Underground Biking Slovenia

Slovenia’s wonderfully diverse landscape offers a wide array of cycling adventures. The country is criss-crossed with fantastic urban and rural cycling paths and mountain biking routes. But what if we told you that cycling doesn’t have to be limited to trails aboveground?

Sure, mountain bikes are meant for the slopes of hilly and forest-covered terrain, but let’s take this sport up a level. Or down, to be precise. Thanks to its rich mining history, the incredibly picturesque region of northern Slovenia called Koroška (Carinthia) is as captivating below as it is above. Once such a place is the subterranean world of Koroška’s beautiful Mount Peca. According to legend, the mountain is home to a slumbering king, who will one day awaken to bring prosperity to the land. Myths aside, the underground realm of Mount Peca is fascinating to explore and to do so on a bike is truly an epic experience.

Our adventure begins at the entrance to an old abandoned mine. A guide will then lead you down 5 km of the mountain’s mysterious underground tunnels which lead to another valley on the other side. Besides cool mountain bikes, you’ll also receive helmets fitted with flashlights. The path runs through secure tunnels with an elevation rise of only about 15 m, which means an easy ride awaits. That said, the mine’s former railway has left plenty of potholes to guarantee a bumpy and exciting experience. All you have to do is hold on, marvel at the underground passages, and enjoy the ride!