Slovenia's Heart, Julian Alps Adriatic Coast

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Overview: This tour was led in 2008, 2010 and 2014. Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe on the "sunny side of the Alps". There are 5 2-night stays during the 13 nights of the trip. After two nights in the Old Town of Ljubljana, nestled at the foot of Castle Hill, we ride to the Julian Alps. The Julian Alps include the towns of Bled, Bohinj, Kranjska Gora, Bovec and Kobarid (WWI/Hemingway Museum). Most of the area is within the Triglav National Park which measures 84 thousand hectares and is one of the largest natural parks in Europe. We proceed to the Adriatic coastal towns of Trieste, Piran and Umag before returning to Ljubljana.

RIDE RATING: The ride is rated 2B with an average daily distance of 35 miles and average elevation gain of 2150 feet. There are 5 days with altitude gain that exceeds the rating with 2570, 2660, 2880, 2830 and 2735 feet of climbing over 41, 31, 42, 35 and 44 miles, respectively. Participants must be comfortable using maps with route sheets and following bike path signs.

DESCRIPTION: After spending two nights in Ljubljana we stop for two nights in the charming town of Bled, which is situated on an alpine lake that has a 17th century church on Slovenia's only island. Our next day is a beautiful loop ride to Lake Bohinj. Then on to Kranjska Gora for two nights, including a loop ride into Austria and Italy, and a visit to Triglav National Park. Next we ride into Italy and return to Slovenia via Passo del Predil to Bovec in the Soca Valley and to Kobarid, to see the famous WWI/Hemingway Museum. After two nights in the Soca Valley we stop in a town near Nova Gorica, a young city built after World War II, followed by two nights in the former Slovenian neoclassical city of Trieste, Italy. Trieste is on the Adriatic coast near Maximilian and Carlotta's castle at Belmar. From Trieste we ferry to Muggia, Italy, and then ride down the Adriatic coast to the old seaport of Piran, Slovenia. We spend two nights in Piran, with a loop ride to Umag, Croatia. Finally we head back to Ljubljana spending one night in Postojna, near the Postojna Caves. The day from Piran to Postojna includes a train ride from Koper to Divaca. We will ride on small roads and bike paths. Road surfaces are asphalt or top quality macadam. Participants must be comfortable using maps with route sheets and following bike path signs. Cost estimate is $2450 per person double occupancy for 13 nights including 10 dinners, 13 breakfasts, social hour refreshments, luggage van, maps, route sheets and sightseeing information. Josh Shade will be our van driver.

WEATHER: Expect the unexpected. Temperatures can be either warm and dry or cool and rainy. Temperatures range from highs in the 70s to lows in the 50s. Remember to bring rain gear, just in case. Check your favorite weather site on the web just before your departure for a long range forecast.

LODGING & MEALS: The accommodations on this trip are mostly very nice 4-star hotels, with a few 3-star hotels and some owner-operated hotels. Daily route reviews before our group dinners will include a glass of wine, beer, soft drink, juice or water with a small snack. Drinks at dinner are normally extra. We use your Preferences in your Profile to try and accommodate your special medical and dietary needs. In order to provide you with some meal choices we ask hotels to serve two main dishes to each couple. If you receive one dish and prefer the other, you may trade with others. Very few hotels allow a group to order off the menu and some insist on serving only one main dish. Participants are asked not to wear jeans, shorts or t-shirts to group dinners.

LOGISTICS: The tour begins in Ljubljana at 6pm on August 29, 2019 and ends after breakfast on September 12 in Ljubljana, Slovenia (airport code LJU). The hotel is in the center of town. The best way to get there is by hotel shuttle (9 EUR per person one way).

COSTS & ADMINISTRATION: In addition to the $100 non-refundable  BAC Fee the estimated cost is $2450 per person (at exchange rate of $1.25 per Euro) double occupancy for 13 nights including 10 dinners, 13 breakfasts, social hour refreshments, luggage van, maps, route sheets, bike box storage and sightseeing information. Good quality bike rentals are not available. The initial deposit is $1225 and the second payment, $1225, is due November 1, 2018. Electronic versions of maps and route sheets will be sent, and participants are expected to print their own copies of them. GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS before the trip begins. Depending on currency rate fluctuations, there may be an additional payment a month or so before departure.

SINGLES & SOLOS: Singles are welcome, but encouraged to find compatible roommates and/or riding partners. Ride Directors will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. We do not accept solos, as the number of rooms available are limited.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for a single supplement fee charged by the hotel. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP
To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List. At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1225 by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.