> Intro

This a MTB tour in the sense of landscape rather than cycling terrain. Most roads are asphalt, however quite a few of the side trips are on unpaved surfaces and forest tracks. This tour takes you through some of Slovenia's most picturesque alpine landscape. Suitable for MTB bikers with a good level of fitness.

Cycling tour highlights:

•    Crystal clear mountain lakes and deep canyon streams
•    Go rafting, paragliding or do other activities in the town of Bovec!
•    Broad meadows framed by soaring mountains
•    Cycle 1611 meters up over the Vrsic mountain pass or......
•    ....Climb 2000 meters up to the Mangart road
•    Small individual hotels, great food

 

> Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN LAKE BLED. (3* hotel).
First stop Bled, a world famous town on the shore of a beautiful glacial lake, with its distinctive island church surrounded by towering alpine mountains and the cliff top castle standing guard over the town, Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist attractions.

Day 2: BLED – RIBČEV LAZ (Bohinj Lake) (40 km, cumulative climb 700 m).
An easy descent into the valley. 4* hotel.
From the high plateau at Pokljuka, you can marvel at the alpine views as you glide down into the neighboring Bohinj Valley. Upon reaching Lake Bohinj, the largest and deepest in the Triglav National Park, you can spend the rest of the day seeing sights such as Savica Waterfall and shimmering mountain vistas from Vogel mountain.

Day 3: BOHINJ – TOLMIN (61 km, cumulative climb 1100 m; or 35 km via train to Podbrdo). (3* hotel).
Today you peddle off into the heart of the Julian Alps through the narrow, almost canyon-like, valley of Baška Grapa to the town of Tolmin. Weather permitting, you can take a swim in the river near Most na Soči, at the confluence of the Soča and Idrijca Rivers.

Day 4: TOLMIN – BOVEC (46 km, cumulative climb 440 m). (3* hotel).
Today you follow the mighty Soča River as it roars its way down from the Julian Alps. As you cycle along this emerald-green river you will pass through the area that saw some of the fiercest fighting during WW1, immortalised in Hemmingway's novel, A Farewell to Arms. Just before you arrive in Bovec, visit the Boka Waterfall. At 106m high and 30m wide, this is a spectacle not to be missed.

Day 5: BOVEC a rest day.
Enjoy a free day in Bovec – the adrenaline capital of Slovenia. Alternatively you can take a white water rafting trip down the Soča river or a lift by cable car to Mt. Kanin and cycle back down to the valley. If you like to fly, try one of the tandem paragliding trips.

Day 6: BOVEC – KRANJSKA GORA (45 km, cumulative climb 1100 m). (3* hotel).
As the sun illuminates the eastern sky, you will be heading towards it into the tranquility of the Upper Soča Valley of Trenta, and then twisting your way around 50 hairpin bends as you cross over the high mountain pass of Vršic (1611 m above sea level - height difference 1100 m / 3600 ft) 

Day 7: KRANJSKA GORA – BLED (41 km, cumulative climb 150 m). (4* hotel).
After an exhausting climb of the mountain pass on day 6, day 7 takes you across more relaxing terrain along the Radovna River as it meanders its way through a wilderness valley between two plateaus. As you exit the valley and head back to Bled, stop at the 1.6km Vintgar gorge and take a stroll alongside the river as it cuts its way through the hills.

Day 8: DEPARTURE FROM BLED.

> Price

Price per person: 560 EUR per person based on 2 people sharing
(Currency converter here)

price includes:

 

 

 

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels in two bedded room with WC and shower, on a bed & breakfast basis
• Luggage transport between hotels (one piece per person)
• Information package including detailed route description (one per booking party)
• Visit from Helia representative on arrival evening

optional extras:

• Half board 110 EUR
• Bike rental 75 EUR per week
• Every additional day: 12 EUR per bike. Bike rental period starts on day 2 of the tour (on the day clients leave Bled) and ends on the evening of their arrival back in Bled
• Helmet rental 12 EUR per week
• Additional nights: *** Hotel in Bled: 49 EUR per person in standard double room, B&B. Single room: 85 EUR. Half board: +10 EUR. **** Hotel in Bled: 75 EUR per person in lake view double room, 68 EUR per person in park view double room B&B. Single room: 115 EUR. Half board: +25 EUR

single supplement:

• 120 EUR

savings:

• Children up to 12 years when sharing room with parents: -30% on basic price
• Third adult person in the room: -10% on the basic price

price excludes: train ticket Bohinjska Bistrica – Podbrdo approx. 5 €. Entrance fees.

> Travel options

Getting there...
Starting point of this trip is Bled in NW Slovenia (google maps).
By plane: closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it.  From the airport you can travel to Bled by bus (change once, takes about 2 hrs) or book our transfer: Ljubljana Airport to Bled or vv 30 EUR per person; one way, two persons minimum.
By train: Bled has two railway stations: Lesce Bled on the Villach - Ljubljana mainline, 4 km away from town center, need to take a bus or call us, we'll give you a lift for free. Other is Bled Jezero on  Jesenice - Nova Gorica sideline only a few trains a day. 2 km away from town center, we'll have to give you a lift or, in most cases you can simply walk to first hotel which is 100 meters away.
By car: take exit Lesce from A1 motorway Ljubljana - Jesenice, Karavanke

.... and away
Simple, use one of the above options or - cycle away: consider our cycling trip Best Of Slovenia!

> Gallery