From Lake Bled, we set off towards Tolmin Gorges. Tolmin Gorges (Tolminska Korita) is a beautiful canyon in western Slovenia near the Italian border. The distance from Lake Bled to Tolmin Gorges was about 110km, and the journey took us through the Julian Alps, so we spent some time stopping and admiring the scenery. We knew Slovenia had beautiful mountains, but somehow their beauty still surprised us. The Julian Alps are truly majestic, with mountains one after another, and the roads were delightful, winding through the mountains. From the Julian Alps, we felt that we wanted to come back here; the mountain villages are charming, and the scenery is stunning. Naturally, Slovenia also has ski resorts, so it would be wonderful to come skiing in the winter. One can only imagine how beautiful it is here in the winter when the mountains are covered in snow.
Upon arriving, there were large parking lots some distance before the canyon, but we decided to continue closer to the entrance because Google Maps showed that there was another parking lot there. Near the main entrance, there was indeed a small parking lot that cost 3 €/ hour. The parking lot was very small, so if it’s crowded, especially during peak season, it might not be advisable to try unless you’re one of the first in the morning. We were here at the end of August and beginning of September, so the peak tourist season was already over. Fortunately, there were only a few cars besides ours, so it wasn’t a problem. The parking fee could be paid at the machine with a card. The larger parking lot we passed earlier was, to our understanding, free, and shuttle buses run from there to the main entrance, especially during peak season.
Beautiful canyon formations and turquoise water
The trail to the canyon started right next to the parking lot where we left our car, and there was a friendly lady selling tickets. Tickets cost 6 € per adult, and she also gave us tips for exploring the area and a map of the area.
The trail was a little over two kilometers long, with some elevation changes. According to comments, some people hike the trail in just an hour, but it took us a couple of hours because we admired and took pictures leisurely; we didn’t have anywhere to rush to. The place is really beautiful, so we recommend allocating at least two hours.
Right at the beginning of the trail, you descend towards the bottom of the canyon. The trail winds between stunning moss-covered rock walls, with a turquoise river flowing in the middle. Over the years, the water has beautifully shaped the rocks.
There are some elevation changes, but the trails are easy to walk on, and you can only walk on the marked trails as this is a nature reserve. At the end of the trail, you return to the main entrance along a small road towards the parking lot. On the way back, the trail passes Devil’s Bridge, which crosses the canyon at a height of about sixty meters. From here, there is a magnificent view of the canyon, and the height feels a bit daunting. We absolutely recommend this place, and it’s worth walking the entire trail without skipping any part.
Slovenia truly impressed us, and it seems to be a dream destination for nature lovers like us. Slovenia has everything from mountains to stunning river landscapes, and Tolmin Gorges is just a small piece of Triglav National Park. Slovenia definitely made it onto our list for a proper visit in the future.
From Slovenia, we headed towards Italy, which we’ll talk about in the next post.
