Single Trail Heaven Varied singletrack and spectacular trails for intermediate + level

We meet at Ljubljana Brnik airport and transfer you to the capital of Ljubljana, where you will be staying at the Celica hostel for the next two days. The hostel is in downtown Ljubljana, so there’s no lack of options for chilling out after your journey. But take it easy! Next day’s singletrack shows no mercy.

Ljubljana earned its title because two classic local trails begin only a 15 minute easy spin from morning coffee and breakfast in the downtown area. And that’s exactly what is planned. The first day is a singletrack session with an urban twist.  After breakfast we saddle up at the hostel and ride through town towards Katarina, a green peak above Ljubljana. The flowy descent is a nice introduction and a good showcase of the skills we will be needing in the future. After a 400 m climb and 400 m descent, the trail ends in the garden of a local tourist farm. After lunch, we continue towards Rašica, another Ljubljana classic. The hill is easily accessible and offers a number of different descent options, ranging from berms, jumps and drops to flowing singletrack. The choice is yours. After a total of 900 meters of climbing and descending, we hit the cycle paths that take us back to city centre within 15 minutes. Shower, beer, action…

After breakfast at the Celica hostel, we load up the van and drive for about 20 minutes to the start of the climb towards Osolnik, a 900 m peak above the Sorško Polje plains. When we reach the viewpoint by the church after about 500 m of steady climbing, it’s time to decide whether we prefer technical challenges or flowy trails. Either option ends with lunch and after that is conquered, we set our sights on Lubnik, an imposing peak above Škofja Loka.  The trailhead is about a 20 minute easy spin away, just enough to get the legs ready on the riverside cycle path. After about two hours of easy climbing through picturesque villages, we reach the top of Lubnik. The descent is a true gem and the mountain spits us out right onto the medieval centre of Škofja Loka. After just over a thousand meters of climbing and descending, beer and lunch, the rest of the day is spent in transfer from central Slovenia to the Primorska region, nearer the sea. In late afternoon we reach accommodations Hostel Ajdovščina , where continental cuisine gives way to Mediterranean delicacies, wine, cheese, prosciutto…

Nanos is a beautiful 12 kilometre long and 1313 metre high mountain range that separates the continental part of Slovenia from the Mediterranean part. We set off for Nanos immediately after breakfast. The first part of the 1000 m climb takes us up a paved road which at about halfway turns into a rocky fireroad up a grassy ridge towards the summit. The mountain hut at the summit has friendly staff, hot food and drinks.  Descending offers several options, a more technical one with a number of switchbacks or a faster and more flowy option. The selection depends on wishes and weather, but the loamy and rooty trails of the central part of the country are definitely put on hold for a while. Now it’s time for some limestone rock n’ roll. After the descent we recuperate with some excellent local fluid and solid food, do an equipment inspection and select the winner of the coveted “snakebite of the day” award.

In geographic terms, Čaven is Nanos’ cousin. Its peak is a few meters lower, but so is the trailhead. Who- or whatever created Čaven most certainly did it with 160 mm travel enduro bikes in mind. We set off on the climb with an easy pace and after about three hours we reach the top, enjoy the breathless view and embark upon the king of all descents.  The trail warms you up with a gentle flowing rhythm and slowly begins building up difficulty so you only realize you just became the lord of switchbacks once they are all done and dusted. But by then it’s too late as the final third of the descent suddenly switches into maximum flow mode. Have you ever ridden a trail for the first time and felt like you have known it for ever? Well, then Čaven is the story for you. The ride is again followed by a Mediterranean feast that will make it clear that “again” may not always be a bad thing.

Seeing as though you are already in the area, it would be a sin not to visit the Karst cliffs and the Slovenian part of Istria. Tinjan, Pomjan and Korte are the hills that provide the backdrop to the Slovenian coastline. They are not particularly imposing or high, but our local friends took the time to furnish them with some unforgettable man-made singletrack: berms, cute little jumps and clay that provides excellent grip when combined with local bedrock. The day takes us through three fun packed three hundred meter climbs and descents that usually lead to some hiking and replaying favourite trail sections. After a hard day of riding we will attempt to find out if there is any truth to the claim of the region being known as the home of olive oil, truffles and excellent red wine.

On the last day of the trip we set our sights on Kobariški stol which offers some breathtaking views of the Breginj valley and offers a truly remarkable descent towards the Učja river valley. The climb takes us up a well-maintained gravel road up to the Božca pass (approx. 1.3 hours) and we descend down an old military trail from the first World War. After reaching the village of Žaga, we follow the Soča river upstream back towards Bovec. Now all there is left is to dip our aching legs in the ice cold and crystal clear river or pay a visit to the hotel saunas. An then, as is customary for the final evening, a good dinner and drinks at the Black Sheep bar.

The way back to the airport takes us up the Trenta valley and over the highest mountain pass in the country where the Julian Alps are sure to take your breath away again.

Of course, if you wish to extend your stay in the Soča river valley, we will be happy to arrange everything you need (lodging, activities, etc, to make sure your good times continue…