The road route covers 780 km over 12 days and 11 stages, starting in Bratislava and finishing in Košice on paved roads, with 9,200 m of total climbing. The mountain route is the bigger day-to-day effort: 695 km over 14 days and 13 stages, 16,700 m of climbing, following the Carpathians from Bratislava to Košice. Shorter versions of both are offered, 3 to 7 days for the road route and 4 to 8 days for the mountain route, if you cannot take two weeks off.

The Best of Slovakia trip is the shortest full package at 7 days, 240 km and 2,500 m of climbing. It is the one to look at if you want a week of riding rather than a crossing of the country.

Self-guided means you ride at your own pace with support behind the scenes. You get GPS navigation with instructions for using it online or offline, and a comprehensive PDF guide covering what you need for the trip. Bike Slovakia books your accommodation with breakfast along the route and arranges the train to or from Bratislava depending on which route you choose. Insurance, luggage transfers and bike rental are available as extras. If you want a guide, one of the local guides rides with you.

There are also Bike Stays for people with only a few days, or who would rather base themselves in one place. These cover the Bratislava region, medieval Banská Štiavnica, and the alpine landscapes of the High Tatras, with GPS bike trails, tips on where to go, B&B accommodation and return transport to Bratislava. Luggage transfers and bike rental can be added, and rates are quoted on request.

The terrain is the point. The route passes through vast Carpathian forests, open mountain plateaus and scenic ridges, plus authentic countryside and historic towns. Photographs on the site show the Low Tatras crossing, the High Tatras National Park, the Telgárt railway bridge, the Myjava region countryside and Pieniny National Park.

What's included

- GPS navigation for the route, usable online or offline - Comprehensive PDF guide for the trip - B&B accommodation along the route - Breakfast each day - Train transportation to or from Bratislava, depending on the route - A local guide if you book a guided tour

What's not included

- Bike rental (available at extra cost: +240€ road route, +280€ mountain route, +120€ Best of Slovakia) - Insurance (available as an optional extra) - Luggage transfers (available as an optional extra) - Lunches and dinners - Travel to the start point