THE SOUND OF MUSIC CYCLING CYCLE THE SALZKAMMERGUT LAKE DISTRICT CYCLING AUSTRIA’S SALZKAMMERGUT LAKE DISTRICT SUMMARY Cycle through Austria’s Lake District. Clear blue lakes, craggy peaks and pretty lakeside towns with plenty to see and do. The Salzkammergut region, east of Salzburg, is an enchanting blend of mountains and lakes that make up the famed Austrian Lake District. Long a magnet for visitors the area is also famous as the setting for The Sound of Music and as the birthplace of Mozart. Starting in the UNESCO world heritage city of Salzburg you are almost immediately immersed in the picturesque landscapes of the Salzkammergut lake district. Freewheel along deep blue lakes, through pristine villages, pretty lakeside towns and past imposing castles. This region was immortalized in the stage show and film ’The Sound Of Music’ and while you may not ‘climb every mountain’ you will surely enjoy humming the famous tunes as you ride. Your journey continues by boat, rail, foot and bike through the highlights of the lake district. Taking in the imperial spa town of Bad Ischl, the castles of Mondsee and Orth, the beautiful lakeside town of Hallstatt, Tour: The Sound of Music Cycling the Dachstein Ice Caves, Hellbrun Palace, St Gilgen, the Strubklamm gorge and much more. This really Code: CASSOM1 cycling tour is packed with interest from start to finish. Type: Self-Guided Cycling Holiday Price: See Website The cycling on this holiday is graded easy to moderate and perfectly suited to those who enjoy varied Dates: 21 Apr - 13 October terrain. The cycling is flat along the lake shores and riverbanks. In between the terrain is hilly though you Days: 8 Nights: 7, Cycling Days: 6 may avoid ascents by using the local trains. Indeed we include the train journey up to the mountain village Start/Finish: Salzburg of Obertraun allowing you to descend by bike. There are numerous route options on most days and you Distance: ~250km (155 miles) can choose how much you do each day. One third is on dedicated cycle tracks with the rest on meadow Grade: Easy to Moderate and woodland paths, country lanes and a few short sections follow roads with light traffic. Your holiday includes 7 nights handpicked accommodation in charming 3* Austrian Inns and hotels IS IT FOR ME? The Sound of Music cycling tour takes you (accommodation upgrade available), breakfast each morning, daily baggage transfer, a boat trip across on a journey through the best of the Austrian Lake Traunsee, the train journey from Lake Traunsee to Obertraun and bike transport from St Gilgen to Lake district. There is no better way to dis- Tiefbrunnau. A comprehensive information pack with turn by turn route notes, maps and local information cover the landscape, music, history and is included as is a 7 day service hotline. Bike hire while not included may be booked as an option. villages of “Sound of Music” country. HIGHLIGHTS WHAT’S INCLUDED? Salzburg: Fairytale architecture, Mozart, museums, music & history Accommodation: 7 Nights in 3* hotels. Hallstatt, the ‘most beautiful lake town in the world’ (Upgrade to 3 & 4* hotels) Meals: 7 breakfasts Cycling along with ‘The Sound of Music’ playing in your head! Baggage Transfer: Daily Swimming in the crystal clear lakes beneath mountain peaks. Information Pack: Route directions, maps Exploring the imperial spa town of Bad Ischl & information pack. Plus: Personal welcome briefing, train WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY WITH US? from Lake Traunsee to Obertraun, boat jour- ney on Lake Attersee, bike transport Macs Adventure are specialists in self guided cycling holidays, the very best way to discover Europe. We St.Gilgen - Tiefbrunnau, E– signposting. understand what makes for an unforgettable cycling holiday; great routes, breathtaking scenery, lots to do Optional Bike Hire: Available, but not and warm, welcoming accommodation. All are included as standard! included THE SOUND OF MUSIC CYCLING CYCLE THE SALZKAMMERGUT LAKE DISTRICT Trumer Lakes (Obertrumer See, Mattsee, Obertraun, home of the Dachstein ice caves. DETAILED ITINERARY Grabensee) and Lake Wallersee. Crystal clear From this ski resort setting you are able to waters backed by craggy peaks will certainly freewheel cycle down toward Hallstatt, voted the tempt you in for a swim. ’most beautiful lake town in the world’ on the Day Route shores of Lake Hallstatter See. The alpine Cycle: approx. 45 - 55 km scenery is absolutely sublime. You complete the 1 Arrive in Salzburg Overnight: Trumer Lakes/Lake Wallersee day at Bad Goisern, a spa town. 2 Cycle to Trumer Lakes/Lake Waller- see: 45-55km DAY 3 Cycle: approx. 20 - 35 km 3 Cycle to Lake Mondsee: 50-60 km 4 Cycle to Lake Traunsee: 45-55km Cycle to Lake Mondsee Overnight: Bad Goisern 5 Cycle to Bad Goisern (via Lake Hall- statter See): 20-35km You start the day by cycling through the nature DAY 6 reserve of the Egel Lakes and passing the dairy 6 Cycle to Lake Wolfgangsee: 35 km Cycle to Lake Wolfgangsee 7 Cycle to Salzburg:40 - 50km village of Schleedorf, where you must taste the 8 Onward travel local cheese. You then have the opportunity to The route takes you though Bad Ischl, which cycle through ‘Finsterloch’ or ‘Dark Hole’ a large became a fashionable medicinal spa resort in the DAY 1 cave with stone age associations before arriving 19th century. Emperors, princes and archdukes Arrive Salzburg at Lake Irsee which, with the warmest water in where all regular visitors and the Kaiservilla, the region, is perfect for a dip. Lake Mondsee Franz Josef’s summer residence, is today a Salzburg has an international airport with good marks the end of the day with a chance to visit museum. connections from Europe and further afield. the castle of the same name. Nearby Lake The Emperor’s Park, Sissi’s tea house, the open Attersee, the largest of the regions lakes is Salzburg is an absolute delight. One of the best air pool or the thermal spa all give you an excuse famous for it’s ‘Rosenwind’ or ‘Breeze of Roses’. preserved cities north of the Alps it was declared to linger. a UNESCO World heritage site in 1997. and is Cycle: approx. 45 - 55km famous as the birthplace of Mozart and the Cycling on to Lake Wolfgangsee you pass the location for the ‘The Sound of Music’. Packed Overnight: Mondsee market town of St Wolfgang en route to Abersee. with museums, fairytale baroque architecture and Your destination today is the ‘Mozart village’ of St DAY 4 with a distinctly theatrical flavour there is just so Gilgen. much to do. Boat and then cycle to Lake Cycle: approx. 35km Allow time for your personal welcome briefing Traumsee Overnight: St. Gilgen and rental bike collection. A relaxing and scenic boat journey brings you to Weyregg home of the St Valentine’s Church. DAY 7 Overnight: Salzburg From here you cycle through the richly wooded Cycle to Salzburg DAY 2 Aurachtal valley to Lake Traunsee. At Gmunden on the lake shore you will surely wish to visit the The day starts with a short cycle through St Salzburg to Trumer Lakes/Lake 11th century Orth Castle situated on its own Gilgen followed by the chance to hike up to Wallersee island accessible by a bridge Tiefbrunnau, while your bike is transported up as you walk. So you are able to cycle the beautiful Departing Salzburg you are immediately Cycle: approx 45 - 55km immersed in the beautiful landscape of the lake path back downhill to Lake Hintersee though the district as you cycle along the River Salzach, the Overnight: Traunkirchen deep Strubklamm gorge. natural border between Salzburg and Bavaria. DAY 5 Your route continues through the You soon arrive at Obendorf, the village known Glasenbachklamm gorge into the Salzachtal for the first performance of the carol ‘Silent Train and then cycle to Bad Goisern valley surrounded by alpine peaks. Night’. Passing the Benedictine Abbey of Today you start with a train journey up to Michaelbeuern you enter the region of the 3 THE SOUND OF MUSIC CYCLING CYCLE THE SALZKAMMERGUT LAKE DISTRICT Just before reaching Salzburg you should pause Grade The mileages and approximations are distances to visit the baroque villa at Hellbrun Palace. Your of the recommended routes. Please be prepared cycling tour of the Austrian Lake District is This cycle tour is graded easy to moderate. The by packing all necessary items, for example, complete when you arrive at Salzburg. cycling is flat along the lake shores and proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, riverbanks. In between the terrain is hilly though sunscreen and proper sport shoes. Travel to and Overnight: Salzburg you may avoid ascents by using the local trains. from Salzburg is not included in the tour price Indeed we include the train journey up to the DAY 8 and must be arranged on your own. In Austria it mountain village of Obertraun allowing you to is mandatory for children under 12 yrs to wear a Onward Travel descend by bike. Depending on the route you helmet when on a bike. take one third is on cycle tracks with the rest on Depart after breakfast meadow and woodland paths, country lanes and PRICE AND AVAILABILITY Additional Nights and Extensions quiet streets. A few short sections follow roads with more traffic. We can book additional nights before, during or This tour is available to start on any day of the after the trip and would recommend an extra Navigation week from mid April to mid October. High season night in Salzburg or the Trumer Lakes. We supply you with detailed maps, route notes runs from the 1st of July to the 31st of August.