E-Bike tour Northeast Slovenia: Jezersko, Velenje, Ptuj, Gornja Radgona, Murska Sobota, Maribor & Celje
I’ve ridden to Jezersko many times. If you’re avoiding the crowds in July & August, this is a great escape for some great hiking and biking. I have some friends who live here. They gather wild herbs, grow mint and grow raspberries for making syrup and jams. I volunteered to help clean-up the raspberry rows. Doing this kind of work makes you realize how much work growing food is and how lucky we are There’s a super (somewhat new) pizza restaurant too.
Loaded up the new e-bike and headed first to Bohinj Lake, then to Kobarid and Bovec in Soca Valley. I’ve ridden this route several times before and usually stayed just one night at each campground. I’m staying 3-4 nights at each campground and doing some of the activities while I’m there: canyoning, rafting and local bike rides.
In 2011, I wanted to cycle around Paris, but the bike share system wouldn’t accept my credit card. So, I went to a bike shop and the only bike I could rent was an E-bike, ok? I rode and around Paris in 5 hours and was totally sold on E-bikes. Came home and bought an e-bike kit for an old bike. It changed my life, I ditched my car and the E-bike became my first choice transportation option.
By car, you can drive across Slovenia in a couple hours, in either direction. Roughly one hour driving is equivalent to one day of bicycling. The pandemic has complicated the idea of even visiting Slovenia’s border countries. I’ve toured twice around the world by bicycle. I love international travel, but now even exploring my own country of Slovenia is somewhat difficult. Combing the train, buses or Prevoz with your bicycle can give get a jump on your tour. The many villages, campgrounds, nature, museums, restaurants of Slovenia can be explored up close with a bicycle.
THIS IS A RESULT OF USING GOOGLE MAPS “WALKING ROUTE”, THE GOOD PART? NO CARS!
BREZICE It was only 40 km ride to Brezice from Olimje, via the main road. To avoid the busy roads I sometimes use the google maps option for walking. I turned the 40 km’s into a 65 km odyssey. There’s a storm heading my way, so I opt for the Youth Hostel MC. It was so clean, that the Swiss would be jealous. There’s a great little coffee shop & pub on the premises too!
Thanks to Covid 19, exploring our own backyards has become the best & safest option for travel. I’ve explored many parts of Slovenia: Soca Valley, Kranjska Gora, Kranj, Kamnik, Maribor, Ptuj, & more, but never explored eastern Slovenia, by bike.
I was heading to the NE corner of Slovenia using the train. I wanted to bike a part of Slovenia that I’ve never been too. While riding the train to Maribor, I got a message from my accountasnt/advocate that she got me an appointment for my residency this Friday. I contemplated just getting back on the train and heading back to Ljubljana. I still had 3 days to do something?
There wasn’t much traffic, but it seemed 50% of the time there was a sidewalk where you could ride
Thanks to the pandemic, travelling outside Slovenia takes more risk & more work than I’m willing to give. I’ve opted for the staycation, vacationing close to home. So this summer, by using my bike, the bus, train or prevoz (ride sharing), I’m searching out Slovenian’s hidden treasures. If you adopt a combination of these travel methods, then the real adventures begin. Plus your helping protect the planet for current & future generations.
The camping season in Slovenia is getting off to a slow start, so now is a good time to go, before the crowds. I’ve been going to NATURAVANTURA CAMPGROUND for 5 years. From Ljubljana it’s about 60 km bike ride, with a climb over the Kamnik Alps.
The recent record temperatures of Climate Change requires we think about how we travel. Slovenian’s love of bees, nature and abundant water are all at stake. Slovenia’s great public transportation is a great option to help you reduce your carbon footprint. I biked through Slovenia in 2013, while biking from Lisbon to Istanbul. Living in America it’s hard to be Car Free. But Slovenia’s mix of train’s, buses, Prevoz rideshare & a bicycle have enabled me to live here car free. I was watching for some clear weather at the coast and found 3 sunny days the first week of June. The train now goes to Koper and with a bike it’s only 11 euro, cost less than 3 days of just parking your car in Izola.
BIKE PATH KOPER TO IZOLA
I biked the 5 km to Izola and stayed at the Hostel Alieti for about 20 euro, depending on the season. When I travel in the off season, I usually have the room to myself. The hostel has a small kitchen you can use, I’ll make some breakfast, but like going out too. Now your at the beach, the sun is out and you got your bike (you can rent bikes & e-bikes too). The Parenzana trail is a great route to ride to Portoroz and Piran.
In Piran, I usually eat at Ribič Baja, always good and affordable. This time I tried some new places, Fritolin Pri Cantini, comes highly recommended. For Beer? Cakola Caffe Piran has Slovenia’s best, Vega by Maister brewery. There a several quality arts & craft stores, this time I visited Nika’s Tiny House. Besides her tiny houses, she has some unique & original post cards, that she designed.
NIKA OF TINY HOUSE GALLERY
CAFE NEPTUN, A GREAT COFFEE THEN A BEER
I biked to Koper to catch the next train, then I spotted the Ljubljana express bus. I was able to put my bike underneath the bus. Mixing travel modes is exciting and adventurous. Environmental travel is possible, once you learn how to navigate all the options, a car free vacation is something everyone can afford to do.
