Cycling Slovenia: Ljubljana to the Adriatic

This cycling tour is suitable for most regular cyclists. You’ll spend much of the day in the saddle and you should be experienced with this to enjoy your holiday.

Before your tour, we recommend cycling a couple of consecutive days, so you get used to riding back-to-back days and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to take into account the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

There are a small number of challenging climbs on some of the days, however it is mostly gentle hills, with an average daily elevation gain between approximately 100-500m / 300ft-1600ft

You will bike on 75% regional country roads, 15% cycleways, 5% main road on the city/town approach sections. On these main road sections it is busier with traffic, so please always be mindful of other road users.

The surface is 95% asphalt and paved, and 5% unpaved.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade suggests. An e-bike can help with the steeper climbs, but you should still have a good level of fitness to enjoy the tour as graded.

Accommodation is mostly in family-run hotels of a 3 and 4-star standard, with one night in a family-run guesthouse.

During busy periods, or when availability is limited, you may occasionally be booked into an alternative property - we'll let you know after booking if this is the case.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included every day. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense, which leaves you free to explore. Purchase a packed lunch from your host, pick up picnic supplies from a local shop or market, or stop at a cafe en route. In the evening, unwind over dinner somewhere local.

This tour runs from April into October, and you can start on any day of the week. Summer is Slovenia's busiest season, with the most reliable weather, all the main sights open and plenty of festivals - it can also get very hot, so carry plenty of water, use sun protection and consider starting your rides early to beat the heat.

Spring and autumn bring colourful landscapes, cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, though rain and thunderstorms can occur at any time of year, so it's worth packing for wet weather too.

Daily door-to-door luggage transfer is included in the price of your tour. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 23kg/50lbs per person.

If you'd like to bring an additional bag, this can sometimes be arranged at extra cost - just reach out to your Adventure Specialist before your final payment is due.

It’s vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.​

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

This tour starts in Ljubljana. The international airport is well served with flights from all major cities, and it's easy to take a shuttle bus from there into the city center - we can also arrange a private transfer if you'd prefer (at an additional cost). We'd suggest avoiding taxis, as they can be expensive. By car, Ljubljana is within around an hour's drive of the Italian, Austrian, and Croatian borders, making it easy to combine with a wider European tour.

The tour ends in Piran. To travel back to Ljubljana, a bus runs to Ljubljana Main Bus Station, taking around 3 hours, or we can arrange a private transfer for you at a supplement. A ferry also runs from Piran (or a nearby port) to Venice, though this typically only operates around once a week - check the Direct Ferry website before booking if you'd like to arrange this crossing.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem - please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hybrid touring bike: Trek FX 2 Disc Mid-Step Gen 3, with an aluminium frame, Shimano Altus drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes.

E-bike: Bergamont E-Horizon Tour 5 Wave, an aluminium-frame e-touring bike with a Bosch Active Line Plus motor and a long-range battery.

Gravel bike: Megamo Jakar 30, with an aluminium frame, Shimano GRX drivetrain and a carbon fork - recommended only for experienced cyclists comfortable with that riding position and the fitness it demands.

Tandem bikes aren't available on this tour, and brand and model may vary depending on availability. The minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

Please let us know your height for bike sizing, and your head circumference if you'd like to hire a helmet. Bike hire includes a helmet, a spare inner tube, a repair kit and pump, a pannier bag, a lock and, for e-bikes, a battery charger - rental bikes don't come with a water bottle holder, so bring your own, and a phone mount is a good idea too.