Mountain biking tours around Slovenia
You have heard of or been to Slovenia, you know that this is a beautiful subalpine country perched between Italy, Austria, Hungry and Croatia. It’s one of the smallest countries in Europe, but makes up for its size with an enviable amount of natural and cultural splendour.
Slovenia’s natural world is incredibly green and diverse. It has the Alps lining its north, the Pannonian Straights to the east, the Adriatic Sea in the southwest, and the rest of it is packed with rolling hills, mountains, valleys, gorges and endless forests. The place has perfect conditions for a very wide range of outdoor activities and superb for one in particular: mountain biking.
Yes, mountain biking is becoming an increasingly popular sport in Slovenia and is gaining international acclaim fast. Whether you come here with mountain biking in mind or happen to be vacationing and want to hit the trails on the fly, mountain biking tours are your most convenient choice.
Let’s take a look at some of the main MTB areas and the thrills the offer.
Pokljuka – this stunning Alpine plateau is famous for its cross-country skiing competitions and as an excellent base for venturing up the surrounding mountains. Its terrain is most suitable for MTB beginners and experts, as it presents you with speedy downhill options as well as more flat parts that run through picturesque pastures.
A similar landscape can be found in another stunning high mountain plateau called Velika Planina. These MTB runs through forests and wide-open pastures with grazing livestock and autochthonous shepherd’s huts. Wonderful panoramic scenery is a grate companion while zooming down these off-road routes and are suitable for every type of biker. The proximity of Velika PLanina to the capital Ljubljana makes this location very convenient for an active day trip.
Speaking of Ljubljana, if you thought mountain biking in Slovenia is reserved strictly for the countryside, think again. Slovenia’s vibrant capital is surrounded by forested hills and a few are located within the actual city limits. These MTB routes are quite demanding, perfect for thrill-seekers who want to escape the crowds and join them again later for some night-time festivities. Locals know best, so joining an expert guide who knows the nooks and crannies of these hills is your safest bet.
Then there’s Kranjska Gora, the country’s most famous Alpine sports hub. Not only an appealing spot for skiing, camping, rafting and hiking, this town is located in some high-quality mountain biking areas. The Triple Border MTB Trail takes you up to the “three-border” area between Austria, Italy and Slovenia. Passing the spring of the Sava River and the emerald wonder of Zelenci (a nearby hilly and swampy natural wonder), the route has extremely diverse runs which may be physically demanding, but are also exceptionally rewarding in terms of panoramic views of the surroundings and the tranquillity of the land.
Did you know mountain biking can also be done underground? Well, now you do. The Slovenian mountains provide a subterranean MTB adventure. Thanks to its rich mining history, the northern region of Slovenia called Carinthia is as captivating below as it is above. Exploring the underground tunnels that lead through a local mountain is not a demanding but nonetheless a truly fascinating to explore. You can join a guided tour and approach mountain biking from a completely different angle.
These are just some of Slovenia’s amazing MTB runs. Being a popular tourist destination, accommodations are in their plenty in both rural and urban areas. A good network of roads makes travelling around Slovenia easy, so you can opt for a different mountain biking session each day or make your base in one area and explore the hundreds of off-road trails in the surrounding countryside. Whatever your mountain biking preference is, you are sure to find a MTB run suitable for you.