Ride the epic gravel trails of Slovenia on this mountain biking tour between the Alps and the Adriatic
Discover the amazing landscapes and epic gravel trails of beautiful Slovenia! The self-guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure will take you on exciting rides across the country where you’ll test yourself on mountains and delight in the incredible Slovenian nature parks.
This gravel riding tour takes you from the unforgettable town of Bled and the surrounding Julian Alps to the spectacular seaside. In between these two points, you’ll tackle exciting mountain trails, cross beautiful valleys, and discover picturesque historic towns. You’ll have a chance to try out some of the famous gravel trails like the Parenzana Trail and test yourself against the Human Fish Gravel Race route. You’ll be awed by the scenic beauty of Slovenia and the exciting bike routes on this incredible gravel riding tour!
Highlights of the Self-Guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure
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Self-Guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Warm Up Ride in Bled
Make your way to Bled. After a welcome meeting and check-in at the hotel, it’s time to get on your bike! Enjoy a leisurely ride around spectacular Bled. You’ll ride around the Sava Rivers and the Karavanke Mountains before you return for a relaxing evening in Bled.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bled
Distance: 1.5-2 hours, 35km, 380m of ascent and 420m of descent
Meals: None
Day 2 Ride the Julian Alps
Today your adventure starts as your ride Jelovica Mountain to the beautiful Lake Bohinj. On the way back you’ll take the route across the Pokljuka plateau in magnificent Triglav National Park. Your journey through the mountains is mostly on gravel roads, with some short stretches on single-track or paved roads.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bled
Distance: 7-8 hours, 105km, 2350m of ascent and 1975m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Cycle Gorenjska and Polhograjski Dolomiti Mountain
Follow the trails into the beautiful mountains of the Gorejska area. You’ll ride to the town of Škofja Loka before you tackle the trails of the Polhograjski Dolomiti Mountain.
Your route will take you to Ljubljana, where you’ll be spending the next two nights.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ljubljana
Distance: 5-6 hours, 78km, 1750m of ascent and 1690m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Historic Towns Around the Capital
Today you’ll be spending today exploring the lush green areas that surround Ljubljana. Ride between the historic towns of Litjija and Šentvid pri Štični and enjoy the quiet roads that lead to the lake town of Rakitna. You’ll also pass the beautiful castle in Turjak as you follow the winding gravel roads through the forests.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ljubljana
Distance: 5-6 hours, 85km, 1680m of ascent and 1520m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Cycle the Scenic Landscapes between Ljubljana and Postojna
Today, you’ll pedal through the amazing scenery and diverse landscapes of the nature parks between Ljubljana and Postojna. You’ll travel through vast agricultural marshes to the tranquil Lake Cerknica. Then, you’ll cross the Loška Valley through the mountains to Rakov Škocjan Nature Park.
Your trail ends today in Postojna in the karst region, which is famous for its spectacular caves.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Postojna
Distance: 6-7 hours, 95km, 1890m of ascent and 1730m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Ride the Human Fish Gravel Race Loop
In the morning you can take an optional excursion to visit the impressive Postojna caves. The cave system has a UNESCO designation and the enormous underground caverns are a wonder to see!
Your bike ride for the day will be the original race route for the Human Fish Gravel Race. This trail goes into the Snežnik and the Gorski Kotar Mountains and then loops around through the charming towns of Ilirska Bistrica and Pivka. You’ll love grinding on this epic gravel course!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Postojna
Distance: 6-7 hours, 87km, 1980m of ascent and 1940m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Cycle to the Sea
Today you’ll ride away from the mountains towards the fresh sea breezes of the coast. Your route takes the gravel roads to Predjama castle, then you’ll continue to the Nanos Mountains and Vipava Valley.
Ride across the red karst plateau through the villages of Lipica and Osp to the coast. Your route will then follow the beautiful coastline where you can watch the waves from your bike as your ride to Koper and Piran.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Piran
Distance: 6-7 hours, 112km, 2180m of ascent and 2050m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Ride the Parenzana Trail to Motovun
Start your day with a seaside stroll in Piran before you start your final ride of the tour. This morning you’ll ride the scenic leg of the famous Parenzana Trail from Piran to Motovun in Croatia. This section of the old railway is considered to be the most beautiful, so it’s the perfect finale for your trip.
After your last epic ride, you’ll to head to the airport.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 4-5 hours, 61.5km, 488m of ascent and 345m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only.
2024 Departures
The departures are available daily, from May 15th to November 15th.
- Single room: from $1,625 USD*
- Sharing a double room: from $1,095 USD*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip and all the prices are per person. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates.
Book NowAccommodation on the Self-Guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure
This tour is based in 3 and 4-star hotels. You’ll be staying in small local hotels in beautiful towns. Enjoy convenient locations that are close to restaurants, amenities, and the trails you’ll be cycling.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement of 240 EUR to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel in Bled
This iconic town is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Slovenia. Lake Bled has a stunning castle built on a lush island. Get your camera out!
Hotel in Ljubljana
Stay at a comfortable small hotel with a 3 or 4-star rating, close to local sites and amenities.
Hotel in Postojna
Enjoy the hospitality at a local 3 hotel that is conveniently located along your route.
Hotel in Piran
Piran is paradise, and your small, charming hotel will give you easy access to the beach, the village, and everything in between.
What’s Included in the Self-Guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour in Bled or Ljubljana and after the tour in Motovun are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for you and your luggage are included throughout the tour, starting from Bled and ending in Motovun. Airport transfers are not included.
Also Included
- Detailed Itinerary, route instructions, reservations
- Map with marked route and stage
- GPS track
- 24/7 support services
- Triglav Park entrance
- Tourist tax
Not included
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Flights
- Personal expenses
- Visas if required
- Gratuities for hotel or restaurant staff if desired
- Travel insurance
- Guide services
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions
- Garmin GPS device rental
- Bike rental: Trek Checkpoint Gravel Bike ALR 5, 3, or AL 3
- Bike equipment: helmet, rain cover, lock, pump, spare tube, chain lubricant, repair kit
Frequently Asked Questions about Self-Guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure
Life Adventures was founded in 1998 and has since become a go-to for adventure holidays in Slovenia and Croatia. With an energetic, young at heart team with experience in each location they operate in, Life Adventures is an expert in revealing the best of these countries to travelers from all walks of life.
Learn MoreMap of Slovenia Self Guided Slovenia Gravel Riding Adventure Tour
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