The third bikepacking challenge in the heart of Slovenian Green Karst - Hidden Treasures of the Postojna Cave Area.
Kilometres of macadam roads and cart tracks surrounded by forests, r unning across the mysteriouskarst world, on bear tracks, over the land of intermittent lakes, and between remote castles and mansions.
For fans of self-supported bikepacking in unspoiled nature. A unique multi-day adventure, which will forever remain in your memory; with no time limits, created for cyclists by cyclists.
The Green Karst Trail promises 300 km, 5,000 elevation and is 99% rideable. The recommended bike is either gravel or mtb. E-bikes are welcome.
WHAT IS THE GREEN KARST TRAIL?
It is an unsupported unique multi-day cycling adventure in the beautiful Slovenian countryside. It was created by cyclists for cyclists.
It is not a competition, but a multi-day challenge for all lovers of endurance bikepacking, which was carefully planned and prepared by the BIKE SLOVENIA team.
WHAT DO THE PARTICIPANTS THINK ABOUT GKT
Polona / Beno
"A very interesting route, the navigation is accurate, the suggested sleeping destinations are great, and the communication and support of Nataša and Tomaž... Top... Thank you 😉
We will definitely apply again for the next GKT because it is a once in a lifetime experience."
Domen
"GKT is a unique adventure for all cycling enthusiasts who are not afraid of challenging terrain, through predominantly pristine landscapes of the Inner Carniola-Primorska region. The organization was excellent, and the GPX route recording is accurate with no navigation issues. Accommodation along the route is not a problem; just make sure to reserve a day in advance. Huge compliments to the organizers for selecting a truly fantastic route with breathtaking views in stunning nature. See you again!"
Davor
"Once again, thank you very much for the organization, the wonderful trip and the pictures and video sent.
Everything was very nicely done.
I'm happy to come to the next event and bring a few more friends with me.
All the best and greetings from Prekmurje."
THE BEGINNING AND THE END
The start and finish is in the Postojna city centre (Slovenia) - only 1 km from the famous Postojna Cave.
The start of the GKT 2024 will take place on Thursday 20 June 2024, between 9 and 10 am.
There is no set time to complete the challenge, however, the Bike Slovenia team will wait for each participant that completes the challenge in less than 100 hours, or until 2pm on Monday 24 June 2024.
COURSE OF THE TRAIL
The trail will run through the countryside, in the heart of the Green Karst - Hidden
treasures of Postojna Cave area, across the area of six municipalities in the Primorsko-Notranjska region. It will run on paved dirt tracks and dirt roads (only where necessary on public asphalt roads), 75 % of it will wend themselves through the forests, past karst caves, intermittent lakes, remote castles and mansions.
The natural and cultural sites along the trail will be described on www.bikeslovenia.si.
The route of the GKT will not be marked in nature. Each participant must be equipped with their own GPS navigation device.
Postojna Cave
Predjama Castle
Cerknica Lake
FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION
The choice of location and type of accommodation and/or food is up to each individual.
At approximately the halfway point, all participants will be offered free hot soup at the "Beli Gaber" campsite, which is a Green Karst Trail "Friendly point". We also recommend it as a place for overnight stays.
Camping in the wild is prohibited in Slovenia, as in most European countries, except where permitted (e.g. on private land with the owner's consent, or at an official campsite). A list of recommended accommodation providers (rooms, APP, hostel, campsite) will be published on www.bikeslovenia.si.
GPX / WELCOME PACK
All registered participants who have paid the appropriate entry fee will receive GPX routes of GKT 2024 approximately one week before the official start, or no later than 15 June 2024.
All participants will also receive a welcome pack containing: - a GKT 2024 tag to be attached to their bike and not to be taken off during the entire ride on GKT, - a commemorative T-shirt with the GKT inscription, - a cycling map of the Green Karst region, where GKT will take place, and - interesting gifts from the contributors to GKT 2024.
All participants also receive a tracking device, which they must return at the end.
FINISHER GKT 2024
Every participant who finishes the GKT 2024 in less than 100 hours will receive a commemorative GKT 2024 finisher medal at the finish line and will be entered on the list of GKT 2024 finishers.
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT
Each participant must fill in the registration form. After registration, the participant will receive an e-mail with payment instructions, as well as information and rules of the GKT 2024.
For more information and rules and entry fee click on:
With more than 24 km, Postojna Cave is the largest tourist cave in Europe and one of the most attractive caves in the world. Take a ride on the legendary cave train and admire the magnificent work of nature through caverns, underground passages and grand halls. Meet the famous baby dragons of the world’s largest cave animal – Proteus Anguinus.
PREDJAMA CASTLE
The mighty Predjama castle has been sitting in the middle of 123-metre high rock cliff, for more than 800 years. It even appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest cave castle in the world. It is also part of the legend of the outlaw knight Erasmus of Predjama who sucessfully resisted the siege of the castle for more than a year before being betrayed by one of his servants.
LAKE CERKNICA
Intermittent Lake Cerknica is a natural wonder, which constantly changes its appearance. Every year it appears on the karst plain between the Javornik Hills, the Bloke Plateau and Mount Slivnica. Its surface usually measures 20 km², but if there is a lot of water, it can cover an area of up to 26 km² and become the largest lake in Slovenia.
SNEŽNIK CASTLE
The romantic castle is surrounded by chestnut, oak and lime tree avenues, walking paths and two little artificial lakes. Behind its current renaissance appearance, it hides a rich history, which goes back to the Middle Ages. A stroll through the castle’s four floors conjures up the atmosphere from 150 years ago.
SEASONAL LAKES OF PIVKA
Across the whole Pivka Valley, the valley at the foot of the Javornik Hills, there are as many as 17 picturesque intermittent lakes of varying sizes within an air distance of 15 km. Lake Palčje is the largest, as it is big enough to cover 300 football pitches when full. Lake Petelinje has the longest water retention time, of up to 9 months.
PREM CASTLE
Overlooking the picturesque valley of the River Reka stands one of the oldest castles in Slovenia - Prem Castle. With its impressive architecture and rich history, the castle bears witness to the strategic importance of this area from ancient times until the end of the 19th century.
FORESTS
The massif of Javornik – Snežnik encompasses the South-western part of Slovenia, comprising the northern part of the large Dinaric mountain range. It is a huge, 500 km2 stretch of uninterrupted area of forests and unspoiled nature. It is also one of the biggest serried and uninhabited woodland in the Central Europe, which extends into the Kočevje area and Gorski Kotar in Croatia.
LAKE BLOKE
Lake Bloke is of artificial origin, created by damming a stream around the year 1970. It is situated at an altitude of 748 m, the surface of the lake is 0.8 hectares, and the maximum depth is 3 m. There are extremely interesting wooden sculptures along the lake, which give the lake and its surroundings a homely feel.
MOUNT SLIVNICA
The highest peak of the hill which rises above the northern side of Intermittent Lake Cerknica is Velika Slivnica (Big Mount Slivnica). According to folk lore, this 1114-meter-high hill is home to witches, and from the top, it offers a magical view on Cerknica Plain, the lake, the Menišija plateau, the Javornik Hills and, in the distance, karst plateau Nanos.
BABNO POLJE »the Slovenian Siberia«
Babno Polje is the coldest place in Slovenia, and is commonly referred to as »the Slovenian Siberia«. The absolute lowest temperature is believed to have been -39.6 °C (1929), although official records show an all-time low of -34.5 °C, which was measured in 1956.
