Castles & Vineyards: Cycling in Slovenia
May 14 to 21, 2027
A bike trip through lovely eastern Slovenia
May 14 to 21, 2027
If you enjoy cycling somewhere new, then this trip may be for you. We’ll be based in the historic town of Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia, and we’ll be cycling in eastern-most Slovenia, some 10 miles from Croatia and 50 miles from Hungary.
The area around Ptuj, on the River Drava, is fairly flat. We’ll cycle through farm fields, small towns, and along the river. Beyond this, we’ll ascend some slopes, with the help of our e-Bikes, as we enter wine country and other rolling farmland.
The views are big and beautiful.
In the evenings we’ll stay in the center of Ptuj. Behind our hotel, no more than a block as the crow flies, you’ll find Ptuj Castle, a well-renovated fortress that dates back to the 12th century. The views from there are even better still.
This cycling trip on mountain e-Bikes is designed as a relaxed way to enjoy Slovenia. It is not for those looking to charge down mountainsides. But at the same time, you should be experienced and comfortable on a bicycle and ride often enough that you can be on a bicycle all day for an entire week. You’ll need to keep up with a group. Most of our routes are on dedicated bike paths or on secondary roads with little traffic. Nevertheless, you should be prepared to ride in traffic.
We will of course eat well on this trip and you’ll find interesting things to do while not biking, from castles to explore to wine tasting and museums.
Leslie Jorgensen and Ron Salerno are leading a coordinated artist workshop and cycling tour in Slovenia. The trip dates coincide for pairs where one person wants to bike and one wants to paint. Those who just want to do one or the other are also certainly welcome. (Read more about the painting workshop.)
Bike while your partner paints
We have run artist workshops for quite some time and we’ve come to realize that spouses and partners rarely both paint. So we have taken to scheduling a biking tour back-to-back with the painting tour. This way, the cyclist can bike while her or his partner can paint.
The trips are both on the same dates, we’ll stay at the same hotel, and enjoy our meals together. We’ll very much be together, except during the day when you can each pursue your own passions.
Of course, people who have nothing to do with painting are encouraged to join us to bike. Our experienced biking guides would love to have you along.
Our Slovenia cycling routes
Here is a sample of some of the rides we’ll do in Slovenia:
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• Distance: Flexible (20–100+ km)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Surface: Mostly paved
This route follows the Drava River and forms part of the international Drava Cycling Route. From Ptuj, you can ride towards Maribor or Ormož, or simply enjoy a loop around Lake Ptuj. It is one of the most scenic and least demanding cycling routes in the area.
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• Distance: Approximately 20–30 km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: Around 300–500 m
A pleasant climb through vineyards offering beautiful panoramic views of Ptuj, the Drava Plain, and the Haloze hills. Suitable for both road and gravel cyclists.
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• Distance: Approximately 41 km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: About 430 m
This scenic route leads to Ptujska Gora, one of Slovenia's best-known pilgrimage sites, before continuing past Sestrško Lake and Zeleno Lake. It makes for an enjoyable full-day ride.
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• Distance: 35–50 km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Suitable for: Road and gravel bikes
Ride along quiet country roads through rolling hills, vineyards, and charming villages while enjoying spectacular panoramic views.
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• Distance: 45–60 km
• Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Expect a series of climbs and descents through one of Slovenia's most picturesque wine-growing regions, with plenty of opportunities to stop at local wineries and admire the scenery.
Dates: May 14 to 21, 2027
Location: Ptuj, Slovenia
Cost: $4750 (see below for details)
Cost of bike rental included.
Maximum group size: 12
More:
See below for full trip details and costs
See below for more details about this workshop
Questions about payments, costs, our cancelation policy and more? Consult our Frequently Asked Questions.
Trip Details
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May 14 to 21, 2027 (7 nights - 8 days)
Total cost of the tour: $4750
Supplement for single occupancy: $575
Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $600
(Places in the tour are limited to 12 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!)Payment schedule
$600 deposit is due when you make your reservation.The remainder of the cost will be due in 4 installments on:
October 1, 2026
December 1, 2026
February 1, 2027
April 1, 2027
Each installment payment will be $1038. The cost of a single room is additional and will be due December 1, 2026. You can pay in fewer installments if more convenient for you.
Cancelation Policy:
If you cancel up to 90 days prior to the trip’s start, any payments you’ve already made will be held for you so that it can be applied to a future trip. If you are within 90 days of the trip’s start, we’ll have already incurred substantial costs related to your reservation and so we won’t be able to offer you a credit. Instead, you will need to file a claim through your travel insurance. More information is found in our FAQ.If we need to cancel a trip for another reason, such as a natural disaster at the trip’s destination, the trip will be rescheduled. You will also have the option to apply the payments you’ve made to another trip.
** Receive a $350 credit on your next trip when you bring or refer a friend. Read More.
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Mountain e-Bike rental
Special activities throughout the week
Pick-up and drop-off at designated airport at designated times
7 nights lodging
7 dinners with appropriate amounts of alcohol and breakfasts
4 Lunches
Local transportation by minibus and driver
Tips at our hotels, restaurants and for our drivers
What’s not included:
Airfare & Travel Insurance
3 Lunches
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Where we’ll stay
Hotel Ptuj offers comfortable and stylishly furnished rooms that combine modern comfort with touches of Ptuj’s historical elements. Each room has its own story and unique atmosphere, creating a pleasant and relaxing stay in Slovenia’s oldest town.
The hotel has its own café and a wellness center that offers massages and a sauna and below the hotel you’ll find a wine cellar where wine tastings are available that feature some of the area’s most celebrated vintages.
The hotel lies along a quiet street in the center of Ptuj, less than a block’s walk to the Ptuj Castle. The town’s primary church and plaza are also quite close.
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Dinners will be taken at local restaurants throughout the trip. Breakfasts are included and will be at our hotel. Appropriate amounts of beer or wine are included with dinners. On some days, we may have our main course of the day at lunch, rather than at dinner.
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To extend your trip, and take some time to catch up on your sleep before the tour begins, you may wish to arrive early in Slovenia, Croatia, or elsewhere in Europe.. This also helps protect against flight delays and cancellations.
You can also extend your trip with a longer visit to Europe.
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Yes, you may cancel your trip if you need. Up to 90 days prior to the trip’s start, any payments you’ve already made will be held for you so that it can be applied to a future trip. If you are within 90 days of the trip’s start, we’ll have already incurred substantial costs related to your reservation and so we won’t be able to offer you a credit. Instead, you can file a claim through your travel insurance.
Contact Us as soon as you know you must cancel and going forward, let us know what future trip you’d like to join and we’ll set it up for you.
You will not be responsible for any payments that have not yet been made.
Any credit you have with Travel Fever Tours may be applied to a different person’s account, if you like. Credits are valid for a period of three years.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements.
Note: This trip will involve some walking. Within the towns and elsewhere, there may be cobblestones and other uneven surfaces. Our hotel does have an elevator and the center of town is mostly level.
Your trip leader:
Ron Salerno
Ron grew up in the biking town of Salida, Colorado. When he’s not renovating his circa 1900 gallery building in Salida or building canvases for his artist wife Leslie Jorgensen, Ron enjoys biking and skiing (especially with friends).
His bike adventures have taken him across much of Colorado, and to places like Utah, Iowa, Italy and Austria. Over the last two years, Ron has planned and led informal rides in Austria and Tuscany while joining Leslie as she instructed Travel Fever Tours Art Workshops in those areas.
Ron has competed in the Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike race and leads a team of riders at the annual 18 Hrs of Fruita all-night Mountain bike race. He’s been on many self-supported bike tours including a traverse of Colorado from Nederland to Durango over 7 days and several mountain passes.
Ron brings a a sense of fun and adventure along with a combination of mechanical and technological savvy that make him an ideal ride leader. And his enthusiasm for biking is contagious. Ron has previously led bike tours for Travel Fever Tours in Austria, Italy, and Croatia.
Local guide:
The cyclists will also be accompanied by an experienced, Slovenia guide.
Where We’re Based:
Ptuj, Slovenia
Ptuj (pronounced P-too-ee) is Slovenia’s oldest town, with a rich story that stretches back thousands of years. Over time, it has been shaped by many different cultures, including Roman, Slavic, Austrian, and Yugoslavian.
The town sits along the Drava River, right below the 12th-century Ptuj Castle. Today, the castle has been beautifully restored and holds a fascinating museum. From its hilltop position, you get incredible views of the classic, red-tiled roofs down below.
Beyond the historic center, we will bike through farmland and small towns. The countryside opens up into the rolling hills and vineyards of the Haloze and Slovenske Gorice wine regions, dotted with small chapels and rustic wine cellars.
Reaching Ptuj is straightforward, as it sits just a 90-minute drive from the international airports in both Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Zagreb, Croatia. This location opens many opportunities to extend your trip before or after the workshop.
Is this trip for me?
Ride Level: Intermediate | Bikes: Electric Mountain Bikes
Whether or not you have a connection to the corresponding artist workshop, this trip is for you if you enjoy recreational cycling and appreciate views, villages, and lovely countryside.
We will bike mostly on back roads, both on dirt and asphalt. Mostly asphalt. We will ride Mountain e-Bikes which we will provide you (and which are included in the cost of the trip). While we’ll offer some optional, more difficult, routes for those who are interested, this trip is for bicycle enthusiasts. It is not for thrill seekers or those who wish to swoop down rocky, single-track hillsides.
You should be well familiar with cycling, have a reasonable level of fitness, and be willing to do some training in advance of this trip. You must do enough biking so that you’ll be comfortable being on a bike all day for a week straight.
Where we’ll stay
Hotel Ptuj offers comfortable, stylish rooms that blend modern updates with details from the town’s past. Every room has its own unique character, making it a cozy and relaxing place to stay while exploring Slovenia’s oldest town.
During your stay, you can enjoy the hotel’s cozy café, unwind in the wellness center with a sauna or massage, or head down to the onsite wine cellar for a tasting of local wines.
The hotel is located on a quiet street right in the heart of town. It is just a short walk from Ptuj Castle, as well as the main town square and historic church.
The hotel has a bike storage and charging room.
Click/Tap to enlarge photos
