Best of Slovenia gravel bike tour

The Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour starts with the arrival to the Alpine town of Arnoldstein situated at Austria’s southern border between the Carnic Alps and the Karavanke mountain range. Meeting in Arnoldstein is followed by a warm-up uphill ride to Mt. Peč and a thrilling descent to Kranjska Gora. Before reaching your hotel, you can take a detour to Planica Valley with the world’s famous Nordic ski center.

The first day is all about the triple border (Dreiländereck), where the territories of Slovenia, Italy, and Austria come together in a single point. The peak offers a spectacular view over the Julian Alps, the Gailtal Alps, the Gurktal Alps, the High Tauern, and the western part of the Karavanke mountains. Various detours are taken to reach the peaks offering majestic views and tones of biking pleasures are guaranteed.

From Kranjska Gora, the Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour leads past Lake Jasna to the Vršič mountain pass. The highest positioned road pass in the Eastern Julian Alps with an altitude of 1.611 meters and 50 serpentines assure a demanding, but the most memorable ascent of the tour. For the most part, the tour avoids the main road and makes use of the challenging gravel trails.

The next location is the beautiful and remote Trenta Valley, located at the heart of the Triglav National Park. The valley presents the uppermost part of the famous Soča Valley, the first place in Slovenia to be proclaimed the European Destination of Excellence due to its sustainable tourism development.

Flowing under the majestic peaks of the Julian Alps, the emerald-green Soča is considered one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. In addition to a plethora of stunning natural sites, the valley features the shocking heritage of World War I, which is visible at every step. The road follows the river to the small town of Bovec, known as the center of outdoor sports. The rest of the day is dedicated to exploring this idyllic location or choosing from a wide variety of outdoor activities provided by the local agencies. A zipline session or river kayaking/rafting are highly recommended.

The third day of the Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour begins at the majestic Boka, the mightiest waterfall in the country. After a short ascent at Žaga village, an asphalt road leads up towards the border between Slovenia and Italy. From here, a former mule-track road leads to the top of Mt. Stol. The higher the road goes, the more challenging the climb is. Upon reaching its highest point, an incredible view of the Alps and the Soča Valley opens below. On clear days, the peak also offers a splendid view of the sea. An exciting descent, beginning on demanding and loose gravel terrain towards the Nadiža Valley is surely the highlight of the day. The crystal blue River Nadiža, a hidden gem popular mostly among locals, invites for a refreshing swim.

The day ends in Robidišče, the westernmost village in Slovenia and a lively mountain bike hub in recent years.

The first destination of the day is the small town of Kobarid, best known for the 1917 WWI Battle of Caporetto, where the Italian retreat was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. Today, Kobarid is a lively tourist hub.

From Kobarid, a steep asphalt climb leads the way toward the top of Mt.Kolovrat at the Slovenian border with Italy. The effort is awarded with fantastic views over the Soča Valley and the Friulian plains. The top of Kolovrat is home to the World War 1 open air Museum, which preserves the memory of the third defense line of the Italian Army during the Isonzo Front. After this historical insight, the day continues with scenic biking along the mountain ridge.

Leaving the Alps behind, it is time for some biking through vineyards in the photogenic region of Goriška Brda. The land of gentle, rolling hills covered in orchards and vineyards and dotted with small, secluded villages, reminds of Tuscany. The winegrowers here are famous all over the world for their high-quality wine and hospitality. Needless to say, wine tasting is inevitable here.

The fourth day of the Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour ends in the lovely village of Šmartno, a picturesque walled village with five preserved towers. Like an eagle’s nest, Šmartno can be viewed from any corner of Brda.

Saying goodbye to Brda, the following day the road briefly enters Italy and leads to the romantic town of Gorizia, where tasty Italian ice cream provides some extra energy. Nevertheless, the longest biking day of the tour is all about Karst. Typical karst-like gravel biking (rough and sharper riding surface) resumes across the fascinating landscape full of typical karstic phenomena. Speleologists discover new caves in Slovenia every year, and the number of recorded ones now amounts to more than 14,000 with only 20 of them being show caves.

The Slovenian Karst is also a wine-growing region, as demonstrated by over 100 wine cellars included in the Karst Wine Route. Although the landscape is different here, it is again full of vineyards and small villages located on the hilltops and featuring traditional houses built in stone.

After Pliskovica, a dynamic biking road leads to the town of Sežana before passing the famous Lipica Stud Farm, home to the noble Lipizzaner horses since 1580. The gravel biking adventure of the day comes to an end in the village of Lokev, known for tasty homemade food.

The sixth day emphasizes the diversity of Slovenia and of the Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour itself, passing through the karst and the hilly coastal hinterland. After a quick and steep descent over the edge of the Karst plateau, the route continues towards the city of Koper along the Parenzana railway, a now-defunct narrow gauge railway that connected Triste and Poreč at the beginning of the 20th century.

Following the Parenzana and passing through some tunnels on the way, the road ultimately leads to the charming town of Piran. According to Lonely Planet, Piran is a small slice of Venice in Slovenia. Its old town, full of Venetian Gothic architecture, is known as one of the best-preserved historical towns on the Adriatic.

The route starts from Piran towards Portorož where yet again joins the former Parenzana railway. A scenic ride along the Adriatic coast is characterized by rich sub-continental Istrian karstic vegetation. Just before the national border, one can visit the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, the largest Slovenian salt evaporation pond, where salt is still produced in a traditional way.

The fun mix of gravel and asphalt roads continues in Croatia. The highlight of the day is the tiny inland town of Grožnjan. Much like its neighboring villages, Grožnjan has kept a faithful watch over the Mirna valley for centuries. When Grožnjan was formally declared the Town of Artists in 1965, many artists and gallerists moved in and began transforming it into an art hub. Before reaching Grožnjan, there is another place that is well worth a visit – the town of Buje.

While biking back towards Slovenia and soon after crossing the Slovenian border with Croatia, one last challenge awaits. Very steep uphill biking leads to the small villages of Korte and Malija, situated in the peaceful hinterland of the Slovenian Istria high above the Adriatic coast and offering some spectacular views. The last biking kilometers lead down back to Piran, where the Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour comes to an end. Make sure not to leave before trying some delicious seafood and taking a dip in the Adriatic Sea.

The Epic Slovenia gravel bike tour ends with breakfast in Piran. After breakfast, a transfer is organized to the tour starting point in Arnoldstein.