Cycling Lake Bled

Visit Bled

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO BLED.

Located on the shore of a beautiful glacial lake, Bled is like a place right out of a fantasy novel. Its distinctive island church, backed by towering alpine mountains and guarded by a clifftop castle, has ensured Bled a place among Slovenia’s most popular tourist attractions. Row yourself over to the island church (or let someone else do the work for you) and marvel at the ornate golden altar while ringing the church bell and making a wish; it might come true.

TOUR A: BLED – SIGHTSEEING (↔ 15 km).

Cycling Lake Bled begins with a leisurely day around Lake Bled. Cycle around the lake and up to the castle for great views across the lake and church. For the best photos and views of the church, castle and Karavanke range, head over to the western side and hike up to Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica viewpoints. In the evening try out one of the many great restaurants and the local delicacy: Kremšnita (cream slice).

TOUR B: BLED – BODEŠČE – KROPA – RADOVLJICA - BLED (↔ 34 km, ↑↓ 510 m).

The day begins with an easy bike ride along the River Sava, SE of Bled. You can stop at Kropa, a historic blacksmith town, and visit the iron forging museum. Pop up to the little hilltop village of Jamnik for a picture-perfect view of Jamnik Church with the Kamnik Alps right behind it. A photographer's dream. On the way back, stop in the beautifully preserved old town of Radovljica with its interesting beekeeping museum, Church of Saint Peter with its ornate vaulted ceiling and beautiful frescoes, and even better - nice ice cream shop...

TOUR C: BLED – BEGUNJE – BLED (↔ 41 km, ↑↓ 490 m).

Today you'll head out to the home of Slavko Avsenik, a legendary Slovenian Folk musician, in the sunny village of Begunje. Have lunch at his famous restaurant, Avsenik Gostilna. After lunch, you can visit the Museum of Hostages and the ruins of Kamen Castle. In the afternoon you will pass Brezje Basilica, an important religious site and pilgrimage destination for many Slovene people.

TOUR D: BLED – GORJE (↔ 17 km, ↑↓ 310 m).

Today's trip will take you to the beautiful Vintgar Gorge, carved 150m deep into the mountains by the Radovna River and ending at the Šum Waterfall. Then it's on to the less-visited Pokljuka Gorge, carved 10,000 years ago at the eastern edge of the plateau. Here you can leave your bike and take a stroll through ancient woodlands and a fossilized ravine left behind by the retreating glacier.

TOUR E: BLED – BOHINJ (↔ 47 km, ↑ 310 m, ↓ 1.040 m).

After a car transfer to the top of the Pokljuka high plateau, you will cycle back down into the Bohinj Valley through alpine villages and past the unique Slovene hay-racks until reaching Lake Bohinj. Hemmed in by the majestic Julian Alps, this dead-end alpine valley is a spectacle not to be missed. Cycle around the lake to Savica Waterfall, and then take the cable car up to Vogel Mountain for a spectacular view of shimmering alpine scenery.

TOUR F: BLED – KRMA VALLEY (↔ 37 km, ↑↓ 480 m).

First, you cycle through the Radovna valley, between two great plateaus to the foot of Mount Triglav. Here you can have lunch in the shadow of this mighty mountain before continuing on through a peaceful forested valley littered with WW2 monuments and traditional farmhouses, one of which has been adapted into a museum that was even visited by Prince Charles.

Day 8: DEPARTURE.

After breakfast your tour ends or you can prolong your stay or continue cycling. There are two tours starting from Bled: Lakes & Cities and Best Of Slovenia.

Price

Price per person based on two people sharing:

Low season: March 23 to May 3 and September 21 to October 12, 2024: 885 EUR
High season: May 4 to September 20, 2024: 955 EUR

(Currency converter)

Price includes:
•    accommodation in hotel 4* town center in a two bedded en-suite facilities room, on basis of bed & breakfast
•    tour description and maps in GUIBO application electronic form
•    welcome meeting and bike handover
•    local tourist and other taxes
•    backup service (hotline) during the trip

Optional extras:
•    single traveler 495 EUR, applies when a person travels alone
•    single room 455 EUR, applies when a person in traveling together with other persons in party
•    bike rental 90 EUR, classic touring bikes are equipped with 24 gears, one pannier per bike, one lock, one repair set per couple /pair of bikes - one long lock, one spare inner tube, one set of Allen keys, tire levers and a basic puncture patch set. Every additional rental day: 25 EUR per bike. Bike rental period starts at 9:00 on day 2 of the tour and ends at 18:00 on day 7.
•    electric bike 230 EUR
•    helmet rental 12 EUR per tour
•    printed information package including route notes and corresponding maps delivered upon arrival - 30 EUR per set

Additional nights:
•   4* Hotel in Bled 130 EUR per person per night in a standard double room, B&B. Single room 170 EUR

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

Not included: entrance fees, lunches, dinners, drinks with meals, saunas and massages in hotels

Transfers:

Ljubljana Airport to Bled
1–3 persons: 80 EUR
4–8 persons: 110 EUR

Ljubljana City to Bled
1–3 persons: 110 EUR
4–8 persons: 150 EUR

Villach to Bled
1–3 persons: 160 EUR
4–8 persons: 180 EUR

Klagenfurt Airport to Bled
1–3 persons: 200 EUR
4–8 persons: 230 EUR

Lesce Bled Railway Station to Bled
1–3 persons: 20 EUR
4–8 persons: 30 EUR

Trieste Airport to Bled
1–3 persons: 340 EUR
4–8 persons: 390 EUR

All prices per transfer, one way. No pooling permitted. Price includes transport of bikes.

Route profile

Total Length: 188 km

Waytype: 80% regional country roads, 10% cycleways, 10% street road (town approach sections).

Surface: 90% asphalt and paved, 10% unpaved.

Difficulty: medium - for those who, for example complete daily trip to the market by bike in nice weather and consider cycling should be fun but not training. Gentle hills or stretches on gravel paths do not cause any difficulties. Average daily elevation gains between 100 and 500 meters.

Accommodation

Helia supports responsible travel. On our trips we therefore use small, authentic hotels and guesthouses with character operated by locals or their families. Here you can find the list of standard accommodation we primarily use on the trip. The actual hotels may differ from this list, depending on time of booking and rooms availability.

Day 1-7: 4* Hotel 

Travel options

Starting point of this trip is Bled in NW Slovenia.

Getting there...

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 two hrs) or book our transfer from Ljubljana Airport to Bled (faster - 20 min).

By train: Bled has two railway stations: Lesce-Bled station on the Villach - Ljubljana mainline, 4 km away from town center. You'll need to take a bus to Bled center. The other station is Bled-Jezero on the Jesenice - Nova Gorica sideline, only a few trains a day. 2 km away from town center.

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!

Your bike

Helia bikes are available in different sizes in unisex model:

Touring bike 24-gear Shimano Deore
Touring-Ebike 4 electronic gears / 9 mechanical gears Shimano

Features:

• aluminium frame
• mudguard
• rear rack
• comfort gel saddle
• anti-puncture Continental tires
• ergonomic bicycle grips

All rented adult bikes are equipped with:

• Vaude one-sided saddlebag
• combination bike lock

Only for self-guided tours: one repair kit per two bikes: one spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, two Allen keys and tire levers

Other available rental bikes

Gallery