We’ll start with the obvious one. Lake Bled is so conventionally
beautiful – dense, Yves Klein-blue skies, pale waters and frothy,
cloudlike forests – that it feels like the product of an Instagram
algorithm. It’s on the Interrail route, so many people swing by in
passing en route to Krakow or Ljubljana, but it’s a worthy
destination in itself. Make sure to check out nearby Vintgar Gorge
too. Those with a fear of heights might be a little unsteady on the
rickety old boards that snake through this ravine but the lustrous
waterfall at the end is the stuff of Disney films.

Just a half-hour drive from Lake Bled sits Lake Bohinj, Bled’s
larger but less-visited sibling. While Bled has become a real
fixture for nature tourism in recent years, Bohinj is a little less
glamorous. Still, there are plenty of walking and cycling routes to
explore (try Mostnica Gorge for starters) as well as a thread of
humble hamlets which line the lakeside, each with their own poky
but endearing restaurants. Those really hankering for the rustic
lifestyle should stop in at the Alpine Dairy Farming Museum.

It’s name might translate as “black lake” but, like most glacial
lakes, Crno Jezero is vehemently powder blue. A shallower stretch
of water bisects this pool in Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park,
so in the height of summer, it actually becomes two separate lakes.
The town of Žabljak is a good place to bed down for the night and
marks the epicentre of many epic hikes whose paths culminate at
Crno Jezero and other, smaller lakes in the area. Bring binoculars:
deer, weasels and otters are just some of the fauna you might
spot.

This lake straddles the border between North Macedonia and
Albania, making a boat trip across the water from one country to
the other very tempting. North Macedonia isn’t known as a sublime
natural beauty, but Ohrid’s old town is a serious contender for the
title of Europe’s prettiest enclave. In summer, the lake is dusted
with kayaks and visitors jostle for tables at waterside
restaurants, which is why we’re visiting in autumn, when the
weather is still temperate and we can have the whole lot to
ourselves.

Largely untouched by humans and riven with fleets and flocks of
rare, endemic animal species, Lake Skadar is a real treat for
nature gluttons. It can be wild and unkempt in the hills which loom
over the lake, so we suggest asking a local guide to take you out
on hikes. Down by the water’s edge, you’ll find wispy bamboo
paddings and carpets of waterlilies. To see the lake in full, hop
on a boat from Virpazar in Montenegro – just don’t expect to find a
whizzy little speedboat, but a handmade wooden number. Life is slow
here.

Lake Koman is something of a catfish. Despite appearances, this
luscious pool of sparkling blue which curves around vertiginous,
verdant hills punctuated by farmsteads hasn’t existed since the
dawn of time. It was created as part of a huge hydroelectric-power
project in the 80s but is known today as one of Albania’s most
beautiful bodies of water. Find yourself a boat and head for the
lake’s serene caves or hike into the Valbona Valley National Park
for views over this wiggly pool.