Lake Bled to Venice

Self-guided Tours

from 995 EUR

Departure

Saturdays and Sundays from 25.3. until 14.10.2023

Duration

8 days / 7 nights

Starting Point

Lake Bled

Total Distance

330 km

Activity Level

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Cycling from the alpine lakes to the magnificent lagoon

Cycling from Lake Bled to Venice - can you imagine a more beautiful starting point than the world-famous lakeside town of Bled, surrounded by the Alps? Over the mountain pass, between almost 3000 m high peaks, along the cold Soča, you reach gentle hills of Goriška Brda covered with vineyards and orchards. And finally you can refresh yourself in the sea. We recommend this bike tour to cyclists who have a special inclination to observe nature and history - not only nature - also food and Slovenian Teran will ensure that the tour remains an unforgettable experience

As a pre-trip, why not consider our Salzburg to Bled trip.

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN BLED

Start your cycling holiday in Bled, a world-renowned alpine town on the banks of the beautiful glacial lake, with the striking island church surrounded by high peaks, and the cliff-top castle guarding the town. Bled is one of the most popular and well-known tourist attractions in Slovenia. If you arrive early enough, you can walk around the lake or take the boat to the island church and make a wish. A stay in Bled is not complete without seeing the lake from above. So walk to the castle or hike 40 minutes to Mala Osojnica for beautiful views. Round off your evening with Bled's culinary delight - the cream cake.

Day 2: BLED – BOHINJSKA BISTRICA (↔ 27 km; 43 km with additional excursion, ↑ 110 m, ↓ 810 m)

You will be taken by car to Pokljuka, a forested plateau. Then you cycle through beautiful alpine villages, through the Triglav National Park to Lake Bohinj surrounded by the mighty Julian Alps. It is the largest and deepest lake in the national park. If you arrive early enough, you can take a 20-minute hike to the Savica waterfall that fills the lake and Sava Bohinjka river.

Day 3: BOHINJ – TOLMIN (↔ 56 km; or 35 km if by train to Podbrdo, ↑ 1,210 m, ↓ 1,530 m)

Today you can cycle over the Sorica Pass over the Julian Alps or take the train through the Bohinj Tunnel to Podbrdo. Then continue cycling through a narrow valley where you will join the beautiful emerald green Soča River as it tumbles out of the mountains towards the west side of the Julian Alps. Hurry up and visit the Tolmin Gorge with its breathtaking scenery, like the Bear's Head - a natural bridge made of a huge boulder wedged into a narrow part of the gorge.

Day 4: TOLMIN – ŠMARTNO / DOBROVO (↔ 34 km; or 46 km without transfer to Kolovrat Saddle, ↑ 690 m, ↓ 810 m)

You start on the ridge of Kolovrat - the best vantage point, high above the Soča valley that forms the border between Slovenia and Italy. The ridge is about 7 km long and lies at an altitude of between 800 m and 1150 m. Be sure to visit Mrs Josephine, who runs an old-fashioned pub in the first village you cycle through. After descending, you will reach your destination for the day – Šmartno v Goriških Brdih, a recently beautifully renovated medieval village with narrow streets and Mediterranean houses. Relax here with a glass of white wine in an authentic village pub.

Day 5: ŠMARTNO - GRADO (↔ 67 km, ↑ 330 m, ↓ 580 m)

After leaving the Brda wine region, you will reach the so-called »Southern City of Berlin«. The city of Gorizia was once the dividing point between Italy and Yugoslavia. Here you can visit a very interesting museum. Further along the border you come to the smallest military museum in the world (an old Yugoslavian outpost) and the ancient Kostanjevica Monastery, where the last French king was buried. Then it goes south, to Italy, where you soon reach the sea. Spend the afternoon in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, passing rivers, canals and ancient Roman cities. Your destination is Aquileia, with its Roman ruins, or Grado, a historic resort on a lagoon island.

Day 6: GRADO - PORTOGRUARO (↔ 87 km; or 59 km if shortened with the train journey, ↑ 110 m, ↓ 110 m)

This morning you cycle back a bit, inland and leave the sea behind. You will traverse a multitude of 'Valli da pesca' (long stretches of lagoons enclosed by dams and home to extensive fish farming) and 'casoni' (constructions once used by fishermen during the fishing season). Your destination is the city of Portogruaro, which was one of the centers during the Venetian Republic period and still impresses with its magnificent palazzi or palaces.

Day 7: PORTOGRUARO – LIDO DI JESOLO / JESOLO (↔ 67 km, ↑ 90 m, ↓ 90 m)

From Portogruaro you can expect a comfortable drive west along beautiful Adriatic beaches. There are plenty of relaxation and swimming opportunities, so don't forget to take your swimming gear with you. You will stay in one of the two towns along this famous coastline, subject to availability. Jesolo is a gateway to Venice, from here you can easily travel to the airport or to the old town on the lagoon.

Day 8: DEPARTURE

After breakfast the cycling from Lake Bled to Venice tour ends. But you can stay longer or visit the historic city of Venice.

Price

Price per person in double room:

Departures on Saturdays and Sundays
Low season: March 25 to May 7 and September 23 to October 15, 2023: EUR 995
High season: May 13 to September 10, 2023: EUR 1,065

(other currency)

No departures from 22.7 to 20.8.2023. Groups of 6 or more can start on any other day of the week.

Services:
•   accommodation in twin room DWC, based on bed and breakfast
•   baggage transfer between hotels, (one piece per person max. 20 kgs)
•   transfers on days two and four
•   information package including detailed route description with maps in electronic form
•   welcome meeting with Helia representative on arrival day
•   GPS files
•   local tourist taxes in Slovenia
•   service hotline

Extra cost:
•   individual travelers 360 EUR
•   single room 220 EUR
•   bike rental 120 EUR (including delivery and collection). Standard 21-speed trekking bikes are equipped with a lock, a bike computer, two side bags, a pump and a repair kit per pair of bikes. Each extra day 18 EUR. Each extra bike computer 20 EUR, to be paid on site. Bike rental starts at 9:00 a.m. on day 2 and ends at 6:00 p.m. on day 7.
•   electric bike 260 EUR
•   helmet rental 12 EUR per tour
•   temporary transfer on day 3 30 EUR per person, to be paid on site
•   printed information pack in German with route descriptions and relevant maps on arrival 30 EUR

Additional nights:
•   4* hotel in Bled 105 EUR per person per night in a standard double room, BB. Single room 170 EUR
•   4* hotel in Ribčev Laz / Bohinj 75 EUR per person and night in a standard double room, BB. Single room 105 EUR
•   4* hotel in Lido di Jesolo on request

Discounts:
• children up to 12 years of age sharing a room with parents receive a 30% discount on the basic price
• third adult in the room 10% discount on the basic price

Not included: Optional train ticket to Podbrdo on day 3, entrance fees, snacks, drinks with meals, saunas and massages in the hotels, tourist and local taxes in Italy

Route profile

Total Length: 220 km
Terrain: 95% paved, 5% unpaved

Paved roads, some side and unpaved roads, also hilly routes. The length of the daily cycling routes is estimated and depends on local information and various detours or shortcuts that can be done en route. Sailing and cycling routes may be changed on the spot due to weather conditions and the capacity of the respective cyclists on board. Departure is during the morning hours, mostly after breakfast.

Accommodation

Helia supports responsible travel. Therefore, on our travels we use small, authentic hotels and guesthouses with character, run by locals or their families. Here is the list of standard accommodations that we mainly use on the trip. Actual hotels may vary from this list depending on the time of booking and room availability.

Day 1 4* Hotel Triglav / Hotel Park / Bled

Day 2 4* Hotel Kristal Ribčev laz / Bohinj

Day 3 3* Hotel Dvorec / Tolmin

Day 4 3* Hotel San Martin / Šmartno v Goriških Brdih

Day 5 4* Hotel Diana or Hotel Villa Rossa / Grado

Day 6 4* Hotel Spesoto / Portogruaro

Day 7 4* Hotel Lido di Jesolo / Jesolo

Travel options

The starting point of this journey is Bled.

Getting there ...

By plane: nearest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Lufthansa flies twice a day from Frankfurt to Ljubljana. From the airport you can go to Bled by bus (one change, takes about 2 hours) or book our transfer.
By train: Bled has two railway stations: Lesce-Bled on the Villach - Ljubljana main line, 4 km from the center, from there you can take a bus. Other railway station is Bled-Jezero on Jesenice - Nova Gorica branch line. 2 km from the center, Hotel Triglav is only 100 meters further.
By car: exit Lesce from highway A1 Ljubljana - Jesenice, Karavanke tunnel ....

.. and away

By plane: Venice Marco Polo (VEN) airport is about 20 km away. You can go to the airport by bus or by boat.
By train: Venice has two train stations: Santa Lucia on the Lagoon and Venice Mestre on the mainland. Please note that not all international trains go to the Lagoon Station!