sign in sign up
<<
Home , Krimml, Lofer, Maria Alm, Piesendorf, Saalfelden, Salzach

The Tauernradweg Tour : Self-Guided

Cycle one of the most beautiful routes in the world beginning in , deep in the Alps, to the Mozart City , following the and Rivers to the “Bishop City” of Passau. The Krimml Falls drop 1200 feet to the beginning of the Bicycle Path that finds its way down from the mountains over 200 miles to the River below. Along the way, through meadows and forests, always following the two rivers, you’ll discover quaint villages, scenic river gorges, pristine lakes, and famous though often underappreciated cities. Winding in and out of , you’ll be amazed by the mighty fortresses, ancient abbeys and magnificent town squares you’ll encounter along the way. Though surrounded by the highest mountains of the region, the Tauern Bicycle Path is surprisingly easy biking: it follows the Salzach and Inn Rivers through predominantly flat or slightly hilly country, going gently downhill most of the way thanks to the 700 meters of elevation difference between Krimml and Passau.

Included in the Tour Price • Accommodations with private facilities in mostly 4-star hotels or guest houses • Daily buffet breakfast • Admission to the Krimmler waterfalls • 21-speed hybrid bike with 2 side panniers, lock, and repair kit • Luggage transfer • Detailed route descriptions and maps • Emergency number access

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 – Krimml or Wald Your tour begins in Krimml, a typical mountain village, deep in the Tyrol Alps less than an hour from , the world famous ski resort. In winter, Krimml is a skier’s paradise with guaranteed snow from December to April. In the summer Krimml is heavenly … mountains, flowers, lush green meadows and fresh air excite the mind and soul with unparalleled spectacle. The roar and thunder of the grandiose , which happen to be the highest in Europe, provide a constant soundtrack to this wondrous place… the waterfalls tumble down 1200 feet into the . (If hotel space is unavailable in Krimml, the tour commences in close by Wald).

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected]

Day 2 – Krimml/Wald to / -33-40 miles (53-65 km) The Tauern Bicycle Path begins at the Krimml Waterfalls and continues through fields and meadows to Neukirchen where you can visit a small but interesting historical museum of the area named “Kammerlanderstall”. Passing many picturesque farm houses, you’ll reach Habachthal, famous for its emerald mines. You can stop for a swim in the romantic Hintersee Lake in Fiebertal. Then continue along a picturesque route to the European Sport Center /Zell am See and the impressive mountain lake of Zell am See.

Day 3 - Piesendorf/ Zell am See - – 28-36 miles (46-58 km) Today you leave the upper Salzachtal Valley and follow the very natural river course of the . The cycle path leads through the broad valley basin from and the famous place of pilgrimage in the direction of Lofer. The Seisenbergklamm and the Lamprechtshohë are natural monuments worth your while on your way to the Lofer, a charming ski town located in the lower Salzachtal Valley.

Day 4 – Lofer to Salzburg - 30 miles (49 km) On your way to Salzburg, you will get more beautiful mountain views. From Lofer you will travel through , a small town with beautiful views of the Reiter Steinberge mountain range. As you approach Salzburg you’ll pass by Bad Reichenhall, a spa town with saline springs that made the town rich. Salt is so much a part of the town that you can practically taste it in the air. Use the afternoon to stroll around the delightful “Sound of Music City”, as Salzburg is a wonderful walking city with many little passageways and courtyards in the cozy medieval center. The most famous street in this part of Salzburg is the Getreidegasse, well known for its old-style hanging shop signs and Mozart’s birthplace at number 9. A few steps away is the “City of the Bishops’, a more grandiose Salzburg with the magnificent Cathedral and former residence of the Archbishop. The Mirabell Palace and Gardens are a delightful place of great beauty not to be missed. Also especially recommended is the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg’s landmark and the largest citadel in Central Europe to have completely survived. The panoramic view over the city from here is spectacular.

Day 5: Extra Day in Salzburg

Day 6: Salzburg - Burghausen - 36 miles (58 km) You’ll leave the festival city of Salzburg and take the path along the bank of the Salzach to tranquil and quaint Oberndorf. It was here that the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was written in 1818 and you might visit the charming, little “Silent Night Chapel”. In the afternoon you’ll reach Burghausen, a town with the longest castle complex in the world. A visit to the impressive fortress will acquaint you with the history and development of the town and castle.

Day 7: Burghausen – Bad Füssing - 30 miles (49 km) Today you’ll cycle through the “Unterer Inn” Nature Preserve, the largest wooded region of the Inn and stop at the Inn-Salzach View, where the Salzach flows into the Inn. You then pass through lively Braunau where you can stop for coffee and a walk around to admire the central square and clock tower. The cycle path will then lead you directly to the town of Bad Füssing. The town is famous for its three thermal springs; know for their healing power.

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected]

Day 8: Bad Füssing – Schärding - 21 miles (34 km) From Bad Füssing you will bike to the beautiful town of Schärding. Along the way you can visit Reichersberg Abbey, a monastery built in the 11th century. You will continue along the Inn river to arrive in Scharding. You will have to drop your bike off in Scharding by 6 pm, then walk a little less than 1 kilometer to get to the last hotel where your luggage will be waiting. After dinner we recommend a stroll around in this charming little town with the “most beautiful baroque town square in all of Austria”.

Day 9: Individual Departure

Level of Difficulty Moderate; slightly hilly terrain with longer daily mileage.

Bike Rental 21-speed hybrid bike with 2 side panniers, lock, and repair kit is included in the tour price. A bike helmet is NOT included. Note: It is not possible to change pedals or saddles on the bikes!

To reach Krimml We recommend that you start in Salzburg. You can fly directly to Salzburg, or to Vienna (three hours by train to Salzburg) or to Munich (two hours by train to Salzburg). Train connections from Salzburg to Krimml are difficult. From Salzburg, we recommend that you either rent a car and drive to the last leg of the trip in Scharding, or you take a private transfer from Salzburg to the first hotel in Krimml (contact us for pricing). If you drive to Scharding, you can park in our Austria partners’ parking lot, and from there we can offer a private bus that will leave and go directly to Krimml. Departure is every day at 2:30 PM; duration 4 hours; the cost is $58 per person. You will have to pay the driver in cash. Please let us know if we should reserve this transfer for you. To depart at the end of your trip from Scharding, we recommend taking a train to your next destination. Timetables and prices can be found at www.oebb.at.

Not Included - Airfare - Lunches and dinners - Alcoholic and bar beverages

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected]