> Intro

This "Cross country tour" whisks you through the majority of Slovenia's most famous historical places, along with the many natural wonders this diverse little country has to offer. It is suitable for cyclists with plenty of time and an average fitness level.

Cycling tour highlights:
•    Swim in crystal clear mountain lakes
•    Take a break at "The Triple Bridge" in Ljubljana
•    Visit Postojna or Škocjan caves, and the famous Lipizzaner horses
•    Chill out with a capuccino in the famous Piazza Unita, Trieste
•    Stay on a vineyard, and sip the sumptuous Teran wine
•    Small individual hotels, great food

> Itinerary

Day 1: BLED 4* hotel (Voted best overall hotel in 2011! by our guests).
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 clifftop castle standing guard over the town, Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist attractions.

Day 2: BLED – RIBČEV LAZ (BOHINJ) (19 km / 32 km with a detour).
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: RIBČEV LAZ (BOHINJ) – ŠKOFJA LOKA (53 km). 3* hotel.
Leaving Bohinj you cycle up 750 m/2400 ft to the Jelovica high plateau. From the top the trail drops off into the Selška Dolina Valley leading to the lush green Škofja Loka hills. The route takes you through a number of historic little villages until you finally arrive in the wonderful town of Škofja Loka, one of the oldest towns in Slovenia, where you can visit the hilltop castle.

Day 4: ŠKOFJA LOKA – LJUBLJANA (31 km).
A nice leisurely day across flat landscape. 3* hotel.
Today you cycle to the Slovene capital, where you can visit the historic old town, take a ride up to the mighty Ljubljana Castle, perched high on a hill overlooking the centre. As the sun goes down you can relax with a meal and drinks in one of the many riverside restaurants, or at Nebotičnik, the highest building in Ljubljana and offering a panoramic view of the city.

Day 5: LJUBLJANA - VRHNIKA (40 km; 58 km with a detour).
A nice easy day across plains. 4* hotel.
Today you will cycle across an immense 160-square kilometre marshy plain which was once a great lake until it dried up 6000 years ago, leaving behind a diverse landscape now home to some of Europe’s rarest forms of bird, plant and insect life. You can also visit the picturesque Iški Vintgar gorge nature reserve, and visit the remnants of the world’s highest railway viaduct.

Day 6: VRHNIKA – POSTOJNA (33 km (44 with a detour)).
Gentle hills, forest roads. 3* hotel.
Today you will experience the beauty of the Slovenian karst countryside as you cycle past the beautiful Slivnica Mountain and the magical disappearing lakes of Cerknica and Planina, and marvel at the wonders of this vast world of limestone. You can have a picnic in the Rakov Škocjan nature reserve, where the Rak River has carved out a stunning gorge containing two natural bridges.

Day 7: POSTOJNA – ŠTANJEL (46 km; 55 km with detour). 2* country inn.
Today you visit the beautiful underground Postojna caves and are whisked into a world of limestone caverns and giant stalactites and stalagmites. You can also visit the impenetrable fortress of Predjama castle and learn about Erasmus, who kept a whole army at bay by utilizing the secret of the Predjama Caves. Learn how Erasmus met his untimely demise in less than poetic circumstances, as he was literally caught with his pants down.

Day 8: ROUND TRIP IN ŠTANJEL (45 km).       
Spend the day in a typical Karst village in the heart of vineyard country, where you will see a museum of well-kept traditional houses built entirely from the surrounding limestone. Visit a local painter and artist and try the local food: delicious Karst ham (pršut) and tasty wine from one of the many nearby domestic cellars and visit the lovely Štanjel Castle.

Day 9: ŠTANJEL – LIPICA – DIVAČA (31 km).
Mostly flat with just one long, but steady uphill climb. 4* hotel.
First stop is at the lovely botanical garden in Sežana, then it’s on to the stud farm of Lipica, where you can visit these beautiful thoroughbred Lipizaner horses whose glistening white coats and gentle, graceful dancing have earned them a worldwide reputation.

Day 10:  DIVAČA – LIPICA – TRIESTE – KOPER (40 km).
There are two optional trips:
Tour A. Route through Slovenia – 60 km, descent into the valley of Hrastovlje, where a well-known church featuring an interesting “death dance” fresco can be visited. This variant goes through quiet countryside. 
Tour B. Route through Italy (55 km) and the lively port of Trieste. Long downhill ride from the high Karst plateau to Trieste. 3* hotel.

If you skipped Postojna caves – this morning you can visit Škocjan Caves – no less interesting but far less frequented. For your last day you take a slight diversion into the Italian town of Trieste. Visit the castle, cathedral and Piazza Unita central square. The tour ends at Slovenia’s port town, Koper, the largest ‘island’ town on the Slovenian Adriatic coast, and you can cycle along the coastal path and visit the gorgeous Venetian architecture in the little harbour village of Piran.

Day 11: DEPARTURE FROM KOPER.
An easy return trip is possible by train to Ljubljana. Additional nights may be booked in Koper.

> Price

Price: 820 EUR per person based on 2 person sharing
(Currency converter here)

price includes:
•    Accommodation in hotels ***/**** and country inn in two bedded room with WC and shower, on a bed & breakfast basis.
•    Luggage transport between hotels (one piece per person).
•    Information package including text road book and maps (one per booking party).
•    Free entry to swimming pools in Koper hotel (pools are in partner's hotel)
•    Wine tasting in Hruševica (2 sorts of wine, wine liqueur and cheese).
•    Free parking in Bled, at the hotel or Helia office.
•    Backup service (hotline) during the trip.

optional extras:
•    Half board (10 dinners, dinners in Škofja Loka and Vrhnika are taken in local inns) 160 EUR.
•    Bike rental 125 EUR (hybrid touring bikes are equipped with 21 gears, cycling meter, lock, one pannier, one spare tube, set of Allen keys and basic puncture repair set. Price includes delivery and pick up). Every additional day: 15 EUR per bike. Bike rental period starts 9:00 day 2 of the tour (on the day clients leave Ljubljana) and ends on the evening of their arrival in Koper – 18:00 of day 10.
•    “Help out lift” to top of the pass on day 3: 15 EUR (payable on spot, needs to be reserved at least two days ahead).
•    Helmet rental 18 EUR.
•    Transfers. Ljubljana Airport to Bled – 30 EUR. Klagenfurt Airport to Bled – 45 EUR. Koper to Ljubljana Airport – 60 EUR. Koper to Bled 80 EUR. Koper to Trieste downtown - 35 EUR. Koper to Trieste Airport - 65 EUR. All prices per person, 2 persons minimum, one way.
•    Additional nights: *** Hotel in Bled: 49 EUR per person in standard double room, B&B. Single room: 65 EUR. Half board: +15 EUR. **** Hotel in Bled: 75 EUR per person in lake view double room, Single room: 135 EUR Half board: +25 EUR (4-course dinner). *** Hotel in Ljubljana: 62 EUR per person in standard double room, B&B. Single room: 75 EUR. Half board: +12 EUR. *** Hotel in Koper: 62 EUR per person in standard double room, B&B. 69 EUR per person in superior double room, B&B. Single room: + 19 EUR. Half board: +15 EUR.

single supplement:
•    190 EUR

price excludes: flights, entrance fees, not mentioned meals, drinks with meals

> 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 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 the 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 the first hotel which is 100 meters away.
By car: take exit Lesce on the A1 motorway Ljubljana - Jesenice, Karavanke

.... and away

By plane: closest airport is Trieste, 50 km NW (served Ryanair to many destinations). We can best arrange you a transfer, price is 60 EUR per person, two persons minimum. Next is Ljubljana (LJU). You can return to Ljubljana by bus, train or our transfer, price is 60 EUR per person, two persons minimum
By train: Koper railway station is 1 km away from hotel. Trains leave from here to Ljubljana. If you wish to travel onwards to Rijeka (Croatia) you need to change in Pivka, however, only few trains cross the border! There are no train connections to Italy, you'll need to travel first to Trieste
By boat: there are ferries operation to Greece and seasonal sailings along Slovene coast to Croatia
By car: if your car is in Ljubljana, you can return there by bus or train. Our transfer costs 45 EUR per person, one way, two persons minimum

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