Trans Slovenia 01: Alps to Adriatic Mountain Bike Tour

The Trans Slovenia 01 MTB adventure starts when you arrive in Arnoldstein, a small town situated at Austria’s southern border. The trip begins with a warm-up uphill ride to Mt. Peč and an exciting descent to Kranjska Gora. 

The first day is all about the triple border (Dreiländereck), a point where the territories of Slovenia, Italy, and Austria meet. The peak offers a majestic view of the Julian Alps, Gailtal Alps, High Tauern, and Karavanke mountain range. Tones of mountain biking pleasures are guaranteed.

Following the descent, you will pass the entrance into Planica Valley – the ski-flying mecca and Zelenci – the spring of the Sava, Slovenia’s longest river.

From Kranjska Gora, this Trans Slovenia bike trip leads past Lake Jasna to the Vršič mountain pass. The highest-positioned road pass in the Julian Alps with an altitude of 1611 meters attracts many cyclists and mountain bikers.

Descending from the Vršič pass, the trail leads to the magical Trenta Valley, located at the heart of the Triglav National Park. It is also the uppermost part of the famous Soča Valley, where one of the most beautiful European rivers, the emerald green Soča, has its source. The valley features a plethora of stunning natural sites, as well as the shocking heritage of World War I. The MTB Slovenia trail follows the river to Bovec, known as the center of outdoor sports. Here you can choose from a wide variety of outdoor activities provided by the local agencies. River rafting and kayaking are highly recommended.

The third day of biking in Slovenia starts at the majestic Boka, the mightiest waterfall in the country. After passing by the Žaga village, the route leads up towards the Slovenia-Italy border. A former mule track then leads to the top of Mt. Stol, where an incredible view of the Alps and the Soča Valley opens below. On clear days, you might even see the sea. Mountain biking along Mt. Stol Ridge is simply amazing. A steep single trail runs into the forest and descends right to the banks of the Nadiža River.

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

After following the course of the Nadiža River, the ascent from 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, brings you to Krn village and then onto the Pretovč mountain pasture. It makes this part of the Trans Slovenia mountain bike trip the most challenging one. The effort is rewarded with a thrilling downhill ride to the Tolminka River valley. You will pass by the Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit, a monument dedicated to the First World War. Next, the mountain bike adventure takes you to one of the most popular tourist spots in the region, the Tolmin Gorges. You can visit this beautiful site before you bike to the final destination of the day, the town of Tolmin.

Mt. Matajur is a demanding choice, but offers you one of the highlights of mountain biking in Slovenia with a technical, two hour long downhill ride to Italy. While biking up, you can enjoy fantastic views over the Friulian plains and the surrounding mountains. What follows is pure fun – a long downhill ride through the woods to the tiny historic town of Cividale del Friuli in Italy.

It is then time for some easy biking through the vineyards of Brda / Collio on the border between Slovenia and Italy. Eventually, you will arrive at the village of Šmartno. The land of gentle, rolling hills covered in orchards and vineyards and dotted with small, secluded villages, reminds of Tuscany. The wine growers here are famous all over the world for their high-quality wine and hospitality. Needless to say, wine tasting is inevitable here.

The longest biking day of this Slovenia bicycle tour is all about Karst. This region is full of special natural phenomena like sinkholes, disappearing streams, and underground caves. The number of recorded caves in Slovenia amounts to over 14.000, but only about 20 of them are open to the public. The Slovenian Karst is also a wine-growing region, famous for the ruby-red teran. Tiny villages located on the hilltops feature traditional houses built in stone. 

This MTB stage comes to an end near Lipica, where an original stud farm of noble white Lipizzaner has been located in Lipica since 1580.

The last day of the Slovenia cycling holidays truly wraps up the diversity of the country and of the Trans Slovenia 01 mountain bike tour itself. You will first ride to the Karst edge, the natural escarpment, which overlooks the Gulf of Trieste. Next, you will descend to Rižana Valley. The MTB trail then leads down to the sea level, approaching the coastal city of Koper. 

From here, the route follows the Parenzana railway track, a now-defunct narrow gauge railway that connected Trieste and Poreč at the beginning of the 20th century. Along the Parenzana, you will pass through some narrow tunnels. Soon after you will reach the final destination of this mountain bike trip. The city of Piran is, according to Lonely Planet, 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 Trans Slovenia 01 mountain bike tour ends in Piran. After breakfast, a transfer is organized to the tour starting point in Arnoldstein.