All continental breakfasts.

Slovenia’s cuisine reflects its rich heritage. Neighbours Austria, Italy and Hungary influence most dishes on the menu. In the mountains, Austrian style salamis (klobasa) prevail. You’ll often find them seasoning the hearty soups served in the Alpine huts. Kruha juha is the best – you get to eat the bowl too as it’s made out of bread! The Hungarian influence is seen in the spicy meat dishes.  Pleskavica (steak with herbs and paprika) is a good one to try.  On the coast, you’ll find Italian fayre, like rizota (risotto) with fresh mussels or zkilofri (Slovenian ravioli). And if you are still hungry, indulge yourself in a slice of potica (a creamy Swiss roll with walnuts).

Slovenia has been making wine since pre-Roman times, and boasts the oldest vine in the world, that has grown for four centuries. In the Vipava Valley, the stone villages are full of velbani hrami (vaulted wine cellars) where you can taste Teran (a heavy red best drunk with the local prsut or ham) or Rebula (a dry, crisp white). In the mountains look out for the bewildering variety of schnapps made from wormwood, blueberries, honey and even pine needles!

Roll through gates into Palmanova’s nine-pointed star fort, a masterpiece of late-Renaissance military planning founded by Venice in 1593. Perfectly angled bastions and grassy ramparts disclose the science of defense by geometry.

At the hexagonal Piazza Grande, admire harmonious facades and radiating streets that reveal the city’s geometric-perfection plan. The setting invites a slow circuit by bike and a contemplative stroll across one of Italy’s most intriguing planned towns.

Visit UNESCO World Heritage Aquileia, once a powerhouse of the early Roman Empire. Forum remains, riverside docks, and funerary roads sketch the outline of a vast ancient city set amid tranquil fields.

Step into the Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta to view shimmering 4th-century floor mosaics—sea creatures, vines, and early Christian symbols. The dialogue between Roman urbanism and sacred art makes Aquileia a highlight for history-minded travelers.

Stroll the fisherman’s quarter of Grado, threading calli e campielli lined with pastel houses and drying nets. Cafés face quiet canals while breezes from the Adriatic lagoon carry a saline tang through narrow lanes.

Continue to the seafront for broad horizons and gentle surf, the reason Grado is nicknamed the Sun Island. Roman-era churches and sandy beaches sit side by side, offering a satisfying blend of culture and coastal calm.

Climb to Bled Castle, Slovenia’s oldest, poised on a sheer cliff above the lake. The courtyard and panoramic viewing terrace reveal a perfect tableau of island church, forested slopes, and alpine peaks.

Inside, a compact museum traces Bled’s cultural layers—from medieval rule to spa-town elegance—while a chapel and printing workshop add texture. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour or payable locally on arrival.

Explore the twin glacial Lakes of Fusine—Inferiore and Superiore—set in a bowl of spruce forest beneath Mount Mangart. Mirror-still waters reflect crags and clouds, and short paths invite lakeside circuits between emerald shores.

Wooden jetties, birdsong, and shifting mountain light create a contemplative mood that rewards an unhurried visit. This is an optional experience at additional cost only if transfers or extras are arranged; routes can be ridden independently and booked on tour.

Ride a longer cross-border route to Villach, an Austrian town of pastel facades and riverside promenades. Pause in the old quarter for coffee, admire the Drava bridges, and browse boutiques set under arcades.

Return conveniently by regional rail, turning a big-mileage day into a relaxed loop that showcases the trip’s tri-national character. This is an optional experience at additional cost for train tickets, bookable on tour with local assistance.

Swap pedals for rails to reach Venice in around 90 minutes, where St Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, and quiet sestieri reveal a city shaped by water and empire. Wander bridges and campi, pausing for cicchetti and espresso.

Choose your own highlights—Basilica mosaics, lagoon views, or a vaporetto ride past palazzi. This is an optional experience at additional cost covering rail and local transport, bookable on tour or arranged independently.

Follow quiet lanes from Grado to the Valle Cavanata Nature Reserve, a mosaic of lagoon, reedbed, and saltmarsh frequented by herons, egrets, and seasonal flamingos. Continue toward the Isonzo River delta for broad skies and maritime light.

Observation hides, wind-ruffled shallows, and distant Alps make this a serene counterpoint to beach life. This is an optional experience at additional cost only for any arranged guiding or transfers; routes are rideable independently and bookable on tour.

Join a hosted stop at a local Friulian winery to explore hillside cellars and learn about native grapes like Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Refosco. Taste structured whites and elegant reds that pair with San Daniele prosciutto and mountain cheeses.

The winemaker’s notes on soil, bora winds, and alpine-Adriatic influences illuminate every glass. This is an optional experience at additional cost, arranged and bookable on tour with your local agent.

Ride the famed Alpe-Adria cycle path from the Triglav National Park gateway at Mojstrana, skirting meadows toward Kranjska Gora with the jagged Julian Alps as your backdrop. Expect birdsong, cool pine-scented stretches, and smooth gradients.

Engineering heritage comes alive as you roll through former railway cuttings, over viaducts, and into Italy’s border town of Tarvisio. It’s a gentle, cross-border journey that layers mountain drama with the quiet rhythm of a repurposed rail trail.

Glide on a near-effortless 400m descent through the Fella Valley, following a green ribbon of river as Dolomite silhouettes frame the horizon. Traffic-free paths weave between cheerful mountain communities and pocket gardens.

Enter medieval Venzone, a lavender-scented, stone-walled town painstakingly rebuilt after the 1976 earthquake. Cobbled lanes, arcaded houses, and Romanesque portals reveal Friulian resilience—an evocative finish that rewards riders with history at every turn.

Explore Udine’s elegant heart between Piazza Libertà—often called the most Venetian square on the mainland—and lively Piazza Matteotti. Arched porticoes, café terraces, and the pink-white Loggia del Lionello set a refined urban scene.

Seek out the city’s Baroque brilliance in the Archbishop’s Palace, home to Giambattista Tiepolo’s luminous frescoes, and browse osterie serving Friulian classics. The blend of Venetian grace and Alpine warmth makes this cultural stop richly textured.

Pedal gentle lanes through the Colli Orientali del Friuli, where sun-dappled vineyards meet cherry orchards and campanile-topped hamlets. The ride links tiny piazzas, stone washhouses, and village churches set among rolling vines.

Pause at family-run osterie to learn about terroir and grapes like Ribolla Gialla and Friulano. The region’s crossroads character—Austrian, Slavic, and Italian—emerges in recipes, dialects, and the slow conviviality that encourages riders to sample regional wines with local bites.

Cycle the serene shores of Lake Bled before meandering through sleepy Gorenjska hamlets to the 12th-century Kamen Castle. Wander atmospheric ruins, trace old ramparts, and take in alpine vistas that sweep from forested foothills to limestone crags.

Continue past the tranquil Završnica Reservoir and cross the Sava Dolinka River, where clear, fast water and mountain air set a brisk, invigorating tone. This easy-paced ride blends castle lore with lakeside scenery, inviting frequent stops to pause for photos and reflection.