Overview
Explore on wheels the beauty of Austria’s Lake District, or Salzkammergut, and the Trumer Seen lake area, where dramatic mountains plunge into sparkling blue glacial lakes, creating fjord-like landscapes. Start this unique cycling experience in Salzburg, the city of Mozart, in the shadow of the Dachstein Summit (2,995m). Bike through meadows and moorlands to Oberndorf – the birthplace of the Christmas carol Silent Night and visit the old imperial town of Bad Ischl. Get nostalgic in Mondsee church, where Captain Von Trapp and Maria got married in the film Sound of Music. Learn more about the Hallstätter See and the oldest salt mine in the world, which has been producing salt for 7,000 years. Wander around town markets and enjoy some delicious staples, such as fish soup, deep-fried chicken, sausages, pretzels, and, of course, the epitome of Austrian cuisine – Wiener schnitzel.
- Salzburg’s Getreidegasse
- The turquoise-green Lake Attersee
- Hallstatt – a world heritage site
- Panoramic view from Schafberg over Lake Wolfgangsee
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Salzburg
Arrive in Salzburg. Salzburg is one of the most cyclist-friendly cities in Austria. A perfect network of bike paths and outstanding infrastructure excite you with the prospect of exploring the City of Mozart and its countless green spaces by bicycle.
- Accommodation: Ganslhof or similar (optional upgrade: Achat Plaza zum Hirschen/Arcotel Castellani or similar)
Day 2: Salzburg to Wallersee | 50-60km
Today, you cycle along the Salzach to Oberndorf, the birthplace of the Christmas carol “Silent Night” and then to Arnsdorf, where you can visit the “Silent Night” Museum. On your way to Wallersee don’t miss the abbey in Michaelbeuern, a thriving Benedictine community, well known as an educational and cultural centre. Pass the lakes Obertrum, Mattsee and Grabensee and reach your final destination – Wallersee – the largest lake in the Salzburg Lake District.
Day 3: Wallersee to Mondsee | 50km
After breakfast cycle through the nature reserve of the Egelseen lakes to Schleedorf, continue to the idyllic Irrsee, the lake with the warmest water temperature of all lakes in Salzkammergut. Reach Mondsee, where the local basilica reached international fame because the wedding scene in the movie Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer was filmed inside.
Day 4: Mondsee to Traunsee | 50-80km
The day begins with a boat trip to Weyregg (for arrivals in July & August; if you book the tour outside this time frame, you will instead cycle along lake Attersee). Pedal through the Aurachtal valley to Lake Traunsee, the deepest lake in Austria, going down to a cool 192m. Visit the castle Orth and the ceramics factory in Gmunden. Since the 17th century, Gmunden is considered to be the place for traditional Austrian craftsmanship: The high art of pottery. Artists came here to work and were inspired by the natural beauty of the area. Admire Walter Martetschläger’s bicycle collection in Altmünster. Further to the 200 old bikes, the exhibition also offers beautiful cars, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Overnight near Traunsee.
- Accommodation: Hocheck or similar (optional upgrade: Post Ebensee or similar)
- Cycling for the day: approx. 50-80km
Day 5: Traunsee via Hallstättersee to Bad Goisern | 20-35km
Hop on the train from Lake Traunsee up to Obertraun at Lake Hallstättersee. Continue cycling along the lake to Hallstatt. Stroll the little alleys and look around to see Mount Dachstein, the highest peak in upper Austria. Today’s final stop is Bad Goisern or one of the small towns in the area.
- Accommodation: Goisererhof or similar (optional upgrade: Moserwirt or similar)
- Cycling for the day: approx. 20-35km
Day 6: Bad Goisern to Wolfgangsee | 35km
Visit Bad Ischl, the spa town’s reputation snowballed after the Habsburg Princess Sophie took treatment here to cure her infertility in 1828. Cycle along the Ischler Ache river to Lake Wolfgangsee and to the charming town of St. Wolfgang, where you can visit the 14th-century church, packed with art treasures. Enjoy the friendly, low-key ambience in Strobl, pass Lake Abersee and St. Gilgen, an idyllic town very closely connected to the prodigy Mozart and his family.
- Accommodation: Aberseehof or similar (optional upgrade: Huber or similar)
- Cycling for the day: approx. 35 km
Day 7: Wolfgangsee to Salzburg | 50-70km
Follow the cycle route to the Tiefbrunnau and on to the deep blue Fuschlsee, pass the Hintersee lake, and reach the Strubklamm – one of the longest and most impressive gorges in Austria. Bike through the Glasenbachklamm to the Salzachtal valley and visit the castle Schloss Hellbrunn. Studded with ponds, sculptures and leafy avenues, the palace gardens are free and open until dusk year-round. Arrive back in Salzburg – where the story-book Altstadt burrowed below steep hills looks much as it did when Mozart lived here 250 years ago.
- Accommodation: Ganslhof or similar (optional upgrade: Achat Plaza zum Hirschen/Arcotel Castellani or similar)
- Cycling for the day: approx. 50-70km
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast. Optional extra night in Salzburg.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view our default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view our upgraded hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Accommodation is on a bed & breakfast basis. When no restaurant location is available on route lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops or you can pre-order a packed lunch at your hotel. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or restaurants in the village near your hotel. An optional upgrade to Half Board is available as well.
Difficulty and terrain
Suitable for more regular cyclists who have an active lifestyle. On the banks of the lakes and at the river Salzach, the routes are completely flat. In between, the terrain is mainly hilly. Approximately one-third of the route is on cycle paths, and almost all the rest is through fields and on forest paths, farm roads, and quiet side roads. There are only a few short sections on roads with some traffic. The average cycling distance per day is approximately 50km (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
We can organise this cycling tour between April and October. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The closest and most convenient international airports for this holiday are Salzburg or Munich Airports.
By train or bus
- Salzburg Airport: The No. 2 bus runs daily every 10/20min between Salzburg Main Station and the airport. Sundays and public holidays every 20min. Journey time approx. 23min. The No. 10 bus (Mon-Sat) departs every 10min from the airport to the city centre. Journey time approx. 15min.
- Munich Airport: Flixbus long-distance direct buses from the airport to Salzburg a few times per day. Trains are the most convenient public transportation and run twice per hour from Munich Airport in around two and a half hours to Salzburg – a transfer is always required at either München-Ostbahnhof or München-Hauptbahnhof. For more information, visit DB and ÖBB.
- Parking: Hotel car park costs approx. EUR 10-20 per day, to be paid on spot, no reservation possible/necessary
Public multi-storey car park: approx. EUR 95 per week
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnight stays in private en-suite rooms with breakfast included as described in the itinerary
- Welcome briefing
- Luggage transfer on all cycling days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack with route maps, route description, local attractions, important telephone numbers & GPS tracks (opt for the digital route book and receive a discount)
- Boat ride on Lake Attersee incl. your bike for arrivals between 01.07. and 31.08.
- Train journey Lake Traunsee – Lake Hallstättersee incl. bike
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
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)
- 4**** accommodation on all nights
- Bike / Bike Plus / e-bike rentals
- Extra nights in Salzburg
Bike rental
In case you would like to rent a bike from us, we can offer a different variety of bikes. All bikes are equipped with a combination lock, saddle bag (water-repellent), handlebar bag (water-repellent), a pump and service-set with tools with an extra bicycle tube. Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
Unisex bike 21/24-gears
- Gear: Shimano ALIVIO/ACERA derailleur
- Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43cm (body height approx. 148cm – 190cm)
Unisex-bike 7-gears
- Gear: Shimano NEXUS
- Back pedaling break
- Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46cm (body height approx. 155cm – 190cm)
Men’s bike 21-gears
- Gear: Shimano ALIVIO/ACERA derailleur
- Sizes: 63 / 60 / 56-51cm (body height approx. 165cm – 205cm)
Rental Bike PLUS
- Gear: DEORE/XT
- Suntour suspension fork
- Sizes: 63 / 60 / 51 / 46cm (body height approx. 155cm – 205cm)
E-bike
- Speed: 25 km/h
- 8-speed internal gear hub
- Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 46cm (body height approx. 148cm – 195cm)
Gallery
