A couple went cycling for one and a half weeks to discover beautiful natural and historical treasures in Slovenia.
The call
Stanislas called us at the agreed time after we had contacted him on the Velstana website. We discussed for about 20 minutes, which was sufficient to address all important details and build our upcoming tailor-made tour in Slovenia.
We told him that we wanted to spend a 1½-week cycling holiday in Slovenia. We would like to ride at our own pace and do a big loop tour by returning to where the holiday originally began. We requested a balanced package to discover Slovenia’s natural and cultural treasures. We also pointed out that we could cover a distance of about 50 km per day, taking into account the elevation gains of each stage. We decided to rent e-bikes, as we knew Slovenia is not a flat country.
Stanislas suggested a cycling tour starting from Ljubljana and going around Triglav National Park. We would be able to discover Slovenian cultural gems while exploring natural wonders such as Bled Lake. The routes would be scenic. We would use cycle paths and secondary roads with very little traffic. It would be sometimes hilly, but riding an e-bike would make each stage easy, especially when the road goes up. Concerning accommodation, we requested to stay in comfortable hotels or guesthouses on a B&B basis. Lastly, Stanislas confirmed that luggage transfers would obviously be taken care of between each accommodation.
The reservation
Stanislas emailed us a detailed description of our tailor-made cycling holiday and a quotation the following week. It included all the elements we discussed and agreed upon during our call. He also sent us helpful advice for purchasing our flight tickets on our own.
As a result, we approved and signed the quotation electronically and paid a deposit. As soon as we booked our flight tickets, we forwarded the details to Stanislas so that he could arrange a smooth private transfer from the airport. We were looking forward to discovering Slovenia by bike!
The preparations
Two weeks before departure, we received a comprehensive travel book setting out the complete itinerary by email. It included a link to an easy-to-use app displaying the routes we should follow on our smartphones. In addition, we received further information, such as travel advice and suggestions of bars and restaurants and local food to try.
Thanks to a specific reference number sent by Velstana, the travel book was also available online via a link and on a handy free app – that could be used offline – available for iOS and Android devices.
Map sample Cycling holiday in Slovenia
Trip details
Day
1
First steps in Ljubljana
Upon arrival at Ljubljana Airport, a taxi driver greeted us and we reached our accommodation in the heart of the Slovenian capital after 30 minutes. After dropping off our luggage, we went for a walk in the old town to explore its treasures, including its bridges, its dragons, its squares, its market, its castle, and its architectural buildings of the Baroque and Art Nouveau periods. It was really beautiful, especially the view of the city from the hilltop castle. In the evening, we had dinner in a local restaurant recommended by Velstana. We tried Slovenian food and wine, and they were both very tasty.Read moreHide
Day
2
Ljubljana – Skofja Loka (22 km, 200 m+)
In the morning, we continued exploring Ljubljana and strolled its cobbled streets. After lunch, our e-bikes were delivered and we cycled towards Skofja Loka. The countryside landscapes right after exiting Ljubljana were already gorgeous. We discovered Skoja Loka, a city boasting a beautiful medieval historical centre featuring a castle.
Day
3
Skofja Loka – Bled (45 km, 660 m+)
The second stage of our cycling holiday was memorable. We hit the road and stopped in two lovely towns, namely Kranj and Radovljica. Then we continued pedaling in the hilly countryside before arriving at spectacular Bled Lake. We discovered the lake with an island and a church located in the middle. We also walked up to Bled Castle and took in a stunning panoramic view. To reward the physical efforts we made, we could not miss eating Bled’s culinary delight, namely kremšnita.
Day
4
Bled – Kranjska Gora (39 km, 640 m+)
After breakfast, we climbed to Vintgar Gorge, which is a 1.6 km long and up to 250 m deep gorge. We took a stroll to discover this amazing natural spot. The scenery was really stunning! We continued our cycling tour towards the lovely mountain resort of Kranjska Gora, passing through several small villages. The landscapes across green valleys and along Sava River were equally spectacular. We were starry-eyed!
Day
5
Kranjska Gora – Bovec (47 km, 650 m+)
We continued our cycling adventure across the Julian Alps, taking in beautiful views of mountains, valleys, and lakes. The route led us to northeastern Italy and the sceneries were also magical. It was delightful to pedal in this kind of environment! After 20 km in Italy, the itinerary returned to Slovenia where we cycled along a picturesque river before arriving in Slovenia’s outdoor capital, namely Bovec.
Day
6
Bovec – Tolmin (39 km, 270 m+)
We used an easy cycling route – mainly descending – along Soča River, dubbed the “Emerald Beauty”. The colour of the river was really beautiful. Along the route, we explored several natural sites such as waterfalls, pools, and valleys. We passed by several small towns and villages and arrived in Kobarid. There, we saw its fascinating heritage of World War I. After this stop, we carried on until we reached our accommodation in Tolmin. As we still had plenty of time and energy ahead of us that afternoon, we decided to make an extra detour in Tolmin Gorge. It was worth the extra effort as the site proved to be majestic!
Day
7
Tolmin – Gorizia – Bohinj Lake (46 km, 450 m+)
We cycled all day long along Soča River and the historical Bohinj Railway towards Gorizia and Nova Gorizia. The landscapes of Soča Valley and of Brda hills rich in vineyards were amazing. We passed by several small lovely villages and natural sights before crossing the border with Italy and arriving in Gorizia, Italy. It was a charming town with a castle and beautiful palaces and churches from the Baroque period. It was also real fun to step on Transalpine Square, where the border passed. At the same time, we had one foot in Italy and another in Slovenia. We caught the train with our bikes onboard to head towards beautiful Bohinj Lake. The ride was a memorable experience as we took in stunning sceneries.
Day
8
Bohinj Lake – Bled (42 km, 800 m+)
After breakfast, we hit the road towards Mostnica Gorge. We took a walk through the picturesque gorge before riding towards the plateau of Pokljuka. Our efforts for the ascent were rewarded by beautiful landscapes along the road. Lastly, we descended towards the Alpine pearl of Bled. We never got tired of that beautiful panoramic view of the area. We returned our bikes and spent our last night in Bled.
Day
9
Last day in Bled
After a last stroll in Bled and around its picturesque lake, a taxi picked us up and transferred us to the airport to catch our return flight. Our cycling holiday in Slovenia was over, but it was unforgettable. We were looking forward to discovering the neighbouring Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia … by bike of course!
Pricing for this tailor-made cycling holiday in Slovenia: €1,390 per person
Included:
Accommodation 7 nights in a double room: 3- or 4-star hotel or very comfortable guesthouse (breakfast included)
Round-trip private airport transfer (to Ljubljana city centre on Day 1 and from Bled on the last day)
Rental of two hybrid bikes with a back pannier or saddlebags, helmet, and repairing toolkit
Bike delivery on Day 1 in Ljubljana
Luggage transfers between hotels/guesthouses for each stage
Supplement for renting an e-bike: €100
Travel Book accessible anywhere, anytime, including a one-of-a-kind cycling itinerary available on an easy-to-use smartphone app
Excluded:
Flight tickets
Museum and historic site entry tickets
Meals other than those listed as included
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
The abovementioned sample prices are for guidance only and are not binding. The total cost of your holiday will depend on a number of factors, including time of year of travel and choice of accommodation and transport. The actual cost of your holiday is as set out in the Booking Confirmation.
