The best cycling holidays in Europe.
Service Rating 4.7 from 898 reviews

Austrian Lakes Single Centre Cycling Holiday

5
(6 reviews)

On this Austrian lakes cycling holiday you will be based right in the heart of the Austrian lake district in the pretty spa town of Bad Goisern. From here you’ll enjoy daily cycle excursions into the beautiful Salzkammergut countryside, discovering picture-perfect Austrian villages and pristine lakes.

This has to be one of the best ways to experience Austria’s beautiful Salzkammergut by bike. No packing up each day, just enjoy 6 nights in a very comfortable hotel right in the centre of the Lake District. Each day your route notes will lead you on a different route, revealing stunning towns and villages on serene alpine lakes.

Flexitreks Cycling HolidayHallstatt

Each day will be different but the scenery will always be stunning and by the end of the 5 rides you will have visited no less than 6 lakes including the famous Lake Wolfgangsee and the stunning Lake Hallstatt

And at the end of each day you’ll relish returning to the lovely Hotel Goiserer Mühle, where you can relax in the spa before enjoying a lovely meal in the stylish restaurant.

You’ll cover around 25 miles per day during your week in Austria and the itineraries are pretty easy going. Much of the way will be flat, alongside lakes and rivers, with just a few smaller climbs to contend with. You’ll mainly be using cycle paths and quiet side roads, with just the odd, short section on busier roads.

Itinerary

You’ll cover around 25 miles per day during your week in Austria and the itineraries are pretty easy going. Much of the way will be flat, alongside lakes and rivers, with just a few smaller climbs to contend with. You’ll mainly be using cycle paths and quiet side roads, with just the odd unavoidable section along roads with more traffic.

Arrive at the 4 star Hotel Goiserer Mühle in Bad Goisern and settle into your room. Here you will enjoy delicious gourmet meals and a wonderful wellness centre.

This 4 star hotel enjoys an idyllic location on the Mühlbach River close to the centre of the village and makes a very comfortable base for a cycling holiday.

Take your bikes on the train to the beautiful lakeside resort of Gmunden. Here you can explore the castle and town hall tower before getting in the saddle and cycling along the River Traun to Lake Ebensee. Continue down the Traun to the old imperial city of Bad Ischl where you can admire the Imperial Park and Villa as well as Empress Sissi’s Teahouse. It’s then just a short ride back to your hotel in Bad Goisern.

Today starts with a bus transfer to the village of Gosau from where you enjoy a scenic ride along a pleasant valley to to Lake Gosausee. Here you’re rewarded with magnificent views of the lake and snow covered peaks of the Dachstein Mountains. You then return along the valley, past Gosau, following a mountain stream as it descends to Lake Hallstättersee. From here you enjoy an easy ride beside the Traun River back to Bad Goisern.

Important: This cycle day can only take place on a Tuesday due to the bus schedules.

Today you’ll start your bike ride straight from your hotel, joining the River Traun to revisit Bad Ischl where you’re invited to stop at the exquisite Cafe Zauner to try a slice of Zaunerstollen (chocolate decadence) with a coffee. From here you can follow the waters of the Ischler Ache to Lake Wolfgangsee and make your way to St Wolfgang on the northern shores of the lake at the foot of the Schafberg. You can ascend the mountain by rack-and-pinion railway for more great views if you like. Time permitting we also recommend a visit to the famous White Horse Inn that enjoys an enviable position right on the lake shore. A short ferry ride (not included) delivers you to the opposite shore and from there the route leads you back to Bad Goisern via the serene hidden tranquility of Lake Nussensee.

You’ll enjoy more wonderful scenery today, heading to Lake Hallstätter See and the picture postcard lakeside town of Hallstatt. Here you can also see the world’s oldest salt mine and venture into the Dachstein ice caves. On the lake, a relaxing boat trip is a must, while the lakeside cycling is as good as it gets, with all today’s attractions just next to the cycle path.

Catch the train to Bad Aussee and enjoy a fabulously scenic ride to Lake Grundlsee and then a further to the idyllic and remote Fischerhütte (angler's hut) on the shore of lake Toplitzsee. You can then opt to return directly to Bad Aussee or take on the slightly longer route that loops up to Lake Altausseer. Either way, at the end of the ride you catch the train back to Bad Goisern.

After breakfast it’s time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.

Bikes

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.

Accommodation

Superior

You will spend 6 nights at the delightful Hotel Goiserer Mühle in Bad Goisern. This good quality hotel enjoys an idyllic location on the Mühlbach River close to the centre of the village and makes a very comfortable base for a cycling holiday.

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

Getting There

Fly to Salzburg airport and then take the public bus or train from Salzburg to Bad Goisern. The bus and train journey will take about 2 hrs. Alternatively, you can fly to Munich and take a train from Munich’s main station to Bad Goisern. The train jouney will take about 4 hrs.

Research flights from the UK here.

Research train times here.

Reviews

Anonymous - August, 08 Aug 2024
Service
5
4th year with Flexitrek. As usual, excellent advice & guidance from Ally & Andy in the office. Very knowledgable & enthusiastic. The single centre trip to Austria was suggested by Ally & did not disappoint. She is already helping us plan the 2025 trip.
Andy - October, 27 Oct 2024
You are very welcome and thank you for taking the time to submit this review.
Service
5
Our 4th year with Flexitrek. As always. Excellent advice and support from Ally & Andy of Flexitrek prior to the holiday Delightful, well positioned, traditional Austrian hotel with helpful staff & good cuisine. Cycle routes, predominantly, on quiet roads or cycle paths although there are some busy roads. Guidance from a very detailed booklet & Ride GPS made navigation straight forward. One route has a very challenging hill to reach the lake but the view is worth the effort. The accent is clearly identified in the route instructions.
Andy - October, 27 Oct 2024
This really is a hidden gem of a tour and thank you for your lovely review.
Anonymous - August, 08 Aug 2023
Service
5
Ally was our point of contact and she was excellent. The holiday was originally booked in 2019 for 2020 but Covid-19 got in the way. We remained in contact with Ally to ensure the holiday went ahead as originally planned
Andy - March, 22 Mar 2024
Many thanks for sticking with us through the pandemic, we really appreciate it!
Service
5
The Hotel was excellent great accommodation and excellent food. The bikes we had hired were as new so in excellent condition. Unfortunately The support from Eurobike was not as good as it should have been.
Andy - March, 22 Mar 2024
Thank you so much for this useful feedback.
Carolyn Cole - August, 08 Aug 2023
Service
5
Very responsive and helpful. Excellent holiday accommodation.
Andy - March, 22 Mar 2024
We're blushing , thanks Carolyn!
Service
5
Brilliant cycling country and good quality hire bikes.
Andy - March, 22 Mar 2024
Hard to beat the Austrian Lakes for scenic cycling - thanks Carolyn.
Linda Steinke - June, 30 Jun 2022
Service
5
Flexitreks has always been very accommodating and helpful. This was my fourth trip through them. I definitely would recommend them and have.
Andy - August, 25 Aug 2022
Lovely to hear and thank you Linda!
Service
5
We loved it! It was an enjoyable trip and the hotel and staff helped make it that way. We did half board, and the food was incredible.
Andy - August, 25 Aug 2022
It's certainly one of the best ways to see the Salzkammergut by bike. Returning to the same lovely hotel each afternoon is a real plus.
Anonymous - September, 19 Sep 2018
Service
5
very helpful throughout, supplied all the information and detailed route discriptions, very good
Andy - February, 04 Feb 2019
Excellent - thank you for your review
Service
4
the bike tour is run by Euro Bike who I have used several times. There organisation is usually good, my only gripe is sometimes they supply you with information in German, But not this time.
Andy - February, 04 Feb 2019
Many thanks, we always ensure we provide our customers with route notes in English.
Anna Trubshaw - December, 10 Dec 2015
Service
5
The staff at Flexitreks were very helpful and friendly. We were attempting to book a holiday last minute and knew what we wanted to do and Flexitreks went out of their way to make it happen - Thanks to all the team!
Ally - December, 10 Dec 2015
Dear Anna, Thank you so much for the great feedback as we really do appreciate this. We are glad you had a good cycling holiday in Austria. I really like your comments that 'the place had character - a little like stepping back in time' as this really does depict the region. If you are thinking of a trip in 2016 feel free to email us on info@flexitreks.com and we will certainly help you choose another wonderful tour. Many thanks again, Ally and the Flexitreks team.
Service
5
Great central location of the hotel - walk into village and for cycling tours. The staff were friendly and helpful. Offered a wide selection on the buffet breakfast and delicious dinner. Rooms were very spacious and comfortable. The place had character - a little like stepping back in time. It was great to have our bikes ready and waiting for us, complete with itinerary and routes and even organised lifts to one destination - so we could cycle back. Each day/route was an adventure - the discovery of beautiful scenery, a stunning Austrian Lake, quaint villages and optional tourist sites. All in all a fabulous holiday - highly recommend it! Flexitreks - we will be back :)