Bike tour finder
Emerald Route Slovenia
Emerald Route Slovenia
The most beautiful sights of Slovenia…
This tour is ideal for a first visit to Slovenia: We will get to know a lot of its most famous sights in one week. From the capital of Ljubljana we follow the ancient trade routes to the Adriatic Sea. Let’s experience the bustling baroque city of Ljubljana, the historic town of Trieste, and tranquil villages nestled between vineyards, and enjoy the culinary delicacies such as goat and sheep cheese, full-bodied vines, and the air-dried ham Pršut.
Total length: approx. 209 – 284 bicycle kilometres
Dates
Travel beginning: daily arrival
Duration: 8 days (7 nights)
Itinerary
1. Day: Laibach (Ljubljana)
Individual arrival and accommodation.
2. Day: Laibach (Ljubljana) – Oberlaibach (Vrhinka) (approx. 37 – 58 km)
Before we start on our bicycle tour we should by all means pay a visit to the old city centre of the capital or Ljubljana Castle. A flat daily stage leads us over Ljubljana Moor to Vrhinka. On the way a trip by foot to the Iski Vintgar Gorge (approx. 1.5 hours) is recommendable. Accommodation in Vrhinka.
3. Day: Oberlaibach (Vrhnika) – Adelsberg (Postojna) (approx. 36 – 44 km)
After an easy incline we reach the Rakov Skocjan Nature Reserve (our tip: a picnic in the nature reserve!), which is famous for its rare limestone rock formations. On we go via flat karst fields to our stage destination, Postojna.
4. Day: Adelsberg (Postojna) – Stanjel (approx. 45 – 55 km)
Today we have an easy stage ahead of is: it is mostly flat or leads downhill with only a few short inclines. We cycle to Predjama Castle, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The castle, which reminds of an aerie nestled on the side of a huge rock face, tells of the forays of the last Slovenian robber baron Erasmus, who lies buried at the entrance of the castle in the shadow of a lime tree. Accommodation in Stanjel.
5. Day: Stanjel (approx. 36 km or day off)
Today we can either have a day off and explore the romantic houses and narrow alleys on a comfortable stroll through the listed town of Stanjel or make a cycling tour through the karst area and visit the remains of a front line from World War I. Another possibility would be a trip by train to Nova Gorica, a city of 2 countries: Italy and Slovenia (to be organised on your own, not included in the price). Accommodation in Stanjel.
6. Day: Stanjel – Lipica – Waatsche (Divaca) (approx. 41 km)
We cycle via the botanic garden in Sezana and the tower of Lokev, with its impressive military collection, to Lipica, the homeland of the Lipizzan horses. In Lipica we absolutely play a visit to the Lipizzan Stud! Accommodation in Divaca.
7. Day: Waatsche (Divaca) – Triest – Gafers (Koper) (approx. 50 km)
The grot of Skocjan, not far away from Waatsche, is worth to be visiting, before we cycle from the karst plateau downhill to the coast of Trieste today. Let’s enjoy a cappuccino on the Piazza Unita or go aboard the shuttle boat which takes from the city centre to the suburb town of Muggia. Afterwards we continue to head towards the final point of destination of our trip – Koper – which dazzles us with its Mediterranean atmosphere by the coast. Accommodation in Koper.
8. Day: Gafers (Koper)
Individual departure or extension of trip.
