Slovenia – Green Gourmet Route Culinary Bike Tour

Today is your arrival day to Slovenia, and you will arrive to your hotel on your own. Meet our local Pure Adventures representative for a trip briefing, followed by a delightful 2-hour food walking tour* of Ljubljana (recommended during lunchtime from 11 am to 4 pm). This charming city, often hailed as the “Green Capital of Europe” and compared to Salzburg or Prague, is an emerging foodie destination which will not disappoint!

Note: We highly recommend arriving a day earlier, so that you have time to explore this magical city and allow for any airline mishaps/flight delays! Ljubljana is an extraordinary city, and you will want to take some time to explore and adjust to the time change!

Meals: foodie tour
*Note: For this experience, you will join a small group of 4-10 people.
Overnight: Ljubljana

Your adventure starts with a scenic shuttle to Planica Nordic center in the majestic Tamar valley (~1 hr drive). We will get you set up on your bikes and ready to ride! A day of alpine cycling takes you along the valley, first to the charming Jasna Lake in Kranjska Gora. From there, continue your ride along the picturesque Upper Sava Valley trail, following a former railroad that connected Kranjska Gora to Mojstrana. Enjoy breathtaking valley views and stop at well-maintained rest areas along the way. Upon reaching Mojstrana alpine village, witness the imposing North Face of Mt. Triglav, the highest Slovenian mountain. Next, make your way to the scenic Radovna valley, with rolling meadows and historic homesteads. Along the way, stop to try one of several traditional alpine stews. Finish at Lake Bled, surrounded by a medieval 11th century castle and a 15th century chapel on an island. With free time, cycle to the lake, go for a swim, or take a hike to a scenic lookout! Tonight, you will have a cooking class and prepare your own dinner, learning the art of traditional Slovenian cuisine. The class includes a gastronomi 3-course menu, featuring local ingredients, recipes, regional wine and spirits. Dietary preferences/restrictions can be accommodated with prior arrangement.

Meals: breakfast, dinner/cooking class
Distance: 44 km / 27 mi, +423 / -839 m
Highlights: breathtaking mountain and valley views, Lake Bled, cooking class
Overnight: Lake Bled

Today is dedicated to exploring the culinary delights of the Bled region! Start with a short bike ride to Radovljica, a small town renowned for some of Slovenia’s best-preserved examples of medieval architecture and the title of the chocolate capital of Slovenia! Delve into a guided chocolate tasting session and class at an artisan chocolatier, featuring an aperitif in a chocolate ‘glass,’ a demonstration by a master chocolatier, and a hands-on session where participants create their own chocolate souvenir! Following the class, enjoy lunch in town (on own.) Before leaving, visit the Museum of Apiculture to learn all about honey making and beekeeping. The museum showcases the unique world of the Carniolan grey bee and UNESCO-designated Slovenian beekeeping. In the afternoon, return to Bled. Enjoy the lake, visit the castle, or take a hike to a stunning scenic viewpoint!

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 26 km / 16 mi, +/- 394 m
Highlights: Radovljica, artesanal chocolate class, beekeeping museum, Lake Bled
Overnight: Bled

This morning, leave Bled and continue your gourmet cycling adventure with a ride to Bohinj Lake. Ride along a newly built cycling trail, along a lush glacial valley into Triglav National Park. Through fresh air and spruce forests, past alpine homesteads, reach the tranquil Bohinj Lake. Once there, you can swim, SUP, or take a hike! Then, stop at a local dairy farm to learn more about and sample the delicious cheeses famous to this region. We highly recommend having lunch here (on own.) After these first two days of your journey, you will quickly see why the Julian Alps, in which Bled and Bohinj are located, have earned a special designation as one of the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable tourist destinations!

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 30 km / 18 mi, +388/-377 m
Highlights: dairy farm, Triglav National Park, Bohinj
Overnight: Bohinj

Today, cycle on a peaceful bike path to the train station in Bohinjska Bistrica. Take a scenic train ride (40 min) through tunnels and over bridges to the Kanal ob Soci in the Soca River Valley. Enjoy the emerald green Soca River as you ride mostly downhill along the river towards Goriska Brda, on the border with Italy. This area, often referred to as the “Tuscany of Slovenia,” is a picturesque wine region with rolling hills, vineyards, orchards, and medieval villages. Stop for lunch in a medieval village, where you can enjoy homemade pasta and a refreshing glass of “house wine” (on own.) Upon reaching your hotel, we have included a wine tasting at a local winery. (Or, we can arrange a visit to a producer of mediterranean herbs and herbal extracts.)

Meals: breakfast & wine tasting
Distance: 46 km / 29 mi, +/-780 m
Highlights: quiet vineyard and orchard cycling, hilltop villages, Komen stay
Overnight: Goriska Brda

Wake up amidst beautiful vineyards and enjoy your breakfast. A driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you (1.5 hrs) to the coastal region of Slovenia. Once there, will embark on a unique truffle hunting experience*, searching for the “black gold” of the Istrian peninsula! Continue on, cycling along serene roads, passing hilltop villages, with exhilarating descents and breathtaking vistas of the Gulf of Piran. Along the way, visit the Secovlje Salt Fields, which preserve a 700 year-old tradition. Finally, you reach your destination: Piran town, a gem of the Piranese peninsula and the Slovenian Mediterranean. This is one of the best-preserved historical towns in the Mediterranean, and a beautiful example of Venetian Gothic architecture. Tonight, you may want to enjoy one last delicious dinner at your choice of several exceptional seafood restaurants!

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 46 km / 29 mi, +/-780 m
Highlights: truffle hunt, Piran coastal finish
*Note: For this experience, you will join a small group of 4-10 people.
Overnight: Piran

Your tour ends today, after breakfast. If you would like to extend your stay on the coast, please inquire at the time of booking. We are happy to book you additional nights at your same hotel so that you can rest and better explore the area! Your return transfer back to Ljubljana airport is included (1h 30min); other transfers can be arranged for a supplemental fee.

Want more? Ask about a 4 day Istria extension option!

Meals: breakfast