When: Anytime

Length of visit: Any, though a ten-day itinerary is suggested

Number of guests: 1 or more

Fee:   250 - 300 € per day, and 500 € deposit for bike and equipement. Also if you want to join a guided tour with 15-20 others, starting each Monday in May through September, then just 200 €. Included in fee is:

• 8 nights on half board basis, accomodation in private boarding houses
• Packed lunches on the way
• Tour guide
• Museum and caves fee
• Pannier bags, water bottle, lock, repair kit
• Route information
• 21-speed bicycle. On request a child's saddle may be installed on the back (you are free to bring your own bicycle).
• Canoes, rafts and equipment

We can also work up a deal where guests go on customizable non guided tours, cycling through areas such as the Sneznik Forest. A mobile phone and GPS device will be provided, and at the end of the day, if necesarry, you can call and report your location, so we will come to pick you up.

LOGISTICS:
Tour starts and ends in Ljubljana.  If you arrive the day the tour starts, we will meet you at the train station or airport and arrange a transportation to Osilnica, begining of Kolpa Kanyon. If you choose to arrive in Ljubljana early, we can make hotel arrangements for you and meet you at the hotel on the day the tour starts. Many guests do this to get over jet lag before the trip. At the tour's end in Bohinj, we will arange transportation back to Ljubljana. We can also make hotel arrangements for you to stay in Bohinj, after the tour finishes.

ABOUT THIS ITINERARY:
This ten day trip takes you past the many beauties of western Slovenia lying between the mysterious Karst and magnificent mountains of Julian Alps. A canoeing trip to Kolpa Canyon, exciting cave exploring and rafting experience on Soca River. The tour is easy riding mostly on bike paths. You will experience the culture of the land as you encounter historic places as castles and monasteries.

A PROPOSED 10-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 - Canoeing on Kolpa River.
The Kolpa has created several gorges, which are more than 200 meters deep in its upper course, and the rapids near the village of Osilnica attract canoeists from all corners of the world. Boating, fishing, swimming and camping are the predominant forms of recreation in this spectacular valley. We will visit this spectacular valey in the only possibile way - in the canoes!

Day 2 - Back to Osilnica.
We will bike back on the  top of the canyon to Osilnica experiencing area from different perspective. The characteristics of this day are the small remote villages and the spectacular view of Kolpa canyon. (64 km, moderately easy)

Day 3 - Remote and wild forests.
Today you will cycle through one of the most remote area in Europe, where Bear, Wolf and Lynx still naturally inhabited old grown forest. It is highly unlike that we will encounter  these animals, as they are very shy. Before ascending to the remote Sneznik forest we will visit Sneznik Castle, the important municipality center in period from the 16th - 19th century, and stay overnight in Masun, old forest post from the middle of 19 century. (56km moderate).

Day 4 - Caves canyon and flooding lake.
Between the Cerknica and Planina plain flows the karstic river Ljubljanica under the surface. We will visit the flooding lake near Cerknica, the canyon Rakov Skocian and Planina cave, where excursion to the cave is possible only with small inflatable boats. (43 km easy)

Day 5 - Signs of past.
We will visit Bistra, old monastery, now arranged as a museum. From Bistra we will turn west, to the interesting castle build in the front of the cave called Predjama castle. (50 km moderately easy)

Day 6 - More than "just another cave".
Todey we wil descend from the high karst plato to low land karst, where water formed the cave of exceptional beauty. Because of their extraordinary significance for the world's natural heritage, in 1986 the Skocjan caves were included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. (53 km easy)

Day 7 - In the Prealps
Today we will cross Idrija Fault, which separates Slovenia’s sub alpine region from the porous Karst. The surroundings are a geologist’s playground; the land is a study in soil erosion, with plenty of roadside gorges.  (65 km moderate)

Day 8 - Entering Julian Alps
Kobarid and countryside are rich with natural and historic sights. Beautiful mountain peaks, Soca River and waterfalls in   wild gorges... Kobarid is famous by the one of the biggest alpine battle in the I. World War (known as a Carporetto). About 600.000 men were mobilized on the 24 October 1917 in this area. Many traces from the I. World War are still noticeable. (65 km moderate)

Day 9 - Rafting on Soca.
The untamed Soca River is one of the five most unspoilt rivers in the entire Alps, and is thought to be especially beautiful as it winds its way through Triglav National Park. We will explore Soca valley on rafts. Soca rafring can be devided in two parts: easy part, suitable for everyone and saction where adrenalin rush as fast as Soca rapids. (30 km easy)

Day 10 - In the hart of the Alps
This will be most demanding cycling day. We will cross 1897 m high mountain pass and descend to the north side of Julian alps, to the area of Bled. The images of Bled with the castle, the lake and the island in the middle of the lake, are sights by which Bled is known to nearly the entire world. Few kilometers further lies Bohinj, the end of our journey. (55 km challenging, transportation over the 12 km uphill section can be arranged)