New super useful connector stages for Trans Dinarica route in Slovenia!

Dear everyone, I think this news will be great for all of you who would like to hop on the Trans Dinarica not by plane or train, but in the best possible way – by bike, and for all those for whom the Trans Dinarica is just a part of a longer journey. As partners of the Transdinarica2 project under the Interreg Danube Region program, supported by the European Union, we have connected the Slovenian part of the Trans Dinarica cycle route with the already established Ciclovia Alpe Adria Radweg from Salzburg in Austria to Grado in Italy. In short, this means connecting two wonderful cycling routes, and more broadly connecting the European network of cycling routes, Central with Southeastern Europe and for many world travelers also further towards Asia.

In Slovenia, you will now find six connector stages (green lines on the map):

1. Ljubljana – Postojna (TD-SLO-CON1): this stage has existed before and connects the capital of Slovenia (with a nearby Ljubljana international airport) and Postojna, which lies on the secondary TD route in Slovenia and leads to the world-famous Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.
2. Villach – Bled – Tolmin (TD-SLO-CON2): this stage begins in Villach, which has excellent cycling and rail connections in Austria and wider Europe. The connection is not only practical, but also very picturesque: it leads along the Upper Sava Valley past the Kranjska Gora ski resort, through the beautiful Radovna Valley to Lake Bled and then to Lake Bohinj, and finally through the narrow Bača valley (Baška grapa) to the Soča River Valley, where it joins the Trans Dinarica. A large part of this 161 km long stage runs along well-maintained and safe cycling paths.
3. Villach – Vršič – Tolmin (TD-SLO-CON3): The first part is the same as the second stage from Villach, but in Kranjska gora it turns south and leads over Vršič, the highest road pass in Slovenia, and past the source of the Soča River through the beautiful Trenta Valley. This connection has fewer cycle paths and takes you over busier roads but offers more views of the Julian Alps.
4. Venice – Trieste – Sežana (TD-SLO-CON4): this 241-kilometer connection is useful for three reasons. First, because many people want to visit the world-famous Venice at least once in their lives (checkmark!). Second, because it takes you to two beautiful lagoons, full of diverse flora and fauna. And third, because it also crosses Grado, where the Ciclovia Alpe Adria Radweg ends. Well, Trieste itself is also worth a visit and a stop. It ends in Sežana, the finish of the second stage on the main Trans Dinarica route in Slovenia.
5. Venzone – Tolmin (TD-SLO-CON5): the TD connector stages from Villach (2 and 3) are beautiful, but quite demanding. Many people will find it easier if they stay on the Alpe Adria on the way from Villach, then leave it in Venzone and drive past Cividale del Friuli (IT) and Kobarid (SLO) into the Soča Valley to the start of the Trans Dinarica. Over 103 kilometers, you will have ‘only’ a good 800 meters of ascent, lots of good capuccinos in the first half and views of the Julian Alps in the second half of the route.
6. Trieste Airport-Nova Gorica (TD-SLO-CON6): a short and useful connection from the airport with good connections to the rest of Europe, including quite a few low-cost airlines. The destination is Nova Gorica, so in this case you just skip the first stage of the TD in Slovenia (or you can do the alternative route via Kolovrat and descend back to Nova Gorica through the Soča River Valley).

Comment: The connector stages are always in one piece and you have to adjust them yourself to your daily distance. For regular stages, for example, we looked for a length of approximately 50 km and a 1,000m elevation gain.

So, we’ve done our job, now it’s your turn – to use all these wonderful trails. Have fun out there!