Scenic riding among vineyards, hamlets, and lakes
Tour designer: Federica Luppi
Crossing the border from Friuli to Slovenia you'll notice both the continuity and the diversity of this area that has been occupied by various European powers over the years. There’s a lot of history involved in this cycling and multi-sport tour, with a focus on the years during and between the two World Wars. Our visit to the WWI Museum in Caporetto-Kobarid is the best way to get to know the history and the geography of these two regions.
Both Friuli and Slovenia are big wine producers, especially of white wines, and it’s interesting to taste the same grape varietal cultivated in different soils and climates. Friuli’s wine regions of Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli will be the backdrop of our cycling ride towards Slovenia, and in Slovenia we pass through the wine areas of Goriska Brda, Kras and Vipavska Dolina. You could witness the beginning of the grape harvest and the start of the winemaking process, with the help of some local wine producers.
Read our blog article Destination Highlight: Friuli, and Why It's Cycling Heaven
Rolling vineyards, lush, green forests and snowcapped mountains form the backdrop for much of our riding along smooth, uncrowded roads and bike paths. The views are just as spectacular when we are off the bikes enjoying a variety of multi-sport activities, including river rafting, hiking, and much more.
The Slovenian Identity and the WWI and WWII Legacy
Slovenia’s identity, and its formal and informal divisions with the bordering region of Friuli were shaped in part by the conflicts of both World Wars. During World War I, after the Italian attack on Austria-Hungary in 1915, the Italian front opened, and some of the most important battles (the Battles of the Isonzo) were fought along the Soca River and on the Kras Plateau in the Slovene Littoral. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, the Slovenians initially joined the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia). The western part of the Slovenian Lands was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy and became known under the name of Julian March. In April 1941, Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis Powers. Slovenia was divided between Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Horthy's Hungary. Soon, a liberation movement under Communist leadership emerged. Due to political assassinations carried out by the Communist guerrillas as well as the pre-existing radical anti-Communism of the conservative circles of Slovenian society, a civil war between Slovenes broke out in the Italian-occupied southeastern Slovenia (Ljubljana, Lower Carniola and Inner Carniola) between the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People and the Axis-sponsored anti-communist militia. Nevertheless, the Slovenian partisan guerrillas managed to liberate large portions of the Slovene Lands, making an important contribution to the defeat of Nazism.
NOTE: Tour available for private groups only. For info and group pricing follow this link.
Request a Tour Summary
- Smooth easy bike paths
Alps as the backdrop for most of the journey- Scenic, quiet roads without traffic
- Outdoor activities: cycling, river rafting, and hiking
- Premier hotels and historical palaces
- Wine tastings and cooking demonstration
- Enchanted Radovna Valley and Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia
- Lunch at Hiša Franko with chef Ana Ros
- Ljubljana and Cividale del Friuli (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
- Compare/contrast bordering wine regions
- Taste wine with local producers in both Friuli and Slovenia
- Attend a Friulian cooking lesson at Michelin-star restaurant, and enjoy the results for dinner
- Be enchanted by the Radovna Valley and Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia
- Visit Ljubljana and Cividale del Friuli (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
- Visit of WWI museum with English speaking guide
- Take a walking tour of Ljubljana with a local guide
- Enjoy lunch at Hiša Franko
Day 1
Where:
Terrain: Rolling
Ride: 13 mi or 22 km
Meals: L, D
A private shuttle will take you to our hotel near Gorizia, where your guides will be waiting to welcome you
Hotel: La Subida
Day 2
Where: Cividale
Terrain: Hilly
Ride: 28 mi or 45 km (shorter and longer options available)
Meals: B, L, D
The first longer ride of the tour takes place in the morning right after more bike fitting and leads us northward to Cividale del Friuli. We will be pedaling through the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli wine area for about 30
Hotel: La Subida
Day 3
Where: Bovec
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Ride: 46 mi or 74 km (shorter option available)
Meals: B, L, D
The longest ride of this tour takes us out of Friuli, heading northeast to reach the border of Slovenia. We will notice the landscape changing as we ride through the lowest mountain pass of the Alps, a long, easy smooth climb that takes us to the former checkpoint between Italy and Slovenia. The border is now only geographical but there are still old buildings that once served as checkpoints and now house grocery stores and restaurants. Entering Slovenia we will find ourselves in a lush, green landscape with the typical vegetation of a mountain region, with rivers, waterfalls, and forests. Silence and very few cars make this and the next rides heavenly. The first stop will be Caporetto/Kobarid to visit to the WWI museum, a small but very complete and interesting house where the people from Caporetto collected pictures and objects through which they the history of WWI as it was lived by the soldiers and normal people in those areas of Italy and Slovenia where we bike during our tour. Lunch will be at Hiša Franko and it will be cooked by Chef Ana Ros. She was one of the chefs featured in Netflix Chef’s Table. This is a meal we won’t forget! The second half of the day cruises us to Bovec where the hotel Dobra Vila and its lovely hosts will be waiting for us to welcome us in their house-style hotel to enjoy a cold glass of wine on the patio while watching the sunset behind the high mountains that surround the valley where Bovec is nestled. A short walk to the center of Bovec and we will find our dinner table ready at a local Gostilna, a simple, typical restaurant ‘trattoria’ style.
Hotel: Dobra Vila Hotel
Day 4
Where: Triglav National Park
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Ride: 15 mi or 24 km (longer option available)
Meals: B, L, D
Bovec is known as the adventure capital of Slovenia, and we have a full day here to rest and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities: kayaking, rafting, canoeing, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking and more. River rafting in the emerald waters of the Soca River while immersed in the landscape of high peaks, forest and waterfalls is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. For those who like hiking, there are some interesting trails with historical traces of WWI and WWII just outside of Bovec, with a war cemetery, two old forts and some bunkers and tunnels dating back to the Napoleon era and WWI. A bike ride will also be available if you want to explore the countryside up to the edge of Triglav National Park, in a remote little valley where only sheep and cows are witnesses to our slow-paced ride through paradise. The group will gather in the late afternoon for a wine tasting in Dobra Vila’s cellar with a local winemaker who will introduce us to his production. Dinner follows in the stylish dining room at Dobra Vila, another unforgettable gourmand experience.
Hotel: Dobra Vila Hotel
Day 5
Where: Fusine Lake to Bled
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Ride: 37 mi or 59 km (shorter and longer options available)
Meals: B, L, D
Today we’ll go across the Alps to reach Tarvisio, a town on the border where Italy, Austria
Bled is our final destination today. We’ll bike along the lake shore to reach Hotel Vila Bled, located about 1km away from the very center of Bled. The building was once one of former Slovenian dictator Tito’s residences and is now a luxury hotel, complete with a spa and a huge park with direct access to the lake. Some free rowboats are available for guests to take onto the lake, and if you make it to the island in the middle you can visit its small church. Dinner will be at Vila Bled, hopefully outside with a view of the lake if the weather allows.
Hotel: Vila Bled
Day 6
Where: Ljubljana
Ride: None
Meals: B, L, D
Today we’ll transfer by private bus (about 1 hr) to Ljubljana. Upon arriving, we will have a guided visit
After some lunch, you will have free time to settle in (the hotel has a spa facility), to explore the town and do some shopping on your own. We will enjoy our final dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town.
Hotel:
Day 7
Where: Ljubljana
Terrain: Departure
Ride: None
Meals: B
After breakfast, we’ll provide a transfer to the airport or to your next destination.
How to Get There
Airport/s - Trieste (airport code TRS)
Trieste is the nearest airport to the starting point.
Other transportation - Private transfer by Tourissimo from the Trieste airport to the first Hotel. Upon request, guests can be picked-up elsewhere (additional cost).
Alternative: Venice (airport code VCE).
How to Depart
Airport/s - Ljubljana (LJU)
Private transfer by Tourissimo to the airport. Upon request, guests can be taken elsewhere (additional cost).
Tour Level
Recreational/Active/Athletic - Recreational: 15 to 40 mi a day along rolling and hilly terrain.
Climate Data
In September, temperatures average 13C (56F) low / 25C (77F) max - precipitation probability 30%.
Tour Program Cost (What's included)
Tour price per person in double room is USD 4,695
Private room surcharge is USD 600
Children (under 18) 25% off
Please contact our office if:
- The tour you are interested in is scheduled to start within 90 days
- You would like to make this tour private
- You would like to choose your own dates
All-inclusive Program
• Bikes equipped with Garmin GPS (choice Bianchi road carbon or hybrid; Ebike for an extra charge)
• Two professional tour guides throughout the program
• All accommodations
• All breakfasts, all lunches, and all dinners
• Wine and beer with meals, coffee, cappuccino, and gelato stops
• Support vehicle during the tour and luggage transfer
• Shuttle at the beginning and at the end of the tour
• All activities mentioned in the day-by-day description
Info about food and wine, and Slow Food products
We've put a strong emphasis on the food and wine of Friuli and Slovenia
The cuisine of Friuli reflects the varied cultures that surround this region and the focus is on simple, homemade products. Pasta, an Italian staple, is eaten in many different forms: lasagna noodles are topped with poppy seeds and gnocchi can be mixed with goulash or smoked ricotta. Polenta is served with meat, game or cheese. A wide variety of soups (an influence from Central Europe) are consumed with different types of dumplings. Friuli is known for its Prosciutto di San Daniele DOP, a cured ham with a sweet, aromatic flavor that is served with bread, melon or figs, and is paired with local white wine. Speaking of wine, the Collio region is a land of big white wines like Pinot, Tocai Friulano, Sauvignon and Collio Bianco. A smaller production of red wines includes Cabernet,
The Slow Food
The pan di
The pestàt from Fagagna is a very peculiar seasoning created to preserve the scents and flavors of autumn vegetables and herbs in pork lard. Its production, on a family level, occurs during the slaughter of pigs, from November to March. The lard, coming from local pigs bred in a semi-wild manner with natural feeding, is minced and mixed with chopped vegetables and spices, put into natural casings and matured in damp and cool cellars.
Producing cheese from the rotational dairies was an economical and easy way of managing the milk, suitable for the small-scale dairy production of Friuli's territory, with many farmers in every village. The milk of many families was put together and processed together. The cheese produced, simply called "
Just as in Friuli, Slovenia’s cuisine is influenced by the countries that surround it: sausage, Weiner Schnitzel and strudel from Austria, pasta, gnocchi, pizza and risotto from Italy, and goulash from Hungary. The focus is on home cooked food that is simple and hearty.
The vineyards of the Italian Collio continue into the Slovene Brda, where the rolling hills create several different microclimates. Unlike many of the major wine regions of Europe, Slovenia's winemaking history predates the