- Leader: Bonita Douglas (bondoutoo@gmail.com)
- Leader Phone: 250-215-5310
- Tour Contractor: Sitnica Travel Agency
- Trip Dates: Sun, 11 May 2025 -- Sun, 25 May 2025
- Trip Classification: Intermediate/Advanced
- Trip Fee: $100 CAD
- Trip Numbers: minimum 10 , maximum 18
- Trip Registration Opens:
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 5:00 PM (pacific time)
- Registration Lottery Ends:
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 5:00 PM (pacific time)
- Trip Registration Closes: Tue, 15 Apr 2025 5:00 PM (pacific time)
Ride Description:
Tour Fee: 2800 Euro
Single Supplement: 650 Euro
Hybrid Bike Rental: 350 Euro
E-Bike Rental: 650 Euro
Ride Description:
Our tour begins in Croatia and Zagreb, its capital city. As we cycle into Slovenia, a small European country is one of exceptional geographic diversity and natural beauty - from the iconic islet chapel in Lake Bled to the Julian Alps to the seaside port of Piran, to the mysterious Karst with its subterranean world. Our scenic cycle includes river valleys, the Pannonian lowlands, vine-terraced hillsides, old railway routes and stunning mountain passes. We’ll have time to explore its capital city, Ljubljana, as well as medieval towns and points of cultural and historic interest along the way. Slovenia's architectural heritage includes 2,500 churches, 1,000 castles, ruins, manor houses and farmhouses. Four natural and cultural sites in Slovenia are on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While enjoying all of Slovenia’s natural beauty, we will experience fine wines and unique cuisines.
Accommodation Reservations:
The tour includes 14 nights of accommodation in hotels, guest houses, resorts and B&Bs All breakfasts are included, as well as two lunches and five dinners.
Costs are based on two people sharing. If you are travelling solo and would like a roommate, we will attempt to find one for you after the lottery closes. “Please inform the Tour Coordinator when you register whether you want a single room or are looking for a roommate. Solo rooms will be an option based on availability only
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Riding Conditions:
Our riding is on secondary highways, country roads or rail trails. There are some longer distances (90 km) and some steep climbing including the Vrsic Mountain Pass, the highest pass in the Julian Alps! But remember, we have van support for this day if you need help to get up the pass. Daily mileage and elevation gain are listed in the itinerary.
The tour has flexibility in both pace and the number of stops along the way. In order to enjoy this flexibility, each cyclist or group of cyclists should be able to navigate the route with Ride with GPS. Alen is leading the group or following behind and the support vehicle is at designated refreshment stops along the way.
Fee Includes:
- Accommodations in hotels, guesthouses, resorts & B&B's - 14 nights
- 5 dinners and 2 lunches and all breakfasts
- Support van and luggage transport (also bike boxes). (Note that the support van is not available for riders just because they may be tired but only in the case of illness, bike breakdown, emergency or Vrsic Mountain Pass)
- Water, fruit, snacks on the van
- Alen, our English speaking cycling guide, plus a driver
- Routes on Ride with GPS, to be downloaded by riders for off-line navigation
- Transfer, as mentioned
- SITNICA liability insurance - each participant should also have their own medical insurance
- Technical bike assistance to a certain level
- One tour fee for Tour Coordinator
- Credit card stripe fee (3%) for registration fee
Fee Does Not Include:
- All other meals not listed in this tour description
- Bike rental
- Transfers on free day
- Arrival or departure airport transfers
- Medical insurance
- Travel cancellation insurance
- City guide Ljubljana (if desired)
- Tips for contractor guides/staff
Itinerary:
Day 1 May 11 2025
Zagreb, Croatia
This is where our tour starts. We’ll meet with Alen, our guide, introduce ourselves, receive a tour briefing and organize the rental bikes. There is a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2 May 12
Zagreb – Zagorje county – Vuglec Breg
60 km (distance) +571m (elevation gain) 8.5% (grade) unpaved 2 km Through Zagorje , an area of green hillsides dotted with the castles and manor houses of Croatia’s feudal past. The old village of Kumrovec, an open air museum and Tito's birthplace, is one of the sights we will cycle to Lunch, Wine tasting Dinner included
Day 3 May 13
Vuglec-Breg – Ptuj
61 km 771m 11.6% Today we pedal along the valley of the Sutla River, eventually leaving Croatia. . Welcome to Slovenia!, to be precise Pannonian Slovenia. Welcome in Ptuj, the oldest town of Slovenia. Dinner not included
Day 4 May 14 Ptuj – Ormoz – Jeruzalem
42 km 391m 11.7% unpaved 1 km Welcome to the land of delectable dishes, premium wines, winding terraced hills, colourful cultural, natural and ethnological heritage. Jeruzalem with its holy name, energetic vibes, wine road to excellent white wines, exquisite viewpoints and pilgrimage church After the cycling we will enjoy wine tasting and with lunch and a transfer back to Ptuj for another night. LUNCH included at wine tasting. Dinner not included
Day 5 May 15
Jeruzalem – Celje
70 km 774m 12.2% unpaved 4 km Between health resorts and wine-growing hills, along the ZICE Carthusian Monastery, a unique and varied history of Carthusian monks from the beginning of the 12th century. Celje is the town of the Counts of Celje one of the most powerful European noble families. Celje Castle and the town centre are known for the a green environment. Dinner not included
Day 6 May 16
Celje – Ljubljana
90 km 945m 11.5% Our first town today is Zalec, still in the glacial Savinja Valley with its fields of hops. Alpine and karst landscapes meet as we approach Ljubljana. But first we cycle through the town of Kamnik, its former glory evident in the old city center, with Zaprice Castle (Grad Zaprice) and Little Castle (Mali Grad).UNESCO heritage. Dinner not included
Day 7 May 17 Ljubljana free day
This is Slovenia's capital - its name sounds like ‘beloved’ in Slovene (Ljubljana–ljubljena)! Stroll the cobbled Old Town with its busy square, Jože Plečnik architecture and the beloved Dragon Bridge; enjoy al fresco coffee along the Ljubljanica River; visit a museum, a gallery, a boutique, the botanical garden or the city market. A climb to Ljubljana Castle is a must! Bicycle-friendly, there are four themed cycle routes around the city (230 km total). Dinner not included
Day 8 May 18
Ljubljana – Bled
63 km 762m 8.5% unpaved 2,7 km We start riding through picturesque villages along the Sava River valley, stopping for lunch in beautiful Kranj, which was settled 6000 years ago. In the afternoon we enter Slovenia’s alpine world, again cycling through green valleys and through dense woods. Our destination is Bled with its iconic islet in the middle of Lake Bled and Bled Castle towering above. Dinner not included
Day 9 May 19
Bled – Bohinj Lake – Bled circular tour
67 km 900 m 12.5% Enjoy the natural beauty of the only national park in the country, named after Slovenia's highest mountain, Triglav (2864 m), which towers in the background. The park embraces the widely celebrated Lake Bled as we cycle around the stunning turquoise Lake Bohinj. Dinner not included 
Day 10 May 20
Bled – Kranjska Gora
40 km 725m 12.4%
To the north, the edge of the Karavanke mountains, to the south the Julian Alps. To the east Jesenice, and to the west the watershed of Sava and Zilja rivers .The Upper Sava Valley, one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys, lies in the far north-western part of Slovenia, right next to the tri-border with Austria and Italy. Free afternoon in Kranjska Gora. Dinner all together in famous local restaurant
Day 11 May 21 Free day in Kranjska Gora This small alpine town, at the triple border of Slovenia, Italy and Austria, started as a herdsmen settlement in the 14th century. It is now a popular outdoor-oriented alpine destination. The name Mary on White Gravel comes from the quality of the soil on which Kranjska Gora stands. We have choices today to hike in the Kranjska Gora area and lake, explore the nature reserve or cycle to the famous ski jump area of Planica to experience the Nordic Center there. A walk across the border into the town of Tavarisa, Italy is also possible! (2nd night in Kranjska Gora) Dinner not included
Day 12 May 22
Kranjska Gora – Trenta/Soca Valley – Kobarid
68 km 1,233m 15.5% The King of the Climbs today! Vršič Mountain Pass (1,611 metres) is the highest road pass in the Eastern Julian Alps. This high-mountain road from Kranjska Gora through Vršič Mountain Pass to Log in Trenta has 50 serpentine twists, 24 on the way up and 26 on the descent. There are fantastic viewpoint stops along the way. After that, riding through the beautiful Soca Valley! The upper part of the valley is home to picturesque Trenta, with its botanical alpine garden. The museum in Kobarid depicts the two years of brutal mountainous fighting of World War I. (The climb can be done with van support OR experience the thrill of sumiting it on your bike) Dinner not included
Day 13 May 23
Kobarid- Vipava
88 km 1,147m 11.7% unpaved 4.5 km Starting off in the Soca Valley, we climb to the village of Cepovan and the adjoining smaller hamlets, then downhill to Nova Gorica, which shares a border with Italy. Next into the fertile Vipava Valley with its dramatic karst landscapes, medieval castles towering over pretty villages and vineyards. It is home to excellent wines from several indigenous varieties which go perfectly with the many delectable dishes of the Vipava Valley which we will enjoy this evening! Dinner included at accommodation
Day 14 May 24
Vipava – Piran
86 km 973m 7.7% unpaved 1 km Home of the noble Lipizzaner horses. Leaving the Vipava Valley most of the day is spent on the KRAS, the Slovenian Karst with its many caves. Then down to the Adriatic along the Parenzana bicycle trail, once an old narrow-gauge railway line. Our final destination is the seaside town of Piran with its Venetian architecture, ancient walls, and swimming beach!… and great seafood! Farewell dinner in local restaurant included
Day 15 May 25, 2025 Enjoy breakfast before saying Goodbye sLOVEnia!
The closest airport is in Trieste, Italy (about 2 ½ hours by train) where you might easily spend an extra day, or you might add on a visit to Venice (5 ½ hours by train).
Registration and Participant Selection:
Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the dates shown. A computerized lottery system with a wait list will be utilized in the event that the tour is oversubscribed. A $100 CAD payment is required at the time of registration. The lottery sign up will run for 7 days, after which the Ride Coordinators will review the results
The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:
- fitness and riding ability and experience required for the tour
- a history of demonstrating safe riding practices
- acceptable social behaviour
The Leader may interview tour applicants or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour. The Tour Coordinators will have the ultimate decision on whether someone is accepted for a tour and may reject applicants after discussion with the Tour Director. The leader also has the option to prioritize 30% of the tour applicants up to a maximum of 6 people.
The leader will notify registrants of their selection status. If the ride is not filled to capacity, registration will continue until the closing dates shown. Tour member selection is done primarily by lottery results but the leader will have the final decision on who is accepted or not for the tour.
After you have been notified you are selected for the tour, the tour fee of 1,000.00 EUR (40 %) is due January 15th 2025.
Tour Cancellation by Sitnica
Sitnica reserves the right to cancel the trip for reasons beyond their control or if the minimum number needed to operate the tour has not been met. Sitnica will advise you of this no later than 14 days prior to departure. In that case, your payments will be fully refunded.
Tour Cancellation by the Participant
The registration fee is non-refundable when a member withdraws from the tour. If a replacement can't be found, refunds for tour fees paid will be in accordance with Sitnica's cancellation policy, as stated below.
Cancellations must be made in writing to the Tour Coordinator and to Sitnica Travel Agency <sitnica@pu.t-com.hr> or <info@sitnica.t>. The following charges will apply:
- 90-76 days before departure 10% of the entire tour fee
- 75-59 days before departure 30% of the entire tour fee
- 58-45 days before departure 40% of the entire tour fee
- 44-15 days before departure 80% of the entire tour fee
- less than 15 days before departure 100% of the entire tour fee
Communicable Illness Information:
The CCCTS Communicable Illness Policy takes into consideration regulations and recommendations from Public Health Authority of Canada, BC Centre of Disease Control, and Public Health Ontario. In the case of illness while on tour, it is expected that all participants will follow the procedures outlined in this policy. Please refer to
https://cccts.org/club-document/staying-safe-guidelines-2022-oct%0215th-2022-update/ for details on the club’s Communicable Illness Policy. CCCTS strongly encourages all participants to be up-to-date on their vaccinations for COVID and all other communicable diseases. Everyone should bring 3 COVID test kits with them on the tour and take responsibility for self-testing if they feel ill.
Air Travel Emissions Statement: A one-way flight from Vancouver to the start of this tour Zagreb and a return flight from Trieste is 17,500 km or more and will produce about 3.4 Tonnes of total emissions per person. For comparison, one year of driving a gasoline-powered car produces 2.0 tonnes of total emissions. For more information on the impact of those emissions on climate change and extreme weather events see. https://cccts.org/club-document/air-travel-emissions-from-cccts-tours/
Day 4 May 14 Ptuj – Ormoz – Jeruzalem
42 km 391m 11.7% unpaved 1 km Welcome to the land of delectable dishes, premium wines, winding terraced hills, colourful cultural, natural and ethnological heritage. Jeruzalem with its holy name, energetic vibes, wine road to excellent white wines, exquisite viewpoints and pilgrimage church After the cycling we will enjoy wine tasting and with lunch and a transfer back to Ptuj for another night. LUNCH included at wine tasting. Dinner not included