Slovenia Bike Tour

Meet your guides in the capital city of Ljubljana for a transfer that follows an ancient Roman road to reach the starting point for our first ride. It’s hard to imagine, but this lovely landscape of still pastures and alpine villages was once a refuge for Resistance fighters during World War II. Consider the region’s contrast as we ride to a classic Slovenian restaurant where locals order the traditional potato ravioli known as žlikrofi—and a glass of wine, of course. Finish lunch and check in at our first refined hotel in the riverside village of Spodnja Idrija. Dinner is right on the property, and it’s a perfect first introduction to the handmade style of Slovenian cuisine.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Logatec, Žiri, Spodnja Idrija
Accomplished: 25 miles / 40 km, elevation gain: 2,411 feet / 735 meters
Shorter Option: 22 miles / 36 km, elevation gain: 2,296 feet / 700 meters
Accommodations: Kendov Dvorec

Today we ride across the ancient Duchy of Carniola—as the heartland of modern Slovenia was once known. Begin from the meadows of Idrija and pass through scenery that’s so idyllic it could be the setting for a Slovenian fairytale. We’ll descend to the banks of the Vipava River and meet our friend Matej for lunch; the climate takes a surprising turn towards the Mediterranean, and as a result, Vipava’s architecture is more terra cotta than timber. After lunch, check into our dreamy forest hotel perched above the clustered village of Vrhpolje, offering views of the valley below. This evening our local friend invites us for an intimate dinner at home.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Dole, Vipava, Štanjel
Accomplished: 32 miles / 51 km, elevation gain: 3,638 feet / 1,109 meters
Shorter Option: 25 miles / 41 km, elevation gain: 1,968 feet / 600 meters
Accommodations: Theodosius

Set off for a food-focused exploration of the Karst, a limestone plateau that defines the border between Italy and Slovenia—and a region recognized for protected products like red wine and cured ham. We’ll ride into the Vipava Valley where locals turned their attention to winemaking after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Continue to wind back the clock in a tiny fortified village where Capuchin monks still operate the local monastery, then climb to a panoramic ridge where we’ll finally taste some of those new Pinot Noirs with a Slovenian producer. Our culinary-centric day continues with dinner at a family-run restaurant that serves only what it produces onsite, including some of the best Karst prosciutto.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Dolenje, Vipavski Križ, Branik
Accomplished: 37 miles / 59 km, elevation gain: 3,647 feet / 1,112 meters
Shorter Option: 20 miles / 33 km, elevation gain: 2,093 feet / 638 meters
Accommodations: Theodosius

Begin the day riding through an area that saw some of the most intense fighting of World War I. Between 1915 and 1917, Italy and Austria-Hungary engaged in no less than 12 battles along the Isonzo River until the eventual collapse of the Italian Front (immortalized in Hemingway’s Farewell to Arms). To illustrate the impact, we’ll explore an intact section of tunnels and bunkers that changed hands several times in those two years. After lunch, it’s a far more blissful transition as we ride through the heart of these battlefields and across the tranquil border into Italy. Check in at our last hotel of the trip—a castle that stands above the vineyards of this picturesque valley. Tonight you may choose to dine on the hotel’s inviting terrace or ask your guides to recommend a more casual osteria or wine bar for dinner on your own.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Lipa, San Martino del Carso, Cormons
Accomplished: 27 miles / 43 km, elevation gain: 2,122 feet / 647 meters
Longer Option: 43 miles / 70 km, elevation gain: 2,959 feet / 902 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Gredič

From our castle hotel, the views of Italy and Slovenia are seriously moving—be sure to take a moment to appreciate it all over your morning coffee. The shared scenery of the two countries sets the tone for our ride today as we cross back and forth over their borders. Begin along the vine-clad ridges that lead to Cividale on the Italian side. This town can trace its roots back to Julius Caesar, and the main piazza is a perfect place to stop for a mid-ride espresso and a little people-watching. Then it’s back into Slovenia in time for a picnic lunch at a winery. We’ll return to the hotel for some downtime this afternoon, then head to dinner where the wines come from grapes grown on both sides of the border—the perfect homage to our day of duality.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Prepotto, Cividale, Medana
Accomplished: 29 miles / 46 km, elevation gain: 1,394 feet / 425 meters
Longer Option: 38 miles / 61 km, elevation gain: 2,355 feet / 718 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Gredič

Sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast or take a final spin through the vineyards: there’s no wrong way to enjoy your final morning in Slovenia. Your guides will transfer you to the Trieste airport where you can catch a train to Venice or wherever your travels may take you next.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Monfalcone