7-day trans-Slovenia mountain biking tour, from Kranjska Gora to the Adriatic Sea
Pedal past the sublime Slovenian landscapes and make your way from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea on a 7-day mountain biking tour with guide Jure.
Group
Julian Alps
+1 Days
Apr - Oct
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Crossing Slovenia on a mountain-bike from Julian Alps to the Mediterranean sea.
- Bike over Vršič pass, the highest mountain pass in Slovenia.
- Swim in the emerald Soča River and jump into the sea.
- Visit the Lipica Horse stable and taste some Slovenian wines.
Description
The pint-sized subalpine nation of Slovenia packs a large collection of stunning landscapes and dramatic peaks, excellent for thrilling mountain biking.
Join me on this fantastic trans-Slovenian tour from the Julian Alps in the north to the Adriatic Sea in the south.
High up in the mountains in Upper Carniola lies the beautiful town of Kranjska Gora, very close to the borders of both Austria and Italy.
It is located in the Julian Alps, where the winding runs slither among the mountains, up steep slopes and on flat terrain. This makes it the ideal place for mountain biking.
Along the tour we’ll climb the highlands of Karavanke, visit romantic valleys and peddle past the beautiful turquoise Soča River. We’ll also whizz past the wine-growing region of Goriška Brda.
Then we descend the karst region as we continue towards the Adriatic coast. We’ll ride along varied paths and a bunch of trails infused with rugged isolation, as well as on old military roads dating back to the First World War.
Along the trans-Slovenian tour, we’ll also make brief visits to Austria and Italy.
Get in touch now to reserve your place in the sublime Slovenian mountains for an 8-day mountain biking adventure, beginning in the alpine town of Kranjska Gora.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Luggage transfer
Price details
- Included:
- Guiding fee
- All accommodation included - 7 nights with breakfast in *** accommodation based on 2 people sharing
- All luggage transfers from start to finish
- Included meals are breakfast every day and 5 times dinner. There is no dinner on the arrival day, and no dinner in Kobarid. Both days with no dinner there are plenty of options within 5 minutes walking distance, a good meal is around 15 - 25 EUR
- A briefing with a guide on the arrival day
- Recommendation for lunch spots for every stage
- Packing list and recommendations for how to do the trip
- Tourist tax
- Transfer back from Piran to Kranjska Gora
- Price details:
- For the groups from 1 4 participants the tour is self-guided. Please follow this link if you are less than 4 (add a link to self-guided version)
- For the groups of 5 participants or more, there is a certified guide accompanying the group. These tours set off usually on Saturdays.
- The price also includes transfer back to start and tourist taxes.
- Nos included:
- Lunch and drinks
- Optional add on:
- Transfer of participants from the arriving airport to the starting point
Itinerary
Day 1: Prologue
Kranjska Gora – Tromeja (3-borders point)
Length: 30 km, ascent: 900 m.
The first trail takes us to the Karavanke mountain chain, to Tromeja, where the borders of Slovenia, Italy and Austria meet. After enjoying the great view of Austria and Slovenia, we descend down the Italian trail back to Kranjska Gora for dinner and briefing for the next day’s trail.
Day 2: Kranjska Gora – Bovec
Length: 50 km, ascent: 1100 m.
With a great panorama of the Prisojnik’s massif, we start our ascent on the Vršič Pass (1611 m asl.). We ride pass the Russian chapel and continue towards the old military road pass. Before descending to the Soča valley we will admire rough walls of Julian Alps. We will stop for a short hike to the source of the Soča River and then continue our trip to the end of stage 2 in Bovec on a trail, crossing many hanging bridges over the Soča River.
Recommended extra activities: canyoning.
Day 3: Bovec – Kobarid
Length: 40 km, ascent: 1200 m.
We start in Bovec and leave shortly the green Soča River. We follow the road to Italy but just shortly before the Italian border we turn up and start climbing onto the Kobariški Stol Mountain. First through the woods, but then we reach green meadows with wonderful views of the other side. The trail down to Kobarid is technical and will make even the best riders walk from time to time, but we can all safely reach the wonderful yet small village of Kobarid.
Recommended extra activities: kayaking, visit the WWI Museum.
Day 4: Kobarid – Tolmin
Length: 40 km, ascent: 1400 m.
The 4th stage has an innocent start; a short piece of flat riding along the Soča River. But soon, all our fitness and skill is required as we start one of the many climbs of the day. Mostly through the woods, we reach the village of Drežnica and continue climbing onto the Planina Kuhinja Mountain. Great views, lonely hard to find trails and some WWI monuments will mark the day. This is one of the tougher stages on First World War ‘front lines’.
Recommended extra activities: a visit to the picturesque Tolmin Gorge.
Day 5: Tolmin – Solkan
Length: 60 km, ascent: 1400 m.
The typical mountain trails along the Soča River Valley will end at Solkan, a suburb of Nova Gorica. Now, we start to understand the natural variety the tour offers. From the Julian Alps, we now reach Goriška Brda, best described as Slovenian Tuscany. This is the wine-growing region of Slovenia. Many green hills, a lot of vineyards, and first glances of the Adriatic Sea.
Recommended extra activities: visit of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, a town divided by a country border.
Day 6: Solkan – Sežana
Length: 70 km, ascent: 1400 m.
The 6th stage is where the landscape totally changes. We have now left high mountains and are deep in the karst region, hilly, a lot of karst caves, Mediterranean climate and hidden and lonely MTB trails. We ride above the Italian harbour of Trieste and finish our stage at Sežana.
Recommended extra activities: a visit to the Škocjanske jame (beautiful karst caves under UNESCO protection).
Day 7: Sežana – Piran
Length: 70 km, ascent: 1600 m.
The last stage from Sežana to the picturesque seaside town of Piran will take us by Lipica, a famous Lipizzaner stable. We recommend stopping for a guided tour (not included in the price) in Lipica. Then we continue on the gravel roads, direction seaside. Before reaching it, we pass many landmarks such us Sabotin castle and then along the coast we reach our final destination, the city of Piran. Bring your swimming gear. The ‘dinner’ is waiting for you. You are done.
Recommended extra activities: sightseeing of Piran.
Day 8: Piran – Kranjska Gora
Transfer day.
Last day is for transfer back to Kranjska Gora. We can organize the transfer back early in the morning to give you a full day for your return trip or we can make the transfer in the afternoon, so you can enjoy the day in Piran sightseeing, swimming or shopping.
Details
More info
RECOMMENDATIONS: • We recommend a minimum front suspension MTB bike with disc brakes. The use of helmets is mandatory. • Backpack with a hydration pack (i.e. Camelback). It is necessary to have sufficient water supply with you as there is no possibility of a refill at certain stages of the trails for approximately 2-3 hours.
DIFFICULTY: • Fitness: 3-4/5. • Technical: 2-3/5.
Meeting point
FAQs
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About the guide
Jure
5.0
(1)
Mountain Bike Guide
Mountain bike, tourism and everything around it – that’s us. Both my wife Martina and I are always on the go and looking for new things. If we are not in the hotel, then you will find us in the bike park. If we are not in the bike park, then we are out and about exploring new trails. And sometimes you´ll run into us at a mountain bike marathon abroad! Berghi, our hotel, has been focusing on mountain bikers since 2013.
When we first met, we travelled a lot by mountain bike while still working in responsible and corporate jobs. Back then, we visited many mountain bike hotels and centres and started to dream about our own mountain bike holiday accommodation. We eventually found a suitable building in Kranjska Gora in 2013 and decided to go ahead with the purchase! We were both convinced that Kranjska Gora offers great potential for cycling.
We have also been managing the Kranjska Gora Bike Park with great pleasure since 2014 and are delighted by the increasing number of visitors every year. We also like to explore on road bikes and have many ideas for road bike tours in the area. Come join us!
Languages
Slovenian | | Italian | German | English | Croatian
What people are saying about Jure
Kimberley
Jure arranged for his fellow guide, Julio, to take us on a tour in the Kranjska Gora area. The only guidance we gave them was that we wanted a reasonably challenging, 3-5-hour ride with views. We were initially a little apprehensive when Jure suggested the Vrsic Pass but by all accounts, it's a stunning bucket list ride and we didn't want to pass up the opportunity. After outfitting us with some excellent equipment (I'm not an experienced mountain biker but my partner, who is, was very impressed with the bikes), Julio suggested we ride 6km up the pass, then follow some dirt trails back down. What a ride! Yes, the uphill part - we did 18 of the switchbacks - was hard, but do-able. Some of the downhill trails were tricky but we were able to explore parts of the valley that we'd surely have missed, had we tried to do a ride on our own. I particularly appreciated Julio's expertise and easy-going attitude; his company added to the whole experience. And the views... simply incredible! I highly recommend this guide will add that we also enjoyed a wonderful stay in Jure's Hotel Berghi. Thank you, Jure and Julio!
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