Bestseller Travel

What could be more enjoyable than biking on the shore paths of the lakes and to let the soul 'flow' in a wonderfully unspoilt countryside? A tour through the Salzkammergut shows you the World Heritage Side of Hallstatt, the Emperor city of Bad Ischl and wonderful lakes and valleys.

A wonderful cycle tour will be in the Ausseerland where you will pass a landscape looking like alpine pastures with high mountains around. In between lovely little lakes and an old city which is called Bad Aussee. On of the highlights will be certainly the festival city of Salzburg with its old town, fortress and many restaurants and shops.

Characteristic: You mainly cycle along cycle path but you also have to follow little side roads. Little ascents are between the lakes but there are not long. Medium fitness is necessary for this tour.

You will cycle along the Alps from Innsbruck to Salzburg. In Innsbruck you will follow the wide valley of the Inn river passing little historical cities like Wattens, Hall or Schwarz. On both sides, you will see huge, impressive mountain ranges and sometimes you will even see a glacier.

Cycling into the Zillertal valley along the little mountain river will be pleasant and easy. The mountain landscape changes a bit and you begin to see farm houses high up on the mountain. At the end of the valley, you will see the glacier of the Alps where you can ski all year round. A transport will drive you over the mountain pass into the state of Salzburg where you will see one of the most impressive nature attractions in Austria, the Krimmler Waterfalls!

On the right side, you see the high mountains of the national park with many side valleys and on the left side the smooth mountains where you find wonderful alpine pastures. You will pass a farming region and will come to a lovely lake called Zellersee. As you follow the Saalach River you will pass gorges and caves, which of course you may visit, then you come to the village Lofer and its old fashioned village center. Following the river further, you will come to Bavaria where you can visit the city of Bad Reichenhall. The end and perhaps the highlight of the tour will be the festival city of Salzburg.

Surface and Terrain: You mainly follow river cycle trails and there are only short up and downs. There will be a transfer for the only mountain pass on the tour so a good basic fitness in enough for this tour. This tour is recommended for cyclists in average physical condition.

Cycling Holidays Bavarian Lakes Germany - Local's call this area "The Blue Land" because of the abundance of sparkling blue lakes. Your tour takes you around the edge of the Bavarian Alps, starting in Murnau, Garmisch Partenkirchen and on to the spa resort of Bad Tölz which is next to the Isar River. Your tour continues around various lakes, always in sight of the majestic Alps.

Experience authentic Bavaria, with chalets, geranium filled flower boxes and picture postcard scenery. Don't forget the amazing food and drink you'll find at beer gardens along the way. The former Olympic city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen has a train that takes you up the glacier on Mount Zugspitze.

Tour Details: You should be in fairly good physical shape, since this tour has some hills to conquer before pedaling along the rivers and lakes.

The border of the Bavarian Alps is filled with picture-postcard scenery, with sparkling rivers, shimmering lakes and majestic mountains. This area is sometimes called the "Blue Land" because of the large number of lakes. The tour starts in the famous city of Garmisch Partenkirchen, located by the highest mountain in Germany, Mount Zugspitze. You will follow the river trail along the Isar River, passing picturesque Lake Tegernsee and the spa city of Bad Tölz. The trail continues through farmland and many little hamlets, as well as the hilly countryside just outside of Munich. This is a chance to experience authentic Bavaria with its steepled churches, beer gardens, monasteries and warm hospitality.

Tour Details: The route winds through a slightly hilly area passing scenic lakes and villages. On the first few days, the landscape offers alpine views. Later, the landscape flattens to pastures and lakes. To enjoy this tour, you should have an above average fitness level. There will be some short but steep ascents, followed by steep descents. You'll encounter frequent small hills to climb up but then you can enjoy the downhill glide!

This is an athletically challenging tour combined with overnight stays in historical cities such as Volterra, San Gimignano and Siena. The fine wines and delectable Tuscan cooking will make your Tuscan bike tour unforgettable!

You'll experience a variety of Tuscany's wonderful landscapes, from cycling in the hilly Volterra area down to the Mediterranean Sea. The route enters the Chianti region, where the "Chianti Classico" comes from, and on to wonderful Crete, in the south of Siena. Tuscany's hilly landscape is the perfect place to begin or end a cycling route. The temperatures are ideal to bike year round. Many professional cycling teams (i.e. T-Mobile Team) are already here in February to prepare for the competitive cycling season.

This round-trip tour offers a choice between two routes from about 70km (43.75 miles) up to about 115km (71.87 miles) every day. To allow you to explore various cities, (and not have to pack up every day!) you'll enjoy two nights stay in each hotel. With your detailed route description and excellent signage on the route, you'll find this is an easy to navigate bike tour.

Tour details: Cyclists with average and above average fitness levels can navigate this tour. Tuscany has a typical hilly landscape and therefore, apart from some longer climbs and more flat areas, the route is up and down on rolling hills. The routes are on mostly good asphalt roads, far from major roads. At times you may encounter heavier traffic when entering or leaving a city.

Salzburg was home to the World Road Bike Championship in 2006, which means the city is filled with first-rate bike paths. However, when leaving the Salzburg area, you'll cross over mountain passes. Some have gradual ascents while others require a strong level of physical fitness. On this tour, the route goes through the medium sized mountains of Salzburg, Upper Austria, Styria and Bavaria.

You'll enjoy an overnight stay in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hallstatt, passing crystal clear lakes and scenic alpine pastures dotted with chalets. Time is available to visit additional sights along the way. Be sure to visit the former emperor city of Bad Ischl with its historic castle and the famous Zauner pastry shop. A highlight of this tour is enjoying the countryside similar to what you see watching the famous movie, "The Sound of Music".

Trip Details: On each day you will have at least two options. An average to above average level of fitness is recommended. If you like, you can shorten the tour by using a train or boat on a lake. This route follows small side roads, bike paths and occasional riding on larger roads. Summer weekends find heavier travel than usual. This route has many hills and some steep ascents that last from 2km to 5km. (HM = Difference of altitude)

Enjoy wide valleys, views to glaciers and scenic mountain lakes along the route. The Zillertal Valley features 365 days of skiing and a mountain road over the Gerlos Mountain pass where you feel you are in the center of the Alps.

Part of the tour takes you to Hohe Tauern National Park where you follow the Salzach River to the romantic city of Zell am See, situated on a striking lake. On your rest day you might decide to bike the highest mountain in Austria or visit the famous mountain barrier lakes in Kaprun. On your way to Salzburg you'll pass through Bavaria. Take time for a boat tour on Lake Königssee to the pilgrimage peninsula.

Tour Details: For this tour, you should have a high level of physical fitness because there are some steep ascents, although not long distance-wise. Biking experience is important since the downhill roads on Mount Grosslockner have serpentines and can be dangerous if you don't know how to cycle steep hills. (HM = difference of altitude)