Friuli & Slovenia
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Friuli and Slovenia
Trip Leaders
Upcoming Dates
- May 14, 2011
- June 4, 2011
- July 2, 2011
- September 7, 2011
- October 1, 2011
Accommodations
Classic
Ability Level
Athletic beginner
Terrain
Gently rolling
Distance
209 miles
Arriving
Trieste, Italy
Departing
Bled, Slovenia
Price
- May, Jun: $4,295
- July: $4,395
- Sep, Oct: $4,495
Single Supplement
$800
Bike Rental
Included!
Wheels and Wines in a Little-Seen Corner of Europe -
Highlights
- Be among the first to ride this first-of-its-kind tour
- Pedaling through lands that inspired Joyce, Hemingway, Freud and Rilke
- Coming in contact with a variety of cultures: Italian, Austrian and Slovenian
- Biking through the lush vineyards of Fruili’s burgeoning wine country (and sampling the local vintages, of course)
- Spin along "road less traveled" in Italy and Slovenia
Welcome to Italy’s wine-rich Friuli region! In this little-visited locale, tucked between Slovenia and Austria, you’ll find the cultural imprints of both countries —not to mention some of the most rewarding roads you’ll ever pedal. Over the years, this region was occupied by various European powers and it developed a unique language and culture. While it is unlikely that the Friulano language will survive the next century, the customs and traditions of the land live on.
Itinerary
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 – Slovenia: 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 Tolmin and 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 or a hiking to a World War I fort.
Day 7 – Bled, Slovenia
Shuttle to the top of the Predil Pass (1256m), 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.