Slovenia Cycling Tour
Riding Days
5
Number of Nights
4
Total Distance
400km
Total Climbing
7,800 metres
Difficulty
4/5
At a Glance
Bordering Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia, Slovenia is a country of 2 million people and the size of Wales. The country became independent of Yugoslavia in 1991 after the Ten-Day War, the first in Europe since WW2. The last remnants of the Alps can be found here in the form of the Julian Alps. One peak excels among the others, Triglav Mountain standing at 2,864 m, is located in the center of the Triglav National Park.
On our Slovenia Cycling Tour, you will ride through this unspoiled area and reach Lake Bohinj, the largest glacial lake in Slovenia surrounded by the high peaks of the Julian Alps, a truly breathtaking spot of nature. Ride the numerous lost and forgotten roads as well as the infamous Vršič Pass while tracing the Soča river. The Soča is nicknamed the Emerald Beauty due to vivid green water renowned for its clarity. The epic road to Mangart, the highest road in Slovenia, forms the culmination of a fantastic escape in the saddle.
Tour Highlights
Slovenia is an incredible untouched place where there is intrigue and beauty around every corner.
Tour Highlights:
- Beautiful turquoise waters of Lake Bled with the spectacular Gothic church rising from the glacial waters
- Vršič Pass, or Russian road with its cobbled hairpins, the highest pass in Slovenia and the Julian Alps
- The jaw-dropping vistas from the top of the Mangart Road
- Fantastic culture from a little known country at the crossroads of Slavic, Germanic, and Romance languages
Book Tour
€1,500.00 – €2,350.00
Overview
All about Slovenia
Slovenia may not be on every cyclist must ride destinations, but it should be! For a country which most people confuse with Slovakia and probably couldn’t place on a map, it has only been independent for 25 years. It was part of the former Yugoslavia and was one of the first of the republics to break away from the Yugoslav state. Slovenia has historically been at the crossroads where Slavic, Germanic and Romance languages and cultures meet. This is also evident in the cuisines as it has a strong influence from Central Europe but also influences from the Mediterranean and Balkan cuisines.
A great proportion of Slovenia is densely forested with population area dispersed and uneven. The terrain is also very mountainous with the Julian Alps stretching across the northern border with Austria and over 90% of the country lying 200 metres above sea level. It has a rather small coastal region of the only 47km nestled between the border of Italy and Croatia.
The main city of Ljubljana is an impressive city with the old part demonstrating a mix of Gothic and Baroque architecture following the trend of the nearby Venetian design at the time. The city has been the capital of Slovenia since it’s independence as a republic from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Slovenia Cycling Tour - The region and challenges
Slovenia will keep you waxing lyrical about the unforgettable beauty of the landscapes that you cycled through.
Starting your Slovenia Cycling Tour from Lake Bled with its stunning views to the iconic island church from the 15th century. The best way to get to the island is by the ‘pletna’ boat, which dates back to the year 1590, The tradition lives on and the profession stays in the family to become a ‘pletnarji’,
The mountain passes like Vrsic pass has its own history. Which origins as a military road dating back to the early 19th century, that formed the border between Italy and he former Yugoslavia. Today is commonly referred to as the Russian Road thanks to the renovation work at the hands of an estimated 10000 Russian prisoners of war in 1915 during World War I.
Like Vrsic pass, Mangart Road’s creation was military motivated, 500 soldiers from the Italian army knocked out its 12 km, including five tunnels in six months in 1938 while the spectre of World War II loomed. The updated and smooth asphalted surface as it is today took 10 years construction and was not completed until 2010. The incredible sights for the most ambitious cyclists make this place utterly magical.
Cycling tales
Some of the picturesque highlights in Slovenia are the incredible medieval Gothic castles. They perch high on rocky outcrops overlooking lakes or guarding hills, you will find them throughout the extensive green pastures and mountains. Bled Castle is the oldest in Slovenia rising 130 meters above the glacial lake and dating back to 11th century.
On our Slovenia Cycling Tour you will ride along the shores of the glacial lakes, taking you through a string of unspoiled villages and past dramatic backdrops dotted with Castles and high mountain passes.
Easing yourselves into an escape of climbing you will head north-west close to the Italian border in an area steeped in history. You will reach the Soca Valley which saw some of the worst fighting during the Great War. Remnants of the battles are still found along with gun placements along the ridge.
Slovenia is known by its landscape but also by the wildlife living around. They have one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe. It is a good idea to ride with the peloton or ride faster than the 30 miles an hour as they can run fast!
Land of cyclists
A country the size of Wales makes it hard to believe they are managing to raise an impressive new generation of successful top riders. Having cultivated themselves within an ethic of working for others over the years, these perfect ‘domestiques’ are now taking over, and are beginning to shine by themselves.
One name stands out among everyone else, that of Primož Roglič, the rider from the Lotto Jumbo Visma (Dutch team). He had a late start in professional cycling when he switched from ski jumping to cycling in 2012 at the age of 23.
2019 saw him take centre stage when he was leading the Giro so dominantly only to crack in the final week. During the Vuelta Espana, he’d gained more experience and went on to win the race convincingly.
Now we can see him in the Tour de France. He already won one stage, and now as a first Slovenian is wearing a yellow jersey, after the 9 stages.
Another rising star is Matej Mohoric, from the McLaren Bahrain Team. He took stages in the Giro and Vuelta. Watch some of his insane descents sitting on the top tube, hands tucked by the stem. Do not try this at home.
A name for the future is Tadej Pogacar. The young 21-year-old UAE rider took a superb 3rd place in the Vuelta, confirming his own talent and that of Slovenian cycling.
Climate
Gearing
Details
What's Included
- 4 night’s accommodation
- All breakfasts and evening meals at the hotel and local restaurants*
- Airport transfers – transfer times to be arranged
- Experienced on the bike ride guides
- Mechanical support / building and packing of bikes
- Support vehicle to follow rides
- Road side picnics on ride days
- Digital route files for your GPS Devices
- Complimentary sports nutrition
- La Fuga welcome pack
*Meals are included up to a specific budget, after which a supplement will be applied
What's not Included
- Flights
- Restaurant lunches stops and coffee stops
- All drinks with meals
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Incidental Expenses
- Parts and spares used during the trip
- Tips and gratuities
- Massages - available at the hotel
- Bike Rental option available during the checkout
Itinerary
Your La Fuga guides will meet you at Ljubljana airport and take you to your hotel in Gozd Martuljek; this drive will be just 45 minutes. Here we will help you check-in, and our mechanic will build your bike, making sure it is ready for the journey to follow.
Depending on arrival time, you should have time to test the legs out with a loosener.
We’ll dine in the excellent hotel restaurant this evening where your tour manager will give you an outline of what to expect over the next few days of riding.
Starting from our accommodation, and heading west, we will cross the border to Italy. 30km of easy rolling terrain until Lago del Predil, from there and without time to raise awareness, the giant is about to come; the Mangart pass. It will welcome us with its stunning views and its highest road in Slovenia at 2072 metres above sea level. It is relatively new having only been constructed in 1938. At the beginning of the climb, we will see some signs warning us about the gradient. The road is pretty steep (+20%) especially in the first part, so be advised on what gearing are you using. Nevertheless, it gains in beauty as long as ascending to the top.
There are three unlit tunnels on the road, so be sure to have your lights on, and the follow van will help you through. We will be descending the same road tracing the Koritnica and Soca river until the town of Trenta, before heading to the last climb of the day, the Vrsic Pass a 12km ascent with a generous elevation, it’s the main characteristic is that the difficulty increases on a continuous succession of hairpins. It’s not until the last 3km that you will see an open sight of what is left. A final section with steep ramps will add the extra epic effort to a beautiful pass – pure Alpine landscape isolated with quiet roads, only sheep and your fellow riders for company.
The longest route, with major passes, going straight into the Triglav National Park. We will go up the Vršič pass again. This time from its northern side, a cycling paradise with its cobblestones and hairpins. The descent traces the Soca river, continuing flowing downhill as you will for many kilometres.
Waving roads with very low traffic will get you in dense forest terrain with some demanding kicks off towards the Crni Vrh pass.
The roads will transport you into a different place environment, more Alpine; Huge valleys spread out between giant mountains.
The descent to Bled is all that’s left with a multitude of hairpins and some cobblestones. A cycling paradise!
Today takes in a beautiful route on your Slovenia Cycling Tour with a couple of main climbs. You will advance closer to the big mountains but leave them for another day.
While the early bathers are refreshed in the glacier lake overlooking the medieval castle, we will climb the first climbs. The route is planned relatively short and with a constant gradient, but not free of hard ascents, like the one that borders the mount Jeličnik nicknamed like the “Slovenian Mortirolo”.
The route will be through idyllic pine forest over towards the Bohinjsko Lake before returning to the same hotel.
You’ll make a lunch stop on the lake before some more climbing back over the ridge to Lake Bled. Once back at the lake, you will not be able to resist the temptation of jumping headfirst into the lake and chill out with a refreshing drink and spectacular views.
Enjoy your last morning in Slovenia with breakfast overlooking the Karawanks and the Julian Alps.
Your Slovenia Cycling Tour is almost finished but there is time for one last ride. The ride will take you over the hills from Bled. In the municipality of Radevljica towards Jesenice right at the bottom of the Karawanks mountain range, which separates Slovenia and Austria.
The roads are typical of this area, with a fairly rough surface and just enough room for two cars to squeeze by each other Take your time just to relax and pedal peacefully as you set into your new Slovenian lifestyle.
After the ride, your La Fuga guides will pack your bikes and transfer you to Ljubljana airport, a 50 minutes journey.
Accommodation
Hotels may be subject to change from time to time due to availability.
Slovenia Cycling Tour
