Slovenia Cycling Holidays
Itinerary
After you arrive to Ljubljana, you will meet our team. They will brief you on the itinerary, followed by a nice dinner, where you’ll have the chance to get to know each other better.
Hotel in Ljubljana
Transfer from the airport
The first thing after breakfast will be a short presentation of the electric mountain bikes you’ll be using. When everyone’s ready, we’ll head on an introductory mini-tour of the Ljubljana Marshes. This flat and easy route in the green marshes just a few minutes outside the capital city is the perfect introduction to the week ahead. The afternoon will be yours to spend however you like, exploring the city and taking a good night’s rest after.
Hotel in Ljubljana
Ljubljana Marshes
35 km (22 mi), 100 vertical meters (330 feet)
Transfer to the airport
Our first full cycling day of the holiday will first take us to Škofja Loka, a picturesque town north of Ljubljana. From there, we will cycle through Seška Valley and ascend to the wooded plateau of Jelovica. The descent to the other side will bring us to the Bohinj Valley, the doorstep of the Triglav National Park, where we will spend the night.
B&B in Bohinj
Medieval town of Škofja Loka
Bohinj glacier valley
Jelovica plateau
70 km (43,5 mi), 1300 vertical meters (4300 feet)
To save you the steep ascent to one of the many high hills surrounding Bohinj, morning begins with riding our support van to the Pokljuka Plateau. It’s a vast high-mountain area, filled with dense spruce forests and pastures. Your day will be spent discovering all the secret and beautiful spots there, stopping at authentic cheese-making huts while admiring the views of the Julian Alps. After this, we will descend into the pristine Radovna Valley and make our way on the scenic flat cycling path to the Alpine Hub of Kranjska Gora. After this long but rewarding day out, laying down on a soft bed will feel like heaven.
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
Pokljuka Plateau
Radovna alpine valley and Kreda lake
The Upper Sava valley cycling path
After the previous long day, an easier tour around Kranjska Gora awaits you. The surrounding area of this mountain sports hub presents many options for the day, allowing us to better adapt to your preferences. We will surely visit the Zelenci Springs, mesmerizing every visitor by the green color of its water, with the background of sharp mountain peaks. We will get closer to them by visiting the world-famous Planica Nordic Centre, where you’ll marvel at the second-highest ski-flying hill in the world. We will return to Kranjska Gora and spend another night there.
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
Zelenci natural reserve
Jasna Lake
High level of personalisation
24 km (15 mi), 440 vertical meters (1500 feet)
Our sixth day will start with the van taking us to the top of the Vršič Pass. After checking out the incredible panoramic view, we will cycle our way down the hairpin turns on the other side, which has much lighter traffic. The Soča Valley and the area around Bovec offers endless possibilities for cycling. According to your preferences and capabilities, your guide will help you pick the most suitable route for you. After another dose of cycling, the van will pick you up and take you to your hotel in the winegrowing region of Goriška Brda.
Hotel in Goriška Brda
Soča river
Kozjak Waterfall
Kobarid
Since it was already dark when you arrived the previous evening, waking up in Goriška Brda will truly be magical. This wine-growing region, sometimes called the “Slovenian Tuscany”, is full of rolling hills and small picturesque villages. The last leg of the tour will take us around this vineyard landscape. And don’t worry, you won’t just be looking at the vines, you’ll also be tasting their produce in the evening on a mandatory wine tasting.
Hotel in Goriška Brda
Goriška Brda vineyards and countryside
38 km (24 mi), 600 vertical meters (2000 feet)
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell. We will drive you to Ljubljana or to the airport, depending on your schedule and preference.
Guided
Included in price
Optional Extras
Self guided
Included in price
Description
Slovenia is one of the most diverse places in Europe. The amount of different landscapes you can explore in such a small place is unrivaled by any other on the old continent. Among the many different ways of exploring areas like Slovenia, cycling is becoming more and more popular.
Yes, walking allows you to be outside and breathe clean air, but it’s slow and physically demanding. Driving around in a car is nice because you can quickly explore many sights but are constrained by roads and don’t get to be outside much. You should combine the best aspects of walking and car-riding and go on a Slovenia cycling holiday! Hopping on an electric bike allows you to both visit the country’s incredible sights and watch the scenery change right before your eyes when riding from place to place.
The electric mountain bike allows you to take on any type of route — From steep ascents up asphalt roads to a relaxing ride on flat gravel tracks. You will be able to feel the wind in your hair while riding through the changing scenery of the valley or take in the incredible view on top of a mountain pass. The tour will take you through the best cycling trails in Slovenia, with a chance of checking out many famous landmarks on the way.
The tour will take you from the capital city of Ljubljana, through the wooded hills above Škofja Loka, into the heart of the Julian Alps. From there, you will cycle through Alpine valleys, cross a panoramic mountain pass and follow the emerald river Soča Valley into the Mediterranean climate and its wine-growing hills of Goriška Brda. Every day will feel like a visit to a new country.
Your cycling holiday in Slovenia will be led by our professional guide, who will not only show you the way but also be able to tell you a lot about the places you’ll visit. You will be accompanied by a van, taking care of all the logistics, support, luggage transport, and any repair needed on the bikes. And if any of the participants feels unable to continue the tour, the van is there to help.
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 Slovenia Cycling Holidays are suitable for most people who enjoy cycling and are fit enough for multiple days on a saddle in a row. The stages are around 40km long on average, but because Slovenia is a hilly country, some climbs are unavoidable — Be prepared to tackle approximately 500-600 vertical metres daily on average. The roads are mostly traffic-free tarmac and gravel. If you seek a more leisurely holiday, we have an e-bike option ready for you.
Travel dates can affect the prices.
The itinerary can always be adjusted to suit your budget better.
