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The Great Gravel Loop of Slovenia & Italy

Feel the thrill of gravel climbs, alpine descents, and vineyard valleys on a self-guided cross-border adventure through Slovenia and Italy’s hidden paths.
Starting point
Ljubljana
Finish point
Ljubljana
Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Season
May - September
Price
From: 1,795€/person
Difficulty
Challenging
For avid cyclists, used to long consecutive days with steep ascents and/or tougher terrain

Cross borders seamlessly between Slovenia and Italy on gravel paths

Feel the rush of thrilling descents into the heart of alpine scenery

Challenge yourself on the King Stage with over 2,200 meters of elevation

Explore the alpine trails of the Julian Alps on two wheels

Pedal through Italy’s tranquil gravel roads and untouched landscapes

Master a mix of loose gravel climbs and hard-packed trails

road to stol

Navigate the winding roads to Stol

cyclist in vineyard

Pedal through Goriška Brda's vineyards

Sella di Somdogna Pass

Conquer the Sella di Somdogna Pass

predjama castle

Take time to visit iconic landmarks like Predjama Castle

cow on way to stol

Pedal on roads only accessible by bike

jota

Refuel with traditional regional food

historic town of škofja loka

Rest in charming historic towns

passo somdogna

Take in incredible views of the Alps

road to stol
cyclist in vineyard
Sella di Somdogna Pass
predjama castle
cow on way to stol
jota
historic town of škofja loka
passo somdogna

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Optional Extras

Gravel bike rental
Extra nights
Hotel upgrades
Airport transfers

Self guided

Included in price

Accommodation with breakfast as per itinerary
Digital guidebook with detailed itinerary and route instructions
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organisation
Service and support during your tour
Luggage transfers
Tourist tax
From:
1,795€
/person

Are you ready for the once-in-a-lifetime test of endurance?

This self-guided adventure covers rugged terrain, technical ascents, and thrilling descents across two countries, combining the beauty of Slovenia‘s karst landscapes, alpine trails, and vineyard valleys with the tranquility of Italy‘s lesser-known gravel paths.

Iconic sections in Slovenia like Kobariški Stol, the Prašnik saddle, and the alpine paths of the Julian Alps demand precision and focus, while smoother gravel segments through the vineyard-lined valleys of Goriška Brda provide moments to appreciate the serene surroundings.

On the other side of the border, the Italian stages are defined by their tranquility and raw beauty, punctuated by challenging climbs and thrilling descents that demand both focus and skill.

The King Stage, which connects Resiutta in Italy to Kranjska Gora in Slovenia, showcases the best of cross-border gravel cycling. With over 2,200 meters of elevation gain, it features steep gravel climbs like Prašnik saddle and technical descents into Riofreddo, delivering a satisfying mix of grit and adrenaline.

From the first pedal stroke to the final descent, this journey offers a mix of hard-packed trailsloose gravel climbs, and breathtaking panoramas that will push your skills and endurance to the limit.

To make sure you can give your all to this cycling adventure, we’ll take care of all the logistics. From booking comfortable accommodation after a long day of pedaling to providing detailed GPS routes, local recommendations and round-the-clock support, we’ve got you covered.

All you have to do is pack your bags and get ready to feel the thrill of every climb!

Map

Start planning today!

The sooner the better - guaranteed availability and best prices if you don't wait for too long.

Things to know

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Anne West
Verified Customer
Europe Cycling Holidays organized a customized, self-guided road cycling trip for my husband and I from Ljubljana to the Julian Alps and ending in Piran in Slovenia. At the beginning of the organizing process, I used their ZOOM mtg option to ask a lot of questions and determine what we wanted e.g. hotels, room upgrades, routes, etc. With follow-up emails over the next few weeks, and fixing a few glitches that arose, we were excited for our 10-day trip. And we were NOT disappointed! Our trip was amazing. The rental bikes, hotels, GPX files, scheduled luggage transfers, detailed itinerary in an app (including restaurant suggestions, GPS profiles, bike shops en route, luggage pickups), etc. were all amazing. The country of Slovenia is incredibly beautiful and we enjoyed the challenges of the routes in the Alps, the serenity of Lake Bled, the spectacular scenery of Goriška Brda wine region, and everything in between. We had quick responses via WhatsApp from Customer Service for any issues we had during our trip e.g. organizing a van transfer on a day we decided not to ride due to a fall and bad weather. Overall, we had a great experience in Slovenia and highly recommend Europe Cycling Holidays.
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Susan Weissberg
Verified Customer
The bike trip exceeded my expectations and was beyond fantastic. From Ljubljana to Bled with a guide through the Hidden Hills. Then my first solo self guided from the Alps in Bled to Piran in the Adriatic. I can’t say enough about the Slovenia Cycling Holidays crew who gave me guidance and confidence to take out on my own. Not to mention the extraordinary routes that they mapped out.
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Malcolm Hart
Verified Customer
Had a fantastic cycling tour in Slovenia for our group of 12 organised by Slovenia Cycling Holidays covering Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Kranjska Gora over a week. Beautiful scenery, great road surface to ride, excellent ride guides who focussed on local aspects, riding safety and fitted in really well with our group. We experienced good organisation for the tailored tour which included local cultural and historical perspectives and arranged a good programme for two non-riders. Highly recommended place to cycle and certainly recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays to assist with your trip.
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Gary O'Loughlin
Verified Customer
We recently completed the cycling tour from Bled to Piran with Slovenia Cycling Holidays. All the organising and running of the tour was excellent. We had excellent communication with Anna during the planning and also excellent and very helpful advice during the trip from Timotej We were unlucky on the final day to strike severe thunderstorms which made the day very difficult and less enjoyable. The weather stopped us enjoying the wonderful scenery into Piran. Timotej offered to transport us, but we wished to complete the ride. We can wholeheartedly recommend this Company if you wish a good cycling adventure with very good accommodation along the way. Thanks Anja and Timothy
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Greg Martin
Verified Customer
So last minute holiday and the team at Slovenia Cycling managed to turn around a bespoke package really quickly in peak tourist season! The cycle routes are great and easy to follow whilst the trip app has all the details on hotels and transfers whilst the things to see and places to eat was invaluable. Team are super responsive when you have questions which are handled quickly on Whats App. Will definitely use them again.
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Andy Wood
Verified Customer
We had an amazing trip from Bled to Pula. Everything was thoughtfully curated from the route to dinner suggestions and accommodations. So much beauty and diversity in such a relatively short distance. They were very responsive when we had a few issues along the way with our bikes. Highly recommend!

Self-guided

Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday. We prepare the itinerary and book your accommodations; You enjoy the journey without our guide, being fully in charge of all the daily decisions. While you’ll have the full support of our team in case of any emergencies or concerns, a certain level of self-reliance is required.

Local experts

Our professional cycling guides know the local terrain and are trained to make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity both safe and enjoyable.

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree holiday.

Completely Customizable

Flexibility is our middle name — whether you want more or less, or just beyond ordinary, we’ll make it happen.

Book with confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Unbeatable support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

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Experience the diverse landscapes of Slovenia on a bicycle with Slovenia Cycling Holidays, an up-and-coming incoming travel agency.
Portfolio company of World Discovery.