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GORENJSKA

Enjoying the easy descent on the way back to the start of Route 6

If you were only allowed to visit one part of Slovenia, it would probably be Gorenjska. If you have already visited Slovenia, it was probably Gorenjska. The region is up in the mountains and contains some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in Slovenia. From the fairytale Lake Bled to the mighty Sava River to the ski resort of Kranjska Gora, everywhere you look there’s something to arrest the eye. Apart from Ljubljana, Gorenjska is the most popular destination for tourists to the country; however, unless you’re in Bled on a Saturday in the middle of the season, you’re unlikely to feel crowded out. Relatively speaking, this is still an unknown gem.

The high alpine meadow at Uskavnica (Route 1)

Kranj (pronounced Kran) is the largest city in the region but it still isn’t huge. It has some good options for places to stay and it’s right next to the international airport and the motorway system. It is not, however, very inspiring and you’d be much better off staying in Bled. This town is much more central for the rides in this guide and it is spectacular, clinging to the shore of a thermal lake in the middle of which sits an old monastery on an island. Rising sheer from the shores of the lake is a cliff atop which rests a castle. If that’s not enough to convince you, it’s also home of the famous cake kremna rezina (we’d know it as a vanilla slice).

Accommodation

As the main tourist location in the region, Bled has plenty of options for accommodation. The town has a range of hotels, many of which are owned by the same chain. The best of these is the Grand Hotel Toplice, but if your budget doesn’t quite run to five star, a better option would be Hotel Jelovica, a budget hotel with great lake views and a central location. Around the other side of the lake is Camping Bled, a campsite with very good facilities and a party atmosphere in season.

Further up the Sava valley you’ll find the bigger, more secluded Lake Bohinj. If you don’t mind being a little bit out of the way, there’s a budget hotel and hostel on the shores of the lake called Hostel Pod Voglem, which has a friendly service and bike wash facilities.

Finally, you may want to base yourself in Kranjska Gora right up in the north-west corner where Slovenia meets Italy and Austria. There are plenty of hotel options in the town, including the excellent Hotel Lek. For those on a tighter budget, however, Hostel Barovc is just a short walk out of town and has most things you’d need.

Services

There is a tourist information centre in all of the bigger towns in the area, including Bled, Bohinj, Jesenice, Kranj and Kranjska Gora. They provide excellent information and are a good source for maps as well as very good publications on other tourist attractions.

Most towns in the region will have somewhere to hire bikes, but the best place is, without a doubt, 3glav (pronounced tree-glau) Adventures (www.3glav-adventures.com). Based in Bled, they have the best hire bikes that I’ve come across in the region and they are also a rich source of information about biking and other activities in the area.

Alternatively, you could try Bike Park Kranjska Gora (www.bike-park.si), the base of operations for the downhill courses in the town. They are also able to help with accommodation.

Emergencies

There are good health centres and clinics as well as pharmacies in all of the following towns: Bled, Bohinj, Jesenice, Kranj, Kranjska Gora and Radovljica. Further information can be found at www.slovenian-alps.com/en/info/health-care.