
Holiday Highlights
- Starting and finishing in the beautiful and cultural Salzburg
- Oberndorf – the home of the Silent Night memorial chapel
- Staying overnight where the ‘The Sound of Music’ wedding scene was filmed
- The turquoise-green Lake Attersee
- The panoramic view from Schafberg over Lake Wolfgangsee
- Hellbrunn’s fabulous gardens, with its elaborate trick fountain
This was the best holiday I’ve ever had! Saddle Skedaddle were just a phone call away when we had some trouble with directions. The best part was biking through the gorgeous countryside of Austria.
Itinerary
Depending on your arrival time into Salzburg you may have time take a look around and explore the winding streets of the old part of town before returning to your hotel to meet your local representative.
You will be fitted to your rental bikes, should you be renting, and you will have the chance to discuss your upcoming ride, as well as receiving all your route notes and maps for the week ahead.

- Meals: Breakfast
You’ll begin today’s ride by following the river Salzach to Oberndorf, home to the memorial chapel where Silent Night was first performed. In Arnsdorf, your next port of call, you can learn more about the carol and its composer in the Silent Night Museum, which explores the area’s connection with the song.
Further along the route you’ll come across the striking Benedictine Michaelbeuern Abbey which may have been founded as far back as the 8th century. You spend the night in the picturesque Trumer Lakes area or on Lake Wallersee.
- Meals: Breakfast
Today’s ride begins by winding through the nature reserve and network of small lakes of Egelseen to Schleedorf, a village which showcases traditional local crafts, and onwards to Lake Irrsee.
You’ll continue riding towards Mondsee, home to a striking Monastery which encompasses the church where the wedding scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. Even without this claim to fame the church is well worth a visit due to its beautiful interior.
- Meals: Breakfast
We hope you packed your sea legs, as today you’ll cross Lake Attersee by boat to reach Weyregg, where a wide range of activities are accessible, from golf to paragliding. (Please note, tickets for the boat are only included if you‘re travelling between 01/07 and 31/08. At other times of the year the ferry is not available and the alternative route adds 20 kms of relatively easy riding.)
You will continue on through the lovely Aurachtal valley to Gmunden, a charming town on the north shore of Lake Traunsee. Close by is Castle Orth, situated on a small island in the lake.
- Meals: Breakfast
The legs get a bit of a rest today as you transfer by train from Traunsee to Obertraun on Lake Hallstätter See, home to a large network of ice caves.
Following the lake shore, you’ll reach the town of Hallstatt which really is stunningly beautiful. Hallstatt is known for the Beinhaus (bone house) where the skulls of the town’s former residents are decorated and displayed as a mark of respect. The area became wealthy through the nearby salt mines and this is reflected in the houses perched delicately over the lake. From here it is a short ride to the Market town of Bad Goisern; tonight you’ll stay either in Bad Goisern or a nearby town.

- Meals: Breakfast
Back on the bike for the short ride to Bad Ischl and the summer residence of the former emperor of the Austro-Hungarian empire Franz Joseph, who described the palace as “Heaven on Earth“.
You’ll follow the course of the river Ischler Ache to Lake Wolfgangsee and St. Wolfgang, with its cog railway, to the summit of nearby Schafberg, which you may want to visit before heading to your accommodation for the evening.
- Meals: Breakfast
Today is your final day’s cycling but with the views on offer you might wish you had another week to explore!
St. Gilgen, known as the Mozart village, is today’s first port of call. The ride will take you through the picturesque Glasenbachklamm gorge, a favourite destination for locals because of its diverse geographical features.
Before returning to Salzburg a visit to Hellbrunn is worthwhile for a look around its fabulous gardens, with an elaborate trick fountain, and a final dose of Sound of Music nostalgia with locations from the film. Your final night is back in Salzburg.

- Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast you might have the time for a last look around Salzburg before catching your return flight home.
Please note; The distance you ride each day will be determined by the location of your hotel each night. The two options stated on some of the days are not optional shorter or longer routes, but more an indication of the distances to each of the possible accommodations. Please ensure you are comfortable with all of the distances stated above.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The majority of this easy to follow route is on mixed use cycle paths, (you’ll be riding on tarmac 85% of the time). The other 15% sees you riding on hard packed gravel / dirt tracks, along forest paths and rural roads. Only some short sections will be shared with traffic.
On the banks of the lakes and alongside the Salzach river, the routes are completely flat, but the in between sections are hilly. (A train transfer on day 5 helps with one of the more difficult climbs though!).
There are some relatively long distances, (the first ride of the week will pose the biggest challenge in terms of distance and hills) and so the route may not be suitable for inexperienced cyclists or for younger children cycling independently.
We recommend a hybrid bike for this tour.

Leisure Cycling Grade
Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day
For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness
May include some steeper, cheeky climbs and possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc)
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 holiday to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
Dates & Prices
2021 and 2022 Daily departures available from 03 Apr to the 09 Oct.
Season 1 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) the 03 Apr and the 23 Apr or the 02 Oct and the 09 Oct: £930 pp.
Season 2 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) the 24 Apr and the 11 Jun or the 04 Sep and the 01 Oct: £970 pp.
Season 3 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) the 12 Jun and the 03 Sep: £1070 pp.
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in 4* or good quality 3* hotels
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Local representative (with welcome meeting)
D) Detailed route notes and maps
E) Luggage transfers
F) (Day 4) Boat trip on Lake Attersee (if starting your trip between 01/07 and 31/08)
G) (Day 5) Train tickets from Lake Traunsee to Lake Hallstättersee
What's not Included 
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Meals not stated in the itinerary
D) Single room (available if required)
E) Travel insurance
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
H) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
I) Tourist tax (to be paid locally, amount varies / couple of € per night)
J) Travel to first hotel on arrival day
K) Travel from final hotel on departure day
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Reviews
Julie, USABest vacation ever!This was the best vacation I’ve ever had! Saddle Skedaddle were just a phone call away when we had some trouble with directions. The best part was biking through the gorgeous countryside of Austria.
Joanne, LondonExcellent...We had a fantastic holiday and not only have we recommended Saddle Skedaddle to our friends but we are also looking forward to planning our next trip! Thank you!
Trevor, AustraliaAnother great Skedaddle trip...This was our second Skedaddle ride and we will certainly intend to use Skedaddle again, excellent holiday!
Saundra, USAFantastic ...It was a fantastic week. Thanks for all your help!