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A dazzling journey of discovery in Slovenia - Europe's best-kept secret
This classical Slovenian bike tour takes you to the country's most famous historical attractions and points of natural interest! Starting in lively Ljubljana - Slovenia's stunning capital - you'll explore the city's splendid old center and mighty fortress.
From here, cycle through the Karst region as your tour advances towards the gorgeous Adriatric Sea. Along the way, admire natural and architectural treasures, including Postojna Caves, the charming village of Stanjel, and the commanding Predjama Castle. You'll even have the option to cycle into Italy to visit Trieste or to spend a tranquil day basking on the beach.
Finally, you'll reach Piran, where your wonderful tour will reach a picturesque conclusion.
Highlights
- Ljubljana's old town center and fortress
- Lipica Stud Farm
- Postojna Caves
- Škocjan Caves
- Small town of Lipica
- Slivnica Mountain
- Planina Lake
- Sežana Botanical Garden
- Rakov Škocjan Nature Reserve
- Technical Museum of Republic of Slovenia
- Predjama Castle
- Piran
- Muggia
- Optional visit to Trieste
Learn More
Learn more about self-guided tours.
Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Ljubljana. -
Traveler photos
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Daily program
Day 1: Arrival in Ljubljana
After arriving in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, make sure to visit the old town center, which features lovely 'fin de siecle' mansions, as well as the mighty fortress towering over the city. Relax, drink in hand, on the banks of the Ljubljanica River, or take an evening stroll to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city at dusk.Overnight in Ljubljana.
Day 2: Ljubljana – Vrhnika (25 miles/41 km)
A nice, easy first day across the historic and richly diverse plains surrounding the capital. As the morning sun begins to rise, you'll be cycling across an immense 160-square kilometer marshy plain. The Ljubljansko Barje was once a great lake until it dried up 6000 years ago, leaving behind an incredibly diverse landscape that is now home to some of Europe’s rarest forms of bird, plant, and insect life.Just before arriving in Vrhnika, you can visit the Technical Museum of the Republic of Slovenia, housed in Bistra Castle, where you’ll find a great hunting collection and an interesting exhibition of president Tito’s cars.
Overnight in Vrhnika.
Day 3: Vrhnika – Postojna (27 miles/43 km)
Today, the route takes you away from the main tourist areas and off the beaten path. You can also take a short detour to the impenetrable fortress of Predjama Castle, wedged tightly into a crevasse halfway up a 123 m cliff face protruding dramatically into the surrounding basin. Here lived a vivacious and daring knight named Erasmus who kept a whole army at bay using the secret passageways in the Predjama Caves to sneak out for supplies, including freshly picked cherries, which he threw at his adversaries to taunt them. Take a tour and learn how Erasmus met his untimely demise in less than poetic circumstances, as he was literally caught with his pants down.Overnight in Postojna.
Day 4: Postojna – Stanjel Area (20 miles/32 km)
Today the route takes you to the famed Postojna cave on the way to Stanjel. Nearly 30 million tourists have experienced the underground formation with is beautifully carved into the depths of limestone. stretching a whopping 13 miles (21 km), this is considered the most extensive system of caves within the country. On this tour, you will visit the pools of water within the caves and see the mysterious "human fish" and a world filled with stalactites and stalagmites.Overnight in Štanjel.
Day 5: Štanjel – Lipica – Divača (31 miles/50 km)
Today's first stop is the lovely botanical garden in Sežana. From there, it’s on to the stud farm of Lipica, where you can visit the thoroughbred Lipizaner horses, whose glistening white coats and gentle, graceful dancing have earned them a worldwide reputation. The history of the Lipica horses is closely linked to the Vienna riding school. Take a tour in a traditional carriage, watch them perform, and visit them close up in their stables. This will be a day to remember!If you have the time for a couple of side-trips, you can also visit the unusual but very interesting War Museum set in the village tower of Lokev.
Overnight in Divaca.
Day 6: Divača –
Muggia (24 miles/39 km)
If you skipped the Postojna Caves, this morning gives you the opportunity to visit the Škocjan Caves. These karst caves are no less interesting (they are a UNESCO natural monument!) but far less frequented. Next, head to Socerb Castle, where you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the Bay of Trieste, the Friulian Plain, and even the Julian Alps.You can take a slight diversion into the Italian-style town of Trieste - once an important port with its worldly flair and wonderful atmosphere. Take a city transport boat that connects Trieste with the outskirts at Muggia where your hotel awaits. Visit the castle, cathedral, and Piazza Unita central square in Trieste, which was once part of Slovenia whilst under the rule of the Austrian monarchy. Relax with a cappuccino in the many old-fashioned cafes that grace this atmospheric town.
Today's route ends in the town of Muggia. After a day's cycling, it's time to enjoy gelato in the old town center or relax on the beach!
Overnight in Muggia.
Day 7: Muggia – Piran (22 miles/35 km or 29 miles/46 km with side trip to salt pans Seca)
Cycle along the coastal road on a new bike path that follows the former railway line, enjoying great vistas of the Slovenian coast and Trieste Bay. A coffee stop in the fashionable resort of Portorož is a must. The trip ends in the gorgeous little Venetian harbor village of Piran.Overnight in Piran.
Day 8: Departure
End of tour after breakfast. -
Accommodation
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Ljubljana: Hotel M Dericeva*
Vrhnika: Mantova
Postojna: Hotel KRAS
Stanjel: Hiša posebne sorte
Divaca: Hotel Maloveck
Muggia: Hotel San Rocco
Piran: Hotel Piran
*Hotel M is a 4-star hotel located on the outskirts of Ljubljana (3km from city center). For a surcharge, you may upgrade to a hotel in the city center. Extra night pricing is based on Hotel M and additional charges apply to extra nights in the city center.
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options. -
Dates & Prices
Questions about pricing or options? Call +1-215-613-0874 to talk to a Tour Advisor now.
Mar 29–31 (Daily)Mar 29–31 (Daily) € 1066 Book Mar 29–31 (Daily)Mar 29–31 (Daily) € 1341 Book Apr 1–30 (Daily)Apr 1–30 (Daily) € 1066 Book Apr 1–30 (Daily)Apr 1–30 (Daily) € 1341 Book May 1–2 (Daily)May 1–2 (Daily) € 1066 Book May 1–2 (Daily)May 1–2 (Daily) € 1341 Book May 3–31 (Daily)May 3–31 (Daily) € 1126 Book May 3–31 (Daily)May 3–31 (Daily) € 1421 Book Jun 1–30 (Daily)Jun 1–30 (Daily) € 1126 Book Jun 1–30 (Daily)Jun 1–30 (Daily) € 1421 Book Jul 1–31 (Daily)Jul 1–31 (Daily) € 1126 Book Jul 1–31 (Daily)Jul 1–31 (Daily) € 1421 Book Aug 1–14 (Daily)Aug 1–14 (Daily) € 1126 Book Aug 1–14 (Daily)Aug 1–14 (Daily) € 1421 Book Aug 15–31 (Daily)Aug 15–31 (Daily) € 1186 Book Aug 15–31 (Daily)Aug 15–31 (Daily) € 1501 Book Sep 1–19 (Daily)Sep 1–19 (Daily) € 1186 Book Sep 1–19 (Daily)Sep 1–19 (Daily) € 1501 Book Sep 20–30 (Daily)Sep 20–30 (Daily) € 1126 Book Sep 20–30 (Daily)Sep 20–30 (Daily) € 1421 Book Oct 1–4 (Daily)Oct 1–4 (Daily) € 1126 Book Oct 1–4 (Daily)Oct 1–4 (Daily) € 1421 Book Oct 5–11 (Daily)Oct 5–11 (Daily) € 1066 Book Oct 5–11 (Daily)Oct 5–11 (Daily) € 1341 Book Show pricing details and extra options →
Pricing details and extra options
Daily; Mar 29 - Oct 11, 2025
Season A: Mar 29 – May 2 | Oct 5 – Oct 11
Season B: May 3 – Aug 14 | Sep 20 – Oct 4
Season C: Aug 15 – Sep 19- Season A 2025 Daily Mar 29–May 2 & Oct 5–11 from € 10662025 departures: Daily Mar 29–May 2 and Oct 5–11
2025 March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 October Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour package Double occupancy € 1066 Single occupancy € 1341 Solo traveler € 1431 Bike Rentals Price Standard touring bike Included Electrically-assisted bike € 169 Extra nights, Ljubljana Price Double occupancy € 90 Single occupancy € 145 Extra nights, Stanjel area Price Double occupancy € 65 Single occupancy € 95 Extra nights, Muggia Price Double occupancy € 75 Single occupancy € 110 Extra nights, Piran Price Double occupancy € 105 Single occupancy € 165 Children's discounts available when sharing a room with two full paying adults. - Season B 2025 Daily May 3–Aug 14 & Sep 20–Oct 4 from € 11262025 departures: Daily May 3–Aug 14 and Sep 20–Oct 4
2025 May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 October Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour package Double occupancy € 1126 Single occupancy € 1421 Solo traveler € 1506 Bike Rentals Price Standard touring bike Included Electrically-assisted bike € 169 Extra nights, Ljubljana Price Double occupancy € 100 Single occupancy € 160 Extra nights, Stanjel area Price Double occupancy € 70 Single occupancy € 100 Extra nights, Muggia Price Double occupancy € 85 Single occupancy € 125 Extra nights, Piran Price Double occupancy € 120 Single occupancy € 180 Children's discounts available when sharing a room with two full paying adults. - Season C 2025 Daily Aug 15–Sep 19 from € 11862025 departures: Daily Aug 15–Sep 19
2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour package Double occupancy € 1186 Single occupancy € 1501 Solo traveler € 1581 Bike Rentals Price Standard touring bike Included Electrically-assisted bike € 169 Extra nights, Ljubljana Price Double occupancy € 105 Single occupancy € 170 Extra nights, Stanjel area Price Double occupancy € 80 Single occupancy € 110 Extra nights, Muggia Price Double occupancy € 100 Single occupancy € 145 Extra nights, Piran Price Double occupancy € 125 Single occupancy € 185 Children's discounts available when sharing a room with two full paying adults. - Extra options
Transfers based on 1-3 travelersLjubljana Airport to Ljubljana € 85 Trieste Airport to Ljubljana € 315 Piran to Trieste City € 150 Piran to Trieste Airport € 160 Piran to Ljubljana City € 225 Piran to Ljubljana Airport € 250 Please note that the bike rental price increases by €25 (standard bike) or €50 (e-bike) per day, when adding extra nights during the tour.
Included services
- 7 nights accommodation in hotels 3- and 4-star hotels and country inns in double rooms with en suite
- Breakfasts
- Standard touring bike
- Luggage transfer between hotels (one piece per person max 23 kg/50 lbs; Additional pieces are €60 per piece, payable upon tour)
- Navigational app* (including roadbook, corresponding maps, tourist recommendations)
- Service hotline available during the trip in case of problems or questions
- GPS data (available for download to your personal GPS device)
*printed information package including route notes and corresponding maps available for €30, reserved in advance
- Season A 2025 Daily Mar 29–May 2 & Oct 5–11 from € 1066
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Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
Surface and terrain
The terrain on this tour is flat and downhill from Ljubljana to Postojna, where it then gets a bit hilly. However, there are no big hills, just slight uphills. From Stanjel, the cycling is downhill on the way to the coast.
The tour is appropriate for standard and road bikes.
Total length: 145 mi/234 km or 170 mi/272 km with side trips
Waytype: 80% country roads, 13% cyclepaths, 7% main road (city approach sections)
Surface: 95% asphalt and paved, 5% unpaved
Average daily elevation gains: 328 ft/100 m - 1640 ft/ 500 m.How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: Ljubljana, Slovenia, or (further away) Trieste, Italy
Nearest train station: Ljubljana, SloveniaTour end
Nearest airport: Trieste, Italy; Pula, Croatia; or Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nearest train station: Koper, Slovenia (there is no train service to Piran)Transfers are available (see Dates & Prices for details).
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Chris Mauriello 4 months ago
Amazing trip!
I've been a number of European bike tours and this one was excellent. The mapped route is a nice change and variety of scenery.
Flat and through the vegetable filed when you leave Ljubljana then mild hills with vineyards and farms with a great ride down to the coast to Muggia with lots of olive tress and ending up in Piran, a very cool place on the Adriatic.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ David Turner 5 months ago
Beautiful Scenery, Too Many Busy Roads
This was our sixth European cycle trip and the first one that we felt the description of was misleading. The information indicated that 80% of the route was on country roads. To us that means small quiet roads that go through villages with infrequent cars or farm equipment. We found that far too often we were cycling on secondary roads with fast moving cars, trucks and buses and no shoulder. There were several close calls with cars passing us on curves. We expect traffic entering and leaving cities, but this was stressful and unpleasant. The few designated bike lanes and small roads were fine and made for enjoyable cycling.
There was severe weather forecast for the first day of our ride. We, and some other cyclists expressed concern about the weather to the representative that we met prior to the start of the ride. He absolutely downplayed our concerns at our first meeting and also the morning we were to begin when the rain was torrential. Wisely we decided to take the train to a station close to our destination. We still got drenched getting to and from the station. The other four cyclists tried to ride and had to be rescued after 10 km. Luckily some very kind people helped them out.
The Guibo navigation system worked well, however on one cycle day, the route ended 15 km. from our hotel. We had to self navigate the rest of the route. We managed, but there was a bit of stress figuring out the best route with the least amount of traffic. A less experienced group could have found themselves in a difficult situation.
The scenery, the people and the food were all good, but we would not recommend this ride to others. We realize that weather is out of anyone’s control, but we felt our concerns were taken lightly and the advice given was poor.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
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★★★★★ John Mitchell 5 months ago
Good trip - great experience
Overall a wonderful trip through gorgeous scenery. The routing was excellent, giving us pretty rural scenery and avoiding car traffic. Hotels were generally excellent and continental breakfast buffets were a highlight of our day! We had a fabulous time and this trip has opened up the world of bike touring to us. And made us want to return to Slovenia to explore further.
The route did bring us to a couple of small towns with very little going on, and we would have enjoyed going a little bit further on some days. Maybe it could be better to tweak the route by lengthening a couple of days and building in an extra night and side-trip from Postojna, Muggia or Piran.
The hotels in Muggia and Piran were superb. The hotel in Vrhinka was not great (rooms were noisy from road traffic and bar immediately below; breakfast choice and quality was lowest of the trip).
Our touring bikes were basic, old and in average repair. Tires were under-inflated on receipt, mudguards rattled. All mechanicals worked just fine though. We saw some other Helia bikes on our travels which looked newer and lighter.
Navigation - the Guibo app was OK. The interface is definitely NOT Google Maps. We found it slow and clumsy but it did the job. The arrows on signposts were great in some areas, not in others. The printed material was useful to read to prepare for the day ahead, but the printed map details were too small to be of use.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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
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★★★★★ Joseph Lutkenhaus 5 months ago
Lovely Slovenia
This was a great bike trip and a great way to see Slovenia (the part between Ljubiana and Piran). The ride is mostly (>90%) on roads with only the last part into Piran on a bike path. The first day was flat, the second day was hilly and partly on a gravel road) and the other days were hilly. The roads were generally not too busy but occasionally some of the roads were busy. We bike often at home but would have died if we did not have e-bikes because everyday after the first was hilly. The hotels were great and made charging the bikes easy. The breakfasts were amazing. The stay in the rural area with the wine tasting was great, although a bit expensive. We generally do bike trips in September but had to go in August this year. A dip in the Adriatic in Piran was fantastic.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Heinrich Tillmanns 7 months ago
Amazing country by bike
We booked this tour to celebrate two of our daughters graduations from university. We were a group of 6 and everything went super smooth. Amazing e-bikes, scenery, amazing people and would book again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- First tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Suzanne Kellett 7 months ago
Great ride through beautiful scenery
A great ride for everyone even those who may not be regular cyclists. The schedule is not too taxing for e bike riders who only cycle occasionally. The route takes you through some really beautiful scenery albeit a bit hilly at times and the hotels were all in great locations.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Five
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ AMY COOK 9 months ago
A lovely tour
This tour was lovely, so much beautiful countryside and fascinating historical sites.
It was quite a bit more mountainous than the promotion description lead me to believe and on of the hotels was considerably less nice than the rest. But overall it was a great trip.- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Carrie Sciammas October 12, 2023
Slovenia is wonderful
We had a fantastic bike trip in Slovenia. The country is beautiful as are the people we met along the way. The food was delicious and there were so many things to see along the route. We enjoyed seeing nature, castles, caves ( so many caves!), water powered saw mills, quaint villages, vineyards, Lipanzer horses, rivers, the sea, etc etc.
The app was a bit tricky at times and we encountered some road construction nearly every day but that is all part of the adventure!
I'd love to see more of Slovenia from my bike!
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Carol RALEY September 22, 2023
Easy to Love Slovenia!
We did a self guided Emerald Tour. For the most part directions were good. Went through a bit more road construction than was expected. Guibo was OK. Once you figured it out. We had not used it previously. Good Ebikes with Bosch motors and Shimano shifters. Disc brakes.
Slovenia itself is an absolutely beautiful, friendly and welcoming country! From top to bottom (Bled t0 Piran) It did not disappoint. Tour was well planned and our tour rep had lots of helpful hints about the trip.
We had enough time to do all we wanted and still get some rest time . Good trip!- What was the date of your tour?
- September 23
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7+
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Carol RALEY September 17, 2023
Awesome trip
Slovenia is an absolutely beautiful place to visit especially by bike! We spent time in Bled before the trip so we felt like we saw a great deal of the country. Some difficulty withe Guibo and signage was hit and miss. Ebikes functioned well but had some issues with plastic parts falling off (chain guard and rear fender stabilizer ) Nothing critical but just annoying. End of summer tired bikes I suppose. Otherwise great trip!
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★★★★★ Michael Schwartz July 18, 2023
Great Exposure to a Slovenia not seen by tourists
The bike tour of the Gems of Slovenia afforded us a glimpse into the hidden life of the country, at least the part we saw. The hotels were comfortable, especially the M Hotel in Ljubljana. Breakfast at the M Hotel and the Hotel Piran were great; the others middling to OK. The luggage delivery to each hotel was excellent. The routes from Ljubljana to Piran were good, although our navigation system failed us after the second day. The company faxed us paper directions but they were in black and white and were repeat documents of what we had already.
A few suggestions for change:
1. Provision of a cell phone holder (the plastic bag with velcro strips did not work)
2. A better GPS app
3. Two, not one, but two panniers
4. A way to ensure the charger for the E-bike does not fall out or be removed (someone removed my charger whether accidentally or intentionally I don't know)
5. A way to do laundry, either in town or at the hotel with turn around time to keep the momentum of the trip goingI would also consider making a town in Slovenia a central location with day trips to the surrounding environments.
Good job!
Michael
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 4 - 11
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two including this one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Pieter Van Niekerk July 12, 2023
Quiet, beautiful and well organized.
Excellent cycling roads with beautiful scenery. Well-spaced stops. Excellent GPS app. Good hotels. Good bikes and helpful upfront orientation.
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★★★★★ Amy Reller November 16, 2022
Epic trip!
We did a self-guided tour (two couples) and it could not have been better! From the first night trip orientation in our Ljubljana hotel to our final stopping point in Piran, we couldn't stop talking about how smoothly everything went. The hotels were well familiar with the electric bike routine, our luggage was always waiting for us upon arrival in the lobby, the routes took us through beautiful Slovenian countryside and stopped at points of interest and historical sites that were worth the side trip. Our detailed route map (provided by local bike tour group Helia) was experienced enough to mention ideal locations to stop for lunch along the way which proved helpful when traveling through small villages with limited spots to stop to eat. We lucked out on the early October weather and had no rain which was a bonus. Having breakfast in our hotel before departing each morning made it easy to pack up and get back on the road. Would highly recommend this trip!
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★★★★★ Gail October 27, 2022
Beautiful Slovenia
This was an excellent tour to see the diversity of Slovenia's landscape! I highly recommend the e-bikes as it was hillier than expected (and e-bikes are just fun!) Everything went smoothly, especially the weather this late in the season (we went in mid October). Highly recommend!
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★★★★★ Anne52 October 15, 2019
A Gem of a Tour!
We have been on five tours with Biketours.com now and although we have loved every one, the Emerald Tour of Slovenia was one of the best. The route was extremely well chosen with a huge variety of terrain, several interesting and worthwhile side trips and lovely hotels with friendly service.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 28 - October 5, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ NancyLouWho October 13, 2019
Nice way to experience Slovenia
Two couples decided to do this trip together and I considered myself the weakest link - but thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it!
Being a non-biker with a dodgy knee and several decades on me, I feared I was in over my head. I relied on BikeTours assertion that reasonable fitness and good attitude would carry me through, and they were right! (I started riding my bike for an hour or two a few times a week about two months before the trip, which was an excellent idea.)
This was a level two trip, about 30 miles per day with some long hills included. I was able to ride it all, and readily agreed to every side trip included in the itinerary. Those added anywhere from 3-7 miles to the day’s riding - and also added some special experience to the trip. (Postojna Cave and the nearby castle were my favorites.)
Bikes were in excellent condition, comfortable and well-maintained, and the overnight accommodations everywhere were very nice. I especially liked the guest house in Kodreti, Hiša Posebne Sorte, where the meal was entirely locally sourced. The combination of maps, turn-by-turn instructions, odometer, and strategically placed stickers along the route made way-finding pretty straight forward. We only went off once, but realized it after about a mIle, and quickly got back on track.
Seeing this country by bicycle allowed us to get a real feel for the variations of city vs village, and hilly regions with an Austrian flair vs Mediterranean coast with an Italian vibe.
The couple we traveled with had done a few other trips with Bike Tours and say the quality has been consistent in each. I look forward to traveling with Bike Tours again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 28- Oct. 5, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe October 14, 2019
Nancy, thanks so much for this review. We love hearing a success story! Thanks for providing insight regarding your concerns and the preparation measures you took - a good attitude and time spent on a bike go a long way. Thanks for the details about the bikes, navigation, and overall experience. We hope some future clients opt to enjoy the locally sourced meal at the guest house in Kodreti (Hiša Posebne Sorte) thanks to your review. We can't wait to book the next one for you!
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★★★★★ GobaGirl June 11, 2019
An absolutely fabulous cycling experience.
Cycling from Ljubljana to Piran, from the Julian Alps, through the Karst region, past vineyards and little villages, by caves and castles and eventually down a stunning descent and along the Adriatic Sea was a stunning experience. We cycled along back roads, cycle paths, through kilometer long tunnels, along gravel trails and even made a short jaunt through a flooded marsh! We have cycled in France and Germany and the Czech Republic and this beats them all. The tour company did a fine job - wayfinding materials were a bit intimidating at first but the Route was marked with stickers placed on sign posts and the written directions were (usually) accurate. Accommodations were good (Mantova not so much but Hisa Posebne Sorte blew us away). Stop and see the sights - the castles the caves the museums and the Lipizzaner farm. We had a breakdown one day but the company has mechanics at the ready with a voucher system - we were back in the road in no time. MY ADVICE: rent the Ebike. There were 14 people doing the same ride as us and 9 used ebikes. Three of the days have LOTS of feet of climb. I have done many, many weeklong bike rides and thought these climbs were challenging (I used the regular bike). Unless you are a pretty experienced cyclist, rent the ebike and enjoy the ride. This is a MUST vacation for everyone.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 1, 2019 - June 8, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ arfarb March 28, 2019
Exceeded expectations
Some of the best cycling I have ever done. The food and people are just as amazing. Great options for nature and culture lovers.
- What was the date of your tour?
- March 20, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ TJS53 November 22, 2018
Loved Slovenia
We toured June 21st – 27th in wonderful Slovenia. The tour combined urban and rural riding on a mix of bike paths, bike lanes, country roads, natural surface forest tracks and a little busy urban riding. We enjoyed challenging climbs and at least one white knuckle descent, under mostly deep blue skies in very comfortable temperatures. Two mornings we delayed our departures until rain ceased, but we always had plenty of time to make the next hotel before nightfall. On the first three days we dealt with hills and pedaled through rolling hills with views of the Julian Alps on the horizon. We stopped to tour castles, churches, and caves. We rode with old friends and met some new ones along the way as well. The accommodations were always adequate and often very nice. In all this was a really fine tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 21, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ JHSMTB July 15, 2018
A beautiful ride!!
Excellent tour. Beautiful roads with wonderful views. Mostly low traffic roads. Not too hilly. A little bit of gravel roads and a little bit of bike path. Views/landscape changed every day as we moved from (nearly) alpine to Karst to coastline.
Hotels were good to excellent (Vrnika hotel was so-so).
Guidebook was excellent - no problems following it, and there were even stickers on road sign posts that directed you for straight/left turn/right turn. Tour operator briefing was good.
Bikes were fine - shifting worked and brakes worked.
Make sure you visit the caves at Postojna and Skocjanske Jame. They are awesome.- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/21/2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ WLG63 August 19, 2017
Love Slovenia!
The trip is a wonderful overview of Slovenian geography and culture. The biking is varied and not too difficult, and the routes incorporate stops and side trips to interesting cultural sites. We had 1/2 board and the breakfasts were average to better than average and certainly enough to feel satiated. We had to do some route finding...day 2 was particularly confusing, however, on day 3 we learned of the app Bikemap which is fantastic and we highly recommend....far easier to follow than the included materials (the Slovenian tour does not offer a GPS option). Though the printed material was a nice addition, we relied on Bikemap for the remainder of the trip. The lodging was average to nice, depending on the area, and all places, with the exception of one, had good air-conditioning in the rooms (we were there in August during a heat wave) and we were able to comfortably relax and sleep. Our only complaint was with the hotel in Piran...it was noisy, run down, and did not have air-conditioning though they claimed to. We were hot and tired after a day of biking and unable to relax in the stuffy, dumpy rooms (we had 2 rooms and both were bad). The staff was very nice but the overall experience was a disappointment after and otherwise great trip (our experience at this hotel was not unique, I discovered many negative reviews on the internet). We were particularly frustrated because in Piran and Potoroyz there are many lodging options. I suggest the company charge
more and put clients in a nicer hotel. It's best to have clients end on a positive note. If the tour company continues to book this hotel I suggest guests find alternative lodging for the last night. Otherwise, Slovenia was wonderful and the tour a fantastic family vacation. We travelled with our 19 year old daughter.- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Julie November 4, 2015
Europe's hidden gem
A great trip! Explored big cities and small town! A little bit of everything! Busy city life, quiet cafes, horses, cobbled streets, castles, caves...
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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