Slovenia  Bike Tour Reviews (page 7)

  • Dolomites to Trieste
    (5/5) Marcie Bushnelll October 2, 2024

    So many amazing places, so little time . . .

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    Equipped with e-bikes, two panniers, one handlebar bag, a bike lock and a repair kit, we were ready to leave Toblach and head east. We had previously biked from Toblach to Lienz, so decided to take the train from San Candido to Lienz to save some mileage. The train in San Candido had steep narrow steps which we had to muscle the heavy e-bikes over, but in Lienz, the entry/departure is flat with the quais. From there is was a very pleasant ride to Oberdrauburg. Dinner at the Hotel Post was good (we were no longer on the dinner included plan) and bike storage was always in a covered area with outlets to charge the e-bikes (we carried the chargers in our panniers). The next morning we took a local bus (at the Oberdrauburg train/bus station) to the summit of the Gailberg Pass. From the bus window, I was glad we avoided the 7 km (4.2 miles) steep hairpin turn highway as it snaked it way to the summit. Arrived at Feistritz an der Gail at another Post Hotel where we enjoyed dinner and a good rest.
    The next day we entered Slovenia and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the bike paths, signage and bike refreshment places along the path. Again we opted to take the train from Jesenice to Bled to avoid some steep ascents, BUT the Slovenian regional trains are a sight to behold. Heavily graffitied and "vintage," we were thankful a young German exchange student helped us muscle the two e-bikes into an empty compartment at the back of the three wagon train. We purchased tickets for the ebikes on board (believe me when I say the trains may be old, but the ticket collectors are there for every single kilometer to collect bike fees, etc). Easier to get the bikes off than on, so when we arrived at Bled Jezero, we were relieved.
    Cannot say enough good things about the Hotel Park and Bled. We opted for TWO nights and I would highly recommend consideration of same. Bled is just too beautiful to spend one short night. We reserved a wine tasting at a local restaurant (a ten minute walk from Hotel Park) and had reserved spots for the Vintgar Gorge the next morning. Easy to take the bikes to the entrance of Vintgar Gorge (again free parking). The 1 ½ hour hike in the Gorge is breath taking, but the 2 hour steep hike out (we didn't take a shuttle this time), was challenging.
    Plans change and the train transfer turned into local partner taking the bikes/panniers/handlebar bag on a bike trailer and giving us tickets to a regional bus with instructions to get off at another train station 1+ hours away. Fortunately the train conductor was on the bus and assured us which station it was (everybody got off). Another couple got off two stops before us and a local rep made sure we gave him our luggage at that point. We got off at Kanal ob Soci for our ride into Gradisca d'Isonzo. We were high above the canal and it's a very industrialized zone. Perhaps the least scenic of all the days so far. At one point there was a ! sign with steps!! What? Yes, just around the corner was a series of steps and ramps to ascend a steep part of the trail. Figured out walk assist and managed to get the bikes up and over. That was a surprise.
    There was some kind of HUGE market/celebration in progress with street blockages, tents, supply vans, etc. choking the streets of Gorizia. We counted ourselves lucky to have found our way out of this rather large metro area. Spent the night at Hotel Franz in Gradisca d'Isonzo and enjoyed a lovely meal at the hotel (seemed to be a local favorite).
    Last day from Gradisca d'Isonzo was along the Coast highway. Had read reviews about traffic and such, but the bike lane was wide and the drivers respectful of cyclists. As we neared Trieste, more cars would be parked in the bike lanes, but we managed without incident. Upon arrival at the Trieste Centrale train station, we returned our bikes to a nearby partner location, emptied our panniers/handlebar bag into our backpacks and walked to our hotel near Trieste's pedestrian zone. Such a lively place come 7 p.m. Dined in a terrace cafe, had gelato, did some shopping and called it a successful tour. Thank you, Biketours.com for a great experience.  SHOW MORE 

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    10+
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
    • San Candido/Innichen is a short ride from Toblach and offers a picturesque pedestrian zone full of cafes, shops and historical buildings. (photo by Marcie Bushnelll)
    • Oberdrauburg Hotel serves a lovely dinner (the mixed salad option is actually a smorgasbord salad buffet...highly recommend). (photo by Marcie Bushnelll)
    • Late September means Oktoberfest throughout the German/Austrian area.  We happened to bike through a local festival complete with lovely  Fraulein in dirndls and an oompahpah band. (photo by Marcie Bushnelll)
    • OMG . . . Bled cream cake is wunderbar!  Don't leave Bled without trying it.  Slovenian Jasko beer also a must try. (photo by Marcie Bushnelll)
    • Bled, Slovenia is tourist central, but it's big enough to get away from the maddening crowds. (photo by Marcie Bushnelll)
    • Last day from Gradisca d'Isonzo into Trieste along the Coastal Route.  Bike lanes were generous and drivers respectful.  No issues at all. (photo by Marcie Bushnelll)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Joseph Rinaudo October 10, 2024

    Beautiful scenery, very enjoyable trip

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    Excellent accomodation and breakfasts. Very responsive to sms. Excellent new bikes. Great staff. Marco and Neva went out of their way to ensure we had a great day when we transferred one wet day. No criticisms. Five stars in all areas. Thank you Bike Tours.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    Two
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
  • (5/5) Bruce Muir October 10, 2024

    Cycling in heaven

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    Totally awesome riding with great navigation aids, awesome scenery and diversity of terrain, countryside, culture and cuisine

    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
  • (5/5) Angelica C 8 months ago

    Most Beautiful Landscape Ever

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    Our October 2024 (9th biking tour) tour began in Dobbiaco, taking us through some of the most stunning bike trails we have ever encountered. The support provided by the tour company was exceptional, featuring a dedicated app and constant availability via WhatsApp.

    The bikes we used were top-notch and impeccably maintained—I even found myself wanting to purchase the same brand for personal use at home. Our accommodations were charming, with the usual mix of lovely stays and the occasional less-than-perfect hotel.

    Please consider arriving in Dobbiaco a full day before. There are lakes and hikes you can do before your trip. I wish we had done that :-)

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    9
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Wilhelm Dannheimer 6 months ago

    Well planned, supported and scenic trip

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    Gave the perfect balance between small towns, beautiful landscapes and technical terrain. A very well planned and supported tour. Thank you!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
  • (5/5) Katy Mason 2 months ago

    Love those Dolomites!

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    We had a wonderful experience on this trip. The guide was easy to work with and very helpful. There was one route that was closed and not easy to navigate. I would say that is our only criticism - the GPS should have been updated. It made for a long day. Overall, it was just an incredible route.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
  • Best of Slovenia
    (5/5) SWTA November 6, 2015

    Slovenia: Europe's hidden gem!

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    We did this trip as a family of 4, including a 13 and 15 y/o. We have traveled extensively and we all found Slovenia wonderful. We all agreed this was one of the our best trips ever. Modern enough to be comfortable but still having a lot of old world charm. The hotels were comfortable and we had no trouble finding a good meal. The other positive is that everyone spoke English and we had no language barriers.

    The biking was moderately challenging even as a 2 rated trip. But every day was was really great and different. From the mountains to the sea. We rented the bikes from the base company - Helia - and didn't have any equipment failures!

    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • Photo 1 (photo by SWTA)
    • Photo 2 (photo by SWTA)
    • Photo 3 (photo by SWTA)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Alpskier November 14, 2015

    A Great Trip Across a Great Country

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    Loved cycling through Slovenia. Warm, friendly people, terrific accommodations, and spectacular scenery made it very, very special. The ride begins in the majestic Julien Alps and courses its way through verdant farm lands, remote villages, the capital city of Ljubljana, and ends on Adriatic sea at the beautiful & ancient town of Piran. Accommodations were fine, some were truly charming, featuring architecture unique to Slovenia. The meal plan was a bargain and the foods and beers were delicious. The 9 day ride largely followed low-trafficked roads, where drivers were courteous. The well-devised road book made navigation manageable, as the route isn't as clearly marked the way it's done in most of Western Europe. Still, there were no worries at all, even as a solo rider. Surprisingly, English was widely spoken. The route featured rolling hills, none of which were too strenuous, nor was mileage an issue. There were lots of downhills as the trip starts high in the Alps and descends to the sea. The local tour operator was very helpful and the bikes were well maintained. Starting out in the fairy-book town of Lake Bled with its famous island church was a reward in itself. Here's a good tip: It's worth the 15 Euro to have a van bring you to the top of the mountain on the second day. Biking it seemed absurd. The capital city was accessible and having dinner near the famous three bridges confluence still brings a smile to my face as I remember the sea of young people going from bar to bar. It's all good, not to mention one of the great travel bargains in the Biketours universe.

    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) TheVerns June 5, 2017

    Slovenia seems like an undiscovered jewel of a country!

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    We chose this tour because we knew that Slovenia was beautiful but we did not expect the country to be so friendly, the food was excellent, the hotels were very comfortable. Bled is like a fairy tale and likely the most famous of the stops it was not our favorite. It truly is difficult in hind-site to pick a favorite but we really loved Piran at the end! Maybe we just needed to see the ocean?

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 15th
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with young kids
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • The beginning1 (photo by TheVerns)
    • A shot from the first day.... (photo by TheVerns)
    • Do not miss the side trip to the falls on day 1, but it is a climb by bike and on foot! (photo by TheVerns)
    • A view from our room at our favorite guest house with wine tasting!! (photo by TheVerns)
    • Piran...so beautiful! (photo by TheVerns)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Ian Fraser August 29, 2017

    Slovenian Bike Tour

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    It was an absolutely fabulous bike tour. The country is varied and beautiful. The bike tour we were on "Best of Slovenia" took us through all sorts of different landscapes from the Alps to the Adriatic. Quite fantastic.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • Down through the Julian Alps (photo by Ian Fraser)
    • Kitting up after a visit to Predjama Castle (photo by Ian Fraser)
    • Cruising the countryside (photo by Ian Fraser)
    • A serious climb (photo by Ian Fraser)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Chris 77 September 16, 2017

    Best of Slovenia

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    Of all our European tours, the route and scenery was the best - Slovenia really is a hidden gem. Some of the hotels are just average - one great - Hisa Posebne Sorte. Try to have the tour company not book their fall back hotel, Vila Bojana in Bled for you. But this is not an experience to miss.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 4 to 14
    How many tours have you completed?
    Many
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Breno Ok June 24, 2018

    Great Tour to the Best of Slovenia

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    It was really beyond my expectations. Surely one of the best self-ride bike tour I have ever had.
    Staff was great from the time we started talking until the last minute of the tour. Even in an event of a cancelled flight they managed the situation and rearranged the transfer to Bled with no extras.
    Bike worked very well and was in perfect conditions. I opted to get the MTB bike and this proved to be the right thing for this tour. Hybrid ones may work fine as well.
    Scenary is awesome. Each day a highlight to tell. Terrain was not a big issue, except for the second day, with a 12-km hard climb. But if you are in good condition you can try it. Other than that I found the entire tour easily rideable.
    Hotels are very good on average. One or another was slightly below the expectation. Breakfast was also great. I did not booked other meals because I wanted some free choice along the way.
    Roads are in good condition. Some of them has considerable traffic, but I felt a nice respect from drivers. Just assume caution and stay focused on the way. Others were so tranquil and peaceful with jaw-dropping views.
    Cue cards were accurate but there are some tricky parts. Not a big issue though. They can also send gps files so that you can load them to your device if you have one. Just ask in advance.
    Luggage transfer was on time everyday. It was really handy.
    All in all, great tour where you will definitely glimpse the best of Slovenia.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2018
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) Barbara G May 8, 2019

    Best of Slovania

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    How many tours have you completed?
    Many- now using electric bikes
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Ben August 3, 2022

    Great trip through Slovenia

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    The best way to visit and get to know a new country

    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
  • (5/5) Carey July 5, 2023

    Exploring Slovenia by bike

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    This was our 5th self-guided cycling trip, and a great way to see Slovenia. The route was great and highlighted the different areas of the country, from the alps to the adriatic. There are some hills which can be challenging in the heat, but very manageable with some training. Most of the roads were fairly low traffic; even on the busier roads Slovenians seemed to be pretty courteous to cyclists. There were some gravel roads which were manageable. Note that there is some conflicting information about whether you'll receive a paper copy of the route directions - you won't unless you've requested this for a fee. And there was also supposed to be one odometer included per couple - there wasn't. So I strongly suggest having a phone with a data plan so that you can follow the GPS instructions. These were fairly easy to follow, but in some cases the app had trouble finding the route so having access to google maps, etc was handy.

    Hotels were good for the most part with some being really great; a couple were only adequate, but that is likely due to what is available in the specific town. Included breakfasts were all fabulous. We arranged to spend an extra day in Ljubljana after day 3, which was a great idea. We also added extra days in Piran which we were happy with. For lunches and other stops during the riding day, there are recommendations that appear on the app. However, these don't seem to be in any order for each day, so it's probably worth while to take a look at them all before you set out for the day to see what they're recommending and where.

    Overall a really great vacation! Biketours.com was great to work with for booking, and although we had no issues needing local support, we were happy with the planning and the bikes were perfectly adequate.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Jo Christofferson September 5, 2023

    ?

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    Great trip. It was our first self-guided and it went well. We enjoyed the freedom of this type of trip.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Aug 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Dee by the sea June 4, 2024

    Slovenia 9 days

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    Beautiful country, friendly people, very safe! Would highly recommend visiting!

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 16, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) THOMAS P. July 1, 2024

    A very fun and leisurely trip

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    This trip was a great way to see Slovenia. We took 10 days to ride from the northern side of the country to the Adriatic coast. Most days were about 30 miles, with about 2500' elevation gain, but really just 3-4 hours' riding. Hotels were great and offered very nice breakfasts. We really enjoyed the slower pace family vacation, seeing a lot but still moving through to new sights every day. Highly recommend.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
  • (5/5) Austin Bragg July 20, 2024

    Brilliant Experience - well named tour!

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    One of the best travel experiences we've ever had. The itinerary was very well put together ensuring enough time to visit some of the most spectacular gems Slovenia has to offer. Accommodations were very very good too - a real mix which made things interesting i.e. not the same old each time. Bikes were great - the app was excellent which we relied on heavily esp getting in/out of larger towns/cities. All in all, an unforgettable experience.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Gail 6 months ago

    Everything I expected and more

    · Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran

    Everyday was something new to see
    Loved all the farmland, meadows
    Seeing less people in these areas
    Couldn’t believe how green it was
    Loved the small village accommodation
    Especially in Kodreti
    People were kind and gracious
    We could not get over how good the food was in smaller towns

    Countries included in this tour?
    Slovenia
    • Piran from Wall (photo by Gail)
    • Castle in cliff (photo by Gail)