Lake Kreda

Lake Kreda in the Radovna valley is one of those places locals call “our secret”. A former chalk quarry filled with crystal-clear water fed by a mountain stream, the little lake glows in a shade of emerald so unreal that photos look edited — they aren’t.

The road through the Radovna valley brings you there in 15 minutes from Bled (past Vintgar); from the roadside car park it’s just a few minutes’ easy walk to the shore. The banks are grass and pebbles, and the water stays refreshingly cold even in summer — the Radovna is a glacial river, so swimming here is an adventure for the brave and a reward for the overheated.

Kreda makes a perfect stop on a cycling tour of the Radovna valley or after visiting Vintgar Gorge. Come in the morning or towards evening — on midsummer afternoons the secret isn’t quite a secret anymore.