Emerald River Delight Enjoy exhilarating rides on Matajur and Stol in the Soca Valley

Intro

When you combine two of the best trails in the Soča Valley, the hospitality and luxury of Eco Chalets and gastronomic skills that put Kobarid on the global foodie map, you get a unique mix that we call Emerald River Delight. Although you only spend two days in our company, we assure you that we do everything in our power to make sure you return home with a smile on your face and a head full of unforgettable memories. Simply put, the trails that descend from Matajur and Kobariški Stol are what any true mountainbiker dreams of.

Is the selection of trails suitable for me?

FITNESS LEVEL:

All the climbs have an intermediate degree of difficulty, so we recommend Fitness level 3 , meaning that you are able to cycle uphill for a maximum of 2 hours at a moderate pace. Daily climbing does not exceed a thousand vertical meters and climbs can be divided into several smaller sections as need be.

SKILL LEVEL:

At least an intermediate level of descending skills is required, at times also some more technical skills to negotiate short technical sections. These are, however, only a few details in the big picture and can be used as an incentive to learn new skills or just left for another time. There’s no shame in walking a few tough sections.

FITNESS SKILL Self-assess Tour Grade

Package

Accommodation: Eco Chalet – Kamp Koren
Activities: 2 day’s mountain biking plus Zipline with experienced licensed guides
Optional: 2 day’s mountain biking with experienced licensed guides excluding Zipline – £325 pp
Price includes: 3 nights accommodation, 3 days breakfast and dinner, 2 days lunch, transportation in an air conditioned van with bike roof rack or trailer, sight seeing as desired and information on the surrounding areas, use of workshop for repairs
Price excludes: Flights, Airport transfers, personal expenses, snacks between meals and optional hire of full suspension bike

KEY INFORMATION

Equipment you should bring: Mountain bike (or hire from us) plus biking gear
Number of participants: Minimum 4 persons
Meeting point: Reception – Kamp Koren
Reservation: Booking in advance is required – min 4 weeks notice
Availability: 21st to 24th May, 28th to 31st Aug and 25th to 28th Sept 2015

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Arrival day – check in to your accommodation at Kamp Koren.

Day 2: KOBARISKI STOL / ZIPLINE

On this trip the van saves us the trouble of pedalling up the tarmac road and after a 1.5 hour climb we arrive at the top of Kobariski Stol and are rewarded with a panoramic view of the majestic Julian Alps. We descend as if travelling through history on a century-old, preserved soldier trail from the First World War. Here we enjoy a flowy, seemingly never ending trail that serpentines its way towards the Emerald Soca river. Then we have the pièce de résistance, attaching not only ourselves, but our bikes to the Zipline cable, where we fly over the Ucja Canjon, over the untouched and inaccessible river bed below. Once we guide you safely over two cables, we continue our tour on our last sweet piece of single trail, unique to only those who access it by the Zipline cables completing a memorable riding experience!

Day 3: MATAJUR - THE ‘EPIC’ RIDE

This exhilarating excursion takes us to the front lines of the First World War and offers commanding views to Italy and Slovenia.

A 20-minute van ride takes us 1/3rd way up Mt Matajur to the village of Livek, where we continue the fireroad climb towards the mountain hut on Matajur (1.545 m). Since Matajur is slap bang on the border between Slovenia and Italy, we take the Italian trail down towards San Pietro al Natisone. The descent is 1.400 vertical metres and 12 kilometres of never ending singletrack. In San Pietro al Natisone we stop in the local gelateria for home made ice-cream and a latte macchiato and wait for the van to take us back to Kobarid. On the way back we stop at the Nadiža river and relax our tired limbs in the clear water which can reach as much as 20 degrees in summer.

What’s it like? – Check out the Matadown 2014 (Official Video)

Day 4: DEPARTURE

Depart after breakfast for airport and flight home

FAQ’s

MEETING POINT

We meet at 16.00 at Camp Koren near Kobarid. Transfers from Airports Ljubljana, Klagenfurt, Trieste, Venice and other places in Slovenia are possible but subject to prior arrangement and surcharge. For information please contact tony@activusoutdoors.co.uk

WHAT KIND OF BIKE DO I NEED?

The best bike to have with you for our Emerald River Delight rides is a good all mountain or enduro bike with at least 120 mm of travel. The bike should not weigh more than 16 kilos as the trip includes quite a bit of uphill riding. Hardtails are always an option, provided your knees and back can take the punishment.

SPARE PARTS FOR MY BIKE?

Most bicycle spares and components are available for purchase in bike shop Positive sports in Kobarid. But, to set your mind at ease, we recommend you bring the following set of spares with you:

rear derailleur hanger
one set of brake pads
chain (if your bike chain is older than 6 months)
2 inner tubes (with the appropriate valve)
2 spokes (appropriate lengths for your wheelset)
Shock pump (particularly if you ride a Cannondale:) )

You can also do away with worrying about spares altogether and rent a bike from us.

BIKE RENTAL?

We have a number of Specialized, Trek and GT bikes available for rent. For a full list of bikes, sizes and pricing, contact tony@activusoutdoors.co.uk. Bikes can be reserved upon booking to eliminate any chance of not having a bike ready and waiting for you when you arrive – check out options and prices: 2015rental

WHAT TYPE OF CLOTHING SUITS THE WEATHER IN SLOVENIA?

With the exception of May and October, weather in Slovenia is rather stable and not too cold. Expected temperatures in May and October are between 10 and 25 C and temperatures between June and September are between 15 and 30 C. Packing rain gear is always good as we cannot guarantee the weather.

PACKING LIST

Clothing and accessories:

at least two cycling jerseys with short sleeves and one with long sleeves
padded bike shorts
bike helmet
knee pads (elbow pads optional)
sunglasses
bike gloves
rainproof jacket and pants
warm “civilian” clothing (fleeces, pants …)
swimsuit, towel
sunscreen and insect repellent
personal hygiene set (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo…)

Your riding backpack should carry at least:

2 liters of fluid/day (hydration bladder or plastic bottles)
1 spare inner tube (appropriate valve)
tools
pump

Plus any other stuff you can’t ride without!

WHAT ABOUT FOOD AND MEALS?

All the meals of a full board package (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are included in the package and need not be paid separately. Breakfast and dinner are part of the half-board lodging option at each hotel. Only snacks are packed for the trails as each day includes a stop at a specially selected local restaurant, serving local home made food. The places where we eat are just as important as the trails and have been selected for their friendly atmosphere and range of foods characteristic for the area. We kindly ask our guests to report any special nutrition needs in advance (vegetarians, gluten free …) so we can notify the hotels and restaurants accordingly.

CASH AND EXPENSES

The official currency in Slovenia is the Euro €. Additional costs you may encounter during your stay includes souvenirs, drinks in bars, massage treatments in hotels, etc. Most places allow payments by credit card, but we recommend you visit an ATM machine and pay in cash. Tipping is welcome (if you are satisfied with the service), but not mandatory. The usual tip is around 10% of the bill.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY IN SLOVENIA?

Slovenian Adventure Holidays can take care of any additional activities and adventures you may choose to embark upon, and our office can also help you find lodging and activities with dependable agencies and friends in the neighbouring countries. Email: tony@activusoutdoors.co.uk

Booking Enquiry

Price from: £375

CALL: 017687 75337

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Accommodation: Eco Chalets – Kamp Koren

Camp Koren is the second home for contemporary adventure seekers. It is situated on the left bank of the river Soča, not far from Kobarid, where the emerald green river Soča flows from the narrow gorge, slows down on the beautiful white gravel river bank and meanders through the Soča Valley.

Eco Chalets are beautiful wooden houses on terraces just a few steps from the reception and offer a luxurious stay on two levels with 100 square meters in total size.

A stay in eco chalets is especially comfortable due to the warmth of the wood, which always creates the optimal climate in the rooms, since the wood takes the excess moisture from the air or emits it back when the air in the room is too dry. The wooden walls are coated only with oil and the floor in the rooms is waxed and coated with linseed oil which enables the wood to preserve all its natural power. Around the chalets, there is a garden of flower beds and lawns which can be accessed via stone paths. Holidays in these eco chalets present a wonderful mixture of comfort and a close connection to nature.