Scenic Slovenian Cycling Route: Mojstrana – Rateče
If you’re looking for an active day trip in Slovenia, cycling from Mojstrana to Rateče is a fantastic option. It’s an easy, scenic ride that isn’t too demanding but rewards you with its breathtaking views over the surrounding peaks.
Mojstrana – Rateče Cycling Route
The Mojstrana – Rateče cycling route, marked as D2, follows the path of a former narrow-gauge railway, meaning there are no steep climbs—good news, right? The entire route officially starts in Jesenice and extends all the way to Slovenian-Italian border in Rateče. The total length is approximately 28 km, with an elevation gain of about 250 m. You can of course extend your cycling even further to Italy, as the railway didn’t end at the border nor does the cycling route. It just has a different name further in Italy.
However, the most scenic and interesting section begins in Mojstrana rather than Jesenice. From Mojstrana onward, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Martuljek mountain range and have plenty of opportunities for short detours into nearby valleys.
For example, in Kranjska Gora, you can take a short ride to Lake Jasna, visit the source of the Sava Dolinka River—Zelenci—or explore Tamar Valley, which leads to the Nordic Center in Planica. At the end of your journey, you can climb up to the breathtaking Fusine Lakes in Italy. Some steepper sections are to be expected on side trips from the main cycling route and are not counted in those 300 meters of elevation gain. All those sections are short and should not pose any obstacles for a normally fit cyclist. With side trips or not, this makes for a perfect one-day adventure.
Cycling from Mojstrana to Rateče – Experience of Slovenian Travel Blogging Couple
We (Katarina and Rok) decided to start our ride in Mojstrana, parking our car near the Alpine Museum. After prepping our bikes, we set off toward Kranjska Gora, cycling at a leisurely pace and soaking in the beautiful landscape.
The incline is steady throughout the ride, so we quickly felt our legs working. However, it’s not too challenging, and anyone can manage it. If you’re worried about the difficulty, you can always rent an electric bike in one of the nearby towns.
Lake Jasna
In Kranjska Gora, we took a short detour off the cycling path, heading slightly uphill toward Vršič Pass for about a kilometer. Our destination: Lake Jasna. It’s a beuatiful emeral green lake with good infrastructure (cure restaurants) and stunning views. Of course, we couldn’t resist taking the classic photo with the famous ibex statue there. After enjoying a snack and the peaceful mountain views, we descended back to Kranjska Gora.
Zelenci – The Source of the Sava Dolinka
Back on the main cycling route, we continued further along the D2 route, but not for long. Just outside Kranjska Gora, another stunning landmark sits right next to the path—Zelenci, the source of the Sava Dolinka River.
We parked our bikes and took a short walk to the small, turquoise-green natural basin. Zelenci is one of Slovenia’s most famous natural wonders, and for good reason. If you haven’t been, it’s a must-see. The vibrant green pool, with water bubbling up from chalk deposits, marks the beginning of Slovenia’s longest river. Framed by beautiful mountain views, it’s one of the most picture-perfect spots on the entire route.
Planica and Tamar Valley
Shortly after leaving Zelenci, we reached the turnoff for Planica and once again turned from the main cycling path. Here, the road became a little steeper, and after about 1.5 km, we arrived at the Nordic Center in Planica. This is where every March the finals of the ski jumping world championship take place.
The views of Tamar Valley were absolutely stunning—clear skies, snow-capped peaks, and crisp mountain air. Since we weren’t in a hurry, we decided to continue deeper into Tamar Valley.
The gravel road from Planica to Tamar is about 4 km long, with three a bit steeper sections and some rough patches. But as the views kept getting better, every pedal stroke felt worth it. And then, suddenly, the majestic Jalovec peak (shaped like a diamond) appeared ahead of us—a breathtaking sight that made all the effort worthwhile.
After a short break to admire the scenery and refuel with another snack, we carefully descended back to the main cycling route, rejoining it in Rateče.
The Italian Border
We cycled this section during the COVID-19 border closure, so unfortunately, we couldn’t continue to the Fusine Lakes in Italy. Instead, our final stop was the Slovenian-Italian border. It was a surreal sight—completely closed border. A few months ago we could easily just walk/drive to Italy there without even showing our passports.
An Italian family cycled up from the other side and greeted us with a friendly, “Ciao, Slovenians!” We all stood there for a moment, taking pictures of the unusual scene, waved goodbye, and then cycled back in our respective directions.
Trip Summary
From Mojstrana to Zelenci, our ride took about two hours on regular bikes. The extension to Tamar Valley and then to the Italian border added another two hours. So, in total, our journey took about four hours. The return trip, being mostly downhill and without any side trips, was much faster—just two hours.
Final thoughts? We highly recommend this cycling trip! It’s a truly beautiful ride, and (without the Tamar extension) it’s suitable for all ages and fitness levels. All you need is a bike. 😉
Text and photos: Katarina Korenčan Hočevar and Rok Hočevar
