Former professional cyclist and inGamba guide Sergio Paulinho had never been to Slovenia — until a friend’s glowing recommendation sent him down a rabbit hole. What he found was a country tailor-made for cycling: quiet roads winding past pristine lakes, lush rolling hills, and a hospitality scene that punches well above its size. So he designed a trip. Then he took his family. Then they all fell in love. This fall, inGamba guests get to do the same, join us in September.
Italy may well be the historical heart of inGamba. But there is nothing our guides love more than seeking out new destinations for upcoming trips, as it gives them a unique opportunity to discover new regions that they can then share with our guests.
This year, one of our most exciting new destinations was conceived by former professional rider and long-time inGamba guide, Sergio Paulinho, who fell in love with Slovenia and designed a new trip that will be held this fall.
“I first heard about Slovenia through a friend that works on the Tudor professional team, who I ride with sometimes when we are both home. A couple of years ago he did the Tour of Slovenia, and when he returned he told me that it would be an amazing destination for inGamba. So I started researching it, and it just looked incredible. Then I proposed that we organize a trip there.
In recent years, of course, Slovenia has attracted more and more visitors, thanks to its blend of breathtaking landscapes, beautiful roads, and refined hospitality. Here, an abundance of quiet roads offers ideal opportunities for cyclists through lush hills, across rolling vineyards, and around pristine lakes, while a large selection of boutique hotels provides cyclists with unique post-ride experiences. In short, Paulinho quickly understood that Slovenia was indeed an ideal for inGamba.
“As I designed the trip it just looked more and more incredible, so I took my family there last year while I was planning it,” Paulinho said. “It gave us the chance to visit the country, while I was checking out the roads and hotels. And I can tell you that my whole family fell in love with Slovenia. It’s just a beautiful trip!”
According to Paulinho’s plans, for the first three days, inGamba guests will ride and stay around Lake Bled, a pristine lake surrounded by green forests—not to mention a few castles—before making their way over the lush rolling hills to Grof. The trip then crisscrosses between Krajinski Park and finally Otočec, a special place on the Krka River that feels simply lost in time.
“It’s no wonder this little country has produced so many cyclists in recent year. It’s just great for riding,” Paulinho says. In fact on day three we ride through Tadej Pocacar’s village and on another day we ride not far from Primoz Roglic’s home.”
“Each ride and each destination, is just incredible,” he continues. “We stay in three hotels and each one is special in its own way. The first hotel is a wonderful boutique hotel designed for people who want to truly appreciate nature. There are not even televisions in the rooms, because they want guests to focus on the lake and the nature around them. It’s a special place. The second hotel is an amazing cycling hotel. One of the owners is a huge cycling fan, and it shows. And the final hotel is Otočec Castle Hotel, an incredible medieval castle that dates back to the 13th century. It sits on a small island, and you instantly feel transported back in time. It’s just beautiful—amazing.”
At inGamba, of course, we take our Mangia, Beve, Bici motto seriously, and the dinner table is just as important as the ride. It goes without saying that Sergio also handpicked a selection of restaurants—either at the hotels or nearby—that celebrate the country’s remarkable culinary scene, reflecting Slovenia’s unique position between Italy, Austria, and Hungary. Here, meals bring together a singular blend of Alpine heartiness and Mediterranean freshness, accompanied, of course, by a generous selection of the country’s wines.
“It’s going to be an amazing trip, and I really think it will soon become one of our most popular,” Sergio says. “It’s a bit like Switzerland because the countryside is so lush and green, and everything is clean. You never see trash on the roads here. There is a real respect and appreciation for nature.”
But if Sergio’s advice isn’t enough, you can always ask his kids.
“My kids are completely in love with Slovenia,” Sergio says. “They love the castles, the lakes—everything. And so do I.”
