On arriving at your hotel in Ljubljana, the vibrant capital of Slovenia, you can unpack and make yourself at home. You’ll be met by a member of the local team, who will provide your hire bikes (if hiring), as well as your route notes and maps for your upcoming trip.

Spend the rest of the day exploring the capital city. Important sights include the Ljubljana Castle, the Central Market and the National Library. Why not end your day with a chilled stroll along the river, stopping on your way at one of its many bars to enjoy a drink as you enjoy the lights and sounds of the city.

• Meals: Breakfast

Your first day is a gentle ride journeying across historic plains towards Vrhnika. You’ll start your day saying goodbye to the capital, as you leave the buzz of the city for the tranquil plains of the Ljubljana Marsh – or Ljubljana Barje in Slovene. The Barje was once a great lake that dried up 6000 years ago. Look out for some of Europe’s rarest birds, plants and insects!

Along the way you can hop off your bike and explore the gorgeous Iški Vintgar gorge, carved deep into a stunning limestone plateau. You can also see the remains of the world’s highest railway viaduct in Borovnica, and on hot days you could cool down in the depths of the glorious Lake Podpec.

As you continue on your route, call in to the Technical Museum of the Republic of Slovenia in Bistra Castle, before arriving in Vrhnika, your base for the night. It’s a charming town, with plenty of restaurants and bars to try.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today is slightly more challenging than the first, with a few cheeky climbs on an undulating route to Postojna. You’ll veer slightly off the beaten track, offering you the unrivalled opportunity to experience Slovenia’s unspoilt countryside. You’ll cycle past the awe-inspiring Slivnica Mountain, as well as Lake Planina, as you make your way to Postojna.

If you’d like to challenge yourself, you can cycle the extra 12km to the Rakov Škocjan nature reserve, an astonishing valley formed by the Rak River. Here is a great spot for your perfect picnic lunch in the sunshine!

Today’s ride will end in Postojna – a charming town, offering museums and galleries, as well as restaurants, cafes and bars.

• Meals: Breakfast

You can start your day touring the famous Postojna Cave Park, one of the largest Karst caves in the world, covering a total of 21 kilometres. The tour will take about an hour and a half, guiding you through a fairy tale world of incredible limestone caves. The Cave even has its own train and a mysterious creature said to be a dragon’s offspring. (Entrance to the Cave around €25 per person).

If you fancy an extra pedal, snap up the opportunity to visit the Predjama Castle – increasing your ride by only 6 kilometres, it’s well worth the detour! The magnificent castle, perched halfway up a 123 metre cliff face, was home to daring knight Erasmus and is listed as the largest cave castle in the world! (Entrance to the castle around €14 per person).

An undulating route will take you up to your base for the night, the characterful village of Kodreti near Štanjel.

• Meals: Breakfast

After leaving your accommodation in Kodreti, the first stop on today’s ride will be the tranquil Sežana botanical garden, where you can hop off your bike and explore. The garden, which dates back to 1848, features plants from all over the world and is the perfect place to rest and appreciate nature. After exploring the garden you’ll head to Lipica, where you can discover the oldest Stud Farm in Europe, famed for breeding Lipizzaner horses.

Jumping back on your bike, you’ll make your way towards the quiet village of Lokev, where you’ll have time to visit the Military Museum, before making your way to the rustic village of Divaca. Here will be your resting spot for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast

Leaving Divaca, you’ll make your way towards the beautiful village of Škocjan, where you can discover the awe-inspiring Škocjan Caves running under the village. Listed as a UNESCO natural and cultural world heritage site, the caves are the largest underground cavern in Europe, boasting an astonishing underground river. (Entrance to the caves around €16 per person).

Pedallin’ west you’ll cross the border into Italy, you’ll then cycle south to the Italian port town of Muggia, where you’ll stay for the night. The town boasts beautiful Venetian architecture and a tranquil harbour. Head to the Piazza Marconi – the town’s main square – for some delicious Italian gelato – the perfect way to end a day’s cycling!

Alternatively you can take a boat(located 300m walk from your hotel) to the enchanting town of Trieste, once part of Slovenia when it was under Austrian rule. Make the Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia your first stop – it’s the largest sea-facing piazza in Italy and is the perfect place to enjoy a cappuccino while watching the ships on the horizon.

• Meals: Breakfast

A gentle ride with views of the Adriatic Sea will take you out of Italy and back into Slovenia, along the former Parenzana railway line which connected Trieste to the town of Porec in Croatia. You can stop in the cool seaside resort and spa town of Portoroz, where you can sip a coffee, stroll down the promenade, or take a dip in the sea.

If you fancy some extra pedallin’ cycle down to the Secovlje Salt Pans, where you’ll be greeted by a huge variety of bird species. At the Salt Pans – declared a monument of national importance by the Slovene Government in 2001 – you can take a guided tour and visit the Salt Making Museum. (Entrance fee to the Salt Pans around €7 per person).

Today’s cycling will end in the gorgeous Venetian harbour town of Piran, marking the end of your biking extravaganza. Piran, known as the town of salt, is said to be the most beautiful town on the Slovenian coast and is protected as a cultural and historical monument. Explore its narrow, cobbled streets, making sure to visit the main square Tartinijev trg for a relaxing drink.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today it’s time to say adijo to Slovenia and the enchanting town of Piran as you head back to Ljubljana for flights home. If you’d like a few more days to relax in Piran please do let us know and we can help organise this for you.