A challenging and scenic weekend of road cycling in the Slovenian Alps, with some of the most demanding climbs in the country and breathtaking mountain views.
Starting point
Kranjska Gora
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Price
From: 695€/person
Difficulty
Challenging
For avid cyclists, used to long consecutive days with steep ascents and/or tougher terrain
Challenge yourself with the two most demanding climbs in the Julian Alps
Cycle through the magical forests of the Pokljuka Plateau
Spend a weekend in one of the most stunning corners of Slovenia
Ride along the roads Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič use for training
Road to Mangart Saddle
Vršič Pass
Road cycling in the serene nature of the Julian Alps
Russian chapel under Vršič Pass
Lake Jasna in Kranjska Gora
Pokljuka Plateau
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival to Kranjska Gora
After you have settled in Kranjska Gora, our crew will present you with the weekend itinerary. Those that rent the bikes will already find them waiting. Following that, you will have a nutritious meal before going for a good night’s sleep.
Extra
Transfer from the airport
Accommodation
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
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Day 2 - Pokljuka Plateau
After a hearty breakfast, you climb on your bike for the first phase of our weekend tour, a 121-kilometer ride with close to 2000 meters of climbing including the ascent across the Pokljuka Plateau. This “warm-up” journey will introduce you to cycling in Slovenia’s mountain setting. You’ll descend to Bohinj and then to Lake Bled after cycling through the spruce trees of the wooden plateau. You’ll be able to get a taste of the traditional cream cake dessert, a local specialty. You’ll return to your base after this delectable supper to get some rest because a huge day still lies ahead.
Cycling
121km, 1905m of elevation gain
Accommodation
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
Highlights
Lake Bled
Pokljuka Plateau
Lake Bohinj
Radovna Valley
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Day 3 - The Ultimate Alpine Stage
Today is a special day. It’s the day of the king stage, which is 110 kilometers long and features an elevation gain of up to 2800 meters. A real test of endurance, but one that practically every Slovenian cyclist would endorse. Not only for the feeling of triumph at the end but also for the breathtaking landscape along the way.
The stage will begin with an uphill climb of serpentines to the top of Vršič, Slovenia’s highest mountain pass. Following a long scenic descent and a period of flat cycling in the Soča Valley, you’ll ascend the country’s highest paved road to Mangart Saddle. Completing both means overcoming the two most challenging and longest road cycling climbs in Slovenia. The brief climb over the Col du Predil Pass into Italy will feel like a breeze after the previous two. The day will conclude with a serene flat segment that will take you back to your base in Kranjska Gora. After sufficient rest, we can offer you a transfer to Ljubljana or the airport, depending on your wishes.
You may also choose not to ascend to the top of Mangart and simply continue to Predil, shortening the ride by approximately 20km and saving 1000m of elevation.
Cycling
108km, 3228m of elevation gain
Extra
Transfer to the airport
Accommodation
Hotel in Kranjska Gora
Highlights
The most famous Slovenian cycling stage
Vršič Pass
Mangart Saddle (optional) – The highest Slovenian road (2,072 m)
Col du Predil Pass
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Want to make some changes?
Tailor made holidays - let us know what works for you and we will make it happen.
Booklet with detailed itinerary and route instructions
Service and support during your tour
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Accommodation as per itinerary
Luggage transfer between transit stages
Tourist tax
Optional Extras
Bike rental
Airport transfers
Extra days
Single supplement
From:
695€
/person
Description
If you only have a weekend to spend in Slovenia as a road cycling enthusiast, this is your ideal getaway. Between ascending Vršič Pass and Mangart Saddle, you will overcome two most strenuous road climbs in Slovenia.
Aside from the feeling of satisfaction after completing that, you will also be able to delight in the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding Julian Alps every minute of your journey.
The enchanting town of Kranjska Gora will serve as your base for the weekend. As a sports hub, it offers a selection of stuff to do in your free time, such as climbing or summer sledding. On the other hand, you can also opt for a recovery soak in the cold Lake Jasna.
We ensure that a nutritious meal and a comfortable bed are waiting for you every day before and after the physically demanding cycling stage. Consequently, you will be well-prepared for the challenges that await you.
You will find the roads well-maintained and a joy to ride on. For the most part, they do not experience much traffic. Incredible views and peaceful nature will be with you all along, though.
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.
Ready your cycling equipment and explore the heart of the Julian Alps on your bike with our Road Cycling Slovenia holidays.
Location
Start planning today!
The sooner the better - guaranteed availability and best prices if you don't wait for too long.
Things to know
The tour is intended to be sufficiently demanding for most recreational road riders. The stages are typically 80 kilometers long, including up to 2800 meters of vertical elevation. Regular cyclists, used to steep road climbs, will have the most fun on this tour.
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!
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.
Our one week tour of Slovenia with these 3 young local guides surpassed all expectations! We travelled from Bled through the Sovenian Alps all the way to to coastal seaside Piran, through villages , on backroads ….it felt like riding through a story book….a delightful surprise around every turn . Our guides took care of our every need: charming accommodations, snacks every day at fantastic off beat locations, mid-ride. We covered 250 km over 5 riding days. The one day we were rained out, they quickly pivoted, and we were able to visit a wonderful historical national museum, which informed us so much in terms of the history in the Soča valley…So the day became not a write off but an educational experience! It was quite special to know the history of the Soča valley as we journeyed through the region, seeing the incredible geographical diversity of this beautiful country on excellent quality e-bikes. Highly recommend! Trip of a lifetime ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chris Pyne
Verified Customer
First class company with a well planned route, great accommodation and simply outstanding support in time of trouble.
We did a two week ride from Bled to Pula in September 2023. Fair to say we hit a lot of problems courtesy of BA with rescheduled and diverted flights, lost bags, problems with our own bikes, returning rental bikes and more. Daja was simply amazing in helping us sort all of them out and was so accessible at all hours. She even managed to source and buy a forgotten Thru-axle and deliver it personally to our hotel, which is far and above any service i would reasonably expect. Thank you !!
Our accommodation was fantastic and far better than expected in all but one location.
The route planning in Slovenia was great but due to our decision to bring road bikes from the UK and the nature of the roads in Croatia, our second week was a bit tricky route wise and it would have been good to have had a discussion about this section beforehand. A Gravel bike is far better suited to Croatia although this was our decision to bring road bikes.
Transport arrangement and logistics were flawless.
Overall, i would change very little and we will definitely be returning to Slovenia. Daja was fantastic and I absolutely recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays and will be using their services again.
Filip Vercruysse
Verified Customer
Top Company, Top Tour ! We did the 7 days tour (from Alps to Adriatic), from Bled to Piran in august 2024 ! It was the best tour made in years. Amazing landscapes and nature, great accommodations and food and perfectly organised. Daja did really a perfect job ! she was allways available for questions or suggestions ! I would recommend this tour to everyone.
ACP2527
Verified Customer
G’day Klem,
Back in Australia and just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our holiday. You guys did a wonderful job. The whole experience was first class. The bikes were excellent. The route was fun and well mapped using the app. The hotels were excellent. The hotel staff, outstanding. The food and wine truly memorable.
I cannot recommend you guy’s highly enough.
Our impressions of Slovenia as an outstanding destination, of beautiful scenery and friendly people will be passed onto all our friends.
Thank you so much for a great holiday!
Robert Larsen
Verified Customer
Europe Cycle Holidays provides unparalleled knowledge about cycling in Slovenia. Their service, communication, and willingness to work with their clients is top notch.
Friends and I reached out looking for guidance on a 3-week self-guided tour starting and ending in Ljubljana. Klemen and his crew have been abundantly helpful in route development and identifying lodging opportunities. You won't find a better resource for cycling in Slovenia - whatever your needs, drop them a line as they can surely make your holiday complete!
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.
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.
Walter Abercrombie
Verified Customer
We booked a week long cycling trip through Timotej’s business. It was a self guided trip where Slovenia Cycling Holidays booked our hotels, arranged transfer of luggage between hotels, organized rented bicycles, and provided us recommended cycling routes. They provided us with a very well organized itinerary with information about the places we visited and recommendations for restaurants, etc.
We had a few hiccups, but overall it was a great experience! Timotej was quick to respond to any questions or issues we encountered. This was a great way to discover Slovenia by bicycle. I highly recommend using them!
corne kerel
Verified Customer
We hebben genoten van Slovenië, en de volledig georganiseerde fietsreis. Een heel erg mooi gebied mer veel variatie.
We reden op eigen fietsen en namen onze bagage zelf mee. Dit was best zwaar soms, vooral over de heuvels en de off-road trajecten, het was onze eigen keuze.
We werden verrast door de bijzondere hotels, sommigen zeer smaakvol, sommige niet helemaal onze keuze. Echter dat was prima, we hebben ons laten verrassen.
Het was een prachtig avontuur en smaakt zeker naar meer.
Dank Timotei, de organisatie was uitstekend.
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.
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
SHONA Goaman
Verified Customer
Well organised, great route and lovely hotels.
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.
Karen Bergman
Verified Customer
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip! The guides were professional and provided excellent leadership. They clearly know this country and the best cycling routes. I would definitely do another trip with them.
Libby Johnson
Verified Customer
A very good travel agency (also known as "Slovenia Cycling Holidays") who worked flexibly with me to develop our tailor-made holiday based on the self-guided hike and bike tour. Staff were always pleasant and responsive and patient with changing plans. Note this is not a bike holiday operator so, while they book hotels, taxis to move your luggage, hire bikes and a guide for walking, they don't provide technical back up, a van or their own bikes customised for touring. We therefore had to ask a few questions about those small but essential things like where to leave luggage, when bikes would be delivered and where were our promised phone holders (essential as you use your own phone for navigating). The hike and bike is a brilliant concept, as you miss out on the interior of the mountains if you only travel by road. The route was very good, hotels were all great, and the guide (see separate review on "Triglav Tours") amazing. Sadly, though, we did not receive the call on the rainy day (as another reviewer mentions) to arrange faster luggage delivery after a short, but drenching, ride. We tried to get this, but It in fact came late, so we were stuck in a hotel room in Bled for 4 hours on a sunny afternoon with nothing but hotel bathrobes to wear! Our contact responded when we asked for help, but we did not experience the proactivity mentioned by others. That said, the company clearly have well established links with excellent providers and can be trusted to put everything in place and to respond quickly if an arrangement has fallen through. Recommended, but be prepared to be involved yourself in the finer details.
Jorrit Van der Meulen
Verified Customer
Our experience (5 day ride from Bled to Trieste) was fantastic. Europe Cycling was great on all aspects. The routes were clear and on rural roads with little traffic. The hotels were great. The service was fantastic (including a rain day where 4 of our group were transported by van from one location to another - arranged quickly and easily with the team on the actual day). You wont be disappointed. We'd definitely use them again.
Thuan Truong
Verified Customer
My wife and I just came back from the self-guided tour 'from the Alps to the Adriatic' with Slovenia Cycling Holidays.
Beautiful country with breathtaking scenery, all the places where we stayed were superb, more than we expected. And of course, good slovenian cuisine with good wine and beer.
Everything was well done by Slovenia Cycling Holidays, from planning to service and support : all the questions answered, all the special requests handled. Everything went as planned.
But most importantly we felt safe and not being left alone on the trails in the mountains because Anja was steadily reachable to resolve any issue that might happen.
She resolved the few problems that arose swiftly and efficiently, to our entire satisfaction thus allowing us not only to complete the tour as scheduled but also to arrive every day at destination early enough to enjoy good slovenian wine and beer at the fabulous european terrasses.
So our deep gratitude to Anja and a big thank you to the whole team for having made this trip memorable.
It's without hesitation that we recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays.
Markus Abbassi
Verified Customer
While researching for a self-guided bike tour, my wife and I came across the offer from the Alps to the Adriatic from Slovenia Cycling Holidays.
We really appreciated the support from Daja and Anja when planning our tour. They were very flexible at all times, even when it came to the discussion of possible tour change requests or the choice of hotel.
Back from the tour, we look back on a great trip, where not only the weather but also the "administrative" things went very well. From the hotel bookings to the luggage transportation as well as the GPS navigation, past great sights and along varied routes, everything always worked very well.
Overall, the price-value ratio was very good and we would choose Slovenia Cycling Holidays definitely again.
Susan Hacking
Verified Customer
Loved our bike ride from lake Bled in Slovenia to Pula in Croatia over 13 days .We were given excellent hard tail bikes with 650WH batteries. The scenery was amazing. The route we followed was on a GPS supplied by the company and went on rural roads and tracks with virtually no traffic The organisation by the company was terrific and our bags were delivered promptly to our hotels. The hotels were well situated in the old part of towns we stayed in
I would highly recommend this trip. One of the most interesting and scenic self guided bike tours I have ever been on
John Wray
Verified Customer
Very good communication with this group. And Slovenia is beautiful, food and wine is fantastic and the people are friendly. Highly recommended!
Amy Berger
Verified Customer
Great trip! Klemen set up our trip perfectly. When we needed him he was there. The hotels were excellent. The biking a blast. We did a 5 day self guided tour. Do it!!
enric tomas
Verified Customer
Good organization, we made the trip without any setbacks, and if there were any (a reservation that couldn't be found), they were able to resolve it satisfactorily. Recommended.
Adrian Wee
Verified Customer
Klemen was very responsive and handled everything from start to finish. Route planning was customised to our ability and requirements. No cookie-cutter itinerary here. Accomodation selection was excellent. Absolutely would use this company again.
Yvonne
Verified Customer
This company was BRILLIANT!! They planned our whole trip completely bespoke to what we needed. They took time, care and attention to make sure the trip was designed specifically for our needs and interests. The communication was excellent from day one and we felt completely supported and safe in their hands. The locations we cycled to and through were unbelievably beautiful and completely dependent on intricate local knowledge of the country. We had the BEST holiday and we couldn’t recommend them highly enough!
Anja Črepinšek
Verified Customer
It was a great experience! Recommend.
Monika Lewicka
Verified Customer
I had fantastic time with Slovenia Cycling Holidays. It exceeded my expectations in many ways and I would return for sure. I managed to get to know the country in ways I would not had been able to otherwise. Great guides, extensive knowledge about the country, great tips and attention to details. Totally recommendable 🙌
Angela Solis
Verified Customer
It has been a unique experience and I am looking forward to repeating it. In my case, I went "alone" but I was always accompanied! Incredible, very grateful.
Momčilo
Verified Customer
Very unique expirience, with a lot of good people, not my first kind od cycling, but one of the best. Great recommendation!
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Join a Group
If you are a solo cyclist who wants to spend a fun holiday cycling, 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 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. 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.
Descend from the Alpine highlands in the north of Slovenia to the Mediterranean regions of the Adriatic while discovering the country’s hidden treasures.