Western Slovenia

Two nights in Bled. We’ll actually start our trip in Ljubljana, where we’ll pick up guests for transport to the start of our first ride. From the comforts of our van, we’ll climb hills westward towards the looming Triglav Mountains, but we’ll stop short, leaving them to entice us with their magnetic pull. Our bikes will be waiting for us just short of the top of a ridge and we’ll just have to contain ourselves a bit more. We’ll do a bike fit, have some lunch, then—finally—be released to stomp our pedals and head over the top. The route from there takes us on a long, thrilling descent into the fairy land of Lake Bled, our home for the next two nights.

The following day, we’ll set out on bikes towards the big mountains to our west, but only for a while. On the north shoulder of the Triglav National Park, we’ll turn away and make a loop back to our hotel, mostly following the Slava Dolinka River. We’ll be sure to return early, though, because we’ll want to leave plenty of time to explore the village or take a boat to the spectacular island site of the Assumption of Maria Church, the rightful focus of a million photographers. You can hop a ride on a small ferry or rent a rowboat if you’re adventurous. However you get there, it’s a stop not to be missed.

Two nights in Ribcev Laz. Today, we head west, again in the direction of the big Triglav Mountains that have teased us since we arrived. Our journey this day will take us as far as we can ride, ending at another lake setting of unbelievable beauty, Ribcev Laz, set hard against the mountain walls. On the east end of the lake is a village by the same name, our home for the next two nights.

The following day, we’ll ride to the west end of the lake, then climb to the base of a ski lift, where our bikes will have to await our return. A ride up the lift will swiftly take us high above the lake, to a network of trails that lead up, across, and back down the mountains. We’ll hike a bit, have some lunch, soak in the beauty, then return to our bikes. Our ride will trace the north side of the lake on a gravel path, eventually taking us back to our hotel, but not before stopping to search for the points on the mountain from which we had looked down just a short time before.

Two nights in Spodnja Idrija. Today we’ll head south. As we ride, hills turn into mountains and our path begins to wind and become more vertical. We’ll crest and drop and crest and drop, pausing each time to take in the raw beauty at every turn. Our route will take us towards the village of Spodnja Idrija and our home for the next two nights at the elegant Kendov Dvorac Hotel, a fabulous setting that dates to the 14th century.

The following day we’ll continue our mountain exploration by climbing to the west, eventually finding a small peak that offers a spectacular 360-degree uninterrupted view of western Slovenia. Our return backtracks a bit, then offers a blazing descent back to our village home.

A final night in Ljubljana. Today we work our way out of the mountains, heading east towards the capital city of Ljubljana. Our ride will be anything but flat, as we stay in the mountains the entire way, cresting ridges and dropping and repeating until we near the eastern plains. Ljubljana is a bustling big city, so we’ll dismount bikes and finish the trek by van to our final night’s lodging just off Ljubljana’s central square. We’ll arrive early enough to allow exploration of the historic district, as it isn’t a place to be missed. On this final night together, we’ll share a final meal and give thanks for the opportunity to have spent time exploring this amazing place. And, most certainly, we’ll be planning our return.