Cycling in Salzkammergut - 10 Lakes

Arrival in Mozart's Salzburg and check-in at your first hotel. You receive a personal welcome with information about the trip and bicycle handover, and are then free to explore this elegant city.

The first day you cycle along the river Salzach to Oberndorf, where the Christmas carol Silent Night was composed, and continue to Arnsdorf with the Silent Night museum. In Michaelbeuern you can visit the monastery, and then cycle further into the Trumer lake region with Obertrum, Mattsee, Grabensee and Wallersee. A shorter, more direct route is also possible for a shorter starting day.

The second cycling day takes you through the Egelseen nature reserve to Schleedorf. Then you continue to the idyllic lake Irrsee. Overnight in Mondsee, with the opportunity to visit the castle and the local smokehouse. Feel free to taste a smoked trout or char caught in the clear lake, or ham and sausage if you prefer it with a stop of foaming beer.

First you cycle along Mondsee's shore to Attersee. Then either a boat trip to Attersee (only in July and August) or cycling along Attersee's shore. Then continue through the Aurachtal valley to lake Traunsee and the town Gmunden with the famous castle Orth and ceramic factory. Then continue to Altmünster with its bicycle museum and Traunkirchen with the so-called "Fisherman's Pulpit".

By train you travel from Traunsee to Obertraun at Hallstatt lake. Here you can visit the famous ice caves in the Dachstein massif before continuing to Hallstatt – perhaps the world's most beautiful lake village with the world's oldest salt mine. Today's destination is Bad Goisern or a nearby village.

In the spa town Bad Ischl, the emperor's park, villa and Sisi's tea salon await. Then you follow the river Ischler Ache towards Wolfgangsee via St. Wolfgang (with the "White Horse" hotel and the cog railway up to Schafberg), Strobl, Abersee and St. Gilgen – Mozart's village by the lake.

The last day offers a real gem. You follow the cycle path to St. Gilgen and continue to deep blue Fuschlsee. Then via Hintersee and the Strubklamm gorge through the Wiestal valley, further down to Salzachtal. Before Salzburg you can stop at Hellbrunn castle with park, zoo and playful water fountains. The journey ends in the festival city Salzburg – with the fortress, old town and Mozart's legacy around every corner.

After breakfast the trip ends, or stay to spend some extra days in Salzburg.