Workshop for Cycling Guides: Co-Creating Summer Tours in the Idrija Geopark

date: 13.05.2025

category: Current news

At the end of April, the Idrija Geopark Visitor Centre hosted a workshop for mountain biking guides, where we joined forces with participants to explore ideas for a summer programme of guided cycling tours through the Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park.

The workshop was organized by the Idrija Tourism Board as part of the Danube GeoTour Plus project, through which we acquired six electric bikes. Since Idrija does not yet have a fully developed cycling tourism system with guided tours, our aim is to lay the foundations for sustainable tourism in cooperation with local guides.

A key goal of the cycling tours is to reduce motorized traffic pressure in the Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park during the summer months, offering visitors an environmentally friendly and active alternative to discovering the area.

We were pleased to welcome Dušan Štrucl – Dixi, one of Slovenia’s most experienced cycling tour providers and the founder of Bikenomad, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. He shared examples of good practices, tourism trends, and emphasized the importance of linking cycling with local identity and heritage.

Together, we reviewed ideas for guided tours planned for this season. The participants proposed a tour route that will highlight the natural and cultural attractions of the Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park. The Idrija Tourism Board will provide full organizational support, including bike rental logistics, maintenance, promotion, and tour registrations.

In the open discussion, we also addressed practical topics—such as safety, insurance, and maintenance of e-bikes—as well as how to communicate with guests and lead tours in foreign languages. We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm and interest shown by the guides to actively take part in upcoming activities.