokes. There was no real plan—we just hoped to have an amazing adventure and catch some spectacular views. We headed in the direction of the Seven Lakes Valley.

Savica Waterfall

Savica Waterfall was the first stop on our journey to the seven lakes. I had seen many waterfalls previously, but this one was unique. The water fell off its crest, gushing downward in a shade of brilliant white. It then began to glow turquoise as soon as it joined the plunge pool. Most of the bodies of water which I encountered in the area exhibited the same bluish-green glow. That is what I like about water, its ability to reflect differently depending on its resting place.

Black Lake

We were ecstatic once we made it to our first lake. Pictures will never do justice to the beauty of the surroundings in person, but let this serve as a symbol of how far we came. On that fateful summer’s day, Pablo and I made it to the Black Lake, and we did not stop there. We ventured forth in search of more lakes and more adventure. I felt like a little kid again, getting lost in the woods with my new friend. We could go wherever we wanted and do whatever we wanted. We were limitless.

Double Lake

Do you know the only thing better than an alpine lake? That’s right, two alpine lakes! There we were, high up in the mountains, feasting our eyes on two beautiful lakes sitting right next to each other. It was raining quite intensely, but we did not mind. We were too excited about our discovery. I love the joy of the journey, but the sweetness of reaching your destination was something else. After a challenging hike, there is nothing like a beautiful view and some delicious food to rejuvenate the body.

Pure freedom

Before we knew it, we had to begin our descent to escape nightfall in time. I swear I could have taken a nap in the hut after that sumptuous meal. Thankfully, I was awake again once we started trekking. It is hard to shut your eyes in front of such grandeur. Many thoughts entered my mind as I gazed at the mountains. I felt a sudden rush of freedom from the vast landscape. Up there, I could do as I pleased. I screamed as loud as I wanted and no one seemed to care. It was pure freedom!

Gazing back at the glorious Double Lake, I realised what hiking meant to me. Hiking is the exploration of the unknown, relying on one’s faculties. You can go and see whatever you desire, as long as your legs can carry you there! Hiking represents pure freedom to me because the only limit is yourself. Many talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? Now, I search for more adventures and more beauty around the world. I love hiking, and I do not plan to stop anytime soon.

Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of the day. We were about to miss the last bus back, but thankfully, we managed to hitch a ride with some delightful German girls. I do not doubt that 26 kilometres of hiking would have been a lot less fun without the right company. Pablo, you legend. To many more adventures mon ami. It brought me much joy to write about this spectacular day. I hope you enjoyed reading it as well. Stay tuned for the next one, and have a great rest of the week!