Road Cycling from Alps to Adriatic

Descend from the Alpine highlands in the north of Slovenia to the Mediterranean regions of the Adriatic while discovering the country’s hidden treasures.
Starting point
Bled
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Difficulty
Moderate
Inquiry
Diverse road cycling holidays covering ground from the Julian Alps to the Adriatic Sea
Visit Slovenia’s highlight locations like Bled, Kranjska Gora, Vršič Pass, Soča Valley, and Piran
Explore Slovenia’s interchangeable landscape on a bike
Enjoy moderately paced cycling with some modest challenges
Reward yourself with a jump in the Adriatic Sea upon completing the tour
Lake Jasna
Lake Jasna in Kranjska Gora
Road Cycling group
Cycle from the Julian Alps to the Adriatic Sea
Russian chapel
Russian chapel under Vršič Pass
Slovenian coast
Slovenian coast
Over Vršič Pass
Climb Vršič Pass
Lake Bled island
Lake Bled
Piran
Town of Piran
Soča River
Soča Valley

Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrival at Bled

When you arrive at Bled, the bikes will already be waiting for you at your accommodation. You will receive complete information regarding the itinerary beforehand, and we will address any questions you may have. If you arrive in Bled early and have spare time, you should visit the Bled castle, take a boat ride to the church island, or enjoy a stroll around Lake Bled. Rest up for an exciting week ahead of you.

Accommodation

Hotel in Bled

Extra

Transfer from the airport

Lake Bled Island
Bled Cream Cake
Lake Bled
DAY 2 - Through the alpine valleys to Kranjska Gora

Because the stage is relatively short, the first day of cycling will be more of a warm-up. The route from Bled gradually descends through the picturesque Radovna Valley and past Lake Kreda to Mojstrana. With the highest peaks of the Julian Alps on your left and the Austrian border ridge of the Karawanks on your right, you’ll make your way up the Upper Sava Valley‘s well-maintained cycling road to the well-known alpine resort of Kranjska Gora.

Accommodation

Hotel in Kranjska Gora

Highlights

The Alpine jewel — Lake Bled
Breathtaking Radovna Valley with Lake Kreda
Scenic cycling path through the Upper Sava Valley

Cycling

36 km (22,5 mi), 650 vertical meters (2100 feet)

Slovenian nature
Slovenia's beautiful landscape
Lake Bled panorama
Lake Bled
Radovna river Slovenia
Slovenia's beautiful landscape
Lake Bled
DAY 3 - Over the Vršič pass

After lighter cycling on the first day, the steep ascent over the majestic Vršič Pass awaits you on the second. We suggest taking a break at the top to admire the majestic mountain peaks surrounding you. Afterward, you will descend the hairpin curves to the other side and pedal next to the emerald Soča River in the Soča Valley. The road will take you past breathtaking sights like the Soča Gorges to the alpine village of Bovec. You’ll rest up for the day there, surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps.

Accommodation

B&B in Bovec

Highlights

The Soča spring
Lake Jasna
Vršič Pass

Cycling

45 km (28 mi), 1100 vertical meters (3600 feet)

Soča River
Soča River
Lake Jasna
Lake Jasna in Kranjska Gora
Vrsic pass in Slovenia
Vršič Pass
Soča River
Lake Jasna in Kranjska Gora
Vršič Pass
DAY 4 - Through the Soča Valley

You’ll continue cycling down the Soča Valley on quiet side roads. From the historic town of Kobarid, you can ascend to the lovely Drežnica settlement, located on a small plateau beneath Mount Krn. If this WWI battleground was once a terrifying sight, it is now a must-see for anybody in the vicinity. If you get to Tolmin early, you can see the lovely Tolmin Gorges or call it a day.

Accommodation

B&B in Tolmin

Highlights

The beautiful Soča River
Scenic Drežnica village
Kobarid with its WWI museum
Kozjak Waterfall

Cycling

40 km (25 mi), 600 vertical meters (2000 feet)

Soča River
Soča Valley
Drežnica village
Kozjak waterfall
Soča Valley
DAY 5 - To the wine regions

As you go further south, you will soon enter a warmer Mediterranean environment with entirely different terrain. Soon, the steep mountains will be behind you, and you’ll be in the wonderful wine-growing region of Goriška Brda. The grape slopes and beautiful villages on top will make you feel like you’ve reached another nation.

Accommodation

B&B in Goriška Brda

Highlights

Lower Soča Valley
Goriška Brda wine region

Cycling

39 km (24,5 mi), 750 vertical meters (2450 feet)

Goriška Brda wine region
Wine region Brda
Lower Soča Valley
DAY 6 - Crossing Karst

This day will take you through a relatively flat section of Italian Gorizia before a steep ascent to the Karst plateau, known for its trademark water-carved limestone topography. You will cycle past the scenic villages of Komen and Štanjel to Sežana, a town well near the coastal region. You’ll almost hear the sea waves you’ll soon see as you retire to your bed today.

Accommodation

B&B in Sežana

Highlights

Rustic villages of Štanjel and Komen

Cycling

70 km (43,5 mi), 1000 vertical meters (3200 feet)

Vineyards Brda
Štanjel village
Road Cycling Lipica
DAY 7 - Slovenian coast

If you take a slight diversion to Lipica and visit the Lipizzaner stud farm, you will get a terrific start to the seventh day. The journey will then lead you to Socerb, where you will have a beautiful view of the shore and the day’s route. You will next follow the green Rižana river until you reach the sea coast. A well-maintained bike route will then take you along the Adriatic coast to Piran, a town famed for its captivating Venetian architecture and narrow alleys constructed on top of a long pier.

Accommodation

Hotel in Piran or Portorose

Highlights

Osp valley
Lipica
Coastal towns of Koper and Piran

Cycling

59 km (36,5 mi), 520 vertical meters (1700 feet)

Piran
Town of Piran
Lipizzaner horses
Piran marina
Town of Piran
DAY 8 - Adriatic Sea and departure

The last day is time for leisure activities. You can relax on the sunny beach and go for a swim in the Adriatic Sea. When you are well-rested, we will provide a transfer to Ljubljana or the airport upon your wish.

Extra

Transfer to the airport

Piran Bay
Portorose bay
Piran beach
Extra days

If you wish to extend your road cycling experience, you can opt to continue across the Croatian border and down the western Istrian shore to Pula. You will ride on the empty asphalt roads, past the coastal towns of Poreč and Rovinj, before you reach Pula and the southernmost point of Istria, Cape Kamenjak. It lengthens your stay with us for 2-3 days, depending on how you want to pace your road cycling in Croatia.

Highlights

Cape Kamenjak
Coastal towns of Poreč, Pula, and Rovinj
Croatian coast

Motovun village
Istrian coast
Pula from above

Want to make some changes?

Tailor made holidays - let us know what works for you and we will make it happen.
Customize your holiday

Included in price

Tour design and organization
Handout with detailed itinerary and route instructions
Service and support during your tour
GPS navigation with a user-friendly app
Accommodation as per itinerary
Luggage transfer along the route

Not many road cyclists can say they rode their bikes from the highlands of the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. In Slovenia, you can do it within a week!

After visiting the alpine highlights of Slovenia, such as Bled and Vršič Pass, you will descend through the Soča Valley toward the warm Mediterranean climate. Each stage will provide you with an enchanting landscape, not one day quite the same as the previous one.

Overcoming a challenge usually requires a reward, and a jump in the warm Adriatic Sea seems quite gratifying.

The roads are well-maintained along the whole route. While you will not be far from civilization at any point of this journey, you will be cycling well away from the urban areas. This journey allows you to let yourself go for its duration and recharge your batteries.

You will not have to worry about accommodation, meals, or baggage transportation along the way, as we take care of all that.

If you prefer to cycle under the watchful eye of an experienced guide, we can provide one for you. And there is also an option of a support van with a trained mechanic following you on your way.

With our self-guided option, on the other hand, you will receive an extensive personalized handout with a day-by-day itinerary and highlights along the way. Our support will also be available to you at any time.

Sounds exciting?

Contact us and let us help make your road cycling experience in Slovenia unforgettable.

Location

Start planning today!

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

Cycling from the Alps to the Adriatic is appropriate for most people who like cycling and are physically healthy enough to spend numerous days on the saddle in a row. The stages are typically 40km long. However, due to Slovenia’s rugged terrain, certain hills are inevitable. Expect to climb 600-700 vertical meters every day on average. The roads are predominantly well-maintained asphalt with very little traffic.

On our self-guided tours, you don’t get a guide. You receive an extensive personalized handout with all the essential information.

On our guided tours, a professional guide accompanies you on your way. He ensures everything runs smoothly, offers you his expert knowledge of cycling and Slovenia’s landscape, and makes your experience memorable.

We are continually on the lookout for the ideal match for you. We select a few different accommodations that meet our criteria, but they are subject to availability, particularly during peak season. We may also modify the vacation based on your desires and budget, and we can always find a better acceptable alternative for your taste.

We encourage making your reservation as soon as possible. Most of our trips cover popular tourist destinations with limited lodging options. Before spring, most of the top spots are fully booked for the summer.

It all depends on how severe your limitation is. Vegetarian alternatives are rather simple to acquire in Slovenia, while vegan foods are exceedingly challenging to find in rural areas and smaller towns. Please keep in mind that the restaurants where we stop for lunch are typically traditional and may have difficulty accommodating you if you choose something other than their standard menu. We recommend that you consider this.

Sure, if you want to! We understand that some individuals like to travel in groups, while others prefer to spend more time alone. We wanted to provide you with the freedom to do things your way. After all, it is your holiday! Please feel free to adapt your schedule and make your trip memorable!

Depending on the tour, late spring (May) and early autumn (September) are often the ideal periods. But summer is always a good choice, and some of our holidays are even available during winter!

Learn more about road cycling season in Slovenia.

Most trips may be completed in mild rain if you dress appropriately. Afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon in the summer, so getting an early start is advised. If the weather appears very lousy, we will attempt to modify the trip or skip a stage by shuttle.

We design our tours for road bikes. Objectively, the most optimal bike you could use is an endurance road bike, but using a different one won’t be an issue for you either. Gravel bikes can be a great option, as they allow you to be more versatile and don’t affect your road performance.

We can always adapt our tours to suit your bike. For example, we can include macadam roads if you are using a gravel bike. In any case, you can join our road cycling tours in Slovenia with any bike, as we will make the necessary changes to suit your choice.

Klemen
Talk to our travel expert
mail
info@roadcyclingslovenia.com
phone
+386 31 444 230
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Self guided: From: 1,650€/person
Join a group: From: 2,760€/person
Private guided: From: 2,999€/person
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Join a group

If you are a solo cyclist who wants to spend a fun holiday cycling in and around Slovenia, look no further. We’re going to find you a group of up to 8 like-minded biking enthusiasts and take care of all the other tour details. The cycling tour will be led by our guide, who’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, so you’re able to enjoy as much cycling as possible.

Private guided group

The private guided bike tour in Slovenia is for those who want to enjoy their cycling holidays at their own pace, enjoying the flexibility of a small private group and not stressing about the details of everyday planning. The guide will be fully at your disposal to make this experience as personalized as possible, maximizing the enjoyment during and after the tour.

Self-guided

Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday in Slovenia. 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 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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Road Cycling Slovenia is about exploring panoramic roads, overcoming challenges, and spending your active holidays in a pristine natural setting.
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