Best of Slovenia Ebike Tour
Slovenia is a beautiful small country south of the Alps, bordered by Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. They call it Europe in miniature, stretching from the Alps to the Adriatic coast with everything in between. To see this wonderful country join the Best of Slovenia Bike Tour. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. This country must be on your ebike tour list – you will not regret it.
Lake Bled
The Best of Slovenia ebike tour starts in Lake Bled. The excitement I felt arriving in Bled after not visiting for 3 years was like coming home. The setting of the lake, the island and the castle never fail to take my breath away. The water is so clear and looks inviting even though I’m not a swimmer! There is something very soothing about Bled that always makes me breathe deeper.
Meeting an old friend in a café for a catch-up reminded me of what great coffee they serve here. There is nothing like a ‘coffee with milk’ to bring back memories of my past visits to this enchanting place.
On my bike immediately after I arrive puts a smile on my face. I was happy to take it nice and slowly around the lake. Part of this is due to the incredible views, and the path is busy with people and other bikes.
There are so many stopping points for photos or to drink in the view. You won’t notice how busy it is as you are part of the congestion! In my opinion, the far end of the lakes gives you the best views back towards the island, castle, and town and then further back to the Karawanken Alps.
Bled to Radovljica
After the lake and onto the back roads through small villages and farmland, then down to the river. What always strikes me here is the ingenuity of the Slovenes in their gardens. They make the most of every single inch of space to grow all sorts of fruit and vegetables. This harps back to the days of the former Yugoslavia when everyone had to make do with what they had. You couldn’t just nip to the supermarket for all your needs as they were unavailable.
It’s fascinating, slowly rolling by on your bike past their gardens, trying to figure out what fruit and veg they have grown. I had to marvel at the size of their tomatoes, some of which seemed inordinately big.
The tracks are uneven, and potholes are common, but they are easy enough to cycle on. You move from small side roads to gravel tracks, to narrower paths through the trees and then onto quieter main roads.
Getting to Radovljica means a slightly steeper climb up past the train station. However, the benefit is getting cracking views from this vantage point. From there, you can look back towards the Alps and on a good day, you can see Triglav, which is Slovenia’s highest mountain.
Stop in one of the old town cafes or visit the Bee Museum. This will give you a welcome respite before getting back on the trail to Begunje. From there, you wind your way back through the sleepy villages to Bled.
Once back at the lake, make sure you get ice cream and sit on a bench to watch the world go by at “Bled speed”.
Bled to Goriska Brda
The next stage of the Best of Slovenia Ebike Tour starts with a train journey from Bled through the winding valleys to Avče. Getting on the train in Bled is a little tricky as the trains were built in the ’50s; therefore, the doors aren’t wide enough for ebike handlebars. The door at the back of the train is the one to get on at. Even though it is higher up, you need a bit of teamwork with your fellow cyclists. There you will find some hangers for the bikes. The Slovenian Railway is looking at ways to make things easier for cyclists to use their trains on this route.
Sit on the right of the train, offering a better view of the narrow valley. Don’t worry if you are the only ones getting off in Avče; it does look deserted. It is, however, the best place to start cycling as it avoids a busy main road.
Once off the train and heading out of the village, there is a great photo stop just before you turn left under the bridge. This point gives a great view of the stone railway bridge and the river, which is the most amazing green colour.
The route takes you through the forest and past some small farms. You will feel surrounded by these forest-clad hills and see the distinct landscape change from Bled.
Kanal
Coming into the town of Kanal, I would suggest it’s a perfect place for a coffee. Perhaps you can stock up on snacks or a picnic lunch as this is the last main place for shops. The gorge where the bridge is in the centre of Kanal, with the river gushing below is a good photo opportunity. However, don’t stop on the bridge, as there is no pavement.
Moving past Kanal on the quiet roads, you get some lovely glimpses of this emerald-green river through the Soča valley. Take your time and enjoy the surroundings of tree-clad hills where you can almost hear the valley breathing. Once you are on the new bike path, you will find benches and tables perfect for your picnic lunch.
A little bit of Italy
You will come to the end of the new path right on the Slovenian – Italian border. Keep going on that track, even though it looks slightly overgrown. This path takes you through a pretty little corner of Italy. The track is a bit uneven, and in one part, there is a steep pitch in the road for around 250m. Take your time on this part and use the power levels on your ebike to get you to the top. You will know when you have reached the top of this section, as you can see for miles over the border city of Goriska. Back down the other side of this hump, you will soon come to the border back into Slovenia. This is marked with a sign and a very small hut that the border guards previously used.
Goriska Brda
The next stage of the Best of Slovenia tour is in Goriska Brda, which is a big step change from this morning when you got off the train in Avçe. Heading back into Slovenia past the little guards’ hut, you will find yourself on the main road for about 3kms. You need to concentrate a bit until you come to the roundabout at Hum. This is where you get back onto the farm roads and into the heart of the vineyards with stunning views in this surprising area of Slovenia. Yet another big change in the scenery.
Some of the paths here have quite steep pitches, but that’s the beauty of an ebike, so use the assistance from the motor as and when you need it.
In September, the grapes are ripening, and there is a sweet aroma in the air. It’s just a shame that a photo can’t capture the smell.
You will head back onto the main road, which is not busy and takes you along a ridge. This means you have views of this wine-growing area on both sides of you stretching off into the distance.
Šmarto
Šmartno is a walled village with a 360° view of the surrounding area. The cobbled streets and appetizing smells escaping from the tavernas make it an idyllic place to rest and sample some local wines produced on its doorstep. I was lucky enough to spend the night here with amazing views of the vineyards to wake up to.
This area is likened to Tuscany in Italy, and I can see why. However, this area has its own charm and highlights, which will remain with you long after you leave.
Štanjel to Lipica
Another step change on our Best of Slovenia Tour. Leaving behind the Goriska Brda area and moving into another wine-growing region of Slovenia called the Karst region. We start our cycling day off in the medieval village of Štanjel. This village is a unique find and one to spend plenty of time wandering the cobbled streets and losing yourself in the history of the place.
The Ferrari gardens are a good place to rest and contemplate life. It feels so relaxed that you can lose yourself in the calmness of the terraced gardens with the water features and views across the valley.
For a taste of the cuisine of the region, stop in a taverna for some locally produced prosciutto and Teran wine. The views from the village across the valley are incredible, so whether you spend your time wandering around or sitting tasting local produce, you need to soak it all in.
Vineyards & Orchards
After a culture and cuisine stop in Štanjel, then it’s back on the road through vineyards and orchards full of apples and plums. With another change of landscape, I found this part interesting as there are no steep-sided vineyards here, but the grapes are grown on flatter, wider open areas. This is where they grow the Refošk grape to produce the Teran, full-bodied red wine.
I found the distinct landscape change in this area fascinating; it feels like you are in a new country every day.
Lipica
On to Lipica, which is the home of the original Lipizzaner horses. Many people know them as the ‘dancing horses’ that perform in places like the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The stud farm dates from 1580 to the time of the Hapsburg.
These beautiful creatures are majestic and mesmerizing to watch. I was able to join the tour around the stables, which was informative as well as gave me an understanding of the size and scale of this piece of history. You can hear how they train the horses; only a very small percentage perform in the dressage and become one of those famous dancing horses. Don’t worry, though; all the horses have a role, even if they don’t make the elite cut! You will have to join the tour to find out.
Škocjan Caves
The Škocjan Caves are also an option to visit when you are on this bike tour. This incredible underground system is something you need to see for yourself. You will be in awe of the size of stalactites and stalagmites, which have developed over thousands of years. The cavernous cuts through the rocks made by the river are immense, and you will need to be surefooted and like heights for this memorable trip through a geologist’s heaven. Be aware that there are over 1200 steps, so some fitness is required.
Lipica to Koper
Then we head to the coast on the Best of Slovenia tour. The route takes you to the edge of the border with Italy and leads off the plateau giving the most amazing views out to the coast towards Trieste in Italy and the city of Koper in Slovenia.
The scenic path takes you along the old railway line twisting and winding around the valley sides until you reach the valley floor. Then you join the new long-distance cycling path that runs through Slovenia and into Croatia.
Koper
Koper is a seaside city that is a tourist destination, a sailboat harbour, and a container ship port all in 1.
The long promenade is great for a stroll after a day on the bike. The huge variety of cuisine available makes for some mouthwatering choices for dinner.
Waking up to the sound of lines tapping against the masts of sailboats and the sound and smells of the sea is very soothing, especially for someone who lives in a landlocked country. The sun shining on the water and the sailboats heading out of the harbour for a day on the sea make you want to join them.
Koper to Portoroz and Piran
The newly finished cycle route, which runs along the coast, is an excellent addition to anyone interested in cycling this long-distance path all the way through Croatia. This has gone on my “to-do” list of cycling adventures for the future.
The final leg of this tour takes me to the fishing village of Izola and on to Portoroz and Piran. These are the more well-known coastal towns of Slovenia.
Portoroz has many high-class hotels and casinos along the strip, separating the hotels from the beach. Portoroz has a modern feel to it, as you would find in most Mediterranean holiday resorts. The beach offers a mixture of grassy areas, sandy beaches and concrete sections, also referred to as beaches.
Piran has a more traditional feel to it with the terracotta-coloured roofs of the old town. The ‘piazza-style centre is surrounded by restaurants and cafes where tourists sit and watch the world go by.
Along the rocky front of Piran, you will find plenty of eateries offering sea delights. You can park your towel for the sun worshipers at ample points. Punta Beach marks the end of this tourist destination that thousands flock to yearly. Piran has the look and feel of both Italian and Croatian coastal towns. But at heart, it has what truly makes Slovenia unique, its people, who are warm, open, and so proud of their beautiful country.
Highlights for me were:
- Starting in the Alps and finishing at the coast with all the diversity in between.
- A huge variety of scenery and landscape to enjoy is not something you can normally see on an ebike tour for over a week.
- The history of the different areas is a big plus and is interwoven into each day of the tour.
- There are a variety of surfaces and roads you are on makes it interesting. It is not just a bike path following a river!
- Gôriska Brda wine region is such a surprising and beautiful area. It was my highlight of the week.
- This tour is the Best of Slovenia, including historic and picturesque parts, making it a very interesting week.
Things to be aware of:
- It’s a good idea to take snacks & water with you as there can be a bit of distance between villages.
- There is not a lot of signage, so make sure you have a reliable GPS app and your phone is charged.