Friuli and Slovenia

Day 1 – Trieste
We begin our tour in Trieste, a city that has for centuries been the natural gateway to Eastern Europe. Rich in Jewish history, We meet at 1:00 pm in the lobby of our hotel for a light snack and greetings, followed by a bike fitting. Then, spin along the magnificent Adriatic coast on a warm-up ride.

Day 2 – Gorizia and the Carso
Pedal towards the plateau north of Trieste, discovering a unique and natural environment of Carso. Gorizia, the capital of the province, has a central European flavor and is split into two sides with the Slovenian side called Nova Gorica.

Day 3 – Palmanova
The science involved in the planning and building of Palmanova is unveiled as you deconstruct the three sets of walls built along circular arrows in the interior. This town is an amazing fortress worth spending a day exploring.

Day 4 – Colli Orientali & Cividale del Fruili
Today we ride to Colli and explore it in greater depth, wheeling between gentle slopes awash in grapevines. Thanks to the region’s succession of hills and plentiful southward-facing slopes, the area named Collio provides the perfect environment for premium quality winemaking- especially white wines– with over 200 makers! Naturally, you’ll have ample opportunities to sample superb wines.

Day 5 – Solvenia: Bovec & The Soca (Isonzo) Valley
Today we’ll cross the border into Slovenia and explore the Soca Valley (Isonzo Valley in Italian). We spin along the valley visiting the Slavic towns of Tolminand Kobarid, all nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic before arriving in Bovec for the evening.

Day 6 – Bovec
A day to relax and enjoy the region. Or, if you prefer, try out one of the several water sports that Bovec is known for: kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and fly-fishing. We will have an optional loop ride available in the surrounding area of Bovec.

Day 7 – Bled, Slovenia
Shuttle to the top of the Predil Pass (1256m), optional climb for those who wish to be challenged, and cross the border back into Italy. The small, alpine resort of Tarvisio is located at the corner intersection of three borders: Italy, Austria and Slovenia. You are within 10km of all three borders. Our ride takes us back into Slovenia and towards Kranjska Gora, a quaint mountain town. This extraordinary week of riding ends in charming Bled.

Day 8 – Arrivederci and Dovidenia!
After breakfast, approximately 8:30 AM, there will be one group shuttle to the Tarvisio train station to make your connections to other destinations within Italy or Austria.