Difficulty Rating : 4 Start: Bled Finish: Muggia Terrain: Gentle climbs, undulating terrain on vineyard hills Daily Average: 40-48km Weekly Average: 243-292km Tour Type: Family,Self Guided Teaser: From alpine lakes to a sun-drenched coast packed with mountain views, immense bodies of water and flowing wine.
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From alpine lakes to a sun-drenched coast packed with mountain views, immense bodies of water and flowing wine.

Starting at the fairytale world of Lake Bled, a glacial lake famed for its beautiful island church and cliff top castle, your ride will take you first through alpine Slovenia's most beautiful mountain vistas, over a high pass, along thundering rivers and out into a valley laden with vineyards. Castles and hilltop churches are everywhere, along with great local wine and food in the Karst region (a beautiful Limestone plateau). Finally, the sunny coast awaits you with lazy promenades and beautiful Venetian architecture.

This is the perfect cycling holiday for lovers of diverse landscape, good food and great local wine, and people who want to soak their feet in the warm sea after a long journey by bike.

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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Resources Tab

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival Bled

To begin with, you can dip your feet in the beautiful glacial Lake Bled. This shimmering body of water is famous for its distinctive island church and the cliff top castle all backed by the beautiful Karavanke Mountains. Bled is one of Slovenia's most popular tourist attractions. You can take a stroll around the western side of the lake for some of the best views and photographs and then lunch and enjoy the locally famous cream cake (Kremsnita) on the eastern lakeside while watching the sunset over the mountains.

Day 2

Bled ~ Bohinjska Bistrica (27 km / 43 km)

A short transfer drops you off on the high plateau at Pokljuka where you cycle through alpine villages to Lake Bohinj, the jewel of the Triglav National Park. Encircled by tall mountain peaks, Bohinj is the largest and deepest lake in the national park. A cable car runs up to Vogel Mountain, where you can get a spectacular view into the Bohinj Valley and of Mount Triglav, the highest peak in the Julian Alps.

Day 3

Bohinj ~ Tolmin (56 km or 35 km)

Your route will take you via the Sorica Pass over the Julian Alps, but if you want to save some climbing you can take a short train ride through the Bohinj tunnel to Podbrdo. Then you cycle through a narrow valley and follow the beautiful emerald-green Soča River as it rushes out of the mountains and into the western side of the Julian Alps. Just before reaching your destination you'll have a chance to dive into its supernatural waters or visit the only monument in the world dedicated to military cooks.

Day 4

Tolmin ~ Smartno / Dobrovo (34 km / 46 km)

You will be car transferred to Kolovrat Saddle above the Soča Valley. Once the site of heavy fighting during WW1, it's now a very interesting open-air museum. Cycling along the upper reaches of the two valleys, you will reach your day's destination - Šmartno v Goriških Brdih, amid an abundance of lush vineyards. A recent and beautifully restored medieval village of narrow streets with Mediterranean houses, you can stretch your legs here, sip cool white wine and chat with locals in an authentic village pub.

Day 5

Smartno / Dobrovo ~Kodreti / Stanjel (53 km)

You cycle to Gorizia where the Iron Curtain once split the town of between Italy and Yugoslavia. Cycling further along the border you'll come to the smallest military museum in the world - a historic Yugoslav border outpost. Overlooking the border is the ancient Kostanjevica Monastery, where the last French King is buried. Turning inland, you'll soon reach the vineyards of the Vipava region. Your host Vid will be happy to provide you with samples of the best wines in the beautiful rural setting of his small karst village.

Day 6

Kodreti / Stanjel ~ Divaca (48 km)

Today you cycle to the stud farm of Lipica, where you can visit beautiful thoroughbred Lipizzaner horses, whose gentle, graceful dancing have amazed many a visitor. You can take a tour in a traditional carriage, and visit them close up in their stables. Your small town hotel belongs to a butcher's family where the young master is a wine expert and he too can offer fantastic red wines of the karst region.

Day 7

Divaca ~ Trieste / Muggia (46 km)

In the morning you can visit the fascinating UNESCO Škocjan Caves. Then it's one final descent with magnificent views of the Adriatic Sea before reaching the southern outskirts of Trieste - the old seaside village of Muggia, where your cycling tour ends. Park your bike and take the city shuttle boat to the worldly port city of Trieste and visit Miramare Castle, the cathedral or Piazza Unita central square, where you can relax with a cappuccino or a gelato with Trieste Bay in full view.

  • 7 night stay in 3 & 4 star hotels with breakfast
  • Luggage transfers (one piece per person, more on request/€10 per bag)
  • Personal welcome meeting
  • Information package (one per room)
  • GPS route files
  • Back-up service ( hotline )

Bike rental is not included in our 2021 tour price. This is an additional:
€90.00 Hybrid / Touring Bike
€230.00 Electric Bike

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Starting / finishing point of this trip is Lake Bled in North - East Slovenia.

By Plane:
Closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it. From the airport you can travel to Bled by bus (change once, takes about two hours) or book our transfer: see prices below

By Bus:
Several Flixbus lines stop at Lake Bled.

By Train:
Bled has two railway stations: Lesce Bled station on the Villach - Ljubljana mainline, 4 km away from town centre, need to take a bus. The other is station Bled Jezero on the Jesenice - Nova Gorica sideline only a few trains a day. Two km away from town centre.

Private Transfers: Price per transfer, one way. No pooling permitted.    
Ljubljana Airport to Bled       : €70 ( 1-3 Persons )       
                                                     €95 ( 4-8 Persons )
Ljubljana City to Bled             : €100 ( 1-3 Persons )
                                                     €130 ( 4-8 Persons )
Villach to Bled                         : €130 ( 1-3 Persons )
                                                     €160 ( 4-8 Persons )
Klagenfurt Airport to Bled    : €180  ( 1-3 Persons )
                                                     €220 ( 4-8 Persons )
Trieste AP to Bled                   :  €210 ( 1-3 Persons )
                                                      €260 ( 4-8 Persons )
Muggia to Trieste AP             :  €135 ( 1-3 Persons )
                                                      €160 ( 4-8 Persons )
Muggia to Trieste Centre       :  €90  ( 1-3 Persons )
                                                      €120 ( 4-8 Persons )

As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).

2024 SELF GUIDED TOUR PRICE
Low Season (23rd March ~ 3rd May & 21st Sept ~ 12th Oct)
€915 per person sharing
€460 single room supplement

High Season ( 4th May ~ 20th Sept )
€975 per person sharing
€460 single room supplement

Self Guided Tour Information

Any day between 23 March and 12 October 2024

BLED

There are many options in Bled and it will depend on availabiltiy at the time of booking
One of our hotel is Hotel Triglav ( images attached ) but we also can stay in the Hotel Kompas / Hotel Lovec / Hotel Park / Hotel Savica

BLED image 1BLED image 1

Bohinjska BIstrica

Our typical hotel is the Hotel Eco 4*S

Bohinjska BIstrica  image 1Bohinjska BIstrica  image 1

Tolmin

Our typical hotel is the Hotel Dvorec 3* 

Tolmin image 1Tolmin image 1

Šmartno

A typical hotel we stay in is Hotel San Martin 4* 

Šmartno image 1Šmartno image 1

Stanjel

Tonight we can stay in a tourist farm  Hiša Posebne Sorte

Stanjel image 1Stanjel image 1

Divača

In Divaca we aim to stay in Hotel Malovec 3* 

Divača image 1Divača image 1

Muggia / Trieste

We stay on the outskirts of Trieste, the old seaside village of Muggia in the Marine resort Hotel San Rocco 4* 

Muggia / Trieste image 1Muggia / Trieste image 1

Tour Date Options

Red = booked out / not available, Blue = Limited Availability, Green = available

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Insurance

We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Please indicate below how many people are in your group including yourself.

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Acommodation

For single travellers, we organise accommodation on a twin sharing basis. Please note it may not be possible on all our tours and a single supplement will be applied.

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Other Information

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €250.00 deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The Balance payment is required two month prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The balancing payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.