Slovenia & Croatia Bike 6D5N (Julian Alps, Istrian Vineyards & the Sea), Fully Guided

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 26 km (16 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (1300 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 47 km (29 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 60 km (36 miles), Elevation gain: 792 m (2600 ft)

To begin the trip, meet with your tour leaders at 9:30 am in the lobby of uHotel (the former Grand Hotel Union Business) in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Please, ensure you arrive dressed in your biking clothes and come along with a daypack containing your rain gear and anything else you may want for the day's ride and your luggage (which will be transported to our first night's accommodations). If you choose to change into your gear following our shuttle, please, know that a proper changing area is mostly unavailable.

Following our meeting, we shuttle through the outskirts of Ljubljana to the town of Kranj, where we gear up for our first day of riding in Slovenia's countryside. Your tour leaders fit your bike and educate you briefly on biking techniques and safety, after which you head out to make your debut ride in the Slovenian countryside.

Following the enormous Sava river, we make our way north on serene roads to mediaeval Radovljica, considered Slovenia's best-kept village, dating back to 1500. Here, we have lunch at a favourite local restaurant. If you want to conquer more kilometres, let the distant peaks lead you to the stunning Bled.

The legendary town, in the foothills of the Julian Alps and adjacent to glacial Lake Bled, initially gained popularity as a health resort for the Austrian aristocracy. At Bled, we take a break at a family-owned beekeeping farm. Indulge in honey tasting, learn about beehives, traditional and model bee panels, and the art of extracting honey.

Get comfortable in your room at Hotel Vila Bled, our ethereal home for the next two nights, set in a tranquil location providing stunning views and easy access to Lake Bled. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing on the sun terrace, lounging by the lake or pamper with a spa treatment. (Spa treatments are at own expense and reservations are recommended.)

At night, we gather for an aperitivo before we sit to enjoy our first dinner together. Dinner features a French and Mediterranean mix with a dash of Slovenian twist, prepared with freshly-picked local ingredients.

FOUR BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 3, Approx. 35 km (22 miles), Elevation gain: 945 m (3100 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 42 km (26 miles), Elevation gain: 1128 m (3700 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 60 km (36 miles), Elevation gain: 1250 m (4100 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 82 km (51 miles), Elevation gain: 2103 m (6900 ft)

Savour a delightful breakfast before setting out to climb nearly 900 m (3000 ft) over Pokljuka Plateau (home to the Biathlon World Cup) to Lake Bohinj in Slovenia's Triglav National Park. It's a challenging climb, so if you'd like to skip the hardest part, join the shuttle, and reunite with your bike for the last, mostly downhill stretch to the lake. The path cuts through thick forests that lead us to stupefying alpine views with mountain pastures and shepherds' huts.

Relax for a bit as you savour lunch at a local cheese farm before cruising down through the Sava Bohinjka River Valley and back to Bled. Or you could choose to go with the van if you'd fancy some extra time. You could get a massage at the hotel, take a stroll around town, or take a plenta (traditional wooden boat) ride on your own to Lake Bled's small rocky island, known for its 17th-century church, a well-known spot in Slovenia.

If you're up for covering more ground, take an additional hike into the Pokljuka Mountains. This is one of the most challenging climbs of the week as the route gains over a 1000 m (3300 ft).

In the evening, learn about Yugoslavia and beyond from a local guide before an authentic dinner boasting local flavours at Bled Castle Restaurant. This restaurant offers a range of gourmet local and regional dishes, made and presented sophisticatedly. The mediaeval castle, which is over a thousand years old, sits above the town and boasts captivating views of Lake Bled.

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 3, Approx. 39 km (24 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 53 km (33 miles), Elevation gain: 975 m (3200 ft)

We begin our ride directly from the hotel after eating breakfast. Follow a path into the stunning Radovna Valley, a postcard-perfect alpine valley amid the Julian Alps. On our way, we pass by the village of Mojstrana, which used to be a mining town. Its steep slopes and rough ridges have made it a well-known home and training area for Slovenian skiers and climbers, many of whom have been Olympians.

Continue pedalling as you make your way to Planica, an area popular for winter sports, including ski jumping. Then, go on to the little town of Kranjska Gora for lunch on your own. This sophisticated ski and mountaineering centre is the ideal place to begin our exploration of the Upper Sava Valley.

This afternoon, our route is a railway-turned-bike path, removed from the bustle of motor traffic. Going back to Kranjska Gora, we board our shuttle to Portorož and the stunning coast.

Our home for the night is the 5-star grand Kempinski Palace Portorož, which lies at the heart of the famed Portorož offering magnificent views of the Adriatic and giving you easy access to many nice places, ranging from cafés to restaurants. Get comfortable in your chicly designed room or relax by the poolside or visit the spa before savouring dinner at your leisure.

You can also pay a visit on your own to the stunning nearby coastal town of Piran and take in St. George's Parish Church or a beautiful sunset.

FOUR BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 35 km (22 miles), Elevation gain: 579 m (1900 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 45 km (28 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 51 km (32 miles), Elevation gain: 823 m (2700 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 117 km (73 miles), Elevation gain: 1646 m (5400 ft)

Zbogom (goodbye) Slovenia, zdravo (hello) Croatia! This morning, we turn south and inland to cross the border. Ride serene teetering roads through thick forests and past fig trees and decks built into the hills. Take a coffee break at the hilltop town of Groznjan, then carry on to a nearby agriturismo (country retreat and working farm) for a sumptuous traditional lunch and breathtaking views over the Croatian landscape. After lunch, we head to Livade, a village famous for the aromatised and elusive truffle. If you'd like to keep pedalling, test your legs on the Livade route!

Whatever you opt for, if it’s to join the shuttle or continue pedalling to the hotel, our destination is the elegant Wine Hotel Meneghetti. The hotel, being one of four Relais & Châteaux properties in Croatia occupying 120,000 yards, is an ode to nature. This afternoon is for relaxing. Unwind by the pool or simply bask in the sunshone and serenity by its garden terrace.

Tonight, you are opportune to choose from many exceptional restaurants; there's a restaurant for you, regardless of what you enjoy, be it seafood, barbeque, Italian, anything at all, to enjoy dinner on your own in the nearby seaside town of Rovinj.

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 43 km (27 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 66 km (41 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)

Get ready for another exhilarating day! Enjoy an energising breakfast this morning and hop on your bike. Begin today’s ride by making your way from the hotel toward the Venetian town of Bale, where we take a break to indulge in an olive oil tasting. Carry on with your ride through the staggering terrain of central Istria, passing thick forests, tiny villages, castle ruins, and the remains of mediaeval towns. Stop briefly to learn the history of Dvigrad, an abandoned village originally settled by the Illyrians in ancient times.

We make a stop at konoba for lunch before continuing our ride to the seaside of Vrsar. If the weather permits, we board a speed boat and a shuttle to get back to Meneghetti. Zipping across the water, take in stunning views of the Lim Fjord, a geographical feature between Rovinj and Vrsar on Istria’s west coast. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon, or check out one of the property’s swimming pools.

Level 2, Approx. 29 km (18 miles), Elevation gain: 274 m (900 ft)

If you’d like to go on one last ride, rise early for a loop ride through the Istrian countryside. Cycle to the coast and the tiny fishing village of Peroj, whose history dates back to the Copper Age. If you also want a final feel of the water of the Adriatic, you could go in for a swim before returning to the hotel. There is also the option of a laid-back morning where you sleep in, soak in the panoramas and enjoy a nice breakfast.

Later, in awe of your adventure, say goodbye to your tour leaders and board a private coach to Trieste, Italy, where our trip ends

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.