From the mountains to the sea, this NEW TOUR is for the cyclist who wants something different in a region where few westerners have ridden.

We are excited to offer a new "Best of Slovenia Tour" this year. This time we will spotlight the western region of the country and include a number of fantastic sights that are definitely off the main tourist track.

Starting in the northwest, our first rides are near the beautiful Lake Bled, famous for its island castle, and Kranska Gora, a renown World Cup ski area. Here, the tranquil alpine valleys offer staggering views of tall peaks and still ring with World War I history. A big downhill cruise is in the plan along with a rollercoaster ride on the Kolovrat Mountain ridge. Here, we will be surrounded by fantastic views of both the Julian Alps and the bay of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. This is one of our guide's favorite places in Slovenia!

No tour of Slovenia would be complete without visiting the gorgeous western vineyard region. After cycling the wine road to Stanjel we will overnight in a country inn and do a wine tasting in the owner's wine cellar. From there we continue southward through the rolling karst region and stop on route to visit one of the less touristy caves, Skocjanske Jame and continue on to Lipica, known for the famous Lipizzaner horses. The tour finishes with a fun downhill from the Karst plateau to the sea where the ride finishes in Piran on the southwestern tip of Slovenia.

This tiny country is located on the sunny side of the Alps between Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. Here, one finds a land of fantastic scenery and natural beauty; alpine peaks tower above pastoral farm valleys and mountain lakes reflect the alpenglow of sunset. Vineyards dominate a good portion of the country and medieval castles emerge from tree-covered hillsides and echo a rich past. The rural character of Slovenia makes it a natural for cycling.

Slovenia has a fascinating history influenced by numerous empires and conquering nations. It existed under the Hapsburg dynasty from the early 14th century until the end of WWI, and by the middle of the 20th century became part of Yugoslavia. In 1991, Slovenia declared its independence and has remained a prosperous, peaceful nation that tourists are just beginning to discover. Formally recognized by the European Community in 1992, it was admitted into the European Union in 2004. Slovenian people are friendly, industrious, easy going and many speak English, making travel rather easy.

The dry weather and warm sunny days of early autumn make this the perfect time for cycling, and with the seasonal harvest underway, there will be plenty of fresh produce and good local wines to treat the palate. A local Slovenian guide will accompany the tour to add insight into the history and culture of the region and lead us to some of the hidden roads that can't be found on a map. During the tour, we will use a comfortable van to connect a few of the more distant areas of the tour. "Cycling the Best of Slovenia" is a tour for the rider who wants to experience the diversity, history and beauty of this little known country from the saddle of a touring bike.

Chuck and Judy will personally accompany this tour and are excited to offer this New Route in one of our favorite destinations, Slovenia! So, the next time someone asks, “Where is Slovenia?” you can say, “It's that little country where I'm going on my next vacation!" We hope you will join us on this fun cycling adventure in one of Eastern Europe’s most unique and undiscovered regions.

Day 1: Arrival in the capital city of Ljubljana, where the legacy of the Roman Empire still lingers throughout the city. Join us for a late afternoon orientation followed by a welcome dinner. Hotel lodging in Ljubljana.

Day 2: Pokljuka Plateau to Bled (55 km)
We begin with a van transfer to the Pokljuka Plateau, hight above Bled, a lovely alpine village in the Julian Alps. We'll enjoy a magnificent downhill to the romantic Bohinj Valley. From the shore of scenic Lake Bohinj you can see Slovenia's highest peak, Mount Triglav. This picturesque town is surrounded by mountain peaks and borders a gorgeous lake. Then we'll cycle to Bled, where our lodging overlooks a medieval castle that is perched atop a steep cliff overlooking the lake. Hotel lodging in Bled.

Day 3: Bled to Kranska Gora (50 km)
Our ride begins with a scenic route along the lake followed by rolling terrain to a small pass. The afternoon is mostly downhill through a very scenic river valley to Kranska Gora, a popular year around sports region famous for its World Cup skiing competitions. Hotel lodging in Kranska Gora.

Day 4: Kranjska Gora – Bovec (45 + km)
We transfer to Vrsic pass (for those who want some uphill climbing, you can begin before the top of the pass), and then you will have the ultimate downhill ride! This is one of the most magnificent passes in the Alps with 50 hairpin turns -
(24 uphill and 26 downhill). Wild, romantic and a bit forgotten the spectacular Soca Valley is where battles of Isonzo Front were fought during World War I. Hotel in Bovec.

Day 5: Bovec – Breg Pri Golem Brdu (45 km)
Van transfer to the Kolovrat Mountain ridge where we will be surrounded by fantastic views of both the Julian Alps and the bay of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. This is one of our guide's favorite places in Slovenia! We can look forward to a wonderful downhill through lush quiet forests along the border with Italy. Our lodging tonight is situated in a small village, Breg Pri Golem Brdu, on a very special farm near the borderline of Italy and Slovenia. Known for the excellent food and warm hospitality, this farm also offers stupendous views of the untouched natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Day 6: Breg pri Golem Brdu - Štanjel (55 km)
We enter a completely different landscape, the outstanding wine region where numerous vineyards grace the hillsides, and you will hear the sound of the ingenious wind-driven rattles that keep birds off the ripening grapes. Rolling terrain and grand vistas lead us up the wine road to Štanjel for a comfortable night’s rest. Country Inn lodging in Štanjel and a winetasting in the owner's wine cellar.

Day 7: Štanjel – Lipica (60 km)
We pedal through the Karst region of Slovenia along rolling terrain. We'll stop on route to visit one of the less "touristy" caves, Škocjanske Jame. The Reka river flows underground, continuing for 34 kilometers to the Adriatic Sea. Part of its path is through the Škocjanske Caves, a 5-kilometer long system of large underground caves upto 200 metres deep and containing underground chambers over 100 metres in height (about three times the height of Niagara Falls). Inside these gigantic caves are huge stalactites and stalagmites, waterfalls, and much more. The caves are now listed in the UNESCO World Heritage. Our ride continues to Lipica, known for the famous Lipizzaner horses. Hotel in Lipica.

Day 8: Lipica – Koper/Piran (60 km)
A great "downhill finale" from the Karst plateau to the sea takes us to Koper where we transfer by van to Piran on the southwestern tip of Slovenia. We'll visit the Hrastovlje Church with famous “death dance” fresco. Our hotel lies within the medieval city where narrow streets and compact houses rise in steps from the coastal lowland into the hills giving the whole area a typical Mediterranean look.

Day 9: Koper to Ljubljana
After breakfast, we will transfer to Ljubljana by van and should arrive around 11 am. (NOTE: Hotel accommodations are not included for this night. Additional lodging in Ljubljana may be arranged with advanced reservations.)

While we strive to create the most accurate itinerary possible, the nature of international travel demands that participants remain flexible to any changes. We will do our best to substitute activities and services of equal quality for those listed.

TOUR PRICE: €2,150 Euros/pp (double occupancy), €260 Euros single supplement

GROUP SIZE: 16 guests

TRIP COST INCLUDES: 8 nights hotel, 8 breakfasts and 8 dinners (beginning with dinner Day 1 to breakfast Day 9), wine tasting, support vehicle w/ driver & bilingual local guide.

TRIP COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Bike rental (€75 Euros), lunches, gratuities for local guide & driver (€100 Euros suggested per guest to be split between guide & driver).

RESERVATIONS: For complete reservation information and to book this tour click here.