Salzburg to Krimml Falls Cycling Holiday

This cycling holiday leads you through some of Austria’s most impressive alpine scenery. Along the way you’ll see picture-perfect alpine villages, serene mountain lakes, glistening glaciers, tumbling waterfalls and cavernous gorges. While you are always surrounded by alpine vistas, the route sticks to the valley floor offering relaxed cycling along bike paths and low-traffic roads.

This could almost be called the highlights of Austria tour. You start and finish in the charming city of Salzburg, famous with many for being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart while for others it is inextricably linked with one of the most popular musicals ever made, The Sound of Music.

The pretty village of Lofer

Leaving the city you cycle into a world of lush meadows, mountain streams and towering peaks. The town of Zell am See on the shores of the Zeller lake has to be one of the most picturesque towns in the Alps. The Kitzstenhorn glacier above the pretty village of Kaprun is an awe inspiring sight as are the thundering waterfalls near Krimml. Stunning views and fresh mountain air are constants throughout the trip and each evening will be spent in cosy, idyllic alpine villages.

The route is mostly along bike paths and quiet roads. Any climbs are gentle and on the whole the route is reasonably level.

Salzburg to Krimml Falls Cycling Holiday

This cycling holiday leads you through some of Austria’s most impressive alpine scenery. Along the way you’ll see picture-perfect alpine villages, serene mountain lakes, glistening glaciers, tumbling waterfalls and cavernous gorges. While you are always surrounded by alpine vistas, the route sticks to the valley floor offering relaxed cycling along bike paths and low-traffic roads.

This could almost be called the highlights of Austria tour. You start and finish in the charming city of Salzburg, famous with many for being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart while for others it is inextricably linked with one of the most popular musicals ever made, The Sound of Music.

The pretty village of Lofer

Leaving the city you cycle into a world of lush meadows, mountain streams and towering peaks. The town of Zell am See on the shores of the Zeller lake has to be one of the most picturesque towns in the Alps. The Kitzstenhorn glacier above the pretty village of Kaprun is an awe inspiring sight as are the thundering waterfalls near Krimml. Stunning views and fresh mountain air are constants throughout the trip and each evening will be spent in cosy, idyllic alpine villages.

The route is mostly along bike paths and quiet roads. Any climbs are gentle and on the whole the route is reasonably level.

Itinerary

The route is mostly along bike paths and quiet roads. Any climbs are gentle and on the whole the route is reasonably level.

Day 1 : Arrive Salzburg

On arrival in Salzburg make your way to your hotel. After check-in you’re free to explore the city of Mozart. As well as being the great composer’s birthplace, Salzburg has plenty to offer. You shouldn’t miss the imposing Hohensalzburg Castle and Mirabell Palace, but we also highly recommend simply sitting in a traditional café and enjoying a coffee and indulgent pastry whilst absorbing the atmosphere of this lovely old town.

Day 2 : Salzburg – Bischofshofen/St Johann
33 to 38 miles/52 to 61 kms

We suggest an early start as there is much to see en route today. Head south along the wide Salzach valley past the salt mining town of Hallein to the village of Golling. Here we recommend investing in the short hike to admire the nearby waterfall. A little further on you may also wish to stop and visit the nearby ice caves that stretch for 40 km below the mountains. The ancient hilltop castle at Werfen is quite a sight and a little further on you’ll stop for the night in either Bischofshofen or St. Johann im Pongau, both bustling little towns with plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants.

Day 3 : Bischofshofen/St. Johann – Zell am See/Kaprun
26 to 35 miles/41 to 55 kms

Today you continue south along the Salzach valley and the alpine scenery is breathtaking from the first turn of the pedal to that last. Near the village of Alpendorf you may be tempted to make a short detour to visit the Liechtensteinklamm, a deep and narrow gorge through which a wooden walkway has been constructed for safe viewing.

You then pass through some gorgeous little alpine villages, including Bruck which sits at the base of Austria’s highest mountain – the Großglockner (3798m) before arriving in the Zell am See/Kaprun area. The Zeller lake is a truly spectacular setting and the Kitzsteinhoen glacier high above the pretty village of Kaprun is open for skiing all year long! You’ll spend the next two nights in either Zell am See, Kaprun or the village of Piesendorf.

Day 4 : Zell am See/Kaprun – Krimml – Roundtrip
33 to 41 miles/53 to 65 kms

After breakfast you take the train with your bike to Krimml, 50 kms to the west. From the station at Krimml it is a short 3 km ride up to the head of the valley to the Krimml Waterfalls, the highest falls in Europe. Follow the waterfall trail on foot to get incredibly close to the plunging falls. After your visit, set off on your bike back following a lovely bike trail through the lush meadows and pretty alpine villages. It’s mostly level and easy cycling all the way back.

Day 5 : Zell am See/Kaprun – Lofer
29 to 38 miles/46 to 58 kms

After breakfast you begin your return journey towards Salzburg. This time you will follow the Saalach valley north from Zell am See to the charming little village of Maria Alm. After a pleasant ride along the wide scenic valley you eventually arrive in the picture-perfect village of Lofer surrounded by high granite peaks. If you have any remaining energy take the cable car up to the Loderbichl for some amazing views of the surrounding area.

Day 6 : Lofer – Salzburg
31 miles/49 kms

Your final ride continues to follow the Saalach river which is now quite boisterous with rapids and fast flowing sections that attract daring kayakers. The tranquil Saalach valley provides some serene alpine cycling before you ride through a small corner of Germany. In the Deautsche Eck you will visit Bad Reichenhall, a spa town with a distinct Bavarian flair. A short distance further on you arrive back in Salzburg, the perfect place to toast and celebrate completing your alpine cycling adventure.

Day 7 : Salzburg - end of trip

After breakfast its time to check-out and head for your home or next adventure.

Bikes

Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed 21-speed models. The bikes come equipped with panniers, lock and a repair kit with pump.

Electric bikes are also available.

We suggest you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons, alternatively a limited amount of helmets are available to pre-book for rent at the time of booking, €15 to be paid locally.

Accommodation

Below you will find examples of the types of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.

Comfort: Comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels and inns.

Salzburg: Hotel Ganslhof

Bischofshofen: Hotel Alte Post

Zell am See: Hotel Martini

Lofer: Gasthof Moorbad Hochmoos

Salzburg: Hotel Ganslhof

Superior: Good quality 4 star hotels

Salzburg: Hotel Zur Post

St. Johann im Pongau: Hotel Hubertus

Kaprun: Das Alpenhaus /Zell am See: Hotel zum Hirschen

Lofer: Gasthof Moorbad Hochmoos

Salzburg: Hotel Zur Post

Local taxes

Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night.

Getting there

Fly to Salzburg airport and then take the regular public bus into the city. Alternatively you can also fly to Munich airport, followed by a commuter train to Munich’s main station and then an intercity to Salzburg – total journey time approx 2.5 hours.

Research flights from the UK here.

Research train times here.

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