Lake Jasna is situated only 10-15 minutes of walk from Kranjska Gora. It is very popular among tourists in the summer.
The path from Kranjska Gora leads by the road. But cross the road by the Best Western Hotel (map HERE), where you can see the outdoor workout park. Your walk will be much nicer because you’ll walk by the river Pišnica.
Lake Jasna is crowded with people on a beautiful summer day. The mountains above it create a magnificent image suited for an Alpine postcard.
Not a lot of people actually swim, most of them just dip in and get out because the temperature is somewhere around 17°C. As the outer temperature was around 25°C when we were there, we didn’t need a refreshement that badly (except for coffee).
Lake Jasna is also a station on your hiking way to or from Vršič. It’s a beautiful place to spend a hot afternoon after you’ve had some more serious hiking/mountaineering/cycling activities in the morning.
Vršič (1611 m) is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia with the road passing through. It’s great for tourists who are not serious hikers because you can reach it by bus (and get back the same way). See the timetable HERE.
The nature and views are amazing, especially given the fact you didn’t invest much effort into coming.
There’s two mountaineers lodges here where you can drink your morning coffee or eat a breakfast – Tičarjev dom and Poštarski dom (I’m not sure if Poštarski serves food).
After you’ve enjoyed the nature, perhaps ate something, it’s time to get back. There’s two ways – to wait for a bus or by foot. Trail to Kranjska gora is around 9 km long and leads downhill all the way. You should have proper shoes because one part of the trail is a little rough, with tree roots and stones below your feet.
You should definitely go by foot. The nature is really amazing. The trail leads by the Poštarski dom mountaineer lodge, through a magnificent Alpine forest and one valley.
That’s the first half of the way; the second half is walking on the road which isn’t as pretty, but serves it’s purpose. There you’ll get to Russian chapel (Ruska kapelica), built by Russian war prisoners in WW1 for their comrades who lost lives building the road which was of strategic importance.
Grave of the unkown Russian soldier.
The way down leads by the extraordinary beautiful lake Jasna, which I recommend you visit separately.
Nine kilometers isn’t much if you’re used to hiking downhill/uphill. If you’re not, you could ‘feel’ your legs for the next day or two.
Peričnik is a place like from a fairy tale. Located in Triglav National Park in Slovenia, it’s easily accessible by a tourist bus from Kranjska Gora or Mojstrana. Or by car, but if you’re coming in summer it would be good to use public transport as they’re trying to decrease the traffic.
To get to it you’ll have to climb the steep path for around 10 minutes and then – wow! – there’s Spodnji (Lower) Peričnik waterfall.
There’s no crowds there – you can photograph without stress and photobombing. Just watch your equipement because the waterdrops are everywhere. When you start walking below the waterfall, it will drip on you from the surrounding rocks.
Then you can climb up to Zgornji (Upper) Peričnik which is equally spectacular. Local authorities call for caution because the path can be slippery (it wasn’t for us). We had the luck of enjoying it all alone.
From Peričnik, there’s a 45 minutes walk to Vrata glacial valley where Aljažev mountaineers lodge (Aljažev dom) is. If you choose the hikers path and not the road, you’ll pass by very interesting rock formations. And there’s loads and loads of mushrooms! (Just don’t pick them.)
I strongly recommend walking on hikers path as you’ll see these very interesting rock formations; and it’s much prettier than the road.
Peričnik waterfall is definitely a great place for a half day’s trip. Enjoy the beauty of nature and eat something comforting in Aljažev dom.
Croatia’s coast is spectacular. One of the most beautiful areas on it is Makarska riviera beacuse it’s situated between Biokovo mountain and the Adriatic sea.
It’s one of the reasons (crystal clear water ands lots of sun being another) why Makarska, Brela, Tučepi and surrounding places are so popular with tourists. In the middle of the summer beaches here will be packed with them.
We were lucky to take a look at them after the period of bad weather, when there were no crowds.
Tučepi beachEvening in BrelaEarly morning in Brela when the sun shines on BiokovoSunset in BrelaLonely fishermanHotel Sentido Berulia***** infinity poolHotel Jadran Tučepi*****, swim up apartments have their own poolMakarskaMakarska as seen from the ferry to Sumartin on Brač
We also visited Starigrad Paklenica, Omiš and Brač island. Starigrad is known for its National park Paklenica and is very popular with British and active tourists.
Paklenica national park as seen from afar
Omiš is a beautiful little town with its pirate history and some incredible lookouts from which you can see the canyon of river Cetina where it connects with the sea. The ones from Gata and by Mila Gojsalić statue are incredible.
Mila Gojsalić lookout – she’s a folk hero of Poljička republika, a peasant state that existed in this area. The statue was made by famous Ivan MeštrovićOmiš from the Gata lookout with Cetina flowing into the Adriatic seaCetina river
Brač is best known for Zlatni rat beach in Bol. Bol is a cute town with a bunch of things to do, especially if you’re an active tourist. Supetar is the largest town on the north of the island and is connected to Split by ferry.
My favorite place was Vidova gora (780m), the highest peak of Adriatic islands. You can get there by car or by bike, whichever you prefer and have time to. If you’re not much of a cyclist but would like a full experience, e-bikes can be rented in Bol.
Zlatni rat beach in Bol; photo was taken from Vidova gora, the highest peak of Adriatic islandsZlatni rat beach in Bol and island Hvar from Vidova goraSupetar is so inviting!
Brijuni are a national park in Croatia. It’s a group of islands of which Veliki Brijun is the largest and most interesting. You can go there from Fažana by boat and then either travel the island by tourist ‘train’ or by bike. We did the latter and I’d recommend it to anyone. The nature, the historical and cultural heritage is truly amazing.
Fažana is a beautiful little town in Istria (Croatia). This charming place is located across from Brijuni national park, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.
Grandma hid a key to her house here.
‘Zastava’ car. That’s the same manufacterer that produced ‘Yugo’.
The church of St. Elisha is located in the field on the edge of Fažana. It was built on the ruins of a late-Roman village mansion in the second half of the 6th century. The original architectural elements can still be seen on it today. In front of the church, in 1956, family tombs were discovered in the rock. Entrepreneurial locals have put a column with the speaker that works on solar energy – press the button and it starts playing music.
Every Saturday and Sunday exactly at noon, St. Mark’s Square in Zagreb’s Upper Town is the venue for the exchange of the guard of the honorary company of the Cravat Regiment. The Cravat Regiment was part of the Croatian light cavalry in the 17th century.
Its biggest claim to fame was its uniform, especially the distinctive scarves its soldiers wore around their necks, which is where the cravat got its name from. The knotted scarf quickly became a popular fashion accessory, and was already then known under the ethnic name of Croat people, whom the Germans called Krobatten, and the French referred to as Cravates. When the Croatian Royal Cravates regiment was established within the French Royal Army in 1664, the cravat officially obtained its seal of originality.
If you’re visiting Zagreb, be sure to be at St. Mark’s Square at noon – you’ll see the most beautiful church roof, hear the old cannon in the nearby Lotršćak Tower fire to mark noon and see this spectacular event.
St. Mark’s Square
Here comes the Guard
Alignment
Those are some long sabres
Notice the beautiful commander’s horse on the left
The exchange is over. The whole event lasts about 20 minutes.
We’ve spent our summer vacation in Ždrelac on the Pašman island (Croatia). A beautiful place for those who like peace and quiet, far away from the hordes of tourists.
Ferry guy
Ždrelac from above, you can see the bridge and the island of Ugljan in the background
You get to Pašman by ferry from either Biograd or Zadar. If you take the latter, you’ll land in Preko, on the neighboring Ugljan island, which is connected to Pašman by bridge. And Ždrelac is situated on both sides of the bridge. It’s a small place with one or two shops, restaurants and cafes. Ideal for unstressful vacation. We had a room on the side of the village which looks towards an open sea and the islands Kornati, Iž, Dugi Otok (Long Island)… The beach is rocky, the sea crystal clear and there’s not a lot of people – all which we love.
Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Birds II: Fisherman fights back’
The beast. Ždrelac is fantastic for dog owners.
Just a short walk from our room
This guy’s got the best view ever
On the hill above Ždrelac. Only 15-20 minutes of walk from our room, convincing myself that ‘this is a path but it just looks like it isn’t because no one passes through here’ and ‘yes, you did hear there are no poisonous snakes and spiders on Pašman’
Fishing boat
My wife, the love of my life (notice the rhyme)
In front of the church in Ždrelac
Papilio machaon, a protected species of butterflies
If you want more than a walk in the nature and a dip in the sea, and you’ve got a car, you can visit all places on Pašman and Ugljan in just a few hours. I especially recommend drinking coffee or eating calamari in Kukljica on Ugljan; it’s a beautiful small town. Also, you have to visit Ćokovac monastery near Tkon on Pašman. It’s open from 4 do 7 PM (except on Sundays) and when you hear (but not see) priests choir sing Gregorian style somewhere in the depths of the monastery, you’ll know why you had to come there (I don’t have any photos of it, sorry).
Lighthouse in Kukljica
Walking around Kukljica
Old house in Kukljica
We had a great time and I would really love to visit Pašman again.
Fotke 