Compare Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia Cycling Tour by Tourissimo vs Italian Lakes and an Adriatic Voyage by Titan Travel

Day 1: Grado - Aquileia

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Villa Bernt

Terrain: Flat

Ride: 13 mi or 22 km

A private shuttle will take you to our hotel on an island-village on the Adriatic. Grado is Friuli’s lagoon city, a town with 1600 years of history, which can still be experienced by strolling the calli (streets) of the ancient city center. Grado was the first port of entry for ships headed upstream to nearby Aquileia, a powerful Roman city on the river Natisone.

After some lunch and presentations, we ride inland to Aquileia. The colony was founded in 180BC and served as a strategic frontier fortress at the northeast corner of Transpadane (on the far side of the Po river) Italy.

Back at the hotel, you will receive an overview of the tour program followed by dinner.

Day 2: Collio Hills

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: La Subida

Terrain: Rolling

Ride: 30 mi or 48 km

After fine tuning our bikes some more, we ride along the Natisone river and we reach Gorizia for a short visit and some lunch. Once a favorite spot of the Hapsburg nobility, since 1947 Gorizia has been split in two, with Nova Gorica developing on the other side of the Italian–Slovenian border. We are in the dramatic Carso area with its limestone formations, grottoes, and underground rivers. La Subida is a charming country hotel and the hospitality of the Sirk family is legendary. Tonight, we will have dinner at l'Osteria, which is part of the La Subida Estate. La Subida is a place that makes our guests feel at home and relaxed. It's unique.

Day 3: Cividale Loop

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: La Subida

Terrain: Hilly

Ride: 28 mi or 45 km

Today's ride leads us northward to Cividale del Friuli (UNESCO site). We will be pedaling through the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli wine area for about 30 mls of easy and rolling terrain. Cividale del Friuli will be our lunch stop and then we will head back to La Subida from a different road. Before reaching the hotel, we will stop at a local winery for lunch and wine tasting. The family-owned Grillo winery is in the center of the Schioppettino wine production (very rare and hard to find anywhere else in Italy). Relax back at La Subida before dinner.

Day 4: Bovec

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation:  Hotel Alp

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 46 mi or 74 km (shorter option available)

Today's ride takes us out of Friuli, heading northeast to the border of Slovenia. We will notice the landscape changing as we ride through the lowest mountain pass of the Alps, a long, easy smooth climb that takes us to the former border between Italy and Slovenia. Entering Slovenia we will find ourselves in a lush, green landscape with the typical vegetation of a mountain region, with rivers, waterfalls, and forests. Silence and very few cars make this and the next rides heavenly. Our lunch stop is in Caporetto/Kobarid and we have planned a visit to the WWI museum, a small but very complete and interesting house where the people from Caporetto have collected pictures and objects through which they tell the history of WWI as it was lived by the soldiers and civilians in that valley where we bike during our tour. In the afternoon we cruise to Bovec following the Soča river valley. You'll have time to explore Bovec on your own ant to enjoy a cold beer while watching the sunset behind the high mountains that surround the valley where Bovec is nestled. A short walk to the center of Bovec and we will find our dinner table ready at a local Gostilna, a simple, typical ‘trattoria’ style restaurant where we can enjoy our Slovenian meal.

Day 5: Bovec

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Alp

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 23 mi or 37 km

Bovec is known as the adventure capital of Slovenia, and we have a full day here to rest and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities: kayaking, rafting, canoeing, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking and more. Kayaking in the emerald waters of the Soca River while immersed in the landscape of high peaks, forest and waterfalls is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. For those who like hiking there are some interesting trails with historical traces of WWI and WWII just outside of Bovec, with a war cemetery, two old forts and some bunkers and tunnels dating back to the Napoleon era and WWI. A bike ride will also be available if you want to explore the countryside up to the edge of Triglav National Park, in a remote little valley where only sheep and cows are witnesses to our slow-paced ride through paradise. Dinner is on your own.

Day 6: Fusine Lake to Bled

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Astoria Bled

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 37 mi or 59 km

Today we’ll go across the Alps to reach Tarvisio, a town on the border where Italy, Austria and Slovenia meet. A bus will shuttle us and our bikes over a mountain pass and down to the enchanting Fusine lakes where an easy and flat bike path starts. We’ll follow the bike path along the valley, once again immersed in a beautiful forest and with mountains all around us. Past the town of Kranjska Gora we’ll leave the main path and enter a secondary valley, now riding on an unpaved (but smooth) bike path.  This valley, the Radovna Valley, is the most beautiful, magical and enchanting place of the whole tour. Streams, small waterfalls, tall trees, water mills, a few old farmhouses and some cows are what we will see during the almost 10km of riding in this heavenly valley. Once we leave the valley we will be very close to Bled and if time and weather permit we can take a detour to admire the Vintgar Gorge, a canyon carved by the Vintgar River. A boardwalk runs along the gorge and from there we can view waterfalls and rapids.

Bled is our final destination today. We’ll bike along the lakeshore to reach Hotel Astoria in the center of Bled. Dinner will be at a castle overlooking Lake Bled. If time allows it, you can visit the interesting museum inside the Bled Castle. 

Day 7: Ljubljana

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Allegro Garni Hotel

Ride:  None

Today we’ll transfer by private bus (about 1 hr) to Ljubljana. Upon arriving, you will have a guided visit of the town center of this UNESCO-recognized gem. You will have some free time in the afternoon to explore on your own and to do some shopping. We will enjoy our final dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town.

Day 8: Ljubljana

Meals: Breakfast

Terrain: Departure

Ride: None

After breakfast, we’ll provide a transfer to the Ljubljana airport.

Day 1 London - Verona - Lake Garda
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Gatwick Airport and a direct, scheduled British Airways flight to Verona. On arrival we transfer to Lake Garda and the Hotel Savoy Palace (4T), for three nights, staying in lake-view rooms. A light supper is included on arrival.

Day 2 Sirmione
During the Stone Age a small village emerged on the banks of Lake Garda. Rich Romans also appreciated the beauty, the natural springs and defensive qualities of this spot, and created the town which can still, in part, be seen in Sirmione today. Spend time exploring the Grotto of Catullus, a huge three-storey Roman villa still impressive in ruins; and the magnificent Scaligera Fortress, one of the best preserved fortifications in Italy. Return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure, and maybe a stroll along the picturesque shore.

Day 3 Lake Garda
Enjoy a free day on the banks of Lake Garda.

Day 4 Lake Garda - Venice
We make our way to Venice, where we embark Azamara Journey® (5T). The ship remains docked overnight, giving you plenty of time to explore.

Day 5 Venice
Experience Venice, one of the most captivating - and romantic - cities in the world. Tour the city’s cobblestone streets and overarching bridges, or take to the water and explore the canals on a water taxi or gondola. As you make your way through the city, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to shop, sample delicious Veneto wines, or people watch in Piazza San Marco. Our ship sails early evening, so get your camera ready for the views as we leave this beautiful city.

Day 6 Koper, Slovenia
Even with such sights as the historic Old Town, Preaetorian Palace, and the beautiful square of Titov Trg, Koper is also the gateway to an array of intercontinental adventures. Trek through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Skocjan Caves; tour the capital city of Ljubljana, truly one of Europe’s secret gems; or cross the border into the Italian coffee capital of Trieste for a cappuccino.

Day 7 Korcula, Croatia
The isle of Korcula is said to have been founded by a Trojan hero in 12th century BC, but reputed to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. So perhaps visit the Marco Polo Museum and climb the steps of the Marco Polo Tower. Refresh yourself with a glass of grk white wine and local cheeses, then explore the marble streets of medieval Korcula town.

Day 8 Dubrovnik
From the moment you step beyond the stone walls that protect Dubrovnik, you’ll understand what makes it so special. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is adorned with charming squares and centuries-old red-roofed buildings. Walk the walls for a spectacular view of the city, and if anything looks familiar, it’s probably because Dubrovnik is the home of King’s Landing in the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’.

Day 9 Kotor, Montenegro
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kotor is filled with churches, shops, bars, restaurants, and hidden piazzas. The entire city is surrounded by stone, both in the form of imposing Mount Saint John and by towering ancient walls, creating a cosy feeling of protection when you walk the cobblestone streets.

Day 10 Igoumenitsa, Greece
Surrounded by pine-topped hills, beautiful beaches, and crystal blue waters, Igoumenitsa is also a lively city with many shops, cafes, and restaurants. Stroll along the sandy stretches of Drepanos and Makrygiali, or explore the sycamore-lined seaside road and park. Get in touch with the ancient past at the castle of Doliani, located near the settlement of Geroplatanos, which dates back to the Classical period.

Day 11 Katakolon (Olympia)
The quaint seaside town of Katakolon has many charms, but it is also the gateway to Olympia. Located just a 40-minute drive away, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the site of the original Olympic Games, dating back to 776 BC. There are excellent museums like the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games.

Day 12 Nafplio (Mycenae/Corinth)
Prepare to fall in love with Nafplio - known as one of Greece’s most romantic towns, it is home to beautiful Venetian homes and neoclassical mansions, as well as inspiring views of the Argolic Gulf. Explore the 18th century Palamidi fortress with someone special, and spend your evening strolling through the idyllic narrow city streets, hand in hand and making memories to last a lifetime.

Day 13 Piraeus - Athens - London
We disembark and board a coach to visit one of the wonders of Classical Greece, the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis itself. The citadel overlooks the modern-day city of Athens and is home to the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike amongst other great structures. There will be time to purchase lunch in the Plaka area, just below the Acropolis, before transferring to the airport for a direct, scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow Airport. On arrival you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.