Overview
This cycling adventure will take you from Mozart’s birth city to the stunning Lake Bled situated amid the majesty of the Slovenian Alps. Beginning at the historic city of Salzburg, you will cycle through a splendid landscape laden with rivers meandering through picturesque valleys, stopping at waterfalls and cycling in the shadows of towering mountain peaks. You’ll ride past historic locations and through quaint villages where you can sample great local food, before arriving at the fairy-tale setting of Lake Bled in Slovenia.
The route will take you along cycle paths and quiet country roads, through the magnificent Salzach, Gastein, and Molltal valleys. South of Villach, you’ll enter Italy briefly before turning into Slovenia and continuing through the heart of the Julian Alps and onwards to Lake Bled, with its unique island church and hilltop castle.
- Salzburg, the birth city of Mozart
- Cycling through scenic roads in the Austrian and Slovenian Alps
- Lake Bled
- Lake Bohinj
- The historic town of Škofja Loka
- Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Salzburg
We recommend arriving in Salzburg a day or two in advance to enjoy the city and especially the picturesque Altstadt (old town), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Accommodation: Hotel Post, Villa Cecconi or similar
Day 2: Salzburg – Bischoffshofen/St. Johann In Pongau | 55km
Head off today through the lovely Salzach Valley to the 900-year old Hohenwerfen Castle, perched on a rock 113m high above the market village of Werfen. It’s among Europe’s oldest and most well-preserved castles. Surrounded by the Tennengebirge, Hagengebirge and Hochkönig mountain ranges, this is a sight not to be missed. If time permits, you can take a side trip high above the valley to the glacial caves of Eisriesenwelt. You’ll spend the night at the alpine resort of Bischoffshofen.
- Accommodation: Hotel Tirolerwirt Bischofshoffen or similar
- Cycling distance for the day: 55km, ↑ 460m, ↓ 350m
Day 3: Bischoffshofen/St Johann In Pongau – Mallnitz | 57km
Following a cycle path through the beauty of the Gastien Valley and the stunning Liechtensteinklamm (Liechtenstein Gorge), you’ll stop at the beautiful spa town of Bad Gastien, with a waterfall forming a unique centrepiece to the town. From here you continue through Tauerntunel, emerging at the sunny southern side of the Alps. Train from Boeckstein to Mallnitz not included ( around 10 EUR per person including bicycle)You’ll spend the night in the alpine village of Mallnitz, amid the vivid colours of the Hohe Tauern National Park.
- Accommodation: Hotel Alber or similar
- Cycling distance for the day: 57km, ↑ 900m, ↓ 260m
Day 4: Mallnitz – Mühldorf/Sachsenburg | 30km
Today you will get into the heart of the ancient province of Carinthia, where you’ll glide downhill into the Molltal Valley amid the majesty of 3,000m mountain peaks. The highlight of the day will be the Kreuzeck cable-car running high above the Drau Valley, providing outstanding panoramic views.
- Accommodation: Local family hotel
- Cycling distance for the day: 30km, ↑ 140m, ↓ 770m
Day 5: Mühldorf/Sachsenburg – Villach | 54km
You start with a relatively easy descent today which takes you along the Drau River as it meanders its way through the lakeside town of Spitall an der Drau, and its impressive ancient Roman city of Teurnia. Then on to Villach, the meeting point of the valleys where you’ll leave the alpine climate behind for a more Mediterranean feel. Here you can visit the retro car museum or take a riverboat cruise.
- Accommodation: Palais 24 or similar
- Cycling distance for the day: 54km, ↑ 150m, ↓ 310m
Day 6: Villach – Kranjska Gora | 53km
Pop into the Italian border town of Tarviso for a pizza and cappuccino before following the scenic cycling path which takes you along the old railway line crossing the Italian-Slovenian border and onwards through the emerald beauty of the Sava Valley. The magnificent Dobratsch Mountain will dominate your view as you head on to the resort of Kranjska Gora for the night.
- Accommodation: Hotel Miklic or similar
- Cycling distance for the day: 53km, ↑ 610m, ↓ 290m
Day 7: Kranjska Gora – Bled | 34km
The route then takes you through the beautiful forests of the Krma Valley, past a historic farming museum and onwards to the pearl of Slovenia: Lake Bled. This fairytale setting with its beautiful church sitting on an island in the middle of the lake and guarded by a medieval hilltop castle is the perfect place to shake off those aching muscles. Relax here with a boat ride to the island, or a coffee and Bled’s famous cream cake (kremsnita).
- Accommodation: Triglav Hotel or similar
- Cycling distance for the day: 34km, ↑ 210m, ↓ 630m
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own after breakfast, or extend your adventure holiday in Slovenia (upon request).
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is as listed in the itinerary, in 3-star hotels and guesthouses with en-suite facilities. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Post
- Villa Cecconi
- Hotel Tirolerwirt Bischofshoffen
- Hotel Alber
- Palais 24
- Hotel Miklic
- Triglav Hotel
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide to you exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. In towns, each hotel has its own restaurant where you can taste international or local meals, or try the other local restaurants. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before.
Difficulty and terrain
We grade this trip as easy to moderate, with routes ranging from 45 to 65km per day, mainly on undulating low traffic roads and cycle paths. The routes are not technically difficult, however you should be in a good physical shape in order to fully enjoy the cycling. You can also rent an e-bike with us, which makes the trip accessible to everyone (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
The tour can depart on Sundays, from May until the end of September. No departures between 27.07.2024 – 03.08.2024 and 01.09. 2024 – 06.09.2024 due to local events. Weather is best in July and August, and note that accommodation availability is limited in these months, so better book well in advance.
The climate in the region is continental, cold and temperate. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but, in the May-September period, the daily averages are 15 – 25C. Spring and autumn are cooler with occasional rain. Rapid weather changes are possible during the day.
Last-minute bookings with departure within 21 days available upon request. A supplement of 10% of the tour price will be applicable.
Getting there
You can check FCO up-to-date travel advice here for Austria, and here for Slovenia
Click to view travel options
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnights in 3-star hotels, in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
- Breakfast each morning
- Luggage transfer – one piece, max 23kg (one piece, max 23kg per person, dimensions X+Y+Z ->158cm)
- Information package including text road notes and corresponding maps (sent digitally; printed documents available at extra cost)
- GPS tracks that can be loaded on your device or smartphone application
- Local tourist and other taxes
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Train from Boeckstein to Mallnitz
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Bike rental
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Optional extra nights before or after the tour
- An extra piece of luggage for transfers
- Printed tour materials
- Personal welcome meeting
- Bike rental (standard trekking bike or e-Bike)
Bike Rental
We offer classic trekking bikes as well as e-bikes. All our bikes are well maintained and perfectly suitable for the roads you will cycle on. The rental rates include one back, side pannier per bike. One cycling odometer, one lock, one spare inner tube, one set of Allen keys and a basic puncture repair set per couple/pair of bikes.
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