Name: 8 Day Self-Guided Cycling Tour from Alps to Adriatic in Slovenia
Brand: World Discovery
Price: 1495 EUR
Availability: InStock

Slovenia Cycling Tour

Cycle your way through the diverse regions of Slovenia, discovering the country’s diversity on this self-guided cycling journey from the mountains to the sea.

Key information

Trip type: Self-guided
Lodging: Point to Point
Terrain: flat, gravel tracks, and asphalt roads
Starts in: Bled
Ends in: Piran
Total Distance: 169 Miles / 272 Kilometers
Type of bike: Road bike, hybrid bike, or Mountain bike not included
E-bike: Available to rent

Highlights

6 days of riding
40 - 50 kilometers of cycling per day
Ride from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea
7 nights accommodation
Luggage transfer
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app

Skill level

Beginner
Intermediate

6 days with instruction

Accommodation

You will stay in hotels in Bled, Kranjska Gora, and Piran or Portorose and beds and breakfasts in Bovec, Tolmin, Goriška Brda, and Sežana. It is a mix of three- and four-star hotels with an occasional apartment. It can be upgraded. Rooms are double or twin. Accommodation is not specified, and will be adapted to your wishes and availability. World Discovery does not always work with the same hosts.

World Discovery is always looking for the perfect fit for you. A few different accommodation providers that fit the standards will be used, but this is subjected to availability, especially in the high season. The holiday can also be adjusted, keeping in mind your preferences and budget, and can always find a more suitable solution for your taste.

Program

This is the ultimate cycling tour from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. Visit Slovenia’s top highlights like Bled, Kranjska Gora, Vršič Pass, Soča Valley, Goriška Brda, and Piran on the way. Explore the diverse landscapes of Slovenia at your own pace. Get a prepared itinerary and enjoy World Discovery's full support while retaining the freedom of self-guiding. After six days of cycling around 40 to 50 kilometers per day, reward yourself with a dip into the sea. Are you a traveler who likes to experience the country you are in up close but still explore a lot in a week?

Do you prefer to organize your day while traveling but not take so much time doing all the needed research? If you resonate with both of these questions, then you are going to love your self-guided cycling tour in Slovenia. If walking is too slow and driving around with a car is not immersive enough, cycling is just the right compromise between the two. It allows you to breathe clean air like walking and be fast enough so you can see quite a lot in a week of turning the pedals. And of course, this fun physical activity also makes you healthier.

The self-guided aspect is also a key component of your tour. Guided tours are all about schedules, timetables, and other restrictions. But going on a self-guided cycling holiday allows you to explore Slovenia’s top attractions and beautiful landscapes at your own pace. You do not have to do any all-night research sessions about the places you are going to visit. World Discovery takes care of all that. But you might be wondering, why Slovenia? Slovenia is perfect for such a holiday. It is small in size, but vast in its diversity, making cycling the optimal speed at which to explore it.

Because the country is also super safe and easy to find your way around, you do not need to be an experienced adventurer to avoid the pitfalls of traveling without a local guide. In just a week, you will discover diverse landscapes, cycling your way through the ever-changing countryside, from the mountains to the sea. You will start your journey at the famous Lake Bled, on the doorstep of the Julian Alps. From there, you will delve deeper into the surroundings of the Triglav National Park, exploring the scenic alpine valleys, mountain passes, and the mesmerizing emerald river of Soča Valley.

The many cycling paths, gravel tracks, and asphalt roads will take you over pastures, forests, and villages, leading you south into the Mediterranean climate. The romantic roads through the sunny vineyards will take you over the Karst Plateau, from which you will descend and eventually arrive at the Adriatic Sea, just begging you to take a swim. The roads and cycle paths in Slovenia are well-maintained, and the traffic is relatively low, especially on the ones you will be cycling on.

You will have the team’s 24/7 support during the trip, remotely guiding you through the week and making you remember this journey for years to come. They are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. They wanted to allow you to do things your way. It is your tour, after all. As long as you respect the group timings and locations designated by your guide, please feel free to customize your itinerary and create your adventure.

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival at Bled

After you arrive at Bled, a member of the team will greet you to give you the rundown of your trip. You will get detailed information about the itinerary, and they will answer any questions you have for them. If you arrive at Bled early and have extra time, you should visit the Bled castle, take a boat ride to the church island, or take a casual stroll around the lake. There is an adventurous week ahead of you, so rest up.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bled

Day 2 - Through the alpine valleys to Kranjska Gora

This first day of cycling will be more of a warm-up since the terrain will be relatively flat. The road from Bled will take you through the idyllic Radovna Valley and past Lake Kreda while slowly descending to Mojstrana. With the constant presence of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps on your left and the Austrian border ridge of the Karawanks on your right, you will make your way up the well-maintained cycling path of the Upper Sava Valley to the famous alpine resort of Kranjska Gora.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kranjska Gora
Highlights: The alpine pearl Bled, scenic valley of Radovna and Kreda Lake, and scenic cycling path of Upper Sava Valley
Distance: 36 kilometers / 22.5 miles
Elevation: 650 meters / 2100 feet

Day 3 - Over the Vršič Pass

After the easy cycling of the first day, you will tackle the steep ascent over the panoramic Vršič Pass in the second. You should stop at the top and check out the awesome mountain peaks surrounding you. Descend the hairpin turn to the other side, and you will reach the Soča Valley, where you will be cycling right next to the emerald Soča River. The road will take you past magnificent attractions like the Soča gorges to the alpine town of Bovec. There, surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps, you will rest up for the day ahead.

Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Bovec
Highlights: Soča Spring, Lake Jasna, and Vršič Pass
Distance: 45 kilometers / 28 miles
Elevation: 1100 meters / 3600 feet

Day 4 - Through the Soča Valley

You will continue your way down the valley of the Soča River, cycling on peaceful side roads and macadam trails. At the historical town of Kobarid, you will be able to ascend to the idyllic Drežnica village, situated on a small plateau under Mount Krn. If this World War I battleground was once a scary sight, it is now a destination one should not miss when around the area. If you arrive at the town of Tolmin early, you can also go check out the beautiful Tolmin Gorges or just call it a day.

Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Tolmin
Highlights: Vršič Pass, Chapel for Russian POWs, the beautiful Soča River, Scenic Drežnica village, Kobarid with its World War I museum, and Kozjak Waterfall
Distance: 40 kilometers / 25 miles
Elevation: 600 meters / 2000 feet

Day 5 - To the wine country

As you continue your journey further down south, you will soon enter a warmer Mediterranean climate with a completely different landscape. Soon, the high mountains will be behind you, and you will reach the magical wine-growing region of Goriška Brda. The vineyard hills and the cute villages on top will make you feel like you entered another country.

Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Goriška Brda
Highlights: Lower Soča Valley and Goriška Brda wine region
Distance: 39 kilometers / 24.5 miles
Elevation: 750 meters / 2450 feet

Day 6 - The Karst

This day will see you traverse a relatively flat area of Italian Gorizia and then ascend to the Karst plateau with its signature water-carved limestone terrain. There you will cycle your way through the picturesque villages of Komen and Štanjel, right to Sežana, a town bordering the coastal area. When going to sleep this day, you will almost hear the sea waves you will soon see.

Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Sežana
Highlights: Rustic villages of Štanjel and Komen
Distance: 59 kilometers / 36.5 miles
Elevation: 780 meters / 2500 feet

Day 7 - The Slovenian coast

For a great start to the seventh day, you can take a quick detour to Lipica and check out the Lipizzaner stud farm. The route will then take you to Socerb, where you will get a stunning view of the coast and the route of the day. You will then follow the green Rižana River and soon arrive at the sea coast. A well-maintained cycling path will then lead you along the Adriatic seacoast to Piran, a town known for its mesmerizing Venetian architecture and narrow streets, built on top of a long pier.

Accommodation: Hotel in Piran or Portorose
Highlights: Osp valley, Lipica, and coastal towns of Koper and Piran
Distance: 53 kilometers / 33 miles
Elevation: 450 meters / 1500 feet

Day 8 - Adriatic Sea and departure

Spend the last day resting on the sunny coast and swimming in the Adriatic Sea. In the afternoon, they will organize a transfer to Ljubljana or the airport upon your request.

Bikes

World Discovery offers a wide range of bicycles to select from to ensure that your bike for the trip will be perfect for you and for the terrain you will be cycling on. All of their bikes are high-performance, regularly maintained, and changed every year to ensure that you have the best possible experience cycling with them.

1. Electric mountain bike

This is their go-to machine for most of their cycling activities. Electric mountain bikes are perfect for exploring the Slovenian countryside because they allow you to keep your group together even if the fitness level of participants varies. As you pedal, the bike gives additional power relative to yours and makes cycling just as challenging as you want it to be. Perfect for enjoying the views and surroundings and not compromising some of the top sights just because they are remote.

Because they are electric, bikes have fatter tires than usual to provide extra grip, while it does not compromise the tarmac performance much. All e-bikes are high-performance with 250W motors and five levels of power up to 360%. They are equipped with a 500Wh battery and a high-quality rear derailleur and disc brakes. E-bikes are unisex and equally comfortable for men and women.

2. Gravel bike

Experience the perfect blend of adventure and comfort with gravel bikes. Designed for off-road exploration, it effortlessly tackles gravel paths and rugged trails whilst maintaining good speed and comfort on all types of tarmac. Its balanced geometry ensures stability and agility, while the relaxed positioning provides long-distance comfort and brings joy to every kilometer you will ride.

3. Road bike

For road cycling tours, they use road bikes that are both comfortable and fast. Endurance geometry allows for an average cyclist to enjoy longer stages without back pain and makes for a smooth ride on some rougher alpine roads. Upon request, they offer a professional bike fitting service to set up a bike exactly for you. They recommend bringing your pedals or letting them know what kind you prefer in advance. Road bikes are unisex and equally comfortable for men and women. The saddle can be changed upon bike fitting.

4. Trekking bike

Some of their tours are taking place on flatter terrain, where e-bikes are not necessary. If you wish to rely solely on your legs, trekking bikes are the best choice for those tours, because they are fast on tarmac and dirt roads, while being ultimately comfortable. Trekking bikes are equipped with flat pedals, if you would prefer SPD pedals or have your own, please let them know.

Location

The tour will take place in Slovenia. Slovenia is perfect for such a holiday. It is small in size, but vast in its diversity, making cycling the optimal speed at which to explore it. Because the country is also super safe and easy to find your way around, you do not need to be an experienced adventurer to avoid the pitfalls of traveling without a local guide.

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Food

All meals are at your own expense. It depends on the level of your restriction. Vegetarian options are fairly easy to find in Slovenia, but vegan dishes, on the other hand, are extremely hard to come by in rural areas of the country and smaller towns. Please keep in mind that the places where you stop for lunch are often traditional and may have difficulties accommodating you outside of their standard menu.

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