Alps to the Adriatic
Slovenia Cycling Holiday
Alps to the Adriatic
10 Nights - 225 Miles
1st April until 1st October
£870 Per Person Based Upon 2 Sharing
The holiday begins in Bled, a true fairytale town complete with castle overlooking a beautiful lake, which itself has an island with a church. It is one of the most photogenic locations in Europe.
Basic Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Bled
Day 2 Bled to Bohinj. ~ 20 miles
Day 3 Bohinj to Skofja Loka. ~ 32 miles
Day 4 Skofja Loka to Ljubljana. ~ 20 miles
Day 5 Ljubljana to Vrhnika. . ~ 25 miles
Day 6 Vrhnika to Postojna. ~ 21 miles
Day 7 Postojna to Stanjel. ~ 28 miles
Day 8 Circular ride ~ 19 miles
Day 9 Stanjel to Lipica. ~ 23 miles
Day 10 Lipica to Koper. ~ 37 miles
Day 11 Departure
What's Included:
• Bed and breakfast accommodation in a mixture of 3 and 4 star hotels/country inns.
• Daily luggage transfers.
• Maps and route details in English (maps to be returned at the end).
• 24 gear touring bicycle with pannier bag, pump, spare inner tube, basic tools and a lock.
• NB Helmets can be rented if asked for in advance.
• Local contact and support.
From the Alps to The Adriatic, this cycling holiday really brings you the best of Slovenia. This small country is a land of contrasts and is rich in both scenery and history.
The holiday begins in Bled, a true fairytale town complete with castle overlooking a beautiful lake, which itself has an island with a church. It is one of the most photogenic locations in Europe. Cycling away from here you are surrounded by the Julian Alps, dominated by Slovenia's highest mountain, Triglav. The route takes you to Ljubljana, the compact capital city, with its famous buildings and architecture. The next highlight is perhaps Postojna, where a visit to the world famous caves is thoroughly recommended. Continuing through Slovenian countryside you come to Lipica, home to the famous Lipizaner horses, associated with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. You have the option of detouring via the Italian city of Trieste to eventually reach the end of your holiday on the Adriatic coast at the port of Koper, which has an interesting old town.
Arrival - Fly to Ljubljana and then take the train to Lesce Bled. Alternatively fly to Trieste and then go by train from Monfalcone. We can also arrange transfers to and from Ljubljana and Trieste airports.
Departure - We can arrange private transfers from Koper to either Ljubljana or Trieste airport. There is a train to Ljubljana or a bus to Trieste.
Day 2 Bled to Bohinj. A short first day allows you time to explore Bled, its castle and its lake. The cycling is then predominantly downhill through forests and hay meadows where farming is carried on in traditional ways. ~ 20 miles
Day 3 Bohinj to Skofja Loka. A short bus transfer is followed by a descent into the Bohinj Valley. You are surrounded by the high mountains of the Julian Alps, including Triglav, the Slovenian country top. Your route takes you up and over a pass to reach Skofja Loka, where a stroll round the old centre of the town is rewarding. ~ 32 miles
Day 4 Skofja Loka to Ljubljana. There is quite a lot of downhill today as you pass through the interesting village of Zelezniki to reach the town of Kranj. From here it is not far to your destination, the small capital city of Ljubljana. ~ 20 miles
Day 5 Ljubljana to Vrhnika. A fairly flat day, including crossing a marshland near Ljubljana. You can visit the Iski Vintgar Gorge Nature Reserve and also see the world's highest railway viaduct in Borovnica. ~ 25 miles
Day 6 Vrhnika to Postojna. You cycle off the beaten track today, through sleepy farming communities and experience the 'real Slovenia'. It is a hillier day but a short one and this allows you time to visit the world famous caves at Postojna. ~ 21 miles
Day 7 Postojna to Stanjel. Your route again leads through rolling countryside with old villages and tranquil meadows. A short detour can be made to Predjama Castle, once owned by the last knight of Slovenia! ~ 28 miles
Day 8 Circular ride. With two nights in Stanjel, the circular ride is, of course, optional. You may prefer to have a day out of the saddle and spend time strolling round the village where the old houses have been preserved in an open air museum. ~ 19 miles
Day 9 Stanjel to Lipica. A fairly flat day takes you first to the botanical gardens at Sezana. Further on there is an unusual and interesting war museum set in a tower in the village of Lokev. There should then be ample time to visit a stud farm and see the beautiful Lipizaner horses and even go on a carriage ride, pulled by them. ~ 23 miles
Day 10 Lipica to Koper. A choice of two routes leads you on this the final day, down to the Adriatic coast at Koper. You can remain in the Slovenian countryside for your approach to Koper, or you can cross the frontier into Italy and visit Trieste. This is a fascinating city, with much history and meeting of cultures. As the seaport for the Austro-Hungarian empire, there is still a Viennese cafe culture. So you can sip a coffee in one of the old squares, surrounded by beautiful old buildings, or you can head straight for Koper and spend time on the beach! ~ 37 miles
Day 11 Departure
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