Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 Vienna - Lockenhaus
We depart from Vienna in a van and drive east to the Hungarian border. Shortly after crossing the border into Hungary we will start biking in the small village of Fertorakos. We will ride through Hungary and then cross into the region of eastern Austria called Burgenland. Our overnight is at the impressive castle of Lockenhaus, once the property of the religious order of the Knights of the Templars.
Overnight: Lockenhaus Castle, Lockenhaus
Terrain: rolling hills
Meals: L, D
Day 2 Lockenhaus- Jennersdorf
Today we continue our exploration of scenic rural Burgenland. In the morning we take a 20 minute drive to the village of Rechnitz. From here we will be biking mostly on minor roads or bike paths up to our hotel in the village of Jennersdorf. We will have a chance to see many neat little villages with rich flower decorations which are typical for Austria. We will also enter the wine growing region.
Overnight: Raffel Hotel, Jennersdorf
Terrain: rolling hills to hilly
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3 Jennersdorf - Lavamund
Today´s bike ride takes us to the southern part of Burgenland. For most of the day we will be biking along the Slovenian border and at the end we will cross into the southern-most Austrian wine growing region characterized as the “Tuscany of Austria”. We will have a chance to taste some local wine and enjoy gorgeous scenery of vineyards stretching impressively over steep hillsides between Austria and Slovenia. The ride is mostly downhill or flat with an option for an additional 8 miles of partly hilly terrain. Our overnight is at a family run hotel
Overnight: Hotel Harrach Lavamund
Terrain: downhill then flat, optinal part hilly
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4 Lavamund, Austria - Jezersko (Slovenia)
We start our ride directly from the hotel, enjoying a nice but steep downhill for a few kilometers. Today we will be riding mostly within the valley of the Drava River before crossing the border into Slovenia and the beautiful Savinj Alps. At the end we offer an optional ten miles of a more challenging ride over the border and then to the hotel. Or you can choose to be transported over the peaks into Jezersko by van.
Overnight: Planinka – Jezersko (Slovenia)
Terrain: mostly flat, at the end uphill
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 Jezersko – Kranjska Gora
It’s alpine scenery at its best today. Biking from the Logarska Valley we will visit the village of Kropa (and check out the iron museum), and continue on to t famous Lake Bled. The historic island church in the middle of the lake and the medieval Cliffside castle above make this the perfect picture. From Bled we head to Kranjska Gora where we spend that night. Biking is mostly flat today.
Overnight: Kranjska Gora
Terrain: downhill and flat
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 Kranjska Gora – Bovec
We ride in the van to the top of the pass and crossing over the border into Italy heading towards Lago di Predel and Tarvizio. From the top of the pass we ride downhill back into Slovenia or you can choose an additional challenge if you want to tackle six miles with a 3000’ elevation gain, the Predel Pass to Mangard Col awaits. This pass has played a part in history as a trade military route but you’ll probably be most impressed with the views. At the bottom of the hill is Bovec. The roads are winding and mountainous.
Overnight: Kanin Hotel, Bovec
Terrain: flat or downhill, uphill on the Italian side
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7 Bovec – Tolmin
We drive up the road into the mountains close to the spring of Soca where we start riding from the village Trenta. We will cycle back through Bovec and into Kobarid. We’ll stop for lunch and visit this little town where Ernest Hemingway based his novel, A Farewell to Arms (the town was then called Caporetto). While we’re here, we visit Kobarid’s award-winning museum dedicated to the World War I battles nearby on the Soca front. We’ll continue biking to Tolmin
Overnight: Pension in Tolmin
Terrain: mostly ownhill by the river
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8 Tolmin – Trieste (Italy)
We start with a 1 hour transfer and start cycling the top of the Karst through nice old villages to Stanjel, where we have lunch. The area is famous for its proscuitto ham and red wine. From here we cycle to Se Trieste, Italy, typically arriving in late afternoon. The trip ends here. Those who prefer to fly from Vienna can take a ride with the van and guides back to Vienna but they will need to purchase a hotel night in Triest and meals as needed.
Terrain: rolling terrain
Meals: B, L
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
This itinerary averages 35-45 miles per day biking on moderate to difficult terrain. Roads vary from bike paths to minor roads. Terrain varies from rolling hills to mountainous. The mileage and destinations visited can be customized to your preferences.
Price Includes:
- Lodging 7 nights in 3-star properties
- Meals as indicated
- Bicycles
- Transportation
- Driver
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fees as specified in the itinerary.
Itinerary is available for groups as small as 2 persons. Pricing and number of guides and drivers vary depending on size of group. *Based on a group 13-15 passengers.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Austria
Slovenia
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
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