Alps to Balkans Coast
Tour dates: August 3rd - August 11th, 2024
Duration: 9 days
Distance: 428 km
Grading: Intermediate
Whats included?
• 8 nights accommodation
• Touring bike hire - fitted with rack, panniers and repair kit.
• Fully guided trip with experienced guide
• Breakfast each day
Overview
Four countries, two of the worlds best cycle paths. This jaw-dropping ride follows the famous Alpe-Adria and Parenzana trails on an unforgattable route through four countries from the Austrian and Italy Alps, to the Slovenian and Croatian coastline. With its magnificent mountain scenery, you'll be awe-struck by the dramatic surrounding landscapes along the purpose-built Alpe-Adria cycle trail in Austria and Italy. Along - which explains why this trail was awarded the European Cycle Path Award of the year in 2015. Watch Video here
The more ruggered and rural Parenzana trail in the Balkans, the scenery is equally magnificent with the sparkling Adriactic and expansive views from the remote hillside villages in the heart of the Istrian Peninsula.
In such mountainous areas, this trip is ironically very forgiving, following the valleys that cut through the mountains. Perfect for the intermediate cyclist who enjoys manageable riding, taking in the surroundings and experiencing the diverse local culture of four different countries.
Commencing the tour, you’ll get to experience Austrian culture at its best at the Villacher Kirchtag; Austria's largest traditional festival. Put simply, it's a authentically Austrian and really truly spectacular! The second half of the tour leads us into Italy and down to the Adriatic Sea to the finish in Pula, riding along abandoned railway lines and trails are arguably some of Europe’s best landscapes. This is truly an unforgettable trip of a lifetime!
Day 1 - Arrival in Villach
Enjoy the amazing scenery and relax by the lake if you wish before it's time to get ready for the most authentic festival that Austria has to offer! Check it out here.
Day 2 - Villach to Pontebba
This part of the route follows the Gail river on the southern side of the Villacher Alpe and includes parts of the Dobratsch Nature Park. After riding up the long a straight road to the Italian border crossing the route reconnects onto the traffic-free Alpe-Adria trail. Past Tarvisio, the mountain scenery is absolutely spectacular!
Day 3 - Pontebba to Gemona
Arguably the most picturesque day’s riding of the tour as it continues to follow the Alpe-Adria cycling path through Dogna and Chuisaforte along the former disused railway line. With mountains either side of you, it’s an opportunity to really soak in your surroundings, with no cars or disturbances on a paved track, cutting through the mountains with breath-taking views. After a stop for lunch at a fantastic trattoria in Tolmezzo, the riding continues along more traffic-free paths all the way to Gemona. The traditional Roman festival in the old town is well worth attending in the evening.
Day 4 - Gemona to Palmanova
The morning starts out riding next to the Tagliamento river on the blissfully quiet strada bianca (white road) that takes you through meadows and woodlands. With the mountains behind us we will stop and take in the beautiful scenery and crystal-clear waters of the river. From here there’s a mixture of cycle paths, gravel tracks, bridleways and quiet roads leading us onto Udine, where we stop for lunch. It’s then a flat 20km on to the hexagonal-shaped town of Palmanova, our destination for the night.
Day 5 - Palmanova to Trieste
Leaving Palmanova we continue towards the coast and stop at Aquileia - once one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire that boasts an impressive cathedral and ancient ruins. From Aquileia the scenery starts to change as we follow a cycle greenway through the Foce dell’Isonzo Nature Reserve, a place of expansive marshlands, forests and indigenous wildlife. Hugging the coast we reach the bustling city of Trieste.
Day 6 - Trieste to Grožnjan
3 coutries in one day? Yes that’s right. Venturing out of Italy and into the Balkans there’s an exciting change in scenery and culture. First we whisk our way through Slovenia, stopping for lunch in the seaside town of Portoroz. Heading over the border and into Croatia, we then start to head inland along the amazing Parenzana trail, allowing us to venture high into mountains on a relatively gradual gradient. The beautiful mountain-top hamlet of Grožnjan with it’s artistic charm and cobblestone streets is our stop for the night.
Day 7 - Grožnjan to Porec
This day is fairly epic! We will be riding high up in the mountains overlooking the Istrian Peninsula. The views are expansive, the villages are quaint and the people are friendly. It’s different to the usual Croatian tourism trail and the Parenzana cycle path makes it all possible with it’s 6 tunnels, 4 viaducts, several bridges and beautiful lookouts. This section from Grožnjan all the way down to Porec is the most attractive part of the Istrian Peninsula along the Parenzana.
Day 8 - Porec to Rovinj
The shortest day of the tour certainly doesn’t disappoint. We hug the coastline for the first half of the day where the sparkling Adriatic really comes to life. After a stop in the seaside town of Vrsar, we navigate our way around Limski Zaljev estuary. Most of the riding is on gravel and you’ll feel the tranquillitiy away from the crowds. For the last section of the day we’ll enjoy a traffic-free ride along the fantastic Kanfanar to Rovinj cycle path. What awaits at the day’s end is aruably the finest seaside town on the Adriatic.
Day 9 - Rovinj to Pula
The final day’s ride is a stunning leisurely one along the sunwasher Croatian coastline. There are plenty of sights along the way including ancient ruins - none more signifcant than Pula’s ancient Roman amphitheatre which is the 6th largest of it’s kind in the world. A great day to top of an unforgettable trip.
| Day | Route | Distance (Km) |
| Day 1 | Villach arrival | 0 |
| Day 2 | Villach - Pontebba | 62 |
| Day 3 | Pontebba - Gemona de Fruili | 71 |
| Day 4 | Gemona de Fruili - Palmanova | 70 |
| Day 5 | Palmanova - Trieste | 68 |
| Day 6 | Trieste - Groznjan | 70 |
| Day 7 | Groznjan - Porec | 68 |
| Day 8 | Porec - Rovinj | 42 |
| Day 9 | Rovinj - Pula | 44 |
| Total | 428 | |
Grading
Moderate/Challenging adventure (4/5). This tour is certainly challenging but you don’t have to be an expert to be able to do it! Day 2 is the most challenging but there is an option to get the train if you are feeling the pinch. Day 1 and Day 6 also have some challenging undulations but the remainder of the ride is relatively forgiving. Regular cycling, gym sessions or other cardiovascular activity is recommended prior to attending this tour.
Logistics
The tour commences at a designated hotel in Villach. Bicycles and panniers will be delivered to the hotel and you will need to pack your belongings into the two panniers provided. This tour is a point to point adventure and your luggage will need to be carried in these panniers for the entire length of the journey. After meeting in the morning for a debrief of the tour, we will head out to the Kirchtag Festival. Day 2 is the day the riding commences. We ride on the spectacular Alpe-Adria cycle trail for the next four days all the way to the Adriatic Sea at Trieste. On Day 5 we enter Slovenia and then Croatia. When arriving in to Pula the tour ends and we will load the bikes into a van which will get taken back to Palmanova, Italy. A shuttle bus may be organised to take people back to Trieste depending on interest (extra charge).
What to bring?
Travel light! Packing appropriately for this trip could make or break your tour. Personal luggage will need to be carried for every day of the 8 days of riding in panniers provided. One of the challenges with this area is whilst the weather is mostly fine and sunny, we are riding through the alpine region of Austria and Italy and the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. Further down south in Slovenia and Croatia it’s extremely unlikely to get unsettled weather. Appropriate riding gear to suit all conditions are imperative items to bring. A full list of items to bring will be provided after you book and we will be on hand to help you chose the right clothing and gear for an enjoyable trip.
What to budget for?
• FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. The closest airports are:
- start point: Villach
- end point: Pula, Rijeka or Trieste
• Other meals are not included - Budget for around 30 euros per day
• Traveller’s Insurance (compulsory)
Prices
Earlybird Single £1,645*
Earlybird Twin £1,345pp*
Full Payment - Single £1,895
Full Payment - Twin £1,595pp
Deposit £750
*Earlybird prices are limited to four spots per tour - Available until June 3rd.
Alpe-Adria Cycle Path - European Cycle Path of the year 2015