Alps and Adriatic

June-September

8 Days

Skill

Fitness

Ride Highlights

CAD

$1995

Stunning mountain scenery in the Slovenian Alps
The medieval seaside town of Rovinj on the Adriatic Coast
Underground mountain biking in a 400-year-old mine
Boating trip on the Lim Fiord
Old world charm and Balkan culture

A ride through history.

The word 'Balkan' comes from Turkish, meaning "chain of wooded mountains." Had the ancient Turks ridden mountain bikes, they might have come up with another word for "wooded mountains that are perfect for mountain biking."

The Balkan countries of Slovenia and Croatia are just that sort of place, with the Slovenian Alps and Istrian mountains of Croatia providing the spectacular backdrop for this adventure. Forested singletrack meets old-world-charm on this ride through history in one of the most fascinating areas of Europe. The Balkans were long a crossroads for cultures from all over Europe and Asia - now they're a crossroads for travellers looking for something beyond the typical European experience.

Since the end of the Balkan war in the 90s, Slovenia and Croatia have been two of the hottest travel destinations in Europe, and it's easy to see why: Slovenia is an outdoor lover's paradise, with beautifully preserved wilderness and stunning mountain peaks as far as the eye can see, while Croatia's coastline is quickly becoming a playground for the world's gliteratti and Istria's mountains are home to olive groves, vineyards, charming medieval towns and beautiful mountain bike trails.

Discover the best of both this summer and find your sacred ride in the Balkans...

Is This Ride For You?

You like tight, forested singletrack that opens up to spectacular views You can handle moderately rooty and rocky terrain and can get your front wheel over obstacles up to 6" high You're into history and visiting 1000-year-old medieval towns and villages You love exploring other cultures while on the seat of your mountain bike

"HI Mike - Greetings from the seaside in Istria. Just letting you know we had a spectacular time and the trip was flawless! Dixie and Anej and this trip exceeded our expectations and Laura and were perfect roomies. Couldn't ask for anything more. Talk to you next week!"

Tonya Blackmore
"First impressions last. The care, understanding and professionalism you all have, makes you very different, to deal with, from other guide companies."

Doug Greenall
"Anej was terrific - very knowledgable and attentive and skillfull. He was conscientious of safety, warned us before very technical sections, gave a lot of challenge to the more skillful riders, and gave bailout options. He also gave us a lot of cultural information about the countries we visited."

Marian Cremin, USA

Day 1. Arrive Ljubljana transfer to Mountain Bike Park.

We will meet you at the Ljubljana Airport (Slovenia) at 4 pm and transfer to our hotel in the Karawanke Range of northern Slovenia, near the Austrian border. Our hotel for the first 3 nights is a charming Austrian-style guesthouse on an organic farm, high in the mountains. "Sound of Music" scenery surrounds us on all sides, as do miles and miles of singletrack. Dixi is our local host here and we will dine on fresh food from the farm tonight and prepare for an amazing first day.

Day 2. Ride the trails of the Jamnica.

Our first day starts off with a short climb, overlooking green fields and spectacular peaks. The Jamnica ride takes you to the hills surrounding Dixis base. It features single tracks, fire roads and some dirt roads. Smooth single trails, abandoned tractor trails, awesome views and manageable climbs make it perfect for people who want to improve their mountain bike skills. However, experienced bikers will also enjoy this mountain bike playground. A lunch will be ready at a tourist farm around midday, after which a bit of climbing will take you to the singletrack park for a perfect end to the day. After riding, we'll return to our ecohotel for another delicious meal prepared fresh on the farm.

Day 3. Lift-accessed riding in the Karawanke Range

Across the valley from our hotel is a network of gorgeous singletracks, accessed by cable car. We start with a singletrack straight from our Bike Base. After that we have about 1 hour biking on fire roads and short part on local tarmac roads in Austria to the slopes of Peca Mountain. There we load bikes and ourselves in a cable car, which takes us all the way up to 1.700 m above see level, where we reach the highest point off this day. After a bit of rest, a drink and a small snack at the mountain hut and a lot of spectacular views, we descend down on single tracks back to Slovenia. Our lunch is at a nice mountain hut, situated near the church of Saint Helena. Sitting on the terrace, perched on the edge of a great view, we'll enjoy a meal of traditional miners food. Here is the beginning of our epic ridge single trail which take us down to the valley. From there we'll shuttle back to our base.

Day 4. Underground mountain biking and drive to Nanos

In the morning we will pack everything in the van and start our journey to the south. Above the miners village Črna we'll start with few km of gravel road uphill, with a nice meadow on top. Than we start descending on a nice mud road changing in a breathtaking narrow single track down to valley. After that we will go Underground! This is one of the highlights of the trip: riding several stories down, in a centuries-old mine! We'll load up the van with our gear, then head to the mine entrance. Our local guide will outfit us with headlamps and take us into the bowels of the earth, along an 8-kilometre long mineshaft. It's an otherwordly experience, and one of the coolest things you'll ever do on a mountain bike! After the ride, we will stop for lunch, then head to southern Slovenia, where we'll check into our mountainside farm house.

Day 5. Nanos mountain biking

One of the trip's most stunning trails today. We head up Nanos Mountain for a grueling but scenic climb to a spectacular lookout over the Postojna Valley. The descent is rocky, fun, and long. We'll stop for lunch by a river, then sample some local wines at a nearby winery. For those with an subterranean fetish, you'll have the option to go underground again, this time to the renowned Postojna Caves, one of the most impressive cave systems in the world, with over 20 km of caverns and passageways. Afterwards, we'll head to the border and cross over into Croatia, checking into our beautiful hilltop hotel in Motovun.

Day 6. Hum Trails and Lim Fiord

This morning we will ride arround the world's smallest town, Hum, with lots of scenic viewpoints over the Istrian Peninsula. After lunch in a local konoba we will ride or drive to the beginning of Lim Fjord where the boat will wait for us to take us to town of Rovinj, a beautiful medieval fishing town with narrow cobblestone streets and fantastic Adriatic vistas.

(*in case of bad weather, or in unsteady seas we will find an alternative for a boat trip).

Day 7. Premantura Trails

For the last day of our trip we will bike to the scenic end of Istrian Peninsula. Kamenjak peninsula as a natural resort, offers us a scenic single trails in wild Mediterranean nature. While riding we can take few stops to dip into fresh Mediterranean water, and -for the brave - cliff jumping, will be possible at many places.

Day 8. Return to Ljubljana

After breakfast our van will take us back to Ljubljana where you can catch your flight home, or stay in this charming city for a few days to extend your vacation. n.b.: if you wish to stay in Rovinj, we can arrange transfers for you and book extra nights in our hotel.

Arrival and Departure Airport

You should fly into and out of Ljubljana Airport (LJU). There are two alternatives, should you be unable to find a suitable (or affordable) flight to Ljubljana. Please note, you will need to make your own way to Ljubljana airport or our downtown hotel for one of our pickup times.

Zagreb: code ZAG, about 3 hours by train to Ljubljana

Venice: code VCE, about 5 hours by train to Ljubljana.

Please read the pickup/dropoff information below to find a suitable flight.

Please note: We do not book international flights for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent for information on booking flights for this trip.

Pickup & Drop-off Information

Pickup (see the schedule page for exact dates for pickup)

We have two scheduled pickups on this trip. If you are arriving early and will not be staying at the Hotel Park, you will need to get to either the Hotel Park or the airport on your own in order to join one of the two scheduled pickups below:

1) 3 pm: Hotel Park, downtown Ljubljana (for Riders arriving early and spending the night in Ljubljana - see below for more information if you need to make a booking)
2) 4 pm: Ljubljana Airport, at the bar in the airport lobby

Dropoff (see the schedule page for dropoff dates)

We will be leaving Rovinj on the morning of the last day of the trip and arriving in Ljubljana as follows:

1) 1 pm: Ljubljana Airport, departures area
2) 2 pm: Hotel Park, downtown Ljubljana (for Riders arriving early and spending the night in Ljubljana - see below for more information if you need to make a booking)

Extending your trip

There are a few options for extending your trip:

1) Spending extra nights on the Adriatic sea in Rovinj, Croatia: To book extra nights at the Mareonda Apartments, please call them at +385-52-811-418 or email them with your dates.

2) Spend a few days in Ljubljana: Ljubljana is a beautiful, old city and the capital of Slovenia. Book extra nights either before or after the trip at the Hotel Park by calling +386 1 300 2 500, email them with your dates, or make your booking online (click on the British flag at the top left to convert the text to English)

If you want information on other places to visit and things to see in Slovenia and Croatia please visit the following websites:

Slovenian tourism website

Istria Tourism website

Trip Cancellations

You may cancel your reservation with no penalty within 7 days of booking. After the first week, our cancellation policy is as follows:

-60 days notice or more: $250 cancellation fee per person, or $100 transfer fee if you transfer to another trip
-30-60 days notice: $500 cancellation fee per person, or $250 transfer fee if you transfer to another trip
-less than 30 days notice: the full trip price is forfeited.

Please note that our cancellation policy is strict, and we ask that you do not request an exception to our policy. For this reason we strongly urge you to purchase affordable trip cancellation insurance.

Travelling with your bike

If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.

Alternately, if you are planning on traveling with your bike more than just this one time, we sell travel bags for bikes, handmade by Pikapackworks. These travel bags are specially made for bikes and can often go on flights without having to pay the extra charges incurred by cardboard boxes or hard cases. The bags cost $395, including shipping withing North America. Click here for more information on our bags.

Bike Rentals

We offer Rocky Mountain Hard Rock front-suspension mountain bikes for rent. Price is $300 Cdn for the duration of the trip. This can be booked online when making your booking, or added afterwards.

What type of bike should you bring?

We recommend you bring a solid all-mountain bike with you on this trip, with at least 4-5" of travel, and no heavier than 30 pounds since there are several long climbs. A bike with at least 2 rings up front is recommended.

Spare Parts for your Bike

Although there are some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts with you to avoid problems in case of breakdown or broken parts:

rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)
front and rear brake pads
extra chain if your chain is more than 6 months old
4 tubes
4 extra spokes
shock pump

Weather and Clothing

The weather in the Slovenian mountains can be quite cool, especially in the evenings, with lows between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, so we recommend you bring long pants and a jacket for the evenings. Daytime highs are usually quite warm, especially in the Istrian region of Croatia.

Although rain is rare in the summer months, it isn't unheard of, so we recommend you bring some sort of rain gear or shell.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our tour (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances) or in the unlikely event that our tour must be cancelled.

You can purchase discounted comprehensive insurance from World Nomads directly via our site at our insurance page.

Passports & Visas

All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa.

For more information, visit the World Travel Guide pages for Slovenia and Croatia.

Emergency Contacts

If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:

Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you feel that you need to contact us outside of office hours, our Slovenian operations manager Dixi Strucl can be contacted at +386 2 870 30 60.

If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Food

We take care to select restaurants that are well-regarded for their cleanliness, in order to avoid food-borne illness. We also supply you with bottled water for drinking for the duration of your trip. However, there is always some risk of contracting a food-borne illness when traveling in a developing country.

Fitness Requirements

You should have a moderately high level of fitness and be able to bike for up to four hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip. This is one of our most challenging trips, and you need to be prepared.

We recommend you train in advance of this trip, in order to get the most out of this trip. We have partnered with Fit for Trips to develop customized training programs for you in advance of your trip. We recommend beginning your training at least 2 months prior to your trip. For more information, please visit the Sacred Rides page at Fit for Trips.

Safety & Security

Slovenia and Croatia are both safe countries, however certain precautions should be followed, as with all foreign travel. To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.

Meals

On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches, as well as some dinners, are included in the trip price. Other dinners are taken in local restaurants. You should budget $15-20 CAD per dinner (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).

Other expenses

Other expenses include souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and optional activities such as massage. The best way to pay for these services is to withdraw money from an ATM in Slovenia or Croatia (which are widely available) - you can withdraw local money (Euros in Slovenia or Kunas in Croatia) and will usually be charged the best rate by your bank at home.

Local Money

The Slovenian currency is the Euro. Check here for current exchange rates.

The Croatian currency is the Kuna. the Quetzal. Check here for current exchange rates.

n.b.: Euros can be easily exchanged for Kunas at the Croatian border or anywhere in Istria.

Tipping

Gratuities of 10-15% are common in Slovenia and Croatia. We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity $20 - $100 per guide.

Our Guarantee

We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.

Dixi Strucl

Lead Guide.

Anej Strucl

Lead Guide.

All my life was and is turning about sports from the beginning. I tried, tested and trained many different sports, but there are some which were and are big part-off my life and worth mentioning. So I was first introduced by my parents to alpine skiing when I just really started walking. I enjoyed it a lot so I started to train it and was doing it for around seven years but then decided to quit it for it took all my time but I came by some different things to do. I found snowboarding, in which I am now persisting for more than 12 years and last six years as licensed snowboard instructor. Because I like mountains and nature, I also started climbing when I was 12 years old and still doing it as my hobby occasionally. Now to my biggest hobby and part of me, mountain biking. I Got my first bike when I was 3 years old and since then enjoyed every moment on it. As soon as I got in touch with mountain biking I become “in love” with downhill, and the next logical step was to start racing which I took right away. I was racing for 3 years in Slovenian cup as a junior racer. As my family runs mountain bike company and hotel now for around 15 years I was quickly introduced with mountain bike guiding. So I did my first mountain biking license which was OTC trail leader award from Great Britain, followed next year by OTC tehnical leader award and OtC tehnical leader assessement all programs adjusted for guiding in Slovenia. The same year I also did Slovenian mountain bike teacher licence. Because I chose outdoor activities as my life style I decided to go to study tourism at Turistica- college of turism Portorož to combine joy and work in my life. All guiding I do I try to combine my experiences from past and my love for having fun doing it.