Tour de Alps: Self-Launched Alpine Mountain Biking (Bled to Cortina d'Ampezzo)

Fly into Ljubljana (or Venice/Treviso and take a bus), then catch the ~45-minute bus from Ljubljana to Bled (€6–8). Collect your rental MTB in Bled (LIFE-style shops and rental hire shops here charge around €25/day hardtail-ish or ~€45/day full-suspension/e-MTB; book ahead in summer). Roll a relaxed 25–35 km warm-up loop around Lake Bled, up the Sava riverbank and into the Radovna valley toward the edge of Triglav National Park. Evening: download the full GPX route set (Komoot or RideWithGPS) and check hut availability and weather for the next days.

🚌Ljubljana airport bus to Ljubljana + bus to Bled (~£10 total); bike rental arranged locally (~£25–40/day)

🛏Hostel in Bled (dorm, e.g. hostel 1004 or similar) — ~£16–22/night

• →Bike pickup & fit
• →Lake Bled / Sava / Radovna valley warm-up loop
• →Route briefing & GPX download
• →Optional swim at Lake Bled

Ride north through the Julian Alps foothills and into Triglav National Park — expect a long day (60–75 km, 1,200–1,600 m climbing) with rocky tracks. A popular, spirit-lifting shortcut is the Vršič Pass (1,611 m) with its 50 hairpins; if you don't fancy the full climb, take the summer bus option or ride round via Mojstrana and the Sava valley. Refuel at a mountain hut or the village of Gozd Martuljek. Overnight in Kranjska Gora, a busy adventure town with supermarkets and cheap pizzerias.

🚌Ride day; optional summer bus/van shuttle up Vršič Pass (~£8–12)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Kranjska Gora (~£20–28/night, twin/dorm pricing)

• →Triglav National Park riding
• →Vršič Pass (optional lift/shuttle)
• →Karavanke views

Cross the border into Italy toward Tarvisio and climb to Monte Lussari (a pilgrimage church with enormous views) — take the cable car from Camporosso (~€13 return) to save legs if needed, then continue on high tracks toward the Bistrizza pastures. Push/carry sections are normal here. Finish at Rifugio Nordio Deffar (sleeping ~1,350 m) — book via email/phone in advance, mountain huts accept cash and often only have simple dorms and no showers. Dinner at the hut.

🚌Ride day; cable car Camporosso–Monte Lussari (~£10–13)

🛏Rifugio Nordio Deffar mountain hut (half-board ~£40–50/person incl. dinner & breakfast)

• →Monte Lussari & cable car
• →Three-border ridge riding
• →Bistrizza pastures hike-a-bike

The Carnic Alps traverse continues — long ridge tracks, rocky descents and big views over Italy and Austria. Cross into Austria and roll down to Nassfeld, a ski-resort plateau with a summer lift network (bike tickets if you want a lift day, ~€30). Overnight in Nassfeld; there are hotels and apartments, plus a couple of budget-friendly guesthouses in Tropolach/Tröpolach at the valley station.

🚌Ride day; optional Nassfeld lift ticket (~£25–30)

🛏Guesthouse or mountain hotel in Nassfeld/Tropolach (~£25–35/night)

• →Carnic Alps ridge riding
• →Optional Nassfeld lift laps

Head west on the Carnic ridge toward the remote Zollnersee lake and hut (1,750 m). This is the wildest, quietest stretch — limited water, no shops, so carry food and at least 2–3 litres. Navigation matters here: pack a paper map plus the GPX, as signs give optimistic timings. Zollnersee Hütte is very simple (dorm beds, shared toilets, maybe no shower) — book ahead through the hut's site or an alpine huts booking site.

🚌Ride day — fully self-supported; carry food & water

🛏Zollnersee Hütte mountain hut (half-board ~£40–50/person)

• →Zollnersee lake & hut overnight
• →Remote Carnic Alps riding
• →Evening lake swim (if brave)

Drop back into Italy via Passo Pecol — a classic mix of jeep track, rocky singletrack and push sections. Descend through forest to Rigolato, a small village in the Val Degano with a bar, grocery and a handful of simple guesthouses and holiday apartments. Restock, wash clothes and get an early night.

🚌Ride day; occasional local bus down Val Degano if cramping (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse/B&B or apartment in Rigolato (~£25–35/person)

• →Passo Pecol descent
• →Val Degano villages

Enter the Dolomites on alpine pastures and high trails — a big mountain day of around 55–70 km depending on route choice. Ride through Sappada or Comeglians and over into the Cadore valley via mountain huts and forest roads. Auronzo di Cadore is the base for Tre Cime: cheap hotels, supermarkets, and a good bike shop if you need repairs. Evening rest before the finale.

🚌Ride day

🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Auronzo di Cadore (~£30–40/person in a twin)

• →Dolomites alpine pastures
• →Cadore valley descent

The headline day: climb to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (2,320 m tol) — the toll road charges ~€30 for cars, but cyclists ride the toll road free or almost free, so pedal up early to beat the crowds. Loop the Tre Cime circuit on the famous singletrack, then descend through Misurina and over to Cortina d'Ampezzo. Note that the Tre Cime loop's hiking-path sections are officially hiker-only/MTB restrictions in places — ride respectfully and follow local signage. Celebrate in Cortina with a spritz and a proper pizza.

🚌Ride day; optional Dolomiti Bus Misurina–Cortina (~£4) if needed

🛏Hostel or affordable hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo (~£35–50/person)

• →Tre Cime di Lavaredo climb & loop
• →Misurina lake
• →Cortina town

Return rental bike if you hired from a Cortina/Italian partner (many users instead ride back or arrange a transfer). Take the Cortina Express or Cortina Bus to Venice Mestre/Venice airport (~2.5–3 hrs, €20–30), or the train from Dobbiaco/Fortezza for rail connections back to Ljubljana or onward in Italy. Transfer timings change seasonally — check Cortina Express and Trenitalia a day ahead.

🚌Cortina Express / bus to Venice Mestre or airport (~£20–26); rail connections from Fortezza/Dobbiaco

🛏None (departure day)

• →Final coffee in Cortina
• →Bike return & transfer