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A cycling holiday through the heart of Austria’s beautiful lakes region, staying in picture-perfect villages alongside serene alpine lakes ringed by towering peaks. Cycle at your own pace, stopping where and when you like, be it for a swim, to explore further, or simply to sit and admire the view.
Starting from Salzburg, an elegant, attractive city with lots to see and do, you will cycle to some of the best known and most beautiful villages in Austria. Mondsee, Gmunden, Traunkirchen, Halstatt, St Wolfgang and St. Gilgen are all fairytale-like places set amidst breathtaking alpine scenery.
St. Wolfgang
Each day you will cover between 20 and 35 miles, cycling past pristine lakes surrounded by breathtaking alpine scenery. There's plenty of time to stop and explore some of the delightful little towns and villages that you will pass along the way, you'll also find plenty of scenic spots along the lake-shores to sit and admire the view. The stunning beauty of Lake Hallstatt and the sensational views over Lake Wolfgangsee from the top of the Schafberg cog-railway are just some of the delights waiting for you on this hugely enjoyable route. The daily rides are interesting and varied and all feature gorgeous alpine scenery throughout.
Although you are cycling among mountains, the route tends to follow the valley floor and while we can’t say you won’t encounter any hills at all – there won’t be nearly as many as you might think. You’ll be riding on a mixture of cycle paths and quiet lanes with only a few short sections on busier roads. It’s also worth mentioning that e-bikes are a popular option on this highly enjoyable cycling holiday.
Check in to your hotel and then spend the rest of day exploring this small but fascinating city. Your welcome briefing and bike handover will take place around 17:30.
Salzburg must sees include the Getreidegasse, a marvellous, old-world shopping street where ornate, wrought iron signs depict what is being sold within. Here you can also visit the birthplace of the city’s most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the composer lived at No. 9 until he was 17 years old. The city’s most prominent landmark, Hohensalzburg Fortress, is also worth visiting and don’t worry about the climb as there’s a funicular railway to whisk you to the top. Of course the city is also inextricably linked with the ever popular movie “The Sound of Music”, starring Julie Andrews, and tours are offered taking in the sites and landmarks that featured in the film.
Leave Salzburg cycling north along the banks of the Salzach river. After about 10 miles at a bend in the river you come to the small village of Oberndorf, where the Christmas carol, “Silent Night” was originally composed. You can visit the small Silent Night museum as well as nearby Michaelbeuern Abbey before cycling east through open rolling countryside to the Trumer Seen Lakes comprising Lake Obertrum, Lake Mattsee, Lake Grabensee and partly Lake Wallersee. You will stop for the night in this pretty and peaceful region.
Cycle through the peaceful nature reserve surrounding the serene Egelseen Lakes and then on to the picturesque village of Schleedorf. Continue on to idyllic Lake Irrsee and then further to Lake Mondsee. Fans of “The Sound of Music” may recognise the beautiful church in the centre of Mondsee town as it was used for the wedding scene in the film. The scenery is breathtaking with impossibly blue lakes reflecting the limestone peaks, pine clad slopes and lush meadows of the Salzkammergut. Spend the night in the Lake Mondsee area.
For anyone starting their trip in July and August you will cycle 15kms to the lake to to enjoy a boat trip along Lake Attersee to the village of Kammer at the northern end of the lake (the boat departs at approx 10am). For all other seasons you will cycle around the lake to reach Kammer. You then, cycle along the Aurachtal valley to the pretty town of Gmunden, situated on the northern tip of Lake Traunsee. The lake attracts many water-sports enthusiasts who enjoy windsurfing, wake-boarding and sailing here. There are numerous lakeside bathing areas so feel free to stop for a refreshing swim yourself if the mood takes you. Cycle down the lake’s western shore past Altmünster (home to a rather quaint bicycle museum) and on to the picture-perfect village of Traunkirchen. Be sure to visit the village church to see the incredibly detailed Fisherman’s Pulpit which took 10 years to carve.
Load your bike onto the train and enjoy the one hour ride south to Obertraun on the south eastern corner of beautiful Lake Hallstättersee. If you wish you can take the Dachstein cable car to a height of 1350 meters and enjoy the spectacular panoramic view. You may also choose to visit the extraordinary ice caves, which are a short walk further up the hill from the cable car station. Afterwards, cycle round the lake to Hallstatt itself – the idyllic lakeside village has featured on countless travel brochures covers and epitomises the perfect lakes and mountains scene. Finish the day with a pleasant cycle along the lake-shore to Bad Goisern or nearby for the evening.
Cycle to Bad Ischl, a Spa Town which for centuries has attracted many to it’s brine water health treatments. You may wish to visit the sumptuous Kaiservilla, Kaiser Franz Joseph’s summer residence where he signed the declaration of war against Serbia that precipitated World War I. Cycle on along the Ischler Ache River to Lake Wolfgangsee and then along the shore to St Wolfgang itself. Visit the Hotel Weisses Rössl (White Horse Inn) made famous in the musical comedy and maybe ascend nearby Schafberg Mountain on the quaint, puffing, cog railway. Overnight in Lake Wolfgangsee or St Gilgen.
Cycle to the northwestern end of the lake to St Gilgen, where Mozart’s mother was born. The perfect setting of this pretty village can be best appreciated from above and we therefore recommend taking the cable car up the nearby Zwölferhorn for a truly memorable panorama. You then cycle eastwards past the quiet and pristine Hintersee Lake and through the Strubklamm Gorge to the Salzach Valley. We recommend a visit to Hellbrun Palace where there is lots to entertain young and old, before cycling back to Salzburg along the Salzach River. In the evening you can celebrate the week’s achievement with a lovely meal somewhere in the city. Todays route is quite undulating and so we suggest you start early to be able to enjoy the scenery.
After breakfast it is time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.
On this tour you can choose between a regular bike, a regular Plus bike or an electric bike.
Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed models with 21 speeds. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump. Water bottle holders are not provided. Minimum height: 148cm. If you wish to have a male specific bike with crossbar, the minimum height is 165cm.
The regular Plus bike offers a step up in terms of components (hydraulic Magura brakes HS 11, Shimano Deore XT) and the crossbar frame provides a more sporty riding position. High quality, suntour suspension forks ensure a comfortable ride on these bikes. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump. Water bottle holders are not provided. Minimum height: 155cm.
Electric bikes with unisex frame are also available. Minimum height: 148cm
Adult helmets are available to buy at the time of booking the trip. Sizes: XXS-M (52-57 cm) or S-L (56-60cm) only. However, we do always suggest you bring your own.
Below you will find examples of the types of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.
Comfort: Comfortable hotels, inns and guesthouses.
Salzburg: Hotel Ganslhof
Trumer Seen/Wallersee: Post Seekirchen
Attersee/Mondsee: Landhaus Meingast
Traunsee: Hotel Landgasthaus Hocheck
Bad Goisern: Goisererhof
Wolfgangsee: Gasthof Aberseehof
Superior: Good quality hotels and guesthouses.
Salzburg: Zum Hirschen
Trumer Seen/Wallersee: Hotel Walkner
Attersee/Mondsee: Hotel Krone
Traunsee: Post Ebensee
Bad Goisern: Gasthof Moserwirt
Wolfgangsee: Kirchenwirt Strobl
Local taxes
Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night
Fly to Salzburg airport and then take the regular public bus into the city. Alternatively you can also fly to Munich airport followed by a commuter train into the centre and then an intercity train to Salzburg – total journey time approx 2.5 hours.
Research flights from the UK here.
Research train times here.
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