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Lake Bled And The Slovenian Alps
Bled
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Lake Bled Overview
| Duration: |
4 Days |
| Package Type: |
Short Escapes |
| Avg Daily Swim: |
4km |
| Accommodation: |
Hotel |
The natural beauty of the emerald green glacial lakes, crystal clear waters of the Soca river and crisp fresh air of Triglav National Park, make Slovenia a great location for a freshwater SwimTrek adventure.
Slovenia is Europes hidden gem and its central location makes it accessible for an active weekend escape. A new wilderness location where our swimming adventure takes place within the Triglav National Park, swimming in the stunning Glacial lakes of Bled and Bohinj and exploring the lush forest and stunning waterfalls of Europe’s largest forests. With its dramatic island church, cliff-topping medieval castle and mountain backdrop, Lake Bled is the obvious centre piece of the tour and is becoming a favourite amongst adventure enthusiast.
Based in the secluded town of Bohinj overlooking the vast waters of Slovenia’s largest lake, it is the starting point for numerous mountain hikes and paradise for lovers of water sport. Our plan is to combine as much walking with the swims so that we reduce our dependency on motorised transport wherever possible. With canoe & row boat escorts on the swims and walks on paths and tracks, the tour will open the eye to Slovenia’s natural beauty.
What's included?
Fully guided tour with full safety escort for the number of days specified in the tour summary, coaching technique session, accommodation; breakfast.
What's not included?
The prices do not include:
-Travel to and from the start of the tour.
-Wetsuit Hire
-Lunches and evening meals.
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Day
1
We meet at the hotel bar for a welcome drinks reception and a short briefing on the plans for the rest of the trip. The acclimatization swim is held the next morning.
Day
2
Following a brief acclimatization swim, we take the short journey into Bled for a day of swimming in this famous lake. The first swim is across to Bled Island, home to the Pilgrimage Church where we walk up the 99 steps and enjoy the stunning view. It’s then back into the water as we cross to the lake’s western shore. After a stop for lunch we take a short 20 minute walk up to Mount Osojnica, which offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. On our return to the shore, we swim a full length of the lake finishing at the lakeside lido where there will be time for a stroke analysis session with your swim guides. The late afternoon/evening is free for you to either enjoy the view over Lake Bled from the medieval castle, get lost in the shops and cafes of the town centre or just to relax by the lake.
Day
3
After breakfast we venture into Italy and onto the shores of the idyllic Lago del Predil for a traverse of the lake. It’s then a short drive back into Slovenia and lunch at the popular alpine town of Bovec. Following this, we head into the remote centre of the Triglav National Park, with a cool, yet exhilarating dip underneath the secluded Kozjak waterfalls. It’s then time to head to the emerald green Soca River, for a swim where the river takes some of the strain. The scenery is outstanding and the river swim makes a striking contrast to the lakes of the previous few days. The adventure continues on the way home, with a memorable return journey on the car train, taking us through the various lengthy tunnel systems to Bohinj.
Day
4
After the previous days, we have an early chance to stretch our legs, as we walk the length of Lake Bohinj. Following the walk we have the chance to swim the 4km length of Slovenia’s largest lake. We may be accompanied by the schools of wild trout which frequent the lake. The dark green forests and surrounding mountain peaks guide our way. There are suitable get out points along the way for those that would prefer a shorter swim. The swim finishes within 50 metres of the hotel, so you can use the sauna and showers to finish off your trip.
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The itinerary may vary depending on weather. Weather conditions can be quite unpredictable and the temperatures between lakes do vary. Hence, you may require a wetsuit for some swims, but not others.
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These lakes are some of the worlds cleanest fresh water lakes. However, water quality can be an issue with water run off from fields, Blue Green Algae & Weil’s Disease all possible contaminants. If you do feel unwell at any stage during or after the trip, you should go to your GP immediately, telling them what you have been doing.
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Trip Schedule
| Start Point: |
Hotel Jezero, Lake Bohinj (www.bohinj.si / +386 4572 9100) |
| Start Time: |
8.30pm on day 1 |
| Finish Point: |
Hotel Jezero, Lake Bohinj |
| Finish Time: |
2pm on day 4 |
Trip Information
Swimming Distances
| Swim |
Distances |
| Osojnica – Bled Island |
1km |
| Crossing of lake Bled |
2km |
| Socca River |
2km |
| Bled Island - Osojnica |
¾km |
| Crossing of Lago del Predil |
1½km |
| Crossing of Lake Bohinj |
4km |
Temperatures
Approximate temperatures for Lake Bled are:
| Month |
Water Temp (˚C) |
Air Temp (˚C) |
| July |
20 |
22 |
| August |
22 |
24 |
Approximate temperatures for Lake Bohinj are:
| Month |
Water Temp (˚C) |
Air Temp (˚C) |
| July |
18 |
22 |
| August |
20 |
24 |
These temperatures are indicative only and can change on a daily/weekly basis
Walking Distances
Most of the walking is on recognised tracks and paths. However, the walk on Lake Bled day gets quite steep and rocky towards the top. A pair of trainers or walking sandals will be required.
Equipment to bring along with you
In addition to “normal” daily clothes, you will need to bring the following:
- Swimming costume (2 of)
- Swimming goggles (2 of)*
- Towel(s)
- Small daypack
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sweater/fleece
- Walking boots/shoes
- Sun hat
- Waterproof sun cream
- Waterproof jacket
*It is advisable to have a pair of tinted goggles to cater for the sun’s glare off the sea during swims.
Swim Hats, Flippers, Rashvests and Wetsuits
Please note that SwimTrek will supply swim hats. As previously stated weather conditions can be quite unpredictable and the temperatures between lakes do vary. Hence, you may require a wetsuit for some swims, but not others. We will have a limited supply/range of wetsuits and flippers available on each trip, but we cannot guarantee sizes for all. If you have your own we would advise you to bring them with you to maximise your enjoyment of the trip.
Group Size
This trip has a maximum group size of 13. During the swims the trip will be split into a maximum of 3 groups based on speed and ability, each of which will be accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort.
Practical Information
Getting There
Flights into Ljubljana (sample only)
Information on all flights into Ljubljana airport can be found at www.lju-airport.si and we also recommend visiting www.skyscanner.net as a starting point for flights.
Other Flight Options
You can also travel into Slovenia via its surrounding neighbours, Trieste airport in the south-west of Italy, the Croatian capital Zagreb is to the east, and the Austrian airports of Graz and Klagenfurt are both just to the north.
Transfers from Ljubljana Airport
Transfers cost €70 and will take you from the airport directly to your hotel. Please contact Outdoor Slovenia on +386 40 865 386 or email info@outdoor-slovenia.com. We will send out a group email before the trip starts and you can use this to arrange to share the transfer with other guests to reduce cost.
Bus from Ljubljana Airport
There are regular buses that run from Ljubljana Airport to the town of Kranj. From here you can get a connecting bus to Bohinj. To view the bus timetable, click on the link: www.lju-airport.si
Accommodation
In order to maximise the enjoyment of the tour, our hotel accommodation is of a very good standard (4 Star), based on twin-share and en-suite facilities. The hotel is in an ideal location as it sits directly on Lake Bohinj.Single supplement availability is limited.
Meals
All breakfasts are included but lunches and evening meals are at your own expense. This allows you to enjoy the cuisines on offer in the various restaurants and cafes or have a relaxing picnic on the grassy banks surrounding the lakes and rivers.
Extra Expenses
You should bring extra money with you to cover such items as dinner, lunches, drinks, entertainment, souvenirs etc. Local currency is the Euro (€). ATMs are widely available.
Extended Stay
If you require additional nights’ accommodation before or after the tour, this can be arranged by booking directly via the following email address hotel.jezero@cc-line.si or calling direct on +386 4572 9100.
Passports and Visas
A passport is not required to enter Italy from Slovenia as both countries are signatories to the Schengen agreement. Citizens of the EU require either a full passport or an official identity card, that should be valid for 6 months beyond the expected length of stay. Citizens of Australia, US and Canada do not require a visa. Visa regulations do change. Please check!
Vaccinations
There are no essential vaccination requirements for Slovenia. When travelling to any foreign country check that your polio and tetanus are up to date.
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Swim guide escorting swimmers |
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Swimtrekkers get ready to swim |
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Stunning views of the Lake |
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Swim guide proving safety cover |
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An enjoyable swim finished |
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Customer Feedback
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I loved this trip
"I loved this trip, it was only 3 days but each day was absolutely packed with activities and I feel as though all the guides did their absolute best to make the most of the time we had and immerse everyone in the whole experience. The balance of experienced local guides and dedicated swimming guides is an unbeatable combination, not only did I get the most out of the swimming but also got a great taste of Slovenia through some brilliant restaurant choices and the locations we went to. Whilst simply driving from one location to another could have been a boring section of the trip it wasn't thanks to the routes we took and things like the car train and the little excursions to see things of interest along the way. I'd 100% recommend this trip to anyone. Thanks to our swim guides for a wonderful wonderful time!"
Joe B, July 2011, UK
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Simply fabulous
Simply fabulous. Sun shining on your back, great fellow swimmers cleaving through crystal clear waters beside you and a stunning back drop of mountains. Mix that with really friendly and knowledgeable guides and local support = a great SwimTrek.
Jenny O, August 2012, UK
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A brilliant experience
A brilliant experience, worth every penny. Thank you.
Carly, B July 2012, UK
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A great mix of fun and serious swimming
A great mix of fun and serious swimming with expert guides on offer in stunningly beautiful surroundings. Thank You.
Sarah VC, August 2012, UK
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Super Trip!
A super swimtrek in a beautiful country,with great guides.Location was stunning, people so friendly and great cheap food and loads of it!
Jacqui A, Sept 2010, UK
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Totally reassuring and thoroughly professional
The guides were fantastic: totally reassuring and thoroughly professional and the location was stunning with some of the very best swims I have ever experienced. The three days were jam-packed, but I never felt tired as we were enjoying the swims and trips so much. Thanks to all at Swimtrek, the guides and the local guides who made the holiday my highlight of 2012.
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Great Mountain Scenery
These lakes were set into the most beautiful mountain range scenery - it was an incredible experience to swim in them.
Anna G, August 2010, UK
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Exceeded Expectations
It exceeded my expectations by far; excellent swimming in an amazing location, lovely hotel, good company.... well done Swimtrek!
Naomi T, August 2010, UK
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Amazing
Hands down, one of the best things I have ever done!
John S, Sept 2010, UK
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Stunning Country
Slovenia is a stunning country and we felt that we saw the best of it on Swimtrek
Claire L.Q., Sept 2010, UK
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Another brilliant trip
"Another brilliant trip, thanks swimtrek, spectacular scenery, great swimming locations, first class guides, definitely recommend this Slovenia trip"
Lucy B, July 2011, UK
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I'm still high on endorphins!
"I'm new to open water swimming, so the swims were unlike anything I'd done before. The Lake Bled swim dispatched the last of my apprehensions (it was SO beautiful) and showed me I could swim long distance, the river swim in the Soca was a great experience and showed me I could tolerate cold, and the 4 km Bohinj swim combined these elements-I had never expected to be able to get through the challenge of 4 km in a lake. All in all, it was thoroughly exhilarating, wonderfully sociable and hugely satisfying - you can probably tell I'm still high on endorphins!"
Mark A, July 2011
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 Swim to the 17th Century Church on Bled Island in Lake Bled.
Swim the 4km length of Lake Bohinj Slovenia largest lake.
Swim down the glacial fed Soca river.
Walk along stunning trails through Triglav National Park to dip in the Kazjak waterfall.
Enjoy the contrasting lakeside activities and spectacles while walking around Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj
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6
Accommodation
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64
Hotel Jezero
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Hotel Jezero is the pearl of Bohinj located on the banks of its picturesque lake. Shadowed by the Julian Alps this hotel is the perfect base for your weekend of walking and swimming as you can relax back on the hotel deck overlooking the lake or continue your activity in the hotel pool or gym.
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1
Guides
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185
Maureen Corcoran
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Maureen grew up in rural South Island in New Zealand. Always interested in sports and travel, she has spent the last 12 years away from her homeland working mostly in Australia and Europe, and along the way gained qualifications and experience in teaching swimming and scuba diving.
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Maureen grew up in rural South Island in New Zealand. Always interested in sports and travel, she has spent the last 12 years away from her homeland working mostly in Australia and Europe, and along the way gained qualifications and experience in teaching swimming and scuba diving.
She has been with the SwimTrek team for more than two years and is now one of our most experienced guides and coaches for the Croatian swim tour programs.
She also dived in Croatia, so knows the Adriatic waters from both the surface and below. Maureen has also worked with SwimTrek in Slovenia, and now has a special place in her heart for Lake Bled. A more enthusiastic and bubbly individual you would be hard to find, and she adds value to any SwimTrek experience.
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