Hostel Vili Bistrica

A lush valley in the Julian Alps, Bohinj is a paradise for nature-lovers. It's home to Slovenia's highest mountain (Mount Triglav), and parts of Triglav National Park. Its verdant meadows, glimmering glacial lakes and thick forest are sprinkled through with pretty villages and wooden farmhouses. Compared to famous Lake Bled, it's further off the beaten track and therefore more peaceful. In summer, it's a hotspot for adventure sports like rock climbing and white-water rafting, and in winter a thick layer of snow makes it a perfect skiing destination.

You can stay in a spacious Bohinj hostel on the shores of Lake Bohinj, rustic accommodation (with a wood-fired pizzeria) in a tranquil village, or quaint alpine apartments close to hiking trails and the cable car. Most have free Wi-Fi, and many provide free breakfast. You'll find plenty of in-house bars and restaurants to chill out in, or you can take part in adventure activities like rafting, tandem paragliding or caving. A few Bohinj hostels even have kayaks, mountain bikes and ski equipment for hire.

Bohinj has two main regions, the Upper and Lower Valleys, with the Triglav mountain range in between. You'll find lots of small towns scattered through the area, plus alpine pastures and mountain hiking trails. In the Upper Bohinj Valley, Stara Fužina has a medieval church and the Alpine Dairy Museum. The village of Studor is known for its double hayracks, which are part of traditional Slovenian culture, while the forested karst plateau of Pokljuka has farmsteads where cows and goats graze.

There's plenty to see and do in Bohinj: whiz up in a fast cable car to Vogel Ski Centre for spectacular views year-round, plus hiking or winter sports (such as skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing) at the top. In the valley, glassy Lake Bohinj is perfect for swimming or exploring in a kayak. Along the lakeside, you'll find medieval frescoes and a picture-perfect Baroque tower at the Church of St John the Baptist. Another top spot is Savica Waterfall, which tumbles down rocky cliffs into a deep green pool.

The closest airport is Ljubljana Airport, and from there you can take a bus into the city centre, and then another bus to Lake Bohinj (around 3 hours total journey – you'll normally need to change again at Bled). You can also travel by train to Bohinjska Bistrica (6km from the lake), and then take a local bus or taxi to your destination. Once you've arrived into Bohinj, you can get around on buses and shuttles, or hire a bike.