A New Cycling Route Creating a Unified Experience of 12 Thermal Providers in Southeastern Slovenia and Austria’s Vulkanland
Lendava, 9 June 2026 – On 9 June 2026, a meeting was held in Lendava bringing together representatives of thermal spas, development institutions, and local providers to discuss the development of a new cross-regional cycling route. The route will connect 12 thermal destinations (six in the Pomurje and Podravje regions and six in Austria’s Vulkanland) into a unified tourism experience.
The new cycling route is being developed within the framework of the Bike & Spa project. Its purpose is to create a recognisable active tourism product that combines thermal spa offerings, local gastronomy, and authentic experiences from individual destinations into a connected tourism story. In Slovenia, the route links Radenci, Moravske Toplice, Terme Lendava, Terme Banovci, Bioterme Mala Nedelja, and Terme Ptuj.
The meeting brought together representatives of all participating thermal spas, small local providers, and development agencies. Together, they proposed sections of the route and expressed their willingness to collaborate in shaping a joint tourism offering that goes beyond local boundaries.
An important part of the meeting was also dedicated to the gastronomic dimension of cycling tourism. Mojca Polak presented an engaging approach to designing healthy meals for cycling visitors, based on local identity and seasonal ingredients. Participants also had the opportunity to taste several dishes, including rye bread with cottage cheese spread, tomatoes from Lušt with pumpkin seed oil, and strawberries or raspberries with mascarpone cream, honey, and vanilla.
Matej Jereb-Sedej, Project Manager at Iskriva Institute, emphasised: “Cycling tourists are not interested in municipal, regional, or national borders; they are looking for experiences, memories, and high-quality services that form part of a connected and coordinated offer.” This message was also strongly highlighted during the workshop in Lendava.
The Bike & Spa project will continue coordinating the route and developing the tourism offer in the coming months. The finalisation of the cycling route is planned for autumn, followed by the launch of promotional activities for the new cycling product.
