Headwater - Salzburg and the Austrian Lake District, Self-Guided Cycling

8 days
from
£1,239
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Leisurely / Moderate
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Trip code: 
C07SZ
Way to Travel:
Self-Guided
Activity:
Cycling
Min age:
8

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.

Highlights

  • Start in Salzburg and finish on Lake Mondsee
  • Excellent **** hotels, most with spas; warm, friendly hoteliers; lovely local cuisine
  • Superb free day options - Salzburg and Hallstatt just two of the highlights
  • Exceptional lakeside routes: swimming opportunities every day
  • See three lakes in one easy day's cycling

Key information

  • 7 nights hotel-to-hotel accomodation in a mix of hotels
  • 3 Days cycling
  • All breakfasts and 4 evening meals
  • Services of your local Headwater Representative
  • GPS route directions and maps 
  • RideWithGPS navigation app
  • High quality hybrid bikes 
  • Luggage transfers between hotels
  • Countries visited: Spain

What's included

  • All accommodation
  • All breakfasts and 4 evening meals
  • Services of your local Headwater Representative
  • GPS route directions and maps 
  • RideWithGPS navigation app
  • High quality hybrid bikes 
  • Luggage transfers between hotels

What's not included

  • Visas and vaccinations
  • Travel insurance
  • Single supplements

OPTIONAL UPGRADES

  • Flights from Heathrow to Salzburg with Lufthansa, including local transfers
  • Other flights, including regional departures
  • Business/club/first class fares on request
  • Electric bikes available 
  • City break add-ons in Salzburg
Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes
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3

Days of Cycling
Terrain:

The suggested cycling is mainly follows traffic-free lanes along shimmering lakes and through alpine villages.

Day by day breakdown
Day 340.0km/25.0miles
Day 517.0km/11.0miles
Day 729.0km/18.5miles

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Include flights Expand all
Salzburg
to
Mondsee

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Salzburg

    Arrive in Salzburg, a Baroque jewel with a UNESCO-recognised historic centre and the birthplace of Mozart on the Salzach river. Staying at Markus Sittikus.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 2

    Salzburg to Mondsee

    Transfer to the Hotel Leitnerbrau in Mondsee and visit St Basilica before dinner (payable locally). Staying at Hotel Leitnerbrau.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 3

    Mondsee to Bad Ischl

    Follow the shore of Mondsee before joining Attersee, Austria's largest lake, at the pretty lakeside town of Unterach. Stop for lunch at the lake shore before continuing on, following the river Traun, into Bad Ischl. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 4

    At Bad Ischl

    There is so much to do in Bad Ischl that you might want to add extra nights here! Visit the imperial spa, thermal salt baths, the Katrin cable car, the Siriuskogl viewing platform, museums and villas. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride, people-watch on the riverside esplanade or enjoy coffee and cake in the famous Zauner restaurant. Alternatively, cycle to the beautiful mountain lake of Hallstatt and visit the famous salt mines with their subterranean salt lake. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 5

    Bad Ischl to Strobl

    Explore the Kaiservilla, Emperor Franz Josef's former holiday home, before setting off along the banks of the River Ischl. Sunlight sparkles on the water as you pass tiny shrines hidden in the pines below the Leonsberg and Bleckwand peaks. You could take an optional detour to visit historic St Wolfgang before arriving in Strobl. Staying at Hotel Bergrose.

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 6

    At Strobl

    Spend the day in beautiful lakeside Strobl with its watersports, summer toboggan run and animal park. The popular beachfront is ideal for a cooling swim, or you could join a boat cruise on the lake. Staying at Hotel Bergrose.

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 7

    Strobl to Mondsee

    Keeping close to Wolfgangsee's southern shore, a level cycling track through a tiny nature reserve brings you to lovely St Gilgen. Visit the Mozart museum or take the cable car up Zwolferhorn for stunning 360°ree; views. In the afternoon, continue along past Krottensee and coast downhill back to Lake Mondsee. Staying at Hotel Leitnerbrau.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 8

    Leave Mondsee

    Meals included: Breakfast
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes
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Essential Info

Visas

Vaccinations

Spain

There are no specific health risks.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 4 evening meals.

Austria is renowned for its wholesome, robust food and you will be thankful for this after a hard day’s skiing. Typically, you will be set up for the day by a breakfast of cold meats and cheeses, along with the traditional bread, jam and coffee. Austrians tend to eat heartily at lunchtime and less in the evenings; you will be well catered for at dinner. 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
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/moderate)
Average daily distance on move on days: 28.6km ( 18 miles). 
No. of days cycling: 3
Terrain and route: The suggested cycling is mainly follows traffic-free lanes along shimmering lakes and through alpine villages.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. 

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

This shorter version of the holiday still packs the punches, beginning on the shores of Lake Mondsee, where the local church was the location of the famous wedding in The Sound of Music. Then it's on to Bad Ischl, perhaps the jewel in the crown of all the towns you visit en route. There is so much to do and see here, you might want to have extra nights. From Bad Ischl you cycle to the beautiful lakeside town of Strobl (from where you can visit fairytale Salzburg) before arriving back for your final night on the shore of Lake Mondsee.

EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR
Flora & fauna, art & history, swimming opportunities, vegetarian meals, solo travellers, couples, families, high peaks, lake & river routes

Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Accommodation

Hotels

Our centrally-located hotels are extremely friendly and provide a wonderful contrast throughout your holiday. The Hotel Goldener Ochs boasts a prime location in Bad Ischl's town centre and features a spa, sauna, swimming pool and sun terraces with mountain panorama, whilst the Hotel Bergrose has a traditional feel, with wooden interior and Gothic script on the exterior.

Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

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Dates & Prices

An overview of flight options

Exodus is committed to making joining our tours as easy as possible, wherever you live. We generally only block book seats from London, but this certainly does not mean that you need to fly from there. Depending on the route and airlines available, there will usually be various options available for those who want to fly from their local airport.

This page aims to provide a useful overview of the options available to our clients. However, the best flight arrangements should be tailored to your personal requirements, so please contact our Sales team for expert advice.

 

What kind of options do I have ?

1. We can book for you: Flights from anywhere in the world - not via London  

Depending on the route, this may be direct or via an overseas hub like Amsterdam, the Middle East or elsewhere. On short haul routes there may be direct flights with low cost airlines, charter flights or scheduled airlines. Exodus can book most, but not all, of these for you. The most appropriate airline may be different to that which we use for the group flight from London, but many people now travel on different airlines and meet up with their fellow passengers at the destination.

Pros Cons
  • May be the most direct route
  • Often the extra fare compared to the London flight is minimal.
  • As you will be in the hands a single airline for your entire journey, the airline will be responsible for your bags and your connections.
  • You may not be able to join the group transfers. However, we can usually arrange private transfers, or book your flights to try and coincide with the group transfers. See notes on transfer arrangements below.

 

2. We can book for you: Connecting flights from your local airport to London

Exodus can book connecting flights to London so you can join the group flight there. Connecting times will be followed according to airline advice, or as requested by clients. There are two types of fares we can use for this option: a 'through-fare' or a 'published fare'.
 
a) A 'through-fare' is where you will be in the main airline's care throughout. You change planes, but your bags are checked all the way through to your final destination. 

b) A 'published fare' ticket is completely seperate from your onward ticket from London. It is usually cheaper than a through-fare but will need to be paid for and issued as soon as it is booked. This can be a problem if your tour has not yet reached minimum numbers. On 'published fares' neither airline is aware that you have connecting flights, so Exodus is responsible for timing your connection, not the airlines involved. The tickets are also usually non changeable and non refundable.

Pros Cons
  • Depending on the fare type, Exodus or the airline is responsible for flight connections.
  • Through fare tickets can be expensive.
  • On a published fare, tickets must be issued immediately; tickets on published fares can be very difficult to change if onward flight times change; bags are not checked though to your final destination.
  • Published fares are non-refundable.

 

3. Booking some or all of the flights yourself

You can also book connecting air travel yourself, either to London, or all the way to the start point. There may be certain airlines or routes we don't have access to, so this is always an option. However, if you make your own travel arrangements you become liable for any delays, cancellations or missed connections, and Exodus is not required to offer refunds if you have trouble reaching the start of your trip.

Pros Cons
  • You might find cheaper fares, or routes not available to Exodus.
  • You are responsible for any delays or missed connections, and the cost of the tour is not protected should you miss your flight be cancelled.

 

 Notes on transfer arrangements

Sometimes it is possible to travel on a different airline to the group flight from London. Where this is the case, we need to think about ensuring you meet up with the group with minimum extra cost and hassle.

  • On certain trips, it is easy to arrive on a different flight and still meet the group at the hotel with time in hand. We can usually arrange private transfers (at extra cost) or offer advice on taking a taxi to the start hotel.
  • On other trips (especially in Europe), the transfer meets the group flight and then travels some distance to the first night's accommodation. Where this is the case, our Sales team will try to arrange flights that arrive before (and depart after) the group. However, we do have to make it clear in your final documentation that if your flights are delayed, the transfer cannot wait for you. While Exodus or our local operators will do what we can to help you reach the start point of the tour, any additional costs must be paid by the client. 

 

Next steps? 

Call our Sales team on: 0203 733 0698

Email your query: [email protected]

Call us on 020 8772 3936
Chat with us online