Slovenia - The Emerald Tour

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Suntrail tour

Cycling tour highlights:
• Trip starts at the famous "Triple Bridge" in Ljubljana
• Visit Postojna or Škocjan caves, see the famous Lipizzaner horses
• Relax with a capuccino in the spectacular Trieste Piazza Unita
• Stay on a vineyard, sip typical Teran wine
• Small individual hotels, great food

Enjoy the most beautiful sights of Slovenia during this one week tour. A great tour for your first visit in Slovenia.

Along the old trade route you are biking from the capital city to the Adriatic Sea. This tour is rich in contrasts: from the lively baroque city Ljubljana, to the historic city of Trieste to the calm karst villages embedded in beautiful vineyards. You may visit the grotto of Postojna and the stud of Lipica. The magical castle of Predjama is worth a visit as well.

Day 1: Ljubljana  Arrive in Ljubljana. Visit the historic old town, take a ride up to the mighty Ljubljana Castle, perched high on a hill overlooking the centre. As the sun goes down you can relax with a meal and drinks in one of the many riverside restaurants, or at Nebotičnik, the highest building in Ljubljana and offering a panoramic view of the city.

Day 2: Ljubljana - Vrhnika (approx. 40 km or 58km with detour): Today you cycle across an immense 160-square kilometer marshy plain. The Ljubljansko Barje was once a great lake until it dried up 6000 years ago, leaving behind an incredibly diverse landscape that is now home to some of Europe’s rarest forms of bird, plant and insect life. Along the way you can visit the remnants of the world’s highest railway viaduct in Borovnica.

Day 3: Vrhnika - Postojna (approx. 34 km or 44km with detour): Today you will experience the beauty of the Slovenian karst countryside as you cycle past the beautiful Slivnica Mountain and the magical disappearing lakes of Cerknica and Planina, and marvel at the wonders of this vast world of limestone. You can have a picnic in the Rakov Škocjan nature reserve, where the Rak River has carved out a stunning gorge containing two natural bridges. 

Day 4: Postojna - Štanjel (approx. 45 km or 55km with detour): In the town of Postojna you can visit the beautiful underground Postojna caves and are whisked into a world of limestone caverns and giant stalactites and stalagmites. You can also visit the impenetrable fortress of Predjama castle and learn about Erasmus, who kept a whole army at bay by utilizing the secret of the Predjama Caves. Learn how Erasmus met his untimely demise in less than poetic circumstances, as he was literally caught with his pants down.

Day 5: Štanjel - day of rest our roundtrip (approx. 30 km): Choose from a day of no cycling, or a short trip to neighboring villages. 
Spend the day in a typical Karst village in the heart of vineyard country, where you will see a museum of well-kept traditional houses built entirely from the surrounding limestone. Visit a local painter and artist and try the local food: delicious Karst ham (pršut) and tasty wine from one of the many nearby domestic cellars and visit the lovely Štanjel Castle.

Day 6: ŠTANJEL – LIPICA – DIVAČA (47 km). Mostly flat with just one long, but steady uphill climb. First stop is at the lovely botanical garden in Sežana, then it’s on to the stud farm of Lipica, where you can visit these beautiful thoroughbred Lipizaner horses whose glistening white coats and gentle, graceful dancing have earned them a worldwide reputation.

Day 7: Divaca -Lipica - Trieste  - Koper (aprox. 60 km):

There are two optional trips:
Tour A. Route through Slovenia – 60 km, descent into the valley of Hrastovlje, where a well-known church featuring an interesting “death dance” fresco can be visited. This variant goes through quiet countryside.  
Tour B. Route through Italy (55 km) and the lively port of Trieste. Long downhill ride from the high Karst plateau to Trieste. 3* hotel.
If you skipped Postojna caves – this morning you can visit Škocjan Caves – no less interesting but far less frequented. For your last day you take a slight diversion into the Italian town of Trieste. Visit the castle, cathedral and Piazza Unita central square. The tour ends at Slovenia’s port town, Koper, the largest ‘island’ town on the Slovenian Adriatic coast, and you can cycle along the coastal path and visit the gorgeous Venetian architecture in the little harbour village of Piran.

An admirable downhill awaits you today. Enjoy Cappuccino at Piazza Unita in the former harbour of the K&K monarchy Trieste. You may also take the boat from the city center to the suburb Muggia. During the hot summer months you might want to enjoy a refreshing bath.    

Day 8: Koper: Individual departure or extension. An easy return trip is possible by train to Ljubljana. Additional nights may be booked in Koper.

Tour Profile: Slightly rolling, light hilly terrain, few uphill stretches, average physical condition required.

Included services:

• 7 nights in 3* and 4*rooms with private facilities
• breakfast
• Information package including road book and corresponding maps (one per party)
• free entry to swimming pools in Koper hotel (pool is in partner hotel)
• Wine tasting Hrusevica (2 sorts of wine, liqueur and cheese)
• transfers to/from Ljubljana airport

Extra

• half board can be arranged for a supplement of £110
• transfers to/from Trieste can be arranged instead of Ljubljana for a supplement
• bike and helmet rental. Helmets are compulsory in Slovenia. Price for helmet hire is £10 per week. Bike hire starts at £66 per week  (and includes lock, pannier, spare tube, set of allen keys and basic puncture repair kit) Price incudes delivery and pickup.
• additional nights in Koper/Ljubljana can also be arranged.

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