The land of royalty and unspoiled nature.
Salzburg, rich in history and culture, will be our starting point on this Austrian adventure. We’ll explore this enchanting city for the first three days of the tour. We’ve tagged on an optional four-day Vienna extension at the end of the trip for those travelers wanting to explore this amazing city as well.
Austria tops the list as one of the best European countries for cycling with its spectacular mountain views, stunning lakes and bountiful bike trails. We’ll spend seven days biking approximately 130 miles through the most amazing landscapes with views of the Austrian Alps at every turn. The bike trails take us along the Salzach and Saalach Rivers, and around Austria’s picturesque lake region, with a hiking trail to Krimml’s cascading waterfalls included. Every night will include accommodations in beautiful mansions, castles, charming inns and four-star hotels.
Read notes from our travel journal and view highlights from our most recent Austria trip!
Itinerary:
A typical Austria trip schedule:
Arriving in Salzburg
Departing from Salzburg
Or Departing from Vienna
Day 1 – Complimentary transportation will be arranged for you from the airport to the hotel. If you’re more excited than you are tired we will plan a short excursion before dinner. Our accommodations for the next four days are in one the finest designed avant-garde hotels in Salzburg, located just a short walking distance from the historic city center.
Day 2 – After a complimentary breakfast we’ll begin our tour in one of the most famous cities in Austria, the baroque city of Salzburg. The tour includes The Salzburg Card, which offers free entry into all the top local attractions. Salzburg is a very walkable city, and most of the main attractions are in close proximity of each other. So, we won’t waste any time in getting from the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the Hohensalzburg Fortress that sits majestically above the city.
Day 3 – After a good night’s rest and complimentary breakfast, we’ll continue exploring the sights of Salzburg. Today, we’ll take a short ride to the Hellbrunn Palace, built as a summer palace by an Archbishop/Prince in 1615, and home to the infamous Pavilion from the Sound of Music. While quite palatial, Hellbrunn Palace is guaranteed to be one of the wackiest places you’ll ever see. We’ll also visit the Salzburg Cathedral, and the old monastery of St. Peter, both located in the city center.
Day 4 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll continue our tour of Salzburg. We’ll stroll through the Mirabel Gardens on our way to the Salzburg Residentz, one of the most impressive sights within the city. The annual Salzburg Festival will be taking place during this tour so don’t be surprised if you feel compelled to purchase a drendle or lederhosen from the local shops. Tonight, we’ll meet our bicycling tour guides and enjoy a complimentary dinner.
Day 5 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll begin our cycling tour in a beautiful valley along the River Sallach to Zell am See, a beloved lake resort nestled in a stunning setting. We’ll continue on to a 12th century Medieval Castle in the Hohe Tauren National Park where we will reside for the next three nights. This very unique property boasts panoramic views of the Austrian Alps.
Day 6 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll drive to Krimml, home to Europe’s tallest waterfalls and one of our favorite locations. The hike to the top is lined with several viewing platforms, allowing a close-up view of the powerful, roaring water as it falls 1200 feet below. We’ll cycle along the River Salzach trail to our Castle Hotel and where we’ll enjoy the regional amenities and cuisine.
Day 7 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll continue cycling to the glaciers of the Alps and end in the town of Kaprun. We’ll finish the day with a cable car ride to 10,000 feet for breathtaking panoramic views of the Austrian Alps, with Grossglockner Peak soaring to 12,400 feet above sea level. Tonight, we’ll spend our last night in our antique castle hotel.
Day 8 – Today, we continue cycling along side the Austrian Alps and the River Salzach, and enjoy a short hike to the legendary Liechtenstein Gorge. The Gorge provides a very unique experience with its powerful rushing waterfalls, 1000 foot cliffs towering above, and a casual walking path to explore. Tonight, our accommodations are in an old mansion with stunning views of the Dachstein Alps, and include a gourmet homemade meal.
Day 9 – After our complimentary breakfast, we’ll visit Lake Hallstatt. Be sure to have your camera ready, as this beautiful little village offers many spectacular photo ops. We’ll take a cable car to the Dachstein Glaciers to take in the scenery from a 13,000 foot overlook platform, then stop at a cool ice cave on our way down. We’ll enjoy more amazing views as we cycle along Lake Hallstatt on our way to Bad Ischl, a favorite health spa of the Austrian Royal families. We’ll finish our tour at the charming Lake Wolfgang where we’ll stay for two nights. Our accommodations offer panoramic views of the lake and the cozy on-site restaurant serves traditional Austrian cuisine.
Day 10 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll ride the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe for another panoramic view of the Salzkammergut Region. We’ll cycle around Lake Wolfgang to the adorable little village of St. Gilgen and then cycle back to our hotel for our last night’s stay on our cycling tour. Tonight we’ll enjoy another classic Austrian dinner.
Day 11 – This morning we’ll say goodbye to the beautiful lake region of Austria and begin the journey back home or continue on with an optional four-day tour of Vienna. If you are returning to Salzburg we will provide transportation to the airport.
Vienna Option: After checking in to our hotel we’ll begin our tour of what we tout as one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Our tour of Vienna includes the Vienna Pass, which provides free transport and entry to most of the top attractions. We’ll take a two-hour walking tour that acquaints us with Vienna’s rich and colorful history. Afterwards, you are free to explore Vienna on your own or stay with the group.
Day 12 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll tour the capitol of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and visit the Schonbrunn Palace. There, we’ll see how the royal Habsburg family lived. We’ll also visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, one of Vienna’s most important and symbolic churches. We’ll also visit the treasury, where some of the most precious objects from the Cathedral are on display.
Day 13 – After a complimentary breakfast, we’ll tour the Hofburg Palace, home to some of the most powerful people in Europe. We’ll begin at the Spanish Riding School where we’ll see the morning exercises of the famous Lipizzan Stallions. Next up is the Imperial Palace which houses some of the most impressive collections of art once belonging to the Habsburgs when they ruled the Empire. We’ll also visit the Imperial Apartments, Imperial Collections museum, and the Albertina museum, home to prestigious art galleries showcasing masterpiece works from Monet, and Picasso among others.
Day 14 – Today, it is time to say goodbye, as our adventure comes to a close. We’ll provide transportation to the airport for your journey back home.
Fees:
ALL PRICING UPDATED AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE!
Pricing:
Single Supplement:
e-Bike:
Pricing with Vienna Option:
Single Supplement:
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE: Transportation to and from the airports in Salzburg and Vienna, all transportation within the scheduled tour, all hotels for 14 nights in Austria, bike and helmet rental, daily breakfast, all guides listed in the tour, park fees and all other excursions listed on the itinerary, the Salzburg Card, the Vienna Pass and English speaking guides.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE: Air travel, Meals and beverages (other than what is listed above), Any additional tours or entertainment not scheduled on the itinerary.
If you are interested in this trip please let us know!
