Slo(w)venia - a family bikepacking adventure | Log

Earlier this year, Albion ambassadors Manu Cattrysse and Katrien De Smet loaded up their cargo bikes and set off with their children for ten days of family adventure in the dramatic landscapes of the Julian Alps.

Words by Katrien De Smet, photos by Manu Cattrysse.

Eager to spend time in nature with our kids Aske (8 y.o.) and Wietse (7 y.o.) we pack our Omnium Cargo bikes and travel from Belgium to Slovenia by car. After spending our last Summer holiday in Scotland, we were looking for a slightly more sunny destination and moderate to warm temperatures. We love wild places and mountains, but we also have to consider the difficulty of the terrain and the amount of elevation gain, although that is not something that we are particularly good at. We found the West Loop in Slovenia on bikepacking.com, a 400 km route with 9000 m of elevation gain, 75% off road. That sounds like a proper cargo bike family adventure.

Although the terrain was rather easy going, the steepness of the climbs was quite challenging with our 60 kg bikes. The West Loop contains a couple of climbs with 1000 m of elevation gain over 10 km, with regularly parts with a 15% gradient and more. Aske and Wietse did their fair share of climbing, sometimes with some help from the Kids Ride Shotgun Tow Rope, alternated with rest, and listening to Harry Potter audio books on the cargo bike. A versatile set-up is the key to success when travelling with young children.

Loads of variety is also what you get from the landscapes on the West Loop. We started the trip in Kransjka Gora, the gateway to Triglav National Park, for us the highlight of the region, with wild landscapes and rugged peaks. The route than takes us through the spectacular, but rather busy Soča valley, a paradise for river adventures.

As we near the Italian border, the landscape begins to shift, revealing typical hilltop villages lined with Cypress trees. We ride through sun-drenched vineyards, tackling the short but punchy climbs that characterize wine country. After a couple of rainy days with heavy thunderstorms, it is getting really hot now. We are either wet from downpours, or wet from sweating.

We hit a flatter section before rolling into Ljubljana on a well shielded bike path that seems to run all the way around the city. We’re tempted to hang around a bit longer, but we are running out of time and are determined to finish the loop.

After Ljubljana there’s a very nice section with loads of fun trails in the woods. The weather turns, and we are pushing our bikes up 20% muddy slopes. Although this might not exactly be the typical idea of a family holiday, these bits of a trip do make the best memories.

We arrive in Bled, probably the most touristy place in Slovenia. We must admit, the church in the middle of the lake and mountains in the background is truly beautiful. Tip: take a swim in the lake at sunset, most people are in a restaurant or at their hotel and chances are big you’ll have the place for yourself.

As we enter the final stretch, the route leads us back into Triglav National Park. Though it’s only been ten days since we last rode through these mountains, their beauty takes us by surprise once again. The jagged peaks, peaceful valleys, and strikingly blue rivers are like nothing else.

Although wild camping is officially not allowed in Slovenia, we were able to find some really nice spots along rivers or in the woods. Access to water and food was never an issue. The longest stretch without supplies was around 70 km and there’s fountains and water sources everywhere. And although lots of Slovenians on the country side don’t speak a lot of English, the people are very kind and helpful.

Slovenia is really beautiful and versatile country with a rich history, good cuisine, abundant nature and kind people. It’s got everything you need for a perfect summer holiday, with or without kids.

Slovenia is a remarkably beautiful and diverse country, rich in history, abundant in nature and with delicious food, and warm, welcoming people. Whether you're exploring it with kids or without, it offers everything you could want for an summer bikepacking holiday. It’s the kind of place that stays with you, long after the ride is over.