BICYCLE TOURS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

Austrian Lakes Cycling

Tour Details

Day 1: Arrive in Mondsee
You’ll be met at Salzburg airport and taken to your hotel in Mondsee (40min). There is time to a soak in the spa whirlpool before dinner.

Day 2: Mondsee to Attersee 25km/16mi
Pedal past yachts and wooden boathouses this morning on Mondsee’s north shore. Onwards through rolling pasture dotted with country churches, before the triangular white sails scoring the blue surface of Lake Attersee hove into view as you descend to the lakeshore. Then heading inland, you pass roadside stalls piled high with bright orange pumpkins, before receiving a warm welcome by Ingrid and Anton at their delightful hotel – an old water mill in an apple orchard.

Day 3: In Attersee
You can follow in the footsteps of Gustav Mahler in Attersee - he composed prolifically here. Enjoy lunch local style - freshly smoked fish are on sale along the lakeshore - and there's a fabulous swimming pool complex. Then perhaps take a boat ride to the pretty village of Weyregg beneath craggy mountians on the Eastern shore.

Day 4: Attersee to Gmunden 38km/21mi
You’ll enjoy views of the 1000m high peaks on the East shore of Attersee Lake as you freewheel down to Schorfling, whose castle was painted by Gustav Klimt with its reflection mirrored on the lake surface. Fields of wheat fringed with poppies and cornflowers pass by before you coast into Gmunden with its cobbled marketplace and painted buildings. Dinner on the terrace of the hotel is delightful, with Gmunden's lights shimmering above the surface of Lake Traunsee.

Day 5: In Gmunden
Ornamental ceramic pottery in the Traunsee area has been a tradition for more than 350 years and the Kammerhof Museum in Gmunden charts its fascinating history. Or, take a trip on the Gisela - the last coal fired paddle steamer, also used by Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The cable car to the top of Traunstein (1691m) offers wonderful views at the top, where you are looking down on Gmunden's esplanade and the romantic Seeschloss Orth - "floating" castle on the lake dating from the 17th century.

Day 6: Gmunden to Bad Ischl 19km/11mi
Today you take the Traunsee boat from the pontoon below the hotel to Ebensee on the south shore where a beautiful riverside route crisscrosses the sparkling river Traun leading through scented pinewoods before Bad Ischl comes into view where the Traun meets the River Ischl. Perhaps relax with an ice cream in the opera house gardens before returning to the hotel for a swim.

Day 7: In Bad Ischl
It's just 50 minutes by bus to Salzburg. The city has been described as a Baroque jewel, and its old center is recognized by UNESCO. Visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the beautiful Mirabell Gardens, drop into the Mozart Musuem or go beer tasting at the medieval brewery.

Day 8: Bad Ischl to Strobl 15km/9mi
Take time to explore the Emperor Franz Josef’s former holiday home, the Kaiservilla, before setting off along the banks of the River Ischl. Sunlight sparkles on the water as you pass tiny shrines hidden in the pines, and pass pretty houses with carnation filled balconies below Leonsberg and Bleckwand peaks. Lakeside Strobl has a popular beachfront for a cooling swim, or perhaps relax on a boat cruise on the beautiful lake.

Day 9: In Strobl
The best option today is to explore St Wolfgang - a 4km lakeside cycling path leads you all the way into this famously pretty village. An antique cog railway chugs up to the summit of Schafberg at 1782m for a panoramic lunch and a view down to Mondsee – your destination tomorrow. Don’t miss the famous 14th century Pilgrims’ Church. Legend has it that this was built with the help of the devil himself.

Day 10: Strobl to Mondsee 30km/21mi
Keeping close to Wolfgangsee’s southern lakeshore, a level cycling track through a tiny nature reserve of meadows and rushes brings you into lovely St Gilgen. Perhaps padlock the bikes and visit Mozart’s Museum, or take the cable car up Zwolferhorn for stunning 360-degree views. In the afternoon, coast downhill to Mondsee Lake, passing haystacks and flower filled hamlets, to complete the circuit returning to the hotel in time for an aperitif before dinner.

Day 11: Return Home
You will taken to Salzburg airport after breakfast.

Trip Highlights

• Gentle cycling trails through flat valleys below stunning peaks.
• Freewheeling lakeside routes - swimming opportunities every day.
• Historic castles, grand opera houses, royal villas.
• Varied rest days: boat trips, cable cars - beautiful Salzburg.
• Excellent three and four-star hotels, most with spas and pools.

Independent Tours:
Independent tours allow you to follow any route you choose using maps and detailed notes. Breakaway Adventures suggests routes using quiet country lanes, and going by the places they think are most interesting. There are route options for avoiding hills, and suggestions for detours and off-road explorations.

"Independent" doesn't mean unsupported, though. Local staff will greet you at the train station and take you by mini-van to the first hotel. You'll attend a briefing session, where your Breakaway Adventures representative will fit you with your bike, tell you all about the things to see and do, and help you map out a route if you have a special side trip you'd like to make. During the briefing session, you'll also have a chance to meet any other travelers who are booked on the tour. Although the tours are not intended as a group experience, people often make friends on these independent tours and enjoy the opportunity to meet others - but if you’re not so inclined you're free to travel at your own pace. There are rarely more than six or eight people on any independent cycling tour, so you can be as sociable, or otherwise, as you choose.

On independent tours, you move on between hotels every two days: your luggage is transported for you, so you don't need to carry a lot in your panniers (provided). In-between days are an opportunity for exploring locally, with the help of detailed maps and notes. You can cycle on the off days, or just opt for relaxation!

On independent tours Breakaway Adventure’s staff clean and carefully check every bike before it goes out, so don't expect many problems. If anything does go wrong, your rep come out to your hotel and put it right. And your Breakaway Adventure reps are only a phone call away if you have any problems! They’ll also give you a puncture repair kit. Due to hygiene and safety concerns, cycling helmets are not provided. However, it is strongly recommended that you bring your own cycling helmet.