From alpine lakes to a sun-drenched coast packed with mountain views, immense bodies of water and flowing wine.
Starting at the fairy-tale world of Lake Bled, a glacial lake famed for its beautiful island church and clifftop castle, your ride will take you first through alpine Slovenia's most beautiful mountain vistas, over a high pass, along cool flowing rivers and out into a valley laden with vineyards. Castles and hilltop churches will dominate your view, along with great local wine and food in the Karst region (a beautiful limestone plateau). Finally, the sunny coast awaits with lazy promenades and beautiful Venetian architecture. This is the perfect cycling holiday for lovers of diverse landscape, good food and great local wine, and people who would like nothing more than to soak their feet in the warm sea after a long journey by bike.
As a pre-trip, why not consider our Salzburg to Lake Bled.
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL TO BLED.
To begin with, you can dip your feet in the beautiful glacial Lake Bled. This shimmering body of water is famous for its distinctive island church and the clifftop castle all backed by the beautiful Karavanke Mountains. Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist attractions. You can take a stroll around the western side of the lake for some of the best views and photographs, and then have lunch and the locally famous cream cake (Kremšnita) on the eastern side while watching the sunset over the mountains.
Day 2: BLED – BOHINJSKA BISTRICA (↔ 27 km, ↑ 130 m, ↓ 830 m ) +side trip to Savica waterfall (return ↔ 16 km, ↑↓ 200 m )
A short car transfer leaves you on the high plateau at Pokljuka. From here you'll cycle through alpine villages to Lake Bohinj, the jewel of the Triglav National Park. Encircled by tall mountain peaks, Bohinj is the largest and deepest lake in the national park. A side trip takes you to Savica Waterfall - the source of the lake and the Sava Bohinjka River. A cable car runs up to Vogel Mountain, where you can get a spectacular view into the Bohinj Valley and of Mount Triglav, the highest peak in the Julian Alps. (Accommodation in 4* hotel.)
Day 3: BOHINJ – TOLMIN (↔ 55 km, ↑ 1.020 m, ↓ 1.340 m ) or (↔ 30 km, ↑ 200 m, ↓ 510 m if taking train shortcut to Bohinjska Bistrica - Podbrdo).
In the morning you'll have two options. Your route will take you via the Sorica Pass over the Julian Alps, but if you want to save some time and climbing you can take a short train ride through the Bohinj tunnel to Podbrdo. Then you paddle off through a narrow valley and follow the beautiful emerald-green Soča River as it rushes out of the mountains and into the western side of the Julian Alps. Just before reaching your destination you'll have a chance to dive into its supernatural waters or visit the only monument in the world dedicated to military cooks.
Day 4: TOLMIN – ŠMARTNO – SOLKAN (↔ 46 km, ↑ 470 m, ↓ 1.410 m )
You will be car-transferred to Kolovrat Saddle - a million dollar viewpoint high above the Soča Valley. Once the site of heavy fighting during WW1, it's now a very interesting open-air museum. Reaching the first village, Mrs. Josephine, who lives all alone in an intact old-fashioned pub, will be overjoyed to welcome you in her shady garden. Cycling the ridges above two valleys, you'll reach Šmartno v Goriških Brdih, amid an abundance of lush vineyards. A recent and beautifully restored medieval village of narrow streets with Mediterranean houses, you can stretch your legs here, sip cool white wine and chat with locals in an authentic village pub. On the way to your days destination you will cycle a unique “corridor cycling path” that cuts through Italy and see the bridge with largest stone arch in the world! (Accommodation in 3* hotel.)
Day 5: SOLKAN – KARST AREA (↔ 42 km, ↑ 550 m, ↓ 370 m )
After leaving the Brda wine region you'll reach "Southern Berlin". The Iron Curtain once split the town of Gorizia between Italy and Yugoslavia. At the railway station that stands right on the border, one can visit the very interesting Curtain museum. Cycling further along the border you'll come to the smallest military museum in the world - a historic Yugoslav border outpost. Overlooking the border is the ancient Kostanjevica Monastery, where the last French King is buried. Turning inland, you'll soon reach the vineyards of the Karst region where you can sample of the best wines in the beautiful rural setting of his small karst village. (Accommodation in 3* guesthouse.)
Day 6: KARST AREA – LIPICA – DIVAČA (↔ 50 km, ↑ 610 m, ↓ 440 m)
First stop is perhaps at the 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. The history of the Lipica horses is closely linked to the Vienna riding school. Take a tour in a traditional carriage, watch them perform and visit them close up in their stables. If you have the time for a couple of side-trips, you can also visit the unusual but very interesting “War Museum” set in the village tower of Lokev. (Accommodation in 3* hotel.)
Day 7: DIVAČA – MUGGIA (↔ 38 km, ↑ 350 m, ↓ 780 m)
This morning you have the chance to explore the Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO-listed natural monument known for their stunning beauty and tranquility. Next, head to Socerb Castle, where you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the Bay of Trieste, the Friulian Plain, and even the Julian Alps. Your day trip concludes in the charming town of Muggia, just south of Trieste. After a day of cycling, unwind with a delicious cappucino in the town's historic center or relax on one of its inviting beaches. If you arrive early, consider a quick bus or boat trip into Trieste, a vibrant Italian city renowned for its rich history, cosmopolitan vibe, and captivating atmosphere. (Accommodation in 4* hotel.)
Day 8: DEPARTURE.
After breakfast your tour ends. However, you can prolong your stay and continue cycling by taking our Croatia Istrian Coastal Tour down to Pula.
Price
Price per person based on two people sharing:
Season A: 29.3. to 2.5. and 5.10. to 11.10.2025 1.045 EUR
Season B: 3.5. to 14.8.2025 and 20.9. to 4.10.2025 1.125 EUR
Season C: 15.8. to 19.9.2025 1.175 EUR
Date of Day 1 sets the trip's season.
• Seven nights accommodation in 3* / 4* hotels and guesthouses in two bedded en-suite facilities room, on basis of bed & breakfast.
• Luggage transfer – one piece per person, max 23 kgs / 50 lb. Lufthansa airline dimensions. Every additional piece 60 EUR per trip, payable on spot.
• Tour description and maps in GUIBO application electronic form; one download per room.
• Personal welcome meeting and bike handover
• Local tourist and other taxes.
• Backup service (hotline) during the trip.
Optional supplements:
• Single travelers season A 365 EUR; season B 380 EUR; season C 395 EUR. Applies when a person travels alone. Includes single room supplement.
• Single room season A 275 EUR; season B 295 EUR; season C 315 EUR. Applies when a person is traveling together with other persons in a party.
• Standard touring bike rental 110 EUR. Bikes have 27 gears. Included are: one pannier per bike and helmet, one repair set per pair of bikes – includes: 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 9:00 of day 2 of the tour and ends at 18:00 of day 7.
• Electric bike rental 270 EUR. Every additional day 50 EUR.
• Printed information package in English or German, including route notes and detailed maps, delivered upon arrival - 30 EUR.
Additional nights:
• 4* Hotel in Bled Season A 105 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 200 EUR. Season B 115 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 210 EUR. Season C 130 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 240 EUR.
• 4* Hotel in Bohinjska Bistrica A 105 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 180 EUR. Season B 115 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 195 EUR. Season C 125 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 210 EUR.
• 3* Hotel in Karst area: season A 65 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 95 EUR. Season B 70 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 100 EUR. Season C 80 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 110 EUR.
• 4* Hotel in Muggia: season A 70 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 110 EUR. Season B 85 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B. Single room 125 EUR, season C 100 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 145 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: optional train ticket on day 3 if you would like to shorten the day trip; lunches, dinners, wine tastings, entrance fees, saunas and massages in hotels
Route Profile
Total length: 256 km / 274 km with side-trips
Way-type: 85% regional country roads, 12% cycle-ways, 3% main road (town approach sections)
Surface: 98% asphalt and paved, 2% unpaved
Difficulty: 2/4. 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: 4* Hotels Triglav, Park, Kompas, Savica, Lovec in Bled
Day 2: 4* Ecohotel in Bohinjska Bistrica
Day 3: 3* Hotel Dvorec in Tolmin
Day 4: 3* Hotel Sabotin in Solkan
Day 5: 3* Guesthouse Špacapan in Komen
Day 6: 3* Hotel Malovec in Divaca
Day 7 4* Hotel Marina San Rocco in Muggia
Travel Options & Local Transfers
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 hours) or book our transfer: Ljubljana Airport to Bled (faster - 20 min) - see below!
By bus: several Flixbus lines stop at Lake Bled.
By train: Bled has two railway stations: Lesce Bled station on the Villach - Ljubljana mainline, 4 km away from town center, need to take a bus. The other is station Bled Jezero on the Jesenice - Nova Gorica sideline only a few trains a day. Two km away from town center.
By car: take exit Lesce on the A1 motorway Ljubljana - Jesenice, Karavanke. Please consult us about parking possibilities.
.... and away
By plane: Trieste airport (TST) or Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve them. You can book our transfer: Trieste to Ljubljana Airport - see here below!
By train: several trains go daily from Trieste to Venice, one per day to Ljubljana.
By boat: there are boats operating from Trieste along the Adriatic Coast and ferries from Piran in Slovenia to Venice.
By car: if your car is in Bled we can transfer you - see here below!
Local transfers:
Ljubljana Airport to Bled: 1–3 persons 85 EUR, 4–8 persons 120 EUR
Ljubljana City to Bled: 1–3 persons 120 EUR, 4–8 persons 160 EUR
Villach to Bled: 1–3 persons 160 EUR, 4–8 persons 170 EUR
Klagenfurt Airport to Bled: 1–3 persons 195 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 240 EUR, 4–8 persons 310 EUR
Muggia to Trieste Airport: 1–3 persons 150 EUR, 4–8 persons 180 EUR
Muggia to Trieste Center: 1–3 persons 80 EUR, 4–8 persons 110 EUR
Muggia nach Bled: 1–3 persons 230 EUR, 4–8 persons 260 EUR
Muggia nach Ljubljana City: 1–3 persons 190 EUR, 4–8 persons 230 EUR
Muggia nach Ljubljana Airport: 1–3 persons 210 EUR, 4–8 persons 245 EUR
All prices per transfer, one way. Price includes transport of bikes.
Rental Bikes
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.
First Hand Experience
I have been meaning to write you an email for months, but life continues to get away. We absolutely loved the tour you put together for us this fall!!! We started with a small hiccup with the bikes, however despite your recommendations we took the road bikes and it turns out the tour you arranged for us was perfect for advanced road bikers. I could understand the steep grades wouldn't be appropriate for everybody, but being from the mountains we did not have any difficulty. We loved every second of it. Your choice of hotels was perfect, the maps and the luggage transfers were all seamless. Thanks again for making our bike trip so special. Hopefully we can use your company again in the future. I just recommended a friend to you today.
- E.M Colorado USA
