Hiking Around the ENTIRE Lake Bohinj – All You Need To Know

The walk around the entire Bohinj lake (12 km) can be finished in about three to four hours. But to get to know and enjoy the area better, our plan was to take it gradually.

Visited & walked by Let’s go Slovenia in March 2021

**Here’s a quick MAP of the Lake Bohinj area made by Sunrose 7.**

DAY 1 – HIKING FROM RIBČEV LAZ TO UKANC

Arriving on a direct bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bohinj takes just under two hours. You can either get off at the stop called Ribčev Laz, or proceed to Ukanc which is the last stop. It all depends where from you want to start your lake hike.

We got off at Ribčev Laz – a village where the iconic and historic Church of St. John the Baptist is located. The vast Lake Bohinj is just in front of it.

It is said that this sight is one of the most photographed ones in Slovenia, which makes the arrival to Lake Bohinj very SPECIAL!

**The well-known goldhorn statue of Slovenia’s Lake Bohinj.**

From Ribčev Laz to Ukanc there is a footpath through the edge of a forest, offering some beautiful views of Bohinj lake along the way.

The path from Ribčev Laz to Ukanc is undemanding, safe and suitable for all generations, it is also ideal for the entire family. It feels really cool to get to see the lake across the road, make some scenic stops and just take in the grand moments.
It takes a bit over one hour to make it to Ukanc on foot.

In the summer, you can also jump into the lake or paddle on it – but our visit was made on the last day of winter/first days of spring, therefore no water activities for us (except throwing stones in the lake).

**Another beautiful church near the lake – the church of St. Duh.**

After few photo stops and snacks we made it to Ukanc, which was our destination for the first day.

From here you can also proceed to Vogel skiing resort.

The path can be extended to the Savica waterfall, this prolongs a hike trip for about another hour. But we had to find the cottage (pre-arranged with friends) where we would be staying, so our day’s hike ended in Ukanc.

DAY 2 – EXPLORING AND ENJOYING UKANC

The name Ukanc is a fused dialect form of the prepositional phrase v konec ‘to/at the end’, referring to its location at the end of the Bohinj Basin.

We can confirm that staying here feels like being at the end of the world – in a positive sense of the phrase. Not only because of the global pandemic and consequently not many people visiting or staying here. Here, the presence of the Mother Nature is just overwhelming. After all, you are in the Triglav National Park, where she comes first – whether humans like it or not.

Being here means showing and practising the ‘humble side’ in regards to the nature.
People come here to enjoy peace and quiet, the breath-taking views over the Julian Alps and the powers of the eternal waters. The only sounds here are the sounds of the earth and nature.
BUT BE CAREFUL!
After much rain often walking around Lake Bohinj is NOT possible due to lots of mud, fallen tree branches and also loud waterfalls above the north lakeside. Make sure to inform your self thoroughly, use proper equipment and follow the guidelines for hiking in the Julian Alps.

To make your planning easier, you can also use the OUTDOOR ACTIVE application.

DAY 3 – FROM UKANC back TO RIBČEV LAZ – FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE (via Stara Fužina)

After our two-night stay in Ukanc, we headed back to Ribčev Laz, following the path through the woods on the opposite side of the lake (from the one we came from).

Hiking back to Ribčev Laz on this side of the lake takes approximately 1 hour and a half. The path might be a little more demanding, due to some smaller slopes at the beginning.

The views of the lake are very eye-pleasing, as well. There are benches in case you want to pause a little and enjoy the serene atmosphere.

Before making it to Ribčev Laz, you can choose to pass the picturesque old village of Stara Fužina, or even visit the near Mostnica Gorge.

In fact, we kindly recommend you to do both!

Lake Bohinj is the biggest permanent natural lake in Slovenia. It is 4.2 km (2.6 mi) long and 1 km (0.62 mi) at its maximum width. It is a glacial lake dammed by a moraine. The largest of the streams that flow into the lake, the Savica (‘little Sava’), is fed from Črno jezero (Black Lake), the lowest-lying lake in the Triglav Lakes Valley. (Source: Wikipedia)