Road Cycling Holidays Slovenia
Itinerary
When you arrive in the capital of Slovenia, you meet the other members of the group, and our team presents the program of the week. After, our mechanic inspects your bikes and makes any adjustments needed. We do the same with all the rented bikes. Then it’s time for a filling dinner and enough sleep, so you feel 100% the next day.
Hotel in Ljubljana
Enjoy the greenest European capital
Transfer from the airport
First on the menu is an introductory tour dubbed the “Local Specialty”. It starts in Ljubljana and takes you out of the city, quickly crossing over from the bustling city environment to the tranquil countryside roads. This day’s tour is intended as a warm-up and getting to know each other’s capabilities — The tour takes place on flat sections and some moderately challenging uphill climbs. We will cycle our way in the southern part of the Polhov Gradec Dolomites, the pre-alpine hilly world west of Ljubljana, where the famous Franja Marathon race takes place. In the evening, we return to Ljubljana, where you’ll have the time to explore the city.
Hotel in Ljubljana
The roads of the Franja Marathon
Traffic-free countryside
68 km (42,5 mi), 850 vertical meters (2800 feet)
Transfer to the airport
It’s time to leave the capital behind. From Ljubljana, we’ll cycle through the historic town of Škofja Loka and continue our way through the Selca Valley. From there, we will climb uphill over Soriška Planina and descend back down to Bohinj, where our day will end. After more than 700 meters of elevation gain this day, we will rest our legs in preparation for the next.
B&B in Bohinj
Medieval town of Škofja Loka
The beautiful Sorica village and Soriška Planina pass
Glacier lake Bohinj and countryside
70 km (43,5 mi), 1400 vertical meters (4600 feet)
We’re now in the heart of the Julian Alps. The day will start with the climb to the Pokljuka plateau, a vast area filled with a dense spruce forest. After crossing this popular road cycling area, we’ll descend into the idyllic Radovna Valley, which leads to Mojstrana, a village at the gates of the Triglav valleys. From there, we’ll follow the main road and cycle through the scenic Upper Sava Valley to the sports hub of Kranjska Gora.
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
The Pokljuka Plateau
Radovna valley and Kreda lake
The Upper Sava valley cycling path
58 km (36 mi), 1300 vertical meters (4300 feet)
Alpe Adria is one of the most beautiful long-distance cycling routes in Europe. This day we’ll try out one of its best stages in the Alps. From Kranjska Gora, the route will lead us over the border to Italy, where we’ll cycle along the abandoned railway going through the Kanal Valley. We will then pass the village of Dogna and make our way over the Sella Nevea pass to Lake Predil. This long but not tiring route then takes us back to Kranjska Gora. You’ll be surprised how many kilometers and elevation gain you bagged at the end of the day.
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
The Kanal valley
Fantastic cycling path separated from the road
110 km (68,5 mi), 1600 vertical meters (5300 feet)
It’s time for some change of scenery and climate. After the second good night’s sleep in Kranjska Gora, it’s time to ride south over the highest road pass in Slovenia, the Vršič Pass. After this challenging but rewarding climb over its many hairpin turns, we’ll descend to the mesmerizing Soča Valley. Following the Soča river, we will speed down the pleasantly descending road. With every kilometer, you’ll feel the climate turning more Mediterranean. At last, we will arrive in Tolmin, the largest town in the Upper Soča Valley.
B&B in Tolmin
Jasna Lake
The highest mountain pass in Slovenia
The Soča valley
83 km (52 mi), 1400 vertical meters (4600 feet)
On the last day, we’ll circle back to Ljubljana and complete our own version of the Tour of Slovenia. On the crossroads between the Alps and the Dinarides lies the region of Idrija. After almost a hundred kilometers of cycling through its picturesque villages and scenic ravines, the Ljubljana Basin will open up before us. After a relaxing flat ride through the Ljubljana Marshes, our day ends in the green capital of Slovenia.
Hotel in Ljubljana
95 km (65 mi), 1750 vertical meters (5700 feet)
It’s been a good week, but it’s time to say goodbye to your cycling buddies. Those of you who rented will return the bikes. Depending on your schedule and preference, we’ll drive you to the airport.
Guided
Included in price
Optional Extras
Self guided
Included in price
Description
Sure, it has “holidays” in its name, but this is not some ordinary leisurely holiday. It’s not that cycling vacation where you are casually turning the wheel, maybe going just a little bit faster than a runner, and trying to look around as much as possible without running over a squirrel. No!
These Road Cycling Holidays could be best described as a Tour de Slovenia — Recreational version . . . With maybe a beer at the end of each successful day.
Slovenia is one of the most diverse countries in Europe, making it a perfect destination for this kind of holiday. Each day will see you cycling from destination to destination, swiftly moving through many different landscapes — Both the terrain and the climate will be changing around you. Many take a whole month to explore all of them, but you and your speedy bike will only need a good week. Your days will end and start in a different hotel, each serving you delicious and nutritious authentic local meals that will keep your legs moving and the bike’s wheels turning through the day.
This is a cycling holiday meant for you road cycling enthusiasts who would like to test yourself on new terrain. Every single day will present you with a carefully planned route of challenging but fun cycling, ranging from 50 kilometers to 100 kilometers per day. You will be cycling in a team full of like-minded people, supporting and competing against each other. Tackling the roads as part of a team with such a great vibe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you should not miss.
The tour will be led by a local guide, a professional cyclist with years of experience. He will not only lead the tour but can also give you training advice and tips for how to improve your cycling. And to complete that professional look, a support van will be following you through the day, providing all the assistance necessary. If anyone encounters technical problems with the bike, the highly trained mechanic will fix it up in a minute. And if one of the participants feels a little tired and wants to have a little bit of rest, our team will pick up the cyclist and make sure the tour continues smoothly.
Don’t worry if you didn’t bring a bike to Slovenia. Rent a high-performance bike from us adjusted to your specifications right at the beginning of the tour.
At the end of the tour, the whole group will feel like winners. So book our road cycling holiday and secure your spot on the road to victory!
Map
Start planning today!
Things to know
We offer road cycling, trekking cycling and mountain biking holidays.
Our road cycling holidays are suitable for avid road cycling enthusiasts whose endurance is high enough to withstand multiple long cycling days in a row.
Our trekking cycling holidays are suitable for anyone, as the stages are short enough for most people, and the terrain is not technical — mostly tarmac and gravel. They will still be enjoyed most by people who cycle occasionally and feel comfortable with multiple days in a row on the saddle and some moderate climbing. For those looking for more leisurely cycling holidays, we offer an e-bike option.
Our e-MTB holidays are suitable for most people comfortable on a mountain bike who are fine with some rougher gravel roads and steeper hills, made easier with electric assistance. However, the single trails MTB holidays are suitable mostly for avid mountain bikers, as they tackle technical trails and fast descents, but are very adjustable to your skills and style of riding.
On our guided tours, you will have professional local guides. Our guides will make sure that you will have expert guidance combined with great fun and a memorable experience.
We are always looking for the perfect fit for you. We use a few different accommodation providers that fit our standards but they are subjected to availability, especially in the high season. We can also adjust the holiday, keeping in mind your preferences and budget and can always find a more suitable solution for your taste.
We recommend booking as early as possible. Most of our tours run through very touristy places where accommodation is limited. Most of the great places start getting booked for summer before spring.
It really 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 in smaller towns. Please note that the places where we stop for lunch are often traditional and may have difficulties accommodating you outside of their standard menu. We suggest you keep this in mind.
If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way. It is your holiday, 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 own adventure!
Depending on the tour, generally late spring (May) and early autumn (September) are the best times, summer is of course also always great and some of our holidays are also possible in winter! Read more about cycling seasons in Slovenia.
Most of the tours can be done even in light rain, as long as you dress accordingly. It is not unusual in the summer that there are afternoon thunderstorms, so early starts are advisable. If the weather looks really bad, we will try to adjust the tour or skip a stage with a shuttle.
Our tours can be adapted to any bike type, whether road, gravel, or mountain bike. We are in constant communication with you to find the optimal conditions for your cycling holidays in Slovenia.
The most versatile option is a gravel bike, even if you are coming on a road cycling holiday. It does not really affect your road performance while allowing you to take some scenic backroads that can be in a slightly worse state than the main ones. A gravel bike is usually more comfortable as well.
In any way, Slovenia is a very diverse country and there is something for every cyclist. Whichever bike you choose, we will find the perfect route for you to take on your cycling holidays.
The tour is designed to be challenging enough for most recreational road cyclists. The stages are 80km long on average, with between 1000 and 2000 metres of vertical ascent. Regular cyclists fit enough for multiple long days on a bike in a row will enjoy those holidays the most.
Travel dates can affect the prices.
The itinerary can always be adjusted to suit your budget better.
