Jamnica Trail Park

Many mountain bikers are already familiar with the Soča Valley, but near the Carinthian border, just a stone's throw from Bleiburg, bikers' dreams come true in Slovenia. After just a few kilometres on Slovenian soil, we turn off into a large forest area, through which a gravel path winds its way further and further up the mountain. Here, at the top of one of the many hills, is the Ecohotel Koros: an old farm that has been converted into a well-hidden organic bike paradise. Instead of pigs, there are bikes in the stables. However, fruit and vegetables are still grown in Slovenia's first mountain bike hotel.

Dixi, the father, and Anej, the son, are true mountain bike jacks-of-all-trades. Together they founded the 1st bike park in Slovenia. Anej also runs the Slovenian guide training programme, is active in training at European level and organises the Black Hole Festival, including enduro races and the Enduro World Series stop. He builds trails underground and above ground and manages the family farm, including accommodation, guiding and shuttles.

Equipped with the small map, we head straight to the trail park. The first trails start directly from the farm - naturally laid into the slope with lots of roots, stones and steps, tight bends and open curves. With loose ground, but also soft coniferous soil. Thanks to the map and stringent signposting, the trails are easy to find and can be combined into exciting laps. And best of all: there is even an uphill trail! This means that you don't always have to take the forest track to get back uphill, but can have fun winding your way up a narrow path.

We return to the courtyard, wash our bikes and sit down on the steps in front of the entrance. This staircase is the heart and centre of the ecohotel. This is where

• meet here in the mornings and evenings
• drink coffee or beer together
• Plans are made
• Stories are told
• and new friendships are forged.

This is exactly what a perfect mountain bike holiday feels like - with plenty of team spirit and a focus on the essentials: On biking, the single trails, the lush nature and the people.

The view offers new perspectives. You look directly at the northern side of the Karawanken, or more precisely at the Petzen, where more really long and sometimes challenging trails await. However, it is not only a political border that separates us from the Petzen, but also a geological one. While we are in the low mountain range here with grippy forest and rocky ground, the Karawanken region is characterised by calcareous rock. It is therefore advisable to stay in the trail park, especially in wet conditions, to avoid slipping.

The trails around the Ecohotel were built for the bike community: They cost nothing to use, so people willingly contribute to the donation box in front of the entrance. If you want to find out more about the region, you can explore the trails on the Petzen or go biking underground with Anej. The passionate bike pioneer has built an enduro trail in a disused mine, which is even part of the Slovenian-Austrian stop of the Enduro World Series. So there's plenty more to explore on a biking holiday in the Slovenian Alps. But for this time I'm thinking "why"? Here at the Jamnica trail park in Koroska, I have everything I need: bikes, trails, good food and plenty of like-minded people to ride with and tell stories to.