G03 - Mt. Gora Oljka

ALL TOURS      ROAD CYCLING      GRAVEL BIKING      MOUNTAIN BIKING      FAMILY CYCLING      

Gora Oljka and Church of the Holy Cross. Photography: Peter Strouhal, TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Gravel biking among hop fields
Lake Žovnek
Lake Žovnek
Hop Fields
Among hop fields. Photography: Turistično društvo Šempeter, www.td-sempeter.si
Hop Fields
Hop Fields. Photography: Nea Culpa, www.slovenia.info
Towards Polzela
Komenda Castle, Polzela. Photography: TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Komenda Castle, Polzela. Photography: Jan Korošec, TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Gora Oljka and Church of the Holy Cross. Photography: TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Gora Oljka and Church of the Holy Cross. Photography: TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Šenek Manor, Polzela. Photography: TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Šenek Manor, Polzela. Photography: TIC Polzela, www.tic-polzela.si
Roman Necropolis, Šempeter. Photography: Nea Culpa, www.slovenia.info
Hop Fields. Photography: Miran Orožim, www.slovenia.info

Mt. Gora Oljka

Asphalt road first takes us over smaller hills towards Lake Žovnek which is home to many bird species. We follow the road all the way to Spodnje Gorče, to the first section of gravel road which leads us along green hop fields. When we arrive to Parižlje we cross Savinja River for the first time and continue straight towards Polzela, where we turn left and start slowly ascending towards Mt. Gora Oljka. Asphalt road turns into gravel just before the top. At the top which is located at an altitude of 734 m above sea level, near the Church of the Holy Cross, beautiful views of Posavje Hills in the south, Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Savinja Valley in the west, Pohorje and Paški Kozjak in the north and Celje Basin in the east open up in front of us. Mountain hut is located just below the top where you can get some rest or have a snack. When we reach the top we start descending towards Polzela and continue cycling among the hop fields. In Spodnje Grušovlje we cross the highway and follow the road towards Šempeter. In Šempeter we continue cycling past Roman Necropolis towards Savinja River. Once we reach the river bank we follow the river upstream towards Latkova vas where we cross Savinja River for the last time. We cycle past Grajska vas, Ojstriška vas and Pondor settlement all the way to Hotel Grof.

Sights

Itinerary: Hotel Grof - Prekopa - Lake Žovnek - Parižlje - Polzela - Podvin pri Polzeli - Gora Oljka - Polzela - Spodnje Grušovlje - Šempeter - Latkova vas - Grajska vas - Pondor - Hotel Grof
Length: 49 km
Elevation gain: 700 m
Time: 3,5 h
Terrain: Valley and hills
Surface type: 25 km asphalt, 24 km gravel road
Suitable for gravel biking
Difficulty level: Hard
Maximum incline: 13 %

Criteria of the difficulty level of cycling routes

 Criteria for family cycling

Easy

You are a family with small children who can already cycle on their own. You cycle mostly on a plain with short gentle inclines.

Normal

You are a family with young children, who cycle on diverse terrain with small climbs and descents.

 Criteria for road cycling

Easy

You are in a poor shape and cycle up to twice a week. You cycle on slightly diverse terrain with smaller climbs and descents.

Normal

You are in a moderate shape and exercise more than 3x weekly. You cycle on hilly terrain with medium length climbs and descents.

Hard

You are in a good shape and exercise regularly. You cycle on a hilly terrain and can spend multiple hours on a bicycle.

Expert

You are in an excellent shape and spend a lot of time exercising. You cycle on a hilly terrain with steep inclines and descents.

 Criteria for mountain cycling

Easy

You are in a poor shape and cycle up to twice a week. You cycle on slightly diverse terrain with smaller climbs and descents.

Normal

You are in a moderate shape and exercise more than 3x weekly. You cycle on hilly terrain with medium length climbs and descents.

Hard

You are in a good shape and exercise regularly. You cycle on a hilly terrain and can spend multiple hours on a bicycle.

Expert

You are in an excellent shape and spend a lot of time exercising. You cycle on a hilly terrain with steep inclines and descents.

Free cycling maps are available at Hotel Grof and you can also load gpx on you navigation device free of charge at the hotel Reception.