Lake Bled to Trieste
Embark on an unforgettable cycling holiday that takes you from the crystal-clear lakes of Triglav National Park to the vibrant Italian port city of Trieste. This carefully designed cycling tour through Slovenia and Italy combines breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and exceptional food and wine.
Your journey begins in Bled, home to Slovenia’s most iconic postcard view – a tiny island crowned by a church in the middle of a turquoise alpine lake. From here, cycle along clear rivers and through gentle valleys toward Lake Bohinj, a serene spot embraced by dramatic peaks.
Pedalling into the Soča Valley, you’ll follow emerald waters past gorges and waterfalls, surrounded by some of Europe’s most striking mountain scenery. Crossing the border into Italy, the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia welcomes you with medieval charm in Cividale del Friuli and the rolling Collio wine hills, where vineyards and gastronomy are part of everyday life.
As your cycling holiday continues, you’ll pass through lively Gorizia and the rugged beauty of the Slovenian Karst Plateau before descending to the Adriatic coast. The finale awaits in Trieste, a city where Italian flair, historic cafés, and a refreshing sea breeze create the perfect ending to your cycling adventure.
£70 per person off all September and October dates!
Itinerary
Nestled on the edge of Triglav National Park, Bled is the crown jewel of Slovenia and a must-see on any cycling holiday in the Alps. This charming town sits on the shores of a stunning glacial lake, where a medieval hilltop castle overlooks turquoise waters and the famous island church at its centre – Slovenia’s most iconic postcard view.
Often called the jewel of the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is the perfect starting point for an unforgettable cycling holiday in Slovenia. From its turquoise waters and iconic island church, your bike journey follows the crystal-clear Sava Bohinjka River, leading you through a lush green valley and peaceful alpine villages en route to Bohinjska Bistrica and the breathtaking Lake Bohinj, set in a true alpine postcard landscape.
For a more adventurous ride, cycle up to the Pokljuka Plateau, in the heart of Triglav National Park. Here, a panoramic road rewards your efforts with sweeping mountain views before descending to the tranquil shores of Lake Bohinj.
Departing the picturesque shores of Lake Bohinj, your cycling holiday in Slovenia continues through a peaceful alpine valley back to Bohinjska Bistrica. Here, a short train journey carries you through Slovenia’s longest railway tunnel into a neighbouring valley, where a thrilling descent awaits, leading you down to the emerald-green Soča River.
From this point, the route follows the river upstream to Tolmin, with its dramatic gorges and pristine mountain scenery. For those seeking an extra challenge, the climb up to the Soriška Planina Plateau offers breathtaking panoramic views across the Julian Alps, before rewarding you with an exhilarating, extended descent into the heart of the Soča Valley.
Accompanied by the vibrant emerald waters of the Soča River, this stage of your cycling holiday takes you through a dramatic valley framed by towering alpine peaks. Near Kobarid, you’ll cross a spectacular gorge on a narrow bridge – the perfect photo stop – before continuing toward the Italian border.
Once in Italy, the route follows the gentle flow of the Natisone River into the heart of Cividale del Friuli, a beautiful medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its history and charm. For experienced cyclists seeking a challenge, the alternative mountain pass offers a thrilling high-altitude ride, where every climb is rewarded with sweeping, unforgettable views across Slovenia and Italy.
Today’s stage of your cycling holiday in Slovenia and Italy is all about pure enjoyment. Pedal through the enchanting Collio wine region, a landscape of rolling hills where vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. Along the way, countless family-run wineries invite you to stop for a tasting of world-class wines, making this a perfect blend of cycling and gastronomy.
As you ride across the Slovenian–Italian borderlands, the scenery combines rustic charm with Mediterranean flair. The day concludes in true Italian style, with an evening dedicated to regional cuisine and local flavours – a well-earned reward after a leisurely day in the saddle.
Leaving the medieval charm of Cividale del Friuli, your cycling holiday continues through rolling vineyards and into a peaceful valley near the Slovenian border. A winding, serpentine road carries you over a scenic mountain ridge before descending into the enchanting Soča Valley.
Here, the emerald-blue waters of the Soča River shimmer in shades of turquoise and green, guiding your ride toward Kanal ob Soči and onward to the majestic Solkan Bridge, the world’s longest stone-arch railway bridge. Your day concludes in Gorizia, a lively cultural hub where Italian and Slovenian influences meet – the perfect place to soak up history, gastronomy, and vibrant city life after a rewarding day on the bike.
After just a few pedal strokes, you cross back into Slovenia, cycling through scenic vineyards before climbing onto the dramatic Karst Plateau. From this vantage point, sweeping views unfold across the deep-blue Adriatic Sea and the glittering Bay of Trieste – a breathtaking reward for your efforts.
Rolling past idyllic villages, your route soon returns to Italy for the grand finale of your Slovenia–Italy cycling holiday. The vibrant port city of Trieste greets you with its Mediterranean flair, historic cafés, and unmistakable zest for life – the perfect ending to an unforgettable bike tour from the Julian Alps to the Adriatic coast.
Departure from Trieste or spend extra nights in the city or the surrounding area.
Arrival: Bled
Departure: Trieste
Nearest arrival airport(s): Ljubljana
Nearest departure airport(s): Trieste
We also recommend travelling by train to all of our cycling holiday starting and departure points. We can help you plan your journey to Bled by rail. Car parking is available on all tours at the first hotel or a nearby public parking location. Full details are available on request.
Please do not book travel until an official invoice confirms the cycling holiday.
Route overview
Starting point: Bled
End point: Trieste
Difficulty: Challenging
Total cycling distance: approx. 305 km
You will cycle mainly on well-developed bike paths and quiet side roads, with only a few short sections along busier routes. Most of the terrain is paved, with occasional stretches on well-maintained gravel paths. The route is gently undulating to hilly, with some longer climbs to tackle. On three days, more challenging alternative routes over impressive mountain passes are also available.
Bike hire options
This cycling holiday benefits from high-quality bike hire options carefully selected for the tour. Each well-maintained bike has modern V-brakes, aluminium wheels and puncture-proof tyres based around a KTM frame. Dynamo lights, small panniers, repair accessories, a handlebar bag and a comfortable saddle ensure you have everything you need for an enjoyable cycle tour. Rental bike insurance is included in every booking.
Standard Unisex Bike 21/24-gears
Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm (heights approx. 148 cm to 190 cm)
Standard Men’s Bike 21-gears with crossbar
Sizes: 63 / 60 / 56-51 cm (heights approx. 165 cm to 205 cm)
Rental Bike PLUS
Rental Bike PLUS is designed for a slightly sportier sitting position and finely tuned gears offer excellent riding flexibility. The KTM aluminium frame has a high-quality Suntour suspension fork and puncture-proof tyres.
Sizes: 63 / 60 / 55 / 51 / 50 / 46 cm (heights approx. 155 cm to 205 cm)
Unisex Electric Bike
The electric bikes available on this tour assist up to 25 km/h whilst pedalling. The pedalec motor is in the bottom bracket of the frame and the detachable batteries last for approximately 120 km. Each bike has an illuminated LCD and 8-speed internal hub gears. They weigh 23 kg and have a back-pedal brake. Only limited numbers are available.
Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 46 ‘xs’ cm (heights approx. 148 cm to 195 cm)
What’s included
- Accommodation in 3* and 4* hotels
- Breakfast
- Welcome briefing
- Luggage transfers
- Well-developed route
- 1 train ride Bohinjska Bistrica – Podbrdo excl. bike
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (English)
- App for Navigation and GPS data available
- Service Hotline (Local support number)
Not included
- Travel to/from the start and finish (Flights/Trains)
- Evening meals (unless stated)
- Local daily taxes (payable at the hotel)
- Helmets (Please bring your own cycle helmet with you)
- Water bottles
- Travel insurance
- Bike insurance (unless stated)
- Welcome meetings (unless stated)
- Transfers to/from the start/end points are available at a supplement
- SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £669 PER PERSON
- EXTRA NIGHT(S) – Bled: £129 PER PERSON PER NIGHT INC. BREAKFAST
- EXTRA NIGHT(S) – Trieste: £99 PER PERSON PER NIGHT INC. BREAKFAST
-
Bike Hire Options
- 21/24/27-gear unisex/men’s inc. rental bike insurance: £99
- 21/24/27-gear unisex/men’s inc. rental bike insurance: £99
- Rental bike PLUS inc. rental bike insurance: £179
- Gravel bike inc. rental bike insurance: £189
- Electric bike inc. rental bike insurance: £279
You can select your bike hire options in the ‘Book Now’ section.
Check Availability
2026/27 cycling holidays
All prices shown are per person, sharing a double/twin room and exclude flights/bike hire.
Special Offer: £70 per person off all September AND ocTOBER prices!
Contact us for more information, a price match, or call 017687 71700. Offer valid on new bookings only and until the 31st August 2026.
NEW FOR 2027
To make a booking, simply use the filter and select the day of the week that the tour operates on. You’ll then see all of the tour dates and prices easily. No payment is taken at this stage. For all bookings, we take a 20% deposit, and the final balance is due 56 days before arrival. An invoice and online payment link are generated after the tour is confirmed.
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