Northeast Italy/Slovenia Road
September 8-13, 2025
Location: Cormons, Italy
Airport: Venice Marco Polo (Venice, Italy)
Price: $6,395
*We suggest arriving 1-2 days early to avoid travel delays and adjust to the time zone. After you reserve your slot on this trip, we'll email a list of suggested hotels for guests planning to arrive early.
Our favorite destination
The Friuli Region of Italy, just an hour east of Venice, is truly one of the world's best kept secrets for wine, food, culture, and cycling. One of our few road cycling destinations (although plenty of gravel if you’re curious), the town of Cormons is home to over 100 wine makers, and we will do our best to sample all the favorites. From our lodging at La Subida Resort, we’ll ride into Slovenia’s mountains. Our 5 nights together include 3 meals with in-house chef, Zander Ault, as well as dinner at La Subida’s Osteria La Preda, and Trattoria al Cacciatore. Drink Tocai!
Highlights:
Cycling through the Soča River Valley
Wine tasting at the Enoteco di Cormons
Family style meals at the Vinegar House
A Michellin Star experience at La Subida’s Trattoria al Cacciatore
Food
The opportunity to enjoy the food culture of the Friuli region perhaps inspired this trip a little more than the riding, but they pair well together. Due to the region's storied history, you’ll enjoy a diverse offering of polentas, pastas, prosciutto, cheeses, and frico! Yes, frico, a blend of potato and cheese, fried, and so distinctively Friuliano, you won't forget it. Bring your appetite, you will not be disappointed. Our trip includes 3 meals with Chef Zander Ault, one meal at Osteria la Preda, and our final dinner together at Trattoria al Cacciatore.
Accommodations
In Cormons we live Italian, and ride Slovenian; it's a perfect combination. La Subida Resort has everything we need for 5 nights and 6 days, including a small market, casual dining, fine dining, beautiful pool deck, sauna, and relaxing vibes surrounded by vineyards. A wonderful trip for couples who want to ride, or take the day off and chill by the pool.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Shakedown Spin
20 miles, 1,500 feet
Welcome to Italy! We will pick guests up at a pre-arranged meeting point in Cormons, Italy at 2:00PM.
*We will send details on how to get to Cormons for those of you flying into Venice. TCM does not offer a shuttle from Venice, but it’s easy to take a train, taxi, or a private car. The trip is 1 hour & 45 minutes from Venice to our Italian abode at La Subida.
Today is all about settling in and sightseeing your new home away from home. Our mechanic will get your bike built, dialed in, and ready to ride while you unpack and enjoy a light lunch by Chef Z. Then we’ll depart for our afternoon shakedown spin. We’ll pedal in and around a number of towns, letting you get a taste of the area. Afterward, enjoy happy hour as the sun sets over the hills at the Vinegar House, followed by dinner with Chef Z under the stars.
Day 2 - Kobonza Loop
32–55 miles, 2,700–4,400 feet
After a beautiful breakfast at La Subida, we’ll head into the Slovenian countryside for most of the day. We begin pedaling toward the Soca River before our climb to the top of the gorgeous Vrh Brscica (Brscica peak). Lunch will be served in a field of wildflowers on the descent. After the ride, enjoy an open afternoon to explore the town of Cormons, a massage or pool time. We’ll all meet for happy hour at Osteria La Preda, a special little spot located in our lodging at La Subida, and then roll right into dinner.
Day 3 - Triglav Loop
32–75 miles, 2,500–7,000 feet
An unbelievable 27 mile gradual climb skirting the Slovenia/Italian border brings us to the base of Triglav National Park in the stunning town of Volarje for lunch on the turquoise waters of the Soca River. After lunch, we’ll make our way back down on the Italian side of the border as we weave up and down narrow roads with almost no cars in sight. Spend the afternoon relaxing with an optional massage or pool time. For happy hour we’ll be at Enoteca di Cormons, our favorite watering hole with all the best wine in the Cormons area. Dinner is back at the Vinegar House with Chef Z.
Day 4 - Finita Udina
38–54 miles, 1,000–2,000 feet
A gorgeous ride at the base of the mountains today in the countryside, exploring the surrounding areas of Udine, the capital of Friuli. Then it will be a relaxing afternoon with optional massage and pool time. Happy hour will be in the town square and dinner will be by Chef Z.
Day 5 - Lokovek Loop
35–55 miles, 2,000–5,000 feet
Our final big day on the bike takes us deep into Slovenia, up to the little town of Lokovek with the most stunning views of the Julian Alps. We’ll spend the afternoon relaxing with walks to town or optional massage and pool time. Our mechanic will spend that time boxing bikes back up for those departing early the next day. Happy hour will be at the town square. Then we’ll have dinner at La Subida’s Michelin Star restaurant: Trattoria Al Cacciatore.
Day 6 - Departure Day
This is our last morning all together and after a wonderful breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye. Our hard-working crew will shuttle guests to the train station in Cormons, but if you’re not catching a train or are planning to stay a few extra days, we can help with logistics or provide recommendations.
Arrivederci!
What people are saying…
“Northeast Italy with The Cyclists Menu is a dream trip, smooth, small, quiet roads through the vineyards of Friuli and Slovenia in the company of guides who quickly become friends. Remarkably there are so few tourists in this beautiful area of Italy that you feel like a local on the bike. Food and wine above description and unforgettable. Heidi’s route finding skills are impeccable for variety, challenge and pure joy.” – Paige B
“It turns out Friuli’s food culture and history is so rich, and so tasty, we will be going back to this part of the world for the rest of our lives. Heidi and I often discuss whether we could live there full time, and the answer is YES. Sharing this destination with guests is an honor, as the special features we’ve been able to wrap into this trip's itinerary are some of the best we’ve found in our professional careers as guides.” – Zander (founder of TCM)
What’s included
5 nights/6 days accommodations
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Mechanical support (including bike build and breakdown)
Professional cycling guides
Daily support vehicle
Ride nutrition
A gallery of professional photographs of the trip
What’s not included
Airfare
Airport transfers to/from Venice Airport
Bike rentals
Gratuity for guides
Mid-ride café stops
Personal shopping
Massage therapy
Beer and Wine
Ready to have an adventure of a lifetime?
Bike Options
Rent a bike:
We offer high-quality, carbon Bianci road bikes ($400) at our Italy/Slovenia road camp. All you need to do is bring your shoes, pedals, helmet and a bike seat if you’d prefer your own.
Bring your own:
If you have a bike that you love at home, it’s incredibly comforting to bring it and feel at home while you’re traveling with us. We highly recommend getting your bike tuned up at your local shop before your trip to make sure things are as smooth as possible upon your arrival. Our mechanic will build it up, help with any alterations needed and and take good care of you while we adventure together!
Flying with your bike to Europe: It’s easier than it sounds and we highly recommend traveling to Europe with your own bike. If this is something you have never done before, please connect with us and we will be thrilled to walk you through it.