Lonely trails, tiny villages and a real adventure off the beaten track — how about the Trans-Slovenia-Alpine Cross? Slovenia is still a relatively unknown country for many cyclists, even though it's home to some breathtaking landscapes.

Slovenia lies at the southeastern foothills of the Alps between Austria and Croatia. About two million people live in an area about twice the size of Greater London, allowing for a country that is fairly sparsely populated and full of interesting culture and traditions. On both the northern and southern sides of the country, you'll find Alpine mountains, emerald rivers and lakes, wide karst areas with spectacular caves, endless forests, vineyards and a slice of Mediterranean coast — all traversed by a dense network of small roads, paths and trails.

This adventure will take you off the beaten track on old military roads from the First World War over a total of 260 miles (416 kilometers). And every day will be eventful: You can expect stunning landscapes and fantastic, lonely trails. From Villach in Austria, you'll cross the Karawanken Mountains to Slovenia and the ski resort of Kranjska Gora. Then, you'll ride through the distinctive Julian Alps and the Triglav National Park, past the highest mountain in the country, the Triglav at almost 10,000 feet (2864 meters). You and your bike will then ride through the romantic säumen valley to Kobarid and Tolmin, where ruins and positions from the mountain battles of the First World War still line the paths today. In the final third section, you'll ride through wine regions in the Vipava valley and into the unique karst region around Postojna. As a reward for all your efforts, you will travel to the sunny Piran on the Adriatic coast.

Best travel time
The location on the southern edge of the Alps and the proximity to the Adriatic Sea determine the climate in the west of the country. In the north, the climate is very Alpine whereas it's wonderfully Mediterranean in the south. The pass is usually closed from the end of October and snow-free from the end of May. In the regions close to the coast, you can sometimes bike all year round. Therefore, the months of June, September and October are recommended for this ride as it can get very hot in July and August, especially towards the coast.

Requirements
For this Alpine crossing, you'll need to be in peak physical condition and be able to cycle up 55 miles (85 kilometers) per day, conquering elevations of up to 7,200 feet (2,200 meters). Many of the singletracks will also prove highly demanding, with many stretches over tracks with an S2 rating and the odd run down tracks up to S4. Occasionally you should expect to have to dismount and to either push or carry your bike.

Equipment
In order to master and enjoy the descents, we recommend taking an all-mountain bike with a leaf spring of at least 120 mm. The Tour is not suitable for e-mountain bikes. We do not recommend you attempt this Tour on an e-mountain bikes. Some sections will require you to push or carry your bike and the trail becomes incredibly narrow and steep. Moreover, depending on the exact route you follow, you may have to ride across stone fields and/or blocked routes.