> Intro

A picturesque countryside tour with an emphasis on wine, good food and relaxation in hot thermal springs. Suitable for cyclists of basic fitness, also families with children. Modest daily distances leave a lot of time for taking photos or relaxing in hot springs.

Tour highlights:
•    visit Maribor - European Capital of Culture 2012
•    stay in Ptuj, oldest slovene city with 2000 years of vivid history
•    enjoy the sun setting behind the vineyards of Jeruzalem
•    soak in the hot springs of Moravske Toplice
•    overnight on a typical farm and taste local wines

This trip is also available as a guided group tour, check here.

 

> Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN MARIBOR. 3* hotel.
Your cycling starting point is Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city. The town is located on the banks of the Drava River and is home to one of the country’s few town castles. The castle houses the only Slovene fashion museum, which has an excellent collection of costumes and uniforms, the most prestigious being a military uniform worn by Tito.

Day 2: MARIBOR – PTUJ (25 km). 4* spa hotel with indoor and outdoor spa.
Your route follows the Drava River as it meanders its way south-east across the vineyards and orchards of the Drava Plain and passes through Ptuj, the oldest settlement in Slovenia with 2000 years of history and an incredibly well preserved castle dating as far back as 69 AD. Visit the Ptuj Wine Cellar, which has its own shop and tasting room, and try the Traminec white wine.

Day 3: PTUJ – JERUZALEM (40 km). 4* mansion, set among the vineyards
Today your route takes you across the eastern plains that lead through tiny villages and picturesque scenery. In the village of Ormož you can visit the wine cellars for lunch and taste the white wines that are predominant in the region. From here you cycle northwards along the famous Ormož to Ljutomer wine road, through a myriad of terraced vineyards where the sound of the Klopotec, wooden wind rattles, will fill the air.

Day 4: JERUZALEM – MORAVSKE TOPLICE (45 km, 49 with a side trip). 4* hotel
In the morning you continue along the wine road; on a clear day you can see as far as Hungary. There is a never-ending choice of wine cellars between here and Ljutomer offering some of the best white wines in the region; although you might not want to stop at too many in case you start cycling around in circles bleary-eyed. Visit the floating mill of Veržej before crossing the Mura River into the most eastern region of Slovenia, Prekmurje.

Day 5: MORAVSKE TOPLICE (Rest day or round trip of 50 km). 4* hotel.
You can take the day off and immerse yourself in the healing powers of the thermal spa that Moravske Toplice is most famous for. Or you can take a short cycling trip out to Bukovnica Lake, said to have bio-energetic healing effects! Along the way you’ll see the many L-shaped farmhouses and the beautiful white storks nesting on the rooftops. Enjoy a coffee in Lendava and try the local specialty cake, gibanica.

Day 6: MORAVSKE TOPLICE – CERKVENJAK (41 km). 2* country inn.
As you head back westward you will stop at Murska Sobota Castle, which houses a regional museum with an interesting exhibition devoted to the culture and traditions of the Prekmurje region. You will then cross the River Mura on an old-fashioned float before cycling across low green hills and ending the day in the small settlement of Lenart, set amid the lovely Slovenske Gorice Hills.

Day 7: CERKVENJAK – MARIBOR (35 km). 3* hotel.
Sauerkraut and blood sausages: for your final day you can take a leisurely ride through quaint rural villages and farms. Soon you will join the Malečnik wine road that leads into Maribor. Although this is predominantly white wine territory, there are a couple of very good reds. Stop in the small village of Vodole, where you can have lunch in one of the tourist farms serving up grilled blood sausages with sauerkraut.

Day 8: DEPARTURE FROM MARIBOR.

> Price

Price: 570 EUR per person based on 2 people sharing
(Currency converter here)

price includes:
•    Accommodation in above 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 text route description (one per booking party)
•    Free entry in hotel swimming pools in Moravske Toplice and Ptuj
•    Free wine with dinner in Lenart on day 6
•    Backup service (hotline) during the trip
•    With group tour: English speaking tour guide who cycles with the group. He takes care of the tour organization, bikes, luggage transfer, organizes visits and picnics

optional extras:
•    Half board 125 EUR
•    Bike rental 75 EUR per week (touring bikes are equipped with lock, pannier, 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 hire starts at 9:00 on day 2 and ends at 18:00 on day 7
•    Helmet rental 12 EUR per week
•    Transfers. Ljubljana AP (or downtown) – Maribor 65 EUR. Graz AP to Maribor 40 EUR. All prices per person, 2 persons minimum, one way
•    Additional night in Maribor in 3* hotel, per person per night, in a double room, B&B: 70 EUR. Single room: 90 EUR. Half board supplement: + 15 EUR

single supplement
•    130 EUR

price excludes: flights, entrance fees, not mentioned meals, drinks with meals (unless noted)

> Travel options

Getting there...
Starting point of this trip is Maribor in NE Slovenia (google maps)
By plane: closest airport is Graz, served by Ryanair from London Stansted. Next is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it.  From the airport you can travel to Maribor by bus (direct buses, takes about 3 hrs) or train (every 2 hours, takes about 2 hours) or book our transfer: Ljubljana Airport to Maribor, 65 EUR per person; one way, two persons minimum
By train: Maribor railway stations is on the Vienna - Ljubljana / Zagreb mainline in town center, you can simply walk to first hotel which is 500 meters away
By car: take  any Maribor exit from A2 motorway Ljubljana Graz

.... and away: just use one of the options above.

> Gallery