Duration
6 days / 5 nights · 5–10 May 2027
Riding level
Moderate to active
Length
35–80 km/day · 4 main cycling days
Tour type
Self-guided / Guided · Road or gravel
Price
From €1,550 per person
At a glance
- Dates
- 5–10 May 2027
- Duration
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Cycling days
- 4 main rides + optional arrival ride
- Tour format
- Guided or self-guided · Road or gravel
- Overnight bases
- 2 nights Karst · 3 nights Izola
- Self-guided price
- €1,550 pp · shared room · minimum 2 guests
- Guided price
- €2,190 pp · shared room · minimum 6 guests
About This Journey
5–10 May 2027 · 6 days / 5 nights · Guided or self-guided · Road or gravel
Ride from Slovenia’s limestone Karst to the Adriatic and watch two opening stages of the 2027 Giro d’Italia from the roadside. This holiday is available as a road cycling or gravel tour, with routes adapted to your chosen bike and riding experience. Choose a guided small-group departure or a more affordable self-guided holiday with hotels, luggage transfers and navigation arranged for you.
Spend two nights in the Karst and three by the sea in Izola. Explore villages and vineyards, cycle towards the coast, then experience the race on Saturday 8 May and Sunday 9 May. Staying in the same coastal hotel for both race days keeps the weekend focused on cycling and watching the action.
Itinerary
Wednesday 5 May — Welcome to the Karst
Arrive at Ljubljana or Trieste Airport for your pre-arranged transfer to the Karst. Settle into your hotel near Lipica, meet our local representative and get comfortable on your bike. We explain the routes, the coastal stage and race-viewing plans. If your arrival time allows, enjoy an optional easy ride. A welcome dinner is included. Overnight: Karst / Lipica area.
Thursday 6 May — Karst villages and vineyards
Explore the Karst between limestone villages, vineyards and open countryside. The road itinerary heads towards Tomaj and Dutovlje, with a longer option towards Štanjel. There is time for a lunch stop and an optional local tasting before returning to the same hotel. Shorter routes can be arranged. Overnight: Karst / Lipica area.
Friday 7 May — From the Karst to the Adriatic
Leave the plateau behind and ride towards the sea. Our planned road corridor passes through the wider Lokev, Kozina, Socerb and Osp area before reaching the coast. Continue to Izola for the next three nights. Your main luggage travels separately. Overnight: Izola or nearby.
Saturday 8 May — The Giro’s opening stage
Start with a coastal ride before heading to our selected roadside viewing area for the Trieste–Trieste stage, which also visits Slovenia. Hrvatini is our current preferred area, subject to the final race route and access arrangements. Arrive early and enjoy the build-up before the riders pass. Return once roads reopen and officials permit access. Self-guided guests follow the supplied viewing guidance independently. Overnight: Izola or nearby.
Sunday 9 May — Slovenian Istria and the Giro
Enjoy a shorter morning ride before watching the Ljubljana–Koper stage. We select the viewing point in the coastal hinterland or near the final approach to Koper once closure plans are available. Srgaši and Markovec are under consideration. Allow time to wait, watch and return without rushing between viewing points. Self-guided guests manage their timing using our updated notes. Farewell dinner included. Overnight: Izola or nearby.
Monday 10 May — Departure
After breakfast, take your pre-arranged transfer to Ljubljana or Trieste Airport. An extra night by the sea can be arranged on request. This is a departure day, with no scheduled cycling.
Choose how you travel
Guided — €2,190 per person. Cycle with a local guide on all four main riding days. A separate driver and support vehicle handle luggage and provide assistance where road access allows. On race days, your guide manages the timing and leads you to the selected viewing point. Vehicle access may be restricted, so carry your daily essentials and be ready to wait for roads to reopen. Minimum 6 participants, sharing twin/double rooms. The group follows one agreed road or gravel itinerary. Private groups can request a tailored quotation.
Self-guided — €1,550 per person. Travel independently with pre-booked accommodation, a personal arrival briefing, a suitable rental bike, GPS routes, route notes and luggage transfer between the two bases. Before the race weekend, we supply updated viewing recommendations, approach routes, available closure information and return options. You manage your own departure times, navigation and roadside viewing. Local telephone support is included; there is no accompanying riding guide or following support van. Minimum 2 people travelling together and sharing a twin/double room. Solo travellers can request an individual quotation.
Accommodation
Our preferred combination is Hotel Maestoso in Lipica for the first two nights and Hotel Haliaetum in Izola for the final three nights. These hotels are proposed and subject to availability; your hotel names and room arrangements are confirmed in your individual offer before booking. Comparable accommodation may be used.
Travel and riding arrangements
Arrive on Wednesday 5 May and depart on Monday 10 May 2027. Both formats include one pre-arranged arrival transfer and one departure transfer from/to Ljubljana or Trieste Airport. Guided transfers use designated group timings; self-guided transfers are arranged for each booking party. Extra journeys and other airports are quoted separately. Four main cycling days are planned, with an optional short arrival ride. This holiday suits cyclists comfortable riding consecutive days with hills. Self-guided guests should be confident following GPS routes and repairing a puncture.
Distances and climbing in the itinerary are planning estimates. Final routes, viewing locations and daily schedules depend on the published race timetable, road closures, weather and local access. Gravel routes follow the same overnight itinerary and race-viewing concept, with adapted distances and surfaces. We plan one roadside viewing location each day; access to closed roads, reserved spectator areas, VIP hospitality and team access are not included.
Not included
Flights, travel insurance, lunches, three other dinners, drinks, optional tastings and attraction visits, premium bike or e-bike upgrades, and additional transfers outside the agreed arrangements.
Single-room supplement: €450 per person, subject to confirmation and availability. Bring your own suitable bike and deduct €200 from the package price. E-bikes and premium models are quoted on request.
Request your Giro 2027 cycling holiday
Tell us your group size, guided or self-guided preference and whether you prefer road or gravel. We check rooms and bikes and send a written offer with the confirmed inclusions, payment schedule and booking terms. An enquiry does not reserve a place. Email info@slovenia-cycling.com.
Get a taste of the Giro atmosphere
Highlights of the Tour
- Ride Slovenia’s Karst villages and vineyards before reaching the Adriatic.
- Watch two Giro stages from the roadside on 8 and 9 May 2027.
- Two nights in the Karst and three in Izola or nearby, with one hotel change.
- Choose guided or self-guided; road or gravel, with standard bike rental included.
Good to know before the tour
Can I ride this holiday on a gravel bike?
Yes. Choose road or gravel when enquiring. The overnight stops and two race-viewing days remain the same, while routes and distances are adapted. Race-day access includes paved sections in either format.
Will we watch both stages?
The programme plans roadside viewing on 8 and 9 May. Exact viewing spots and timings are set once the detailed race access arrangements are published. We do not promise multiple live viewing points or access to closed roads.
What is different about the self-guided option?
Hotels, standard bike rental, agreed airport transfers, luggage transfer, two dinners, a personal briefing, GPS routes and local telephone support are arranged. You navigate and manage race-day timing independently. No riding guide or following support van is included. Minimum 2 travelling together; solo quoted separately.
Is this an official Giro package?
This is an independently organised Slovenia Bike Tours holiday with public roadside viewing. It does not include official hospitality, reserved spectator areas, team access or affiliation with the race organiser.
Are the hotels and riders confirmed?
The preferred hotels are Maestoso in Lipica and Haliaetum in Izola, or comparable accommodation, subject to availability and confirmed in your offer before booking. Rider participation depends on the official start list; we do not guarantee particular riders.
How do I reserve and what if the route changes?
Send your group size, guided/self-guided preference and road/gravel preference. We check rooms and bikes and issue a written offer with payment schedule and booking terms. An enquiry does not reserve a place. Material route changes are explained before booking; changes to confirmed bookings are handled under the booking terms.
Who is this tour for?
- Cyclists looking for a six-day road or gravel holiday with two days of roadside Giro viewing.
- Riders comfortable with consecutive hilly days; shorter route options available.
- Independent cyclists can choose self-guided; minimum 2 together, with GPS navigation skills and basic puncture repair ability.
Inclusions
- 5 nights in shared twin/double accommodation with daily breakfast; local tourist taxes included in the confirmed offer.
- Standard road or gravel bike and helmet, bike setup and arrival briefing; sizes confirmed in advance.
- One pre-arranged arrival transfer on 5 May and one departure transfer on 10 May from/to Ljubljana or Trieste Airport; agreed timings apply.
- Main luggage transfer from the Karst to the coastal hotel on 7 May.
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner; drinks extra.
- GPS routes, route notes, updated roadside viewing guidance and local telephone support.
- Guided option also includes a riding guide on four main cycling days, support van with separate driver where access permits, and snacks on race days.
Optional Extras
- Single room: proposed supplement €450, subject to availability; solo self-guided travel quoted separately.
- Bring your own suitable bike: deduct €200. E-bike and premium bike upgrades quoted on request.
- Optional tastings, attraction visits, extra nights and additional transfers on request.