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.gif "Cycling in the Julian Alps of Slovenia")
Do you like cycle touring? Do you have a few days or a week to spare? Then let me let you in on a secret; the Julian Alps region of Slovenia is Europe's undiscovered touring destination.
Cycle touring is a superb way of spending your time, without spending your money. Neatly fulfilling the adventurer’s golden trinity of freedom, challenge and limited expense, it can be a supremely gratifying and liberating way to travel.
With no public transport and accommodation issues (if you’ve got your tent, that is), it allows you to spend your days totally immersed in your surroundings, cover hundreds or even thousands of miles, and the only timetable you’ll ever have to adhere to is your own; and with a plethora of budget airlines out there all happy to carry your bike for a small fee, the options for low cost exploring are vast.
The only real problem is choosing a route. Countries like France, Italy and Ireland all offer fantastic countryside and the colossal splendours of the Scottish highlands, the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Norwegian Fjords are all close to hand. However, if time is limited and your looking for a place that can offer quiet roads, astounding scenery, short distances between highlights and where a visit to the supermarket won’t send you into financial meltdown, then there are few places that can beat Slovenia.
I cycled through Slovenia last summer, at the end of a ride around the Adriatic. After cycling down the spine of Italy, crossing over to Montenegro, and heading up the coast of Croatia en route back into Italy, we hung a right and finished off our journey with a jaunt through this tiny republic, and it turned out to be the icing on an outstandingly good cake. .gif "Flat Roads Great Scenery in the Julian Alps")
Only half the size of Switzerland and a population of 2 million, it’s easily overlooked, but like a Jolokia chilly pepper it proves, quite memorably, that size isn’t everything. It’s one of the worlds greenest countries (the second greenest in Europe), and is criss-crossed with quiet country roads, speckled with neat stone villages and home to dramatic alpine scenery and clear cobalt rivers. It offers some of the most serene and idyllic trails and roads to be found anywhere.
So if you have a week to spare, are you're feeling fit, my suggestion is, buy a couple of panniers and a rack, pack up your bike securely in a box, jump on a plane and go and explore Slovenia.
Tip: You can pick up a box from any cycle shop and leave it at the airport. You can use your own clothes in plastic bags for padding out the box, it’s a good tip for sidestepping luggage limitations and protecting your bike at the same time.
.gif "Camp Sites are plentifull and cheap in the Julian Alps")
Here's the best 7 day tour of the Julian Alps
Day 1 Ljubljana – Bled
From Ljubljana (the country’s, pleasant, relaxed capital) it’s a pleasant and flat cycle journey along cycle paths, across past fertile plains towards the Alps. Stop off at the historic town of Kranj for lunch, before continuing onto the idyllic, bustling town of Bled, Slovenia’s tourist poster-boy. Bled marks the start of the mountains, and is a great spot for r and r with its famous lake and island church.
Day 2 Bled – Bohinjska
From Bled there’s an excellent side journey into the Bohinj valley. The town of Bohinjska provides a superb base to explore Triglav National Park. The beautiful glacial lake Bohinj, stunning views of Mt Triglav (Slovenia’s highest peak 2864m) and unspoilt traditional farming villages make this detour an absolute must.
Day 3 Bohinska - Bled - Krajnska Gora
From Bohinska, you have to travel back down the valley and into Bled, from there it’s onto Krajnska Gora. This town is Slovenia’s most developed ski-resort but still maintains a certain charm.
Day 4 Krajnska Gora – Bovec
Make sure you have a power breakfast before leaving Krajnska Gora, this is the toughest day. A long steep climb over Vrsic pass, Slovenia’s highest. You climb up to 1,611m, and it's steep. The views of Mt Triglav and the Julian Alps are outstanding, and awaiting you on the other side is a screaming downhill with 48 superb switchbacks to test nerves and breaks.
A well-deserved glide down into the magical Soca Valley takes you towards Bovec, a modern Alpine town that has become Slovenia’s water sports Mecca.
.gif "On the road to Slovenias highest pass")
Day 5 Bovec – Kobarid
A gorgeous ride in the heart of the Julian Alps takes you from Bovec to Kobarid. The waters of the Soca valley are practically neon blue and Kobarid is an ideal ending with a couple of top class campsites to choose from.
Day 6 Kobarid – Idrija
After Kobarid it’s time leave the Alps and easier riding onto the historic town of Idrija. It’s nestled in gentler green hills at the confluence of two rivers and makes for quite a pleasurable destination.
Day 7 Idrija – Ljubjana
From Idrija it’s over lower hills and flat farmland back to Ljubljana, where an abundance of lively cafes and friendly bars await.
.gif "Empty Roads great Riding")
If you'd like to read about low cost travel to Slovenia and a climbing Triglav click here
For information on via ferrata in the Julian Alps click here
For more information on this roaring mouse of a country you can check out: www.slovenia.info
Feel free to comment on this feature below or on the forum
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