Alpina Mediterranean Cycling Tour

Your Alpina Mediterranean cycling route adventure begins with an afternoon van transfer of you and your bikes from Ljubljana to the town of Cividale in eastern Italy. This will be your only night in Italy, so after an introductory briefing (for guided tours), we will taste the ‘life is beautiful’ cuisine. Benvenuti e saluti! (Welcome and cheers!)

After the obligatory cappuccino, we start the Alpina Mediterranean cycling tour. We leave the pleasant, architecturally rich Italian town of Cividale and ride along the turquoise Nadiža River toward Slovenia. At Kobarid, we join the pearl of the Alps, the emerald Soča River. The area is known for the brutal Isonzo Front; history buffs are recommended to visit the World War I Museum and the Italian Ossuary in Kobarid.

We continue cycling in Slovenia on quieter village roads along the left bank of the Soča toward Tolmin. If you have the will and time, it is worth visiting the Tolmin Gorges, a world-famous gorge carved into the rock by the crystal-clear Tolminka River, or riding to the magical confluence of two rivers, the Soča and the Tolminka, a renowned venue for many music and sports festivals.

85% paved
15 % unpaved

The day will be spent cruising along one of the most scenic parts of this gravel bike tour. You’ll ride the peaceful cycle path beside the emerald Soča River, gliding past green reflections between Tolmin and Most na Soči before entering a narrow valley. From Most na Soči to the stone bridge in Kanal, the bike route becomes slightly more demanding, with rewarding views above the Soča River. After leaving the charming town of Kanal, you will still need to push your pedals a little harder. The climb continues toward Goriška Brda, Slovenia’s sunlit wine region, known for its top-quality wines, which from Slovenia find their way to top restaurants all over the world. Beer may be the first hydration after arriving at the finish line, but you can imagine that the locals will be offended if you don’t try a local drop with dinner.

90% paved
10% unpaved

You will get to know three beautiful landscapes in the southwest of Slovenia while cycling this stage of the Alpina Mediterranean cycling route. You already discovered the charm of Goriška Brda yesterday evening, and today’s Slovenia bike tour continues toward Nova Gorica, where the famous Europe Square connects Slovenian Nova Gorica and Italian Gorizia. After a short ride through the beginning of the Vipava Valley, the route ascends to the Karst plateau, a limestone region known for its Teran wine, prosciutto dried in the ‘burja’ wind, and mysterious karst caves. Much of this Slovenia cycling section runs along a modern, vine-lined cycle path with a smooth paved surface, suitable even for racing road bikes. The stage concludes near the world-renowned Lipica stud farm, where you might see the elegant white Lipizzaner horses stretching their necks over wooden fences as you ride past.

70% paved
30% unpaved

Not far from Lipica, the route of this Slovenian bike trail leads toward the Škocjan Caves, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site recognized since 1986. Although slightly less famous than Postojna Cave, it is equally breathtaking and well worth a visit during your Slovenia cycling adventure. The ride continues over the peaceful hills of Brkini, a lesser-known region of Slovenia that rewards cyclists with winding roads, gentle ascents, and quiet rural scenery perfect for bike touring. This part of the bike tour descends all the way to Ilirska Bistrica, a charming town surrounded by nature. If the weather brings rain, consider it part of the experience: after rainfall, the Sušec (‘sušec’ means dry) waterfall appears in the center of town, offering a refreshing sight at the end of your day.

80% paved
20% unpaved

According to the map, the Adriatic Sea seems within reach in Ilirska Bistrica, but the Alpina Mediterranean cycling route still has one final challenge before the coast. After a leisurely ride through the valley of the Reka River, south of the mighty Snežnik mountain, the last climb awaits just before the border crossing. The path follows peaceful forest roads, ideal for bike touring and cycling Slovenia, with only a short macadam section along the way. Once you cross the border into Croatia, the landscape opens toward the sea. Depending on the wind, you may first smell the salty air and soon see the Adriatic coast and the Kvarner Bay with the nearby islands of Krk and Cres. On the route, stop at the memorial and museum Lipa Remembers, dedicated to the tragic massacre of 269 civilians during World War II. Continuing your bike tour in Croatia, you’ll be able to see Rijeka, one of Croatia’s main port cities, before arriving in elegant Opatija—where tourism began in the nineteenth century. Here, the bike tour ends perfectly: with a refreshing swim in the Adriatic, a seafood dinner, or a romantic walk along the 12-kilometer Lungomare promenade by the sea.

90% paved
10% unpaved

This is the final day of the cycling trip. After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred by van back to Ljubljana.