Slovenia Part 4 – Lake Bohinj
“In the hush of alpine air,
where mountains lean over mirrored glass,
I found a silence that spoke louder than storms.”
Journey into Tranquility
Welcome to my fourth and final blog (and vlog) from Slovenia. This journey took me to one of the country’s most serene and breathtaking landmarks: Lake Bohinj. After the roar and biting cold of Mount Vršič just days earlier, Bohinj felt like stepping into another world — a sanctuary of silence where the only sounds were the gentle lap of water against the shore and the distant call of birds echoing across the valley.
The Lake’s Story
Lake Bohinj is Slovenia’s largest permanent lake, a glacial jewel formed during the last Ice Age and cradled by the Julian Alps within Triglav National Park. Carved by retreating glaciers some 12,000 years ago, it stretches 4.2 km in length and 1 km in width, covering 318 hectares with a maximum depth of 45 meters. Its pristine waters are fed by the Savica River and flow out through the Jezernica into the Sava Bohinjka, eventually joining the mighty Sava River.
Today, Bohinj is celebrated not only for its crystal-clear waters and diverse wildlife—including trout, Arctic char, and endemic species—but also for its cultural heritage. With its blend of natural grandeur, historical depth, and ecological richness, Bohinj remains a quieter, more contemplative counterpart to nearby Lake Bled, offering visitors a chance to experience Slovenia’s alpine soul in its purest form.
A Photographer’s Challenge
Photographing here was both a challenge and a gift. The low winter sun cast long shadows, and the brilliant blue skies created strong contrasts, yet the reflections of snow-dusted peaks in the still, glass-like waters were unforgettable. Alone with my camera, dwarfed by towering mountains and the vast expanse of the lake, I felt that familiar joy and serenity that comes when I lose myself completely in nature. It’s this immersion — mind and spirit absorbed in the enormity of the landscape — that makes photography so fulfilling for me. Bohinj was where that realisation crystallized, a moment I would later rediscover in Madeira and Norway.
Bonus Stops Along the Way
To catch up with the full adventure, click the link below to the video. As a bonus, I also visit a particularly flooded Zelenci Nature Reserve and make a spontaneous stop along a rural back road for one last shot of the mountains before departing.
Zelenci Nature Reserve
Zelenci is a compact but magical protected area in northwestern Slovenia, famous for its emerald-green lake and unique wetlands. Nestled near Kranjska Gora, at the meeting point of Slovenia, Austria, and Italy, it was declared a reserve in 1992. Springs bubble up through chalky lake beds, keeping the water at a constant 5–6 °C year-round — meaning it never freezes, even in the depths of winter.
Walking along the wooden footbridge, I could hear the soft rustle of reeds and the splash of hidden springs beneath the surface. The marshland was alive with rare plants and wildlife, and the emerald pool shimmered like a jewel against the backdrop of snow-covered peaks. It’s a place that feels both intimate and infinite, where every detail — from the cotton grass swaying in the breeze to the mirrored reflections of the Karavanke Mountains — invites you to pause and simply marvel. And yes, the nearby café makes it even more inviting.
Final Words on Slovenia
Slovenia is a country of extraordinary beauty, with proud and welcoming people and landscapes that shift from rugged mountains to deep forests and lush plains. I feel truly blessed to have explored it, and I still owe my colleague Max for recommending the trip. I will certainly return — not just to capture more of Slovenia’s natural wonders through my lens, but to once again experience the warmth of its hospitality and the quiet magic of its alpine soul.
Slovenia lingers in memory,
like reflections that ripple but never fade —
a land of silence, soul, and sky.