Self-Guided Cycling: Austrian Lakes Cycling Holiday

Gentle traffic-free cycling trails through stunning scenery
Excellent hotels, most with spas and pools
Plenty of free time to try watersports, boat trips and mountain train rides

This ride offers a glorious mix of spectacular scenic views, gentle shoreline cycle routes and swimming opportunities galore in the exceptionally clean lakes.

The flexibility of this holiday makes it an outright winner for families looking for gentle traffic-free cycling with lots more to see and do en route. Aside from the cycling it is possible to take a steam boat trip, a cable car ride, or try some water sports on the lakes. Every stop brings new discoveries such as Wolfgang's antique cog railway to the summit of Schafberg, Mozart's museum in St. Gilgen and Mondsee's frescoed high street. There is also the opportunity to visit Emperor Franz Josef's summer residence in Bad Ischl, Gmunden's 'floating' castle - Seeschloss Orth, or journey to the city of Salzburg with its baroque palaces, historic castles and stunning gardens.

The luxury hotels will round off your experience, offering a warm welcome in beautiful locations.

What makes this trip responsible?

Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company.

As a self-guided trip you will be pedalling under your own steam and at your own pace. You will not be part of a group so the impact of your visit on the landscape and communities you pass will be absolutely minimal. Our local operator works with local suppliers and hoteliers to ensure that we support the communities we visit, maximising the benefit to them and also our enjoyment of the region. We will stay in characterful, locally run hotels and the route notes will often give you hints and tips of local restaurants you can try, giving you a taste of the local cuisine while helping to support these establishments. Moreover, we encourage you to journey by train to minimise your carbon footprint.

Itinerary

[detailed itinerary...]

Countries visited: Austria

Day 1

Fly to Salzburg; transfer to Mondsee with time to explore then a soak in the spa whirlpool before dinner.

Day 2

Pedal along Mondsee's north shore to Lake Attersee. Head inland past a deer farm and roadside stalls piled high with bright local produce, to St Georgen.

Day 3

Free day to enjoy a local lunch, go for a swim or take a boat ride to the pretty village of Weyregg beneath craggy mountains on the eastern shore.

Day 4

Freewheel past 1000m high peaks on the east shore of Attersee Lake to Schorfling castle. Continue cycling into Gmunden with its cobbled marketplace and painted buildings. Dinner on the hotel terrace.

Day 5

Free day to 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 Grunberg (984m) offers wonderful views looking down on Gmunden's esplanade.

Day 6

Take the Traunsee boat to Ebensee on the south shore. It's well worth taking the cable car up to Feuerkogel Peak for spectacular views. Then cycle along the beautiful Traun river to Bad Ischl.

Day 7

Free day in Bad Ischl. There is so much to see and do here including the Imperial Spa, ice caves, thermal salt baths, cable cars, people-watching on the riverside esplanade or a day trip to Salzburg.

Day 8

Explore the Emperor Franz Josef's former holiday home, the Kaiservilla, before riding along the banks of the River Ischl to the lakeside town of Strobl.

Day 9

Free day in Strobl to try the summer toboggan run, cable cars, watersports and animal park. Alternatively, the fairytale city of Salzburg is just an 80 minute bus ride away.

Day 10

Follow a level cycling track through a tiny nature reserve to lovely St Gilgen. Visit Mozart's Museum, or take the cable car up Zwolferhorn for stunning views. In the afternoon coast downhill to Mondsee Lake, returning to our start hotel.

Day 11

End Mondsee.

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Exodus images from AUSTRIAN LAKES CYCLING

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Cloister on the lake - Gmunden, Austria