LAKE BLED - Croatia and Slovenia - page 889

By Boat: For information on renting your own boat, see “Boating” on here . For details
on riding the characteristic pletna boats, see listing for “The Island” ( here ) .
By Private Plane: If you have perfect weather and deep pockets, there's no more thrill-
ing way to experience Slovenia's high-mountain scenery than from a small propeller plane
soaring over the peaks. Flights depart from a grass airstrip near the village of Lesce, a
10-minute drive or taxi ride from Bled. Expensive...but unforgettable (€90 for 15-minute
hop over Lake Bled only, €150 for 30-minute flight that also buzzes Lake Bohinj, €210 for
deluxe 45-minute version around the summit of Triglav, arrange at least a day in advance,
tel. [phone], www.alc-lesce.si , [e-mail] ).
Tours at Lake Bled
Local Guides
Tina Hiti and Sašo Golub, an energetic young couple, are both excellent guides who enjoy
sharing the town and region they love with American visitors. Hiring one of them can add
immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of Bled and the surrounding area (€45
for2-hourtourofBled,arrangeseveraldaysinadvance, [e-mail] , Tina'smo-
bile 040-166-554, Sašo's mobile [phone], www.pg-slovenia.com ) . Tina and Sašo are
especially handy for side-tripping into the countryside if you don't want to drive yourself.
I've spent great days with both of them and was thankful they were behind the wheel. Their
most popular trip is a day in the Julian Alps (€190 round-trip from Bled, €230 to pick up
or drop off in Ljubljana, extra charge for 8 or more people). They also offer many other
options, including all-day shore excursions from the cruise port in Koper (€300 for a day
visiting Ljubljana and Bled, up to 3 people) and trips in the Slovenian countryside to re-
search your roots (price depends on distance). As Tina and Sašo both lead tours for me in
Europe—and have two young kids—they may send you off with a well-trained substitute.
Tina's father Gorazd , a former Yugoslav Olympian in ice hockey, brings the older gener-
ation's perspective to the trip; Ervin provides a younger view; and Petra is well-versed in
mountain herbs.
Excursions
To hit several far-flung day-trip destinations in one go, consider a package tour from Bled.
Destinations range from Ljubljana and the Karst region to the Austrian Lakes to Venice.
For example, an all-day Julian Alps trip to the Vrši č Pass and So č a Valley runs about €40
per person (sold by various agencies, including Kompas Bled). This tour is handy, but two
people can rent a car for the day for about the same price and do it at their own pace using
the self-guided driving tour in the next chapter.