Five Lakes Cycling

New

8 Days from

USD 2,949

incl. Taxes

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Ages :

13+

Trip Code :

C07SL

Cycle the Austrian lakes district.

This 7-night holiday gives a lovely introduction to the Austrian lakes district, Salzkammergut, a land intrinsically linked with 'The Sound of Music' and Mozart. This is picture-postcard Austria: shimmering blue lakes, deep green meadows, alpine villages and traditional dress.

Beginning in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart on the Salzach river cycle to the first of the lakes, Mondsee. Continue to Attersee, the largest lake in Salzkammergut, well-known due to its deep-green colour. Lakes Traunsee, Hallstattsee and Wolfgangsee follow with stops in the UNESCO listed Hallstatt and St Wolfgang before returning to Salzburg.

Highlights

Explore the city of Mozart, Salzburg
Excellent 4 star hotels; warm, friendly hoteliers; lovely local cuisine
Stay in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site of Hallstatt
Enjoy panoramic views over Lake Wolfgang from Mount Schafberg
Based on our popular 7 night, Austrian Lakes Activites

Key Information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 4-star hotels
All continental breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies)
Luggage transfers between hotels

Countries visited: Austria

What's Included

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 4-star hotels
All continental breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
High Quality Bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single supplements
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas and vaccinations

5 Days of Cycling

Terrain:

The terrain along the banks of the lakes is completely flat. In-between the lakes is mainly hilly. Most of the tour is on cycle paths and on roads with little to no traffic from lake to lake. Only for a few short sections, cycling on busier roads is unfortunately unavoidable.

Day 2

40 km / 24.9 miles

Day 3

50 km / 31.1 miles

Day 4

45 km / 28 miles

Day 5

40 km / 24.9 miles

Day 7

50 km / 31.1 miles

Itinerary

Arrive in Salzburg in time for your welcome briefing and bike fitting.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The day starts with a ride along the Salzach River out of Salzburg, then along the disused Ischler railway route until you get to Eugendorf. You will then cycle across lush meadows on the cycle path to Thalgau and the foot of the Drachenwand, an impressive rock massif that stretches all the way to lake Mondsee. The lake side cycle path will then lead you into the centre of the same named town, which is well-known - and not only because of the Sound of Music!

Meals Included: Breakfast

Next you will cycle along lake Mondsee's shore until you get to Lake Attersee. This is the largest lake in Salzkammergut and is not only well-known due to its deep-green colour. Many celebrities from near and far live by this lake in magnificent estates. Either by boat (only if you arrive from 01.07. till 31.08.) or by bike along the lakeside, you will head to Weyregg and then through Aurachtal past Lake Traunsee to Gmunden with its famous palace and the ceramic bells in the town hall tower. You only have a few more kilometres until you get to Traunkirchen, where you will be staying overnight.

A longer cycle route is also available.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The bike path takes you along the edge of Lake Traunsee until you get to the saline town of Ebensee. From here you will cycle along the river Traun until you get to Bad Ischl with its Imperial past. Once you have crossed the health resort of Bad Goisern, you will finally get to Lake Hallstatt. Impressed by the amazing scenery, you will cycle along the lake to the 'loveliest lakeside town in the world' - Hallstatt. You will stay overnight in the centre of the village.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you head back along the river Traun until you get to Bad Ischl. You should definitely go to the famous Cafe Zauner where you can try the sweet specialities (included in the price). Emperor Franz Josef and Sissi both will have enjoyed a Gugelhupf cake here. Fuelled up, you will continue cycling along Lake Wolfgang and you will enjoy the atmosphere around your famous hotel, the 'weißen Rossl'.

Meals Included: Breakfast

You have a wide array of possible activities for an active day by Austria's most famous lake. We recommend the journey with the cog railway up to the top of mount Schafberg (1782m). This is to be organised by yourself. From the top you get a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Another option is a boat ride (also organised by yourself). A day swimming in the crystal clear water of Lake Wolfgangsee is an alternative way to have an active day...

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you cycle along the bike path to St. Gilgen along the edge of the lake. From there you have a one hour walk in the Tiefbrunnau (your bike will be transported in the meantime). Afterwards, you get back on your bike and cycle to Lake Hintersee and through the Strubklamm gorge into the Wiestal valley. The ride through the Glasenbachklamm gorge is impressive and will bring you to the Salzachtal valley. Just before Salzburg, a diversion to Schloss Hellbrunn is well worth it. Your destination is the festival and Mozart town of Salzburg with its many tourist attractions.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leave Salzburg after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Austria

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Austria. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/austria
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/austria
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/austria/entry-requirements
USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Austria.html

Vaccination

Austria

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

Austria is renowned for its wholesome, robust food. Austrians tend to eat heartily at lunchtime and less in the evenings. Local specialities include Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet) and various stews of beef and pork. Dumplings, potatoes or noodles are all regular accompaniments along with vegetables in a style similar to English cooking. Desserts are often fruit based - such as Apfelstrudel - or cream pastries. Rehrucken is a traditional chocolate and almond cream cake. On average Austrians, drink twice as much coffee as beer. There are many different types to choose from, particularly in the larger towns and cities and are often drunk in specialist coffee houses, known locally as a Kaffeehaus. It is often served in large cups and finished off with a healthy dose of whipped cream.

Austrian wines tend to be sweet white varieties, similar to German Mosel wines. The three best-known areas for producing white wines are Krems, Klosterneuburg and Gumpoldskirchen. The main red wine producing area is Voslau. Of course Austria is better known for its beer and you will find a wide variety of local brews. The best known are Gösser and Augustiner Brau and come in light or dark forms.

Weather

The weather here is comparatively stable, particularly during mid-summer. Temperatures are similar to those experienced in the UK and rainfall although relatively low is possible throughout the year.

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Self-Guided

Much of the cycling is on the old river towpath which is now lovely, flat and surfaced; previously up to 60 horses strained to drag heavy cargo boats upstream against the powerful current! Today, dozens of farms and cafes offer waterfront lunch stops as you cycle between sun-baked villages and wayside stalls piled high with apples, peaches and plums. Most cycling days are completely flexible, as local boat and train services are excellent, cheap and cater brilliantly to cyclists.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.

Five Lakes Cycling

Cycle the Austrian lakes district.

5 Days of Cycling

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

Austria

Vaccination

Austria

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Is this trip for you?

Five Lakes Cycling

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