Trans Slovenia 02: MTB Tour around Bled and Bohinj Lakes

The Trans Slovenia 02 mountain bike trip begins in the small town of Arnoldstein, which is located on Austria’s southern border between the Carnic Alps and the Karavanke mountain range. The day begins with a warm-up uphill ride to Mt. Peč and continues with an exciting descent to Kranjska Gora, an Alpine resort known for skiing competitions. 

A tranquil forest road leads to the village of Mojstrana, where it enters one of the prettiest valleys in the country, the Radovna River Valley. Since the area is a part of the Triglav National Park, mass tourism is limited here. The final destination of the day is the famously beautiful Bled. It would be a real shame not to visit the tiny island in the middle of the lake, climb the impressive Bled Castle, and taste the yummy Bled cream cake.

The second day of biking in Slovenia starts with a climb to the forested Pokljuka plateau, a popular hiking place resting at an altitude of 1.300 meters. Here you can see many shingle-covered wooden cottages, which are typical for the Slovenian mountain pastures. In the past, they were used as homes for shepherds or dairy production facilities. 

The most memorable part of the day is definitely the ride across the Zajamniki mountain pasture, known for perfect views over Lake Bohinj, the largest permanent natural lake in the country and the final destination of the day.  Many visitors to Slovenia say they have never seen a lake more beautiful than Lake Bled – until they come to Bohinj.

The next MTB stage starts with a pleasant uphill ride to Soriška planina mountain pasture, which excites with great views of Mt. Triglav, the highest peak of Slovenia. A wild ride along gravel and forest paths will take you across the plateau to the village of Petrovo Brdo. You will be happy about how many great single trails this Slovenia cycle route includes. 

The third day of the Trans Slovenia 02 mountain bike adventure features undiscovered trails, small villages, and secluded farms. The remoteness of the location was crucial for the existence of the main landmark of this MTB Slovenia stage – the WWII Franja Partisan Hospital, a European Heritage-protected cultural monument of national importance. The day ends in Cerkno, which features a modern ski center and hosts the world-famous Cerkno Jazz Festival every year.

The Trans Slovenia bike trip continues through the pristine environment. Narrow gravel and asphalt roads run up and down the hilly landscape. The goal of the day is to reach the town of Idrija, notable for its former mercury mine and the tradition of bobbin lace. This stage is a bit shorter, so you can get some rest or visit the abandoned mine, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.

On the next day of cycling in Slovenia, you continue to explore roads and paths that even some locals don’t know. After an easy ascent to Črni Vrh, there are two routes you can follow towards the town of Ajdovščina. If you choose the first one, you will ride over the scenic Mt. Javornik and then descend through the Bela Valley. An easier option is to follow the village road all to way to Col and further to Ajdovščina.

The fertile, wine-rich Vipava Valley stretches from Nova Gorica into the Karst region. Its mild climate encourages the cultivation of peaches, apricots, and most importantly, grapes, which turn into excellent wine. The idyllic rural environment offers various opportunities to try some local delicacies.

In the next part of this Trans Slovenia bike trip, the landscape changes once again as the trail enters the magical world of 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 8.000, 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. 

The most remarkable stop of the day is the typical town of Štanjel with its narrow streets, castle, and a delightful garden. Mountain biking continues across the quiet Slovenian countryside towards the town of Divača. Time permitting, a visit to another UNESCO site, the world-famous Škocjan Caves is strongly recommended.

This MTB stage is all about Mt. Slavnik, where a popular MTB marathon takes place every spring. With fabulous views over the sea, other Slovenian regions, and neighboring Italy and Croatia, it simply can not disappoint. A mix of asphalt and gravel roads takes you to Slovenian Istria, another region scattered with vineyards. Two different trails can be chosen to reach the lovely village of Marezige, the final stop of the day.

The first trail runs closer to the sea and passes through Kozina before reaching the Istrian hinterland. The other, technically more demanding trail, enters deeper into the hills overlooking the Adriatic coast before joining the easier trail at the village of Podpeč.

On the last day of the Slovenia cycling holidays, the trail finally reaches the always-popular Adriatic coast. With no hills to climb, your legs will finally get some rest. The route takes you from the Dragonja Valley to the sea, where it passes by the Sečovlje Salina Landscape Park, the largest Slovenian salt evaporation pond and one of the few facilities where salt is still produced in a traditional way. 

Pedaling continues along the Slovenian coast. Soon after you ride through Portorož, you will arrive at the final destination of the week-long tour, the town of Piran. Sitting at the tip of a narrow peninsula, the picturesque coastal town boasts one of the best-preserved historical towns in the Adriatic. It is hard not to fall in love with its atmospheric winding alleyways, cafes, and restaurants. Climb the Town Walls if you are searching for the best sunset views.

The Trans Slovenia 02 mountain bike tour ends with breakfast in Piran. Afterwards, a transfer is organized to the tour starting point in Arnoldstein.