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Classic Climbs: The Slovenian and Italian Alps Bike Tour

From Slovenia's Julian Alps to Italy's Monte Zoncolan

Tour Duration

6 Days / 5 Nights

Trip Style

Classic Guided, Signature

Activity Level

Level 4

Hotel Level

Explorer

Bikes

Trek Domane SL 7
Trek Electric-Assist Domane+ SLR 7

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Starting from

$3,999.00 per person

See dates

Dive into challenging climbs, vast forests, and charming villages on an epic bike tour in the Alps of Slovenia and Italy.

Cycling in Slovenia's mountains may seem like venturing into the great unknown. It doesn't receive the same attention as its neighboring Alps in France or Switzerland, but here you'll find some of the most challenging and spectacular riding around. Your cycling adventure begins with the Pokljuka climb, a favorite of the Tour of Slovenia. Bike through the unforgettable Julian Alps on the highest mountain pass, Vršič, with switchbacks reminiscent of Alpe d'Huez. Follow the clear turquoise waters of the Soča River before continuing up to the formidable Mangart Saddle, with its breathtaking views of Italy. Top it all off by tackling the legendary Zoncolan, a Giro d'Italia staple and one of the most demanding climbs in Europe. Join us as we roll three countries into one week of great cycling and discover for yourself one of Europe's best-kept secrets.

Trip Wows
  • Tackle Slovenia’s iconic Vršič Pass, with its cobbled switchbacks and breathtaking alpine views

  • Conquer the legendary Monte Zoncolan, a Giro d’Italia giant and one of Europe’s most challenging climbs

  • Ride to the summit of Mangart Saddle, Slovenia’s highest paved road, and descend into scenic Italy

  • Enjoy hearty cuisine that blends the rich traditions of Slovenia and Italy, perfect after a day of epic riding

  • Experience the ultimate cycling adventure in the Slovenian Alps, with rewarding climbs and breathtaking scenery

Biker riding towards snowy mountain

Stunning vistas in the Slovenian Alps

Conquer Vršič Pass

Experience the magnificent Slovenian Alps, where challenging climbs, such as the iconic Vršič Pass, are met with rewarding moments at every turn.


What Guests are Saying

This was the most decadent personal indulgence I have ever done. It was also a longtime dream to ride in Europe on some iconic roads. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and challenge of the climbs. The quality of the support was just a wonderful bonus.

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Wayne H., Trek Travel Guest

Group of bikers on top of Zoncolan

Riding these mountains is an amazing and challenging experience. Each day the rides are better and better as you build towards the final big day - tackling the mighty Zoncolan. If you love climbing, you will love this trip!

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Nick, Trek Travel Guide

Biker climbing switchback

All around excellent trip. Well planned, well executed. Couldn’t have been happier with our two guides and all riding companions. A very fun group and future new friends. Thanks for a great time. Would certainly recommend to anyone who asks.

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Michael, Trek Travel Guest


Overhead view of the Zoncolan climb in Italy.

Great Ride

Italy's Zoncolan Climb

Prepare for a legendary ascent up the mighty Zoncolan, one of the toughest climbs in cycling. With breathtaking alpine views, this challenge rewards you with a sense of achievement like no other as you conquer one of Europe's most iconic climbs.


Dates & Pricing

Book early for the best price

  • Guaranteed

  • Join Waitlist

  • Private

  • Limited Availability


Itinerary
Activity Information

Hotels
Rikli Balance Hotel front entrance
Rikli Balance Hotel guest bedroom
Rikli Balance Hotel indoor pool
Rikli Balance Hotel guest bathroom
Rikli Balance Hotel breakfast bar
Bled, Slovenia
Rikli Balance Hotel
Explorer

Rikli Balance Hotel is a newly renovated, unique hotel with the best views on Lake Bled and the surrounding Julian Alps. Set in a modern building, with balconies with lake or park views, this relaxed spa hotel features designs to tell stories of the natural surroundings such as the Carniolan honey bees or the spruce from the nearby Pokljuka plain. Enjoy a quick walk to the banks of Lake Bled or stay in and take advantage of their spa featuring saunas and hot tubs as well as indoor and outdoor geothermal pools.

...

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A contemporary grey hotel building with a pool
A double bedroom at the Sport Hotel Soča
Sport Hotel Soča lobby bar area
Night view of the Sport Hotel Soca
Outdoor hot tub with deck chairs looking at a mountain view
Bovec, Slovenia
Sport Hotel Soča
Explorer

The Sport Hotel Soča is located in the heart of the Soca Valley in the town of Bovec, an outdoor paradise that sits on the threshold of the Triglav National Park, and is wrapped in impressive views of the surrounding peaks of the Julian Alps. The architects have designed a perfect connection between modern elements with classic Alpine style, creating an idyllic and relaxing environment. Their outdoor pool assures a perfect refreshment after climbing Vršič Pass and the spa will revitalize your legs to prepare you for next epic climb.

...

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Osteria Da Alvise guest room suite
Osteria Da Alvise guest room suite
Osteria Da Alvise lobby area
Osteria Da Alvise spa
Osteria Da Alvise guest room suite
Sutrio, Italy
Osteria da Alvise
Explorer

Perfectly situated at the base of the magnificent climb to Monte Zoncolan, this family-run hotel has been a meeting place in the village since 1994, and has recently undergone renovations that provide you with a contemporary stay in their relaxing, understated rooms. Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals that highlight the cooking traditions that are typical of this region of Italy. You will also appreciate the onsite spa after a solid day in the saddle.

...

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Bikes & Gear
Ride the Best Bikes in the Industry
New in 2023 Domane SL 7 Road
Trek Domane SL 7

Experiencing your cycling vacation of a lifetime is not complete without a world-class bike and the Trek Domane SL 7 Gen 4 is the best on the road. It raises the bar to deliver incredible endurance road bike comfort without sacrificing performance and features highly responsive disc brakes, road-smoothing IsoSpeed technology, and electronic shifting. This new bike is lighter than ever before, and carbon wheels are standard on every Domane SL 7 bike.

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Trek Domane+ SLR bike Road
Trek Electric-Assist Domane+ SLR 7

Upgrade your experience on the Domane+ SLR 7. It has everything you love in a road bike, with the extra boost to take you farther than ever before. With an ultra-lightweight design and a whisper quiet electric assist motor, this performance e-road bike will assist you on the climbs and enable you to venture further. So go ahead—take the long way. With Domane+ SLR 7, there’s always room for more distance and more fun!
Upgrade to the Domane+ SLR 7 on this trip for $399 (3-6 day trips) or $599 (7+ day trips). Available in limited quantities. See specific trip dates for available bike options.

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Two cyclist and one rider

Trek Travel Guides

The World’s Best

From the moment you meet our guides, you'll understand the difference. You'll feel the genuine care they take to make your vacation perfect. From their expert support to sharing their favorite hidden spots, they tailor every moment to you.

Certified Guides

Additional Gear
  • Trek Travel Santini cycling jersey to keep
  • Trek Travel water bottles to keep
  • Cinch sack day bag to keep
  • Garmin Edge 1030 GPS computer with pre-loaded routes
  • Bontrager saddle*
  • Bontrager helmet*
  • Choice of Shimano SPD-SL road style pedals, Shimano SPD mountain style pedals, caged, or flat pedals*
  • *For the most comfortable ride, we recommend you bring your own saddle. If you prefer, you can bring your own pedals and helmet on the trip and our guides will install your gear on the first day during your bike fit.
  • Bontrager front and rear Flare R lights
  • A flat pack containing a tube, levers, and a CO2 cartridge with inflator
A collage of cycling gear guests will use on a Trek Travel Classic Bike Tour.

Trip Inclusions

Additional Details

Know Before You Go!

We want you to be fully prepared for your cycling vacation of a lifetime. This involves making sure that you choose the appropriate trip for you and that every aspect of your experience is flawless. Each Trek Travel trip is unique to ensure maximum enjoyment every time.

Your Trip Need to Knows:

  • Weather and Packing: The weather is notoriously unpredictable in the mountains. You can experience all seasons in one day so bringing layers is key! Layering is the best way to regulate your body temperature. This tried-and-true strategy is all about slipping layers on and off as your activity level or the weather changes. The key items of clothing to remember are long-fingered gloves, arm warmers, leg warmers, a vest, and a rain jacket for the summit and descent.
  • Riding skills: This is one of the most challenging trips we offer, with hardly any flat riding and lots of elevation gain each day. Expect long sustained climbs, narrow roads, technical descents with tight turns, and long hours in the saddle. Advanced fitness as well as bike handling skills are key for this trip.
  • Your American Express credit card might not work in Slovenia. Other major credit cards (VISA, Mastercard) will work. If you only have an AmEx card, please make sure to bring Euros with you on your trip, just in case.
  • Adapt to the local pace, relax and enjoy longer dinners than you might be used to when at home. This is part of the culinary experience Slovenia and Italy have to offer.

Before and After Your Trip

Weather

Average monthly temperature and precipitation

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 40.0°F· 4.4°C 43.0°F· 6.1°C 54.0°F· 12.2°C 64.0°F· 17.8°C 72.0°F· 22.2°C 78.0°F· 25.6°C 83.0°F· 28.3°C 81.0°F· 27.2°C 71.0°F· 21.7°C 61.0°F· 16.1°C 51.0°F· 10.6°C 40.0°F· 4.4°C
Low 30.0°F· -1.1°C 30.0°F· -1.1°C 36.0°F· 2.2°C 44.0°F· 6.7°C 51.0°F· 10.6°C 58.0°F· 14.4°C 62.0°F· 16.7°C 60.0°F· 15.6°C 53.0°F· 11.7°C 46.0°F· 7.8°C 40.0°F· 4.4°C 32.0°F· 0.0°C
Rain 2.81"· 7.14 cm 3.77"· 9.58 cm 3.43"· 8.71 cm 3.36"· 8.53 cm 4.58"· 11.63 cm 4.17"· 10.59 cm 3.92"· 9.96 cm 4.71"· 11.96 cm 4.83"· 12.27 cm 3.36"· 8.53 cm 3.79"· 9.63 cm 3.99"· 10.13 cm
FAQs

In the summer months, Slovenian mountains are usually clear and sunny during the day, with warm daytime temperatures anywhere from 70s to mid-90s (21-35ºC) and evening temperatures 10-15 degrees cooler. Whenever traveling in the high mountains, it is best to be prepared for variable conditions, as weather can change very quickly and there is always the chance of snow and rain. We recommend always traveling with rain gear, as well as plenty of breathable layers, to provide warmth if the temperature drops.
View our Packing List

To reserve your space on a trip, you can either call us at 866-464-8735 to speak with an expert Trip Consultant or book online any time by clicking the “BOOK THIS TRIP” icon near the upper right of each destination’s overview page.* Once you have submitted your reservation online, a Trip Consultant will contact you within one business day to answer any questions you may have and to confirm space, bike, and room availability on your desired trip. Your booking will be finalized once your no-risk deposit is paid. If you make a reservation more than 90 days prior to the trip, a $750 no risk deposit is due at the time of booking.** If you reserve your trip less than 90 days prior to the departure, the full balance is due at the time of booking. Once your booking is complete you will receive an email confirmation with important information pertaining to your trip.

*Please note that select trips cannot be booked online at this time. For those trips, please call a trip consultant at 866-464-8735.

**Deposit amounts vary for all Race, Cross Country, Special Edition, Ride Camp, Discover, and Self-Guided tours. Please confirm deposit amounts for all trips with your Trip Consultant at time of booking.

When a trip is booked, a guest confirmation email is immediately sent out. One week prior to the trip start, you’ll receive an email containing your trip start meeting location reminder and any last-minute information that you’ll need to know. You will also receive instructions to download the Ride with GPS app before your trip to provide you the day to day plan and daily route guides.

With one person booked on a date, the trip becomes guaranteed.*

In the case where trips are at one or two guests, we will contact you prior to final payment to give you the following options:

Pay a small trip fee of $500 per person for two guests or $1000 for one guest, which ensures your preferred trip date will run. If there are three or more guests before departure date, the fee will be refunded in full.

or

Switch to a different trip or different departure date. Should there be any difference in trip price between your original trip and the new one, you will be expected to pay the difference, or we will refund you accordingly.

Offer only valid if Trek Travel contacts a guest to discuss these specific options. Bike trips with fewer than three guests may operate with only one guide. The guide will support all rides with a Trek Travel van. If you would like to discuss the option of having two guides, please speak with your trip consultant.

The small trip supplement for Ride Camps is as follows – for two guests an additional $250 or for one guest an additional $500.

*Cross Country, Discover, Race, and Special Edition trips as well as a small number of select departures have a minimum guest count to guarantee. Please check with your Trip Consultant for more information.

Unforeseen events may make it necessary to cancel or modify a trip. Our Guest Services team will update you with any changes. We reserve the right to cancel departures in cases of force majeure or the failure of third parties—such as hotels—to honor their reservations, in which case all payments received to date will be refunded, which constitutes full settlement. Trek Travel is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled trips, such as airline tickets, or for costs that are incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations, or illness. We strongly encourage Travel Protection for complete coverage.

We understand things happen in life and sometimes you have to cancel or change your tour.

Read our Cancellation Policy

Our Trip Consultants are available to assist and can answer your questions. Please call us at 866-464-8735.

Trek Travel recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help safeguard you and your travel investment against the unexpected. We offer a travel protection plan through Arch RoamRight that provides coverage for unforeseen events that could affect your ability to travel with us.
Learn more about our Travel Protection

We've collaborated with a specialized travel agency committed to delivering tailored vacation planning, ensuring your entire Trek Travel journey is nothing short of unforgettable. Learn more about our Travel Services

Sharing the joy that comes with wow moments

Trek Travel guides are dedicated to making moments that last a lifetime, and we invite you to thank them with a trip gratuity. These are customary and at your own discretion, to recognize service, hospitality, and the little extras that surprise and delight. For this Signature trip, we recommend between $240-$300 per guest and, of course, you may choose to give more if your guides made your trip an unforgettable experience.

Like everything else about your vacation, the Trek Travel team is here to make this experience easier for you. While local currency is preferred, you may also tip through the following options:

Via PayPal (please have this account set up in advance when possible) or with your guest services representative on the phone before or after the trip.

Gratuities will be divided among the guide team, so feel free to leave your gratuity with whomever you choose at the end of your trip.

You cannot put a price on a wow. But you can show your thanks for an exceptional experience.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Check out our General FAQs section. You will find answers to the most common questions that don't necessarily pertain to a specific trip. See FAQs


Guaranteed Trips

Our trips are guaranteed to run once we have one confirmed booking on the trip. Click here to view our full guarantee policy.

Trek Travel reserves the right to cancel trips with zero guests, therefore you must book with Trek Travel before making travel arrangements for the trip. We are not responsible for travel arrangements made prior to confirming your Trek Travel Trip. Select trips are not guaranteed.

Sold Out/Waitlist

This trip is currently sold out, but you may be added to the waitlist in the case of availability.

Limited Availability

If a date is marked with Limited Availability, there are few spots left to book. We will secure additional rooms from our hotels before confirming your reservation.

Looking to travel with a small group? Ask our trip consultants about private trips and learn more.

What are your trip styles?

Classic - Reserve:

Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

Classic - Signature:

Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.

Classic - Discovor:

Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

Self-Guided

Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.

Private

If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.

Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735

What is the Difference?

Ultimate Luxury:

Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.

Luxury:

Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.

Explorer:

These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.

Combined:

On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.

Activity Level

Level 1:

Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Level 2:

Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).

Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).

Level 3:

Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Level 4:

Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

What are your trip styles?

Classic - Reserve:

Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

Classic - Signature:

Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.

Classic - Discover:

Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

Self-Guided

Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.

Single Occupancy

Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself