Cycle the Emerald Route

Welcome to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s beautiful capital. This charming city has plenty to offer – take a stroll through the old town, visit the impressive castle overlooking the city, and finish the day with a drink by the banks of the Ljubljanica River.

The first cycling day of the week offers an easy ride from the capital through the historic and scenic plains surrounding Ljubljana. The Ljubljansko Barje area was once a large lake that dried up around 6,000 years ago, leaving behind a diverse landscape that today is home to some of Europe’s rarest bird, plant, and insect species.

Along the way, you can see the remains of the world’s tallest railway viaduct, and if the weather permits, a refreshing swim in Lake Karst at Podpeč is recommended. Before reaching Vrhnika, a visit to the Technical Museum of Slovenia in Bistra Castle is well worth a stop – here you can see an impressive collection of Tito’s cars.

41 km  +150 m  -160 m

Today you cycle through a more hilly landscape, over gentle hills and along beautiful forest roads. Today’s ride follows less trafficked roads that take you through the Slovenian countryside. You can start the day with a detour to the historic Predjama Castle, nestled in a crevice halfway up a 123-meter-high cliff that dramatically rises from its surroundings. This was the stronghold of the bold and lively knight Erasmus, and you can learn more about how he managed to hold off an entire army using the castle’s cave tunnels.

43 km, +760 m, -510 m

So far, nearly 30 million tourists have visited this stunningly beautiful underground cave formation in Postojna, carved deep into the heart of the limestone hills. This is the most extensive cave system in Slovenia, covering a total of 21 kilometers. The 1½-hour tour takes you through a fairy-tale world full of large and colorful stalactites and stalagmites, and not to forget the unique “olm,” a mysterious creature that lives in the dark pools inside the caves. In the afternoon, you head to the first vineyards in the Vipava region. The evening and night are spent at a cozy guesthouse in Štanjel.

42 km (48 km including the detour to Predjama Castle), 32 km, +240 m, -630 m

The first stop today is the botanical garden in Sežana. From here, you continue to the Lipica stud farm, where you can see the beautiful Lipizzaner horses. The history of the Lipizzaner horses is closely linked to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, watch them perform, and visit them up close in their stables. This will be a day to remember. If you have time, you can also visit the unusual but very interesting “War Museum” located in the tower in Lokev.

50 km, +630 m, -360 m

If you chose to skip the Postojna caves or found them so fascinating that you want to explore more cave systems, you have the chance today. You can start the day by visiting the Škocjan Caves. This is a smaller cave system but equally exciting to explore. This cave system is listed as a UNESCO natural monument. Today, you can also make a detour to the Italian city of Trieste, which was once an important port. Here you can visit the city’s castle, cathedral, and Piazza Unità, to name just a few of the sights. Muggia, located south of Trieste, is today’s final destination. Once in this charming town, you can enjoy a gelato in the old town or relax on one of the beaches.

38 km, +280 m, -700 m

Today you will cycle along an old railway track with fantastic views of the Slovenian coast. In the morning, you pass the fashionable seaside resort of Portorož, where a lunch stop is recommended. The day’s and the trip’s final destination is the wonderful little Venetian town of Piran.

35 km, +230 m, -240 m

At EverTrek, we hope you’ve had a fantastic journey!

See you again.