8-day Private Mountain Bike Tour From Arnoldstein To Piran

• 7-night accommodation in 3 or 4-star hotels/guesthouses
• Transfer from the route ending point to the route starting point
• Navigation pack: GPS track, maps, tour booklet, Skype call
• Baggage transfer between tour stages
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• 24/7 hotline number (support)

Arnoldstein - Kranjska Gora: The triple border

Distance: 23,4 - 25,02 km Elevation: 875 - 1030 m The Trans Slovenia 01 MTB adventure starts when you arrive to Arnoldstein, a small town situated at Austria’s southern border. The trip begins with a warm-up uphill ride to Mt. Peč and an exciting descent to Kranjska Gora. The first day is all about the triple border (Dreiländereck), a point where the territories of Slovenia, Italy and Austria meet. The peak offers a majestic view of the Julian Alps, Gailtal Alps, High and Low Tauern, and the Karavanke mountain range. Tones of mountain biking pleasures are guaranteed.

Kranjska Gora - Bovec: Over the mountain pass to the emerald valley.

Distance: 52,2 km Elevation: 1205 m From Kranjska Gora, this Trans Slovenia bike trip leads past Lake Jasna to the Vršič mountain pass. The highest positioned road pass in the Eastern Julian Alps with an altitude of 1611 meters attracts many cyclists and mountain bikers.

Bovec - Kobarid: Chasing the views

DistanceDistance: 23,6 - 46,9 km Elevation: 290 - 1370 m The third day of biking in Slovenia starts at the majestic Boka, the mightiest waterfall in the country. After passing by the Žaga village, the route leads up to the Slovenia-Italy border. A former mule-track then leads to the top of Mt. Stol, where an incredible view of the Alps and the Soča Valley opens below. On clear days, you might even see the sea. Mountain biking along the Mt. Stol ridge is simply amazing. A steep single trail runs into the forest, and descends right to the banks of the Soča river. Shortly after you come to the lively tourist hub of Kobarid, best known for the 1917 WWI Battle of Caporetto, where the Italian retreat was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms.

Kobarid - Tolmin: Born to be wild

Distance: 16,6, - 37,2 km Elevation: 140 - 1390 m The ascent from Kobarid to Krn village and then onto the Pretovč mountain pasture makes this part of the Trans Slovenia mountain bike trip the most challenging one. The effort is rewarded with a trilling downhill ride to the Tolminka river valley. You will pass by the Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit, a monument dedicated to the First World War. Next, the mountain bike adventure takes you to one of the most popular tourist spots in the region, the Tolmin gorges. You can visit this beautiful site before you bike to the final destination of the day, the town of Tolmin.

Tolmin - Šmartno: The land of vineyards

Distance: 34,4 - 80,7 km Elevation: 600 - 2440 m The two-hour descent from Mt. Matajur is one of the highlights of mountain biking in Slovenia. While biking up, you can enjoy fantastic views over the Friulian plains and the surrounding mountains. What follows is pure fun – a long downhill ride through the woods to the tiny historic town of Cividale del Friuli in Italy. It is then time for some easy biking through the vineyards of Collio in Italy. Eventually, you will cross to border back to Slovenia and arrive to the village of Šmartno in the region of Goriška Brda. The land of gentle, rolling hills covered in orchards and vineyards and dotted with small, secluded villages, reminds of Tuscany. The winegrowers here are famous all over the world for their high-quality wine and hospitality. Needless to say, wine tasting is inevitable here.

Šmartno - Lokev: The mysterious karst

Distance: 77,2 - 87,3 km Elevation: 1020 - 1520 m The longest biking day of this Slovenia bicycle tour is all about 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 for public. The Slovenian Karst is also a wine-growing region, famous for the ruby-red teran. Tiny villages located on the hill tops are featuring traditional houses built in stone. This MTB stage comes to an end near Lipica, where an original stud farm of noble white Lipizzaner has been located in Lipica since 1580.

Lokev - Piran: The mediterranean beat

Distance: 62,8 - 66,2 km Elevation: 990 - 1500 m The last day of Slovenia cycling holidays truly wraps up the diversity of the country and of the Trans Slovenia 01 mountain bike tour itself. You will first ride to the medieval Socerb castle, which overlooks the Gulf of Trieste. Next, you will descend to Osp, one of the oldest villages in Slovenia, which was first mentioned in 1067. The MTB trail then leads down to the sea level, approaching the coastal city of Koper.

Departure day

The Trans Slovenia 01 mountain bike tour ends in Piran. After breakfast, a transfer is organized to the tour starting point in Arnoldstein.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness