About The Photographer
Tibor Lelkes is a passionate landscape and nature photographer from the beautiful, historic city of Dordrecht in the Western Netherlands. He had an interest in photography since he was a child, but his real passion for photography started when he bought his first DSLR camera in 2010.
Concerning Tibor’s approach to photography he likes to consider himself a storyteller. His photos are the result of technical skills, creativity and diligence, but most of all, unconditional love for nature and landscapes. Tibor’s images are authentic, they are a faithful representation of the reality at the moment of the photo shooting, prior all the obvious adjustments which are essential to the optimization of the image. When Tibor is on location he tries to relax in the environment and immerse himself in the surroundings. He is then able to absorb the intricate details, subtle light and form of the landscape.
Tibor has spent time travelling and photographing throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America. Tibor is out and about as often as possible looking for new compositions, view points and subject matter to photograph while continually refining and developing his photographic techniques. His passion and awareness of the outdoors and nature shines through in his images. Tibor’s passion is hiking in the mountains. But he doesn’t travel just to make photos. He just loves being in the mountains and hike and trek everywhere. It gives him the chance to explore places that normally would be inaccessible. And it gives him the feeling he’s out in the wilderness and on his own.
One of Tibor’s all time favourite trips was the solo trekking in the Triglav National Park. He was mesmerized by the beauty of nature that surrounded him. Triglav National Park encompasses some of the most breathtakingly beautiful terrain of the Julian Alps, including Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak and a national symbol. It is the only national park in Slovenia, but it also happens to be one of Europe’s largest, covering more than four percent of the country’s total land area. The calmness of the mountains, the greenness of the valleys, the serenity of the lakes, and the magnificent power of the waterfalls gave Tibor unforgettable memories. He took some really beautiful photos exploring the park’s breathtaking landscape, and he was kind enough to share them with us here at Travel Slovenia.
For those interested in Tibor’s work, you can check it out on his Flickr page by clicking here!
Photo Gallery
A beautiful gallery containing 50 gorgeous landscape photos of the Triglav National Park by Tibor Lelkes.
Triglav Lakes Valley, also known as the Seven Lakes Valley (although there are ten and not seven lakes in the valley), is a very picturesque valley in the heart of the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park below the Ticarica and Zelnarica mountains. It is a very popular destination for hikers and it often serves as a first stop for those who want to climb Slovenia’s highest peak – Mount Triglav. There are several trails to the valley, including the one from Lake Bohinj which takes a couple of hours.
This is the Koca Pri Triglavskih Jezerih, a mountain lodge nestled quietly in the Triglav Lakes Valley at an elevation of 1,685 meters (5,528 feet). It’s located at the valley’s southern edge at the Double Lake.
Double Lake or Dvojno Jezero as it s called in Slovenian is one of the lakes in the Triglav Lakes Valley and comprises two interconnected lakes at an elevation of 1,676 m (5,499 feet).
Black Lake is the lowest-lying lake in the Triglav Lakes Valley. It lies at an elevation of 1,319 meters (4,327 feet). Its water is actually crystal clear, but all the organic wastes of plants and animals gather at the lake bottom and create a thick layer of silt which gives the lake a typical black colour.
Kidney Lake or Jezero V Ledvicah as it s called in Slovenian is the largest and deepest of the lakes in the Triglav Lakes valley. It was given that name for its shape of a human kidney. It is 300 meters long, 120 meters wide and up to 15 meters deep and lies 1,838 meters (6,030 feet) above sea level. The vegetation in the lake is richer due to the abundance of water.
Brown Lake or Rjavo Jezero as it s called in Slovenian lies in the Triglav Lakes Valley at an elevation of 1,980 meters (6,496 feet). The surface area of the lake varies significantly. In spring, the lake reaches a length of 150 meters and a width of 100 meters, with a maximum depth of about 10 meters. In the summer, a 3-metre-wide brown belt appears around the reduced lake, from which it gets its name.
A hiking path in the Triglav National Park above the Tamar Valley, a beautiful glacial valley which can be accessed by car from the village of Ratece 6 kilometres away.
The Sleme plateau is a breathtaking grassy viewpoint below the north face of Mount Mala Mojstrovka, close to the Vrsic mountain pass. The highest point of the plateau is the 1,909-metre-high (6,263 feet) Slemenova Spica mountain. The area is a part of nature reserve called Mala Pisnica, Sleme Nad Tamarjem And Slemenova Spica, a specially protected part of the Triglav National Park.
With an elevation of 2,645 meters (8,677 feet), Mount Jalovec is the sixth-highest peak in Slovenia. It stands between the Alpine valleys of Tamar, Koritnica, and Trenta.
The Mojstrovka is a three-peaked mountain in the Julian Alps. The lowest peak is called Mala Mojstrovka (2,332 meters (7,650 feet); Small Mojstrovka in English), the highest peak is called Velika Mojstrovka (2,366 meters (7,762 feet); Great Mojstrovka in English) and the third peak is called Zadnja Mojstrovka (2,354 meters (7,723 feet); Last Mojstrovka in English). It’s easily accessible from the Vrsic mountain pass.
Lake Krn is situated at an elevation of 1,391 meters (4,563 feet) under the 2,244-metre-high (7,362 feet) Krn mountain and is 400 meters long, 150 meters wide and up to 18 metres deep. There are actually 3 lakes around Mount Krn, but this one is the most popular among hikers.
View of the Julian Alps from The Triglav Lodge At Kredarica which is the highest, largest and most frequented mountain hut in Slovenia at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet).
Trzaska Koca Na Dolicu, or the Dolic mountain hut as it is also known, stands at an elevation of 2,151 meters (7,057 feet) on the Dolic saddle, which separates two magnificent mountains, Mt. Triglav and Mt. Kanjavec, offering a wonderful view of the mountain ridges surrounding the Trenta valley. Due to its location at this important intersection of mountain trails, the hut is very popular and can accommodate up to 80 hikers.
The rocky Hribarice Plateau is located at an elevation of 2,358 meters (7,736 feet).
The mountain hut Pogacnikov Dom Na Kriskih Podih is located at the very edge of the Kriski Podi plateau at an elevation of 2,050 meters (6,725 feet). There’s a wonderful view of the Trenta Valley from in front of the hut.
The Upper Kriz Lake or Gornje Krisko Jezero as it is called in Slovenian is the highest lake in Slovenia at an elevation of 2,154 meters (7,067 feet). It is 110 meters long, up to 10 metres deep and is one of the most popular destinations among hikers in the Julian Alps due to its beautiful green-blue color.
Hunted almost to extinction in the early 19th century, the alpine ibex is now frequently sighted in the most rocky regions of the Julian Alps, especially in the Triglav National Park.
The statue of Goldenhorn or Zlatorog as it is called in Slovene stands on a boulder by Lake Jasna, a picturesque alpine lake that marks the beginning of the Triglav National Park, located only 2 kilometres from the village of Kranjska Gora in the far northwestern corner of Slovenia.
Alpine marmots are large, diurnal, burrow-dwelling rodents inhabiting high alpine meadows in the Triglav National Park. This species lives in social groups of 2 up to 20 related individuals and spends half of the year hibernating underground.
The Alpine chamois is native to the Julian Alps and the Triglav National Park and has a large population. It’s quite difficult to approach in the wild. Pretty shy, he runs away at the slightest unusual noise.
A nice view of the Velo Polje plateau at an elevation of 1,680 meters (5,511 feet), surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Julian Alps, including Mount Triglav, the highest in Slovenia that rises 2,864 meters (9,393 feet).
Located in the heart of the Triglav National Park at an elevation of 1,817 meters (5,961 feet), Vodnikov Dom is one of the favourite mountain huts for those hiking further on to Mt. Triglav. It is only about 3 more hours to the very top of Mt. Triglav from the Vodnik hut.
The Russian Chapel on the Vrsic Pass or Ruska Kapelica Na Vrsicu as it is called in Slovenian is a beautiful wooden Russian Orthodox chapel located on the northern side of the Vrsic mountain pass, at around 1,100 meters (3,608 feet) approaching from Kranjska Gora. It marks the spot where more than 300 Russian prisoners of war, who were building the road over the Vrsic during World War I, perished in an avalanche in March 1916. The interior is usually closed and the chapel is not open to the public.
The golden morning light at sunrise in the Julian Alps is something really special. Get up early, hike to a nice spot and enjoy.
An elevated view of Lake Bohinj after a late-afternoon storm at sunset.
The Vrata Valley extends from the Mojstrana village all the way to the north face of Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain. Largely uninhabited, it’s considered one of Slovenia’s most beautiful valleys.
The Pericnik waterfall is a delightful waterfall located in the gorgeous mountain valley of Vrata, a few minutes drive from the village of Mojstrana. It consists of two cascades, the larger 52 meters in height, while the smaller is 16 meters high. Pericnik isn’t Slovenia’s largest waterfall (that honour belongs to the Boka waterfall in the Soca Valley), but it is certainly one of the most spectacular. It’s also one of only a handful of waterfalls in Europe with a trail that enables people to walk behind it. As long as they don’t mind getting wet from a spray of water, visitors can experience the power of cascading water up close.
Mojstrana a lovely small alpine village with a population of just under 1,200 situated on the northern tip of the Triglav National Park in northwestern Slovenia.
A pretty spectacular elevated view of the Trenta Valley, a beautiful alpine valley nestled in the very heart of the Triglav National Park.
The source of Soca River is located high up in Trenta Valley at an elevation of 876 metres (2,874 feet). There’s a short trail leading to the source from the Koca Pri Izviru Soce mountain hut which is right next to the road. The source itself lies deep in a cave and you have to hold onto chains to get close enough to see the crystal clear pool.
The beautiful Soca river at its beginnings in the Trenta Valley.
The beautifully carved Great Soca Gorge is on the intersection of Trenta and Lepena alpine valleys. It’s 750 long, just a few metres wide and up to 15 meters deep. It boasts mysterious emerald pools. The water is the most beautiful shade of blue-green and is quite literally drinkable it’s so pure.
The Lepena valley is an offshoot of the Soca Valley and is well worth exploring.
The Lepena valley is best known for a natural marvel hiding away just minutes from the main road in the shape of a gorgeous waterfall cascading down the rocks into a clear emerald green pool beneath. Hidden in the forest, the waterfall receives few visitors but is a beautiful place to relax by the water on a nice sunny summer day.
The Radovna Valley or Dolina Radovne as it is called in Slovenian is an alpine valley in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is included in Triglav National Park in its entirety. The valley is connected by a road via the Kosmac Pass to the north with the nearby village of Mojstrana and a road leads down the valley towards Bled.
Lake Kreda is a man-made lake in the Radovna Valley. It got its name from the Slovenian word ‘kreda’ meaning chalk which was mined in the area until 1985. The digging created a basin, which was gradually filled with water by locals and the lake appeared. The mining ceased because it was no longer profitable and due to conservation concerns (the area is inside the Triglav National Park), but the lake remained and is now occasionally used by locals as a recreation site. The lake and its surrounding wetlands are also a very important habitat for amphibians, such as the common frog and the common toad.
Summer rural scenery with a herd of cows grazing on a large green meadow where the Krma and Kot valleys join with the Radovna valley.
The Bohinj valley offers a large number of greenery which is full of green meadows.
Ukanc is a small scattered village in the Triglav National Park located at the west end of Lake Bohinj at the end of the Bohinj valley, where mountain walls rise on three sides, closed in by Mount Vogel (1,922 meters or 6,306 feet), Little Peak (Mali vrh, 1,642 meters or 5,387 feet), Mount Persivec (1,761 meters or 5,778 feet), and the Komarca Cliff (1,457 meters or 4,780 feet).
Lake Bohinj is Slovenia’s largest natural lake, measuring 4,350 meters in length with a depth of up to 45 meters. In the summer, the sun warms the frigid lake temperature to 22 degrees Celsius, which is warm enough for a refreshing swim. The water in the lake is crystal clear and impeccably clean; in fact, so clean that the lake water is potable in the non-summer seasons.
On the south side of Lake Bohinj stands the slender, dark bronze statue of the Golden Horn or Zlatorog as it is called in Slovenian, the magical stag believed to guard the ridges around the lake. In the glint of the afternoon light, it almost looks real.
The postcard-worthy Church of St. John the Baptist in Bohinj dates back at least 700 years and is what every medieval church should be: small, surrounded by beautiful nature, and with a truly gorgeous interior full of exquisite frescoes.
Nestled above Lake Bohinj and surrounded by rocky peaks of the Julian Alps, the Savica is probably the most popular waterfall in Slovenia. It is fed by a stream that flows down from the Triglav Lakes Valley high above Savica. The main stream falls 78 meters, while the second one experiences a 25-meter drop. Both streams end up in a deep pool that appears to be turquoise or dark green because of the surrounding trees.
The crystal-clear emerald-green Savica stream flows into Lake Bohinj in Ukanc and is a must see when visiting the Bohinj area.
The Mostnica Waterfall is a lovely destination for a walk when in Bohinj. The walk to the waterfall takes in the Mostnica Gorge in the Voje valley. It is a beautiful quiet walk to it and is not too busy even in the peak of summer.
The stunning Mostnica Gorge runs for about two km (each way), can be up to 20 metres deep and only one metre wide, and has beautiful views, trees and ferns. It easily accessed by the moderately fit and is well worth the visit if you’re in the Lake Bohinj area.
Ant hills are familiar sights in the Triglav National Park. As ants dig their long and winding tunnels beneath the ground, the excess dirt and debris is carried out and placed near the colony entrance, creating the ant hill. The larger the ant hill, the more extensive the colony tunnels underneath.
Vintgar Gorge is a 1.6-kilometre (1-mile) long gorge located in the Triglav National Park. The gorge has been carved out by the emerald green Radovna River. The boardwalks that are erected along the Radovna River are what make this gorge visit so memorable.
The rapids of the Radovna River at the Vintgar Gorge culminate at the northern end of the gorge and cascade off a 16 metre high drop to form the beautiful Sum Waterfall.
Lake Bled is located just outside of the Triglav National Park and serves as an entry point to the park.
Tibor Lelkes, the amazing photographer behind all the photos on this page, posing in front of the Aljaz Tower, a remarkable cultural monument and unique symbol of Slovenia that stands 2,864 metres (9,396 feet) above sea level at the top of Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia.
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