Self-guided ToursAustria
The Ten Austrian Lakes by Bike, in the Heart of the Salzkammergut
Starting from Salzburg, this self-guided cycling trip takes you through the Salzkammergut, between ten Austrian lakes, refined villages and landscapes of Alpine foothills. Following in the footsteps of Empress Sissi, you reach notable places such as Oberndorf, Bad Ischl, a former imperial resort, as well as Hallstatt and the Wolfgangsee.
The route alternates pleasant flat sections along the water with rolling portions between meadows, forests and secondary roads, making it an accessible itinerary for active cyclists looking for variety rather than performance.
A self-guided itinerary designed to combine the pleasure of cycling and heritage discovery, at your own pace.
Highlights
Strong cultural landmarks: Salzburg, Bad Ischl and the village of Hallstatt
Ten Austrian lakes connected by quiet and panoramic roads
Accessible and well-paced route, between flat sections and rolling terrain
Itinerary
The markers on the map locate each stage approximately. They do not correspond to the exact address of your accommodation. The overnight stays indicated in the itinerary may change depending on availability. The exact address appears in your travel booklet.
Day 1 | Arrival in Salzburg
Check in at your hotel and pick up your equipment. Take time to wander through the Baroque lanes of the old town, between the bell towers and palaces lining the Salzach River. The atmosphere of Mozart’s city offers an ideal introduction before your first turns of the pedals.
Day 2 | Salzbourg - Lacs Trumer Seen / Lac Wallersee (50 ou 60 km)
You leave Salzburg on a flat bike path along the Salzach, between villages and meadows. Stop in Oberndorf, where the carol “Silent Night, Holy Night” was composed in 1818 in a small chapel. The route continues toward Arnsdorf and Michaelbeuern Abbey on quiet secondary roads before reaching the shores of the Trumer Seen lakes or Lake Wallersee.
Day 3 | Trumer Seen Lakes / Lake Wallersee - Lake Mondsee (50 km)
This day takes you through the Egelseen nature reserve in Schleedorf. Later, you continue toward idyllic Lake Irrsee.
Day 4 | Lake Mondsee - Lake Traunsee (50 or 80 km)
Depending on the season, a short boat transfer takes you directly to Weyregg on Lake Attersee (July-August), or the itinerary follows its shores, adding about 15 km. The route then passes through the Aurachtal Valley to Lake Traunsee. In Gmunden, Ort Castle, built on an islet connected to the shore, deserves a stop. The stage ends in Traunkirchen, on the lakeshore, passing through Altmünster and its museum dedicated to cycling.
Jour 5 | Lake Traunsee - Bad Goisern (20 or 35 km)
A short train ride takes you from Lake Traunsee to Obertraun, on the shores of Lake Hallstättersee, at the foot of the Dachstein massif and its ice caves. The itinerary then continues along the lake to Hallstatt, often considered one of the most beautiful waterside villages in Europe. The day ends in Bad Goisern or in a nearby locality.
Day 6 | Bad Goisern - Lake Wolfgangsee (35 km)
The route follows the Ischl River to Bad Ischl, the former imperial resort of Empress Sissi. Her villa, park and tea house are deserves a stop, as is Café Zauner, a local institution founded in 1832. The bike path then reaches Lake Wolfgangsee via Strobl. Following its shores, you pass the White Horse Inn, made famous by Ralph Benatzky’s operetta.
Day 7 | Lake Wolfgangsee - Salzburg (50 or 70 km)
Final stage toward Salzburg. Departure via St. Gilgen, a village associated with Mozart’s family, then the clear waters of Lake Fuschlsee. The route passes through gorges and valleys before reaching the gates of Salzburg, where Hellbrunn Palace is worth one last stop. Arrival in the city with the old town and its fortress in the background.
Day 8 | Departure from Salzburg
End of stay after breakfast. If time allows, go up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for one last view over the city and the landscapes travelled during the week.
Jour 9 | Extension option
Would you like to extend the trip? An additional day allows you to leave Salzburg to the north and discover a wilder region, between discreet lakes and moorland landscapes.
Dates and pricing
All prices are indicated per person and in CAD. They vary depending on the period and availability at the time of booking.
Possible departures: every day, from April to October
Double Occupancy Package:
- Comfort trip type: starting from $2,140
- Charm trip type: starting from $2,470
Single Occupancy Supplement:
- Comfort trip type: starting from $530
- Charm trip type: starting from $765
Hesitating between trip types? Consult our guide to comfort levels.
Bike Rental:
- Hybrid: $210
- Hybrid Plus: $380
- Electric assist: $610
These prices cover bike rental for the entire stay, including transport accessories and safety essentials.
Options Offered:
- Flight booking
- Additional nights before, during and after the stay
The price includes
- 7 nights in a double room in the chosen accommodation category, breakfasts included
- A personalized welcome in English at the beginning of the stay
- Luggage transport from one accommodation to the next
- The boat crossing including your bike on Day 4 on Lake Attersee, for arrivals in June and August
- The train journey between Lake Traunsee and Lake Hallstättersee on Day 5, bike included
- GPX tracks to follow the itinerary by bike
- A digital travel kit 30 days before departure, including the essential logistical details for your trip
- An assistance service with an emergency number
- Participation in the Fonds Plein Air 1% for the Planet program: Ekilib donates 1% of its revenue to support nature protection projects in Québec
The Price Does Not Include
- Air transportation to the destination as well as the transport costs for your bike and any baggage surcharge required by the airline
- Transfers from the airport to the hotel and vice versa
- Bike rental
- Personal expenses, including drinks
- Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites not planned in the program, as well as additional travel related to a modification of the program for weather reasons
- Tips, if applicable
- Accommodation taxes
- Travel insurance
- File processing fees of CA$75, plus taxes
- Financial protection from the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents. Free of charge as of January 1, 2024
Practical information
Accommodations and meals
Accommodations
The planned accommodations are 3- or 4-star hotels, according to your choice. Please note that the posted price for this trip corresponds to accommodation in a standard room. If you wish to stay in a higher-category room, it is generally possible to request this for a supplement, subject to availability.
Meals
Breakfast is included every morning.
For lunch, you are free to organize yourself as you wish. You can plan a stop along the way to eat in a restaurant or stop at a grocery store, according to your preferences.
For dinner, most hotels have an on-site restaurant where you can have your meal. You may also choose to discover nearby local restaurants.
Bike Type and Equipment Provided
Type of bike
For this trip, you can choose between a hybrid bike (available in both men’s and women’s frame styles), a hybrid plus bike (a higher-performance men’s hybrid bike equipped with upgraded components), or an electric bike.
You may also bring your own bike for an additional fee. We encourage you to contact us to confirm the transportation and storage arrangements for your bike case. Please note that electric bikes are not accepted on trips involving air travel, due to airline restrictions on batteries.
Equipment provided
Regardless of the type of bike selected, the equipment provided includes a rear pannier for carrying your personal belongings during the day, a flat tire repair kit with tire levers, a spare inner tube, and a small pump, as well as a bike lock.
Helmets are not always provided, so we recommend bringing your own for added comfort and safety.
Water bottle cages are uncommon on the bikes provided. We therefore recommend bringing a bottle that can be stored in your pannier. You may also wish to bring a bungee cord with hooks to secure your bottle to the rear rack for easier access while riding.
Difficulty Level
The difficulty level is intermediate, as the route alternates between flat sections along the water and more rolling terrain through meadows, forests, and quiet country roads. Most of the cycling takes place on dedicated bike paths, making the itinerary both enjoyable and accessible.
Daily distances may vary depending on the location of the accommodations. As a result, some stages may be shorter while others may be longer. These variations are taken into account when designing the itinerary and do not affect the overall difficulty level of the trip.
Guidance
This is a self-guided trip, meaning there is no tour leader accompanying you. You should therefore be comfortable following the route using the navigation app provided, as paper maps are rarely available nowadays. You should also be able to handle basic bike maintenance, such as fixing a flat tire.
While self-guided trips give you the freedom to travel at your own pace, you are never entirely on your own. A local partner remains available throughout your stay, and a 24/7 emergency contact number is provided should assistance be required.
This support ensures that help is always available for logistical questions or any unexpected situations that may arise during your journey.
Extending Your Trip
It is possible to add extra nights before or after your trip.
Please note that these additional days do not include any extra cycling routes. If you would like to extend your cycling adventure, you will need to organize any additional rides independently.
Luggage Transport
Throughout your trip, a luggage transfer service is provided between accommodations. Each morning, your main bag is left at the reception of your accommodation and transported to the next stop on your itinerary.
The usual allowance is one bag per person, weighing up to approximately 20 kg. This allows you to ride with only the essentials for the day, typically carried in the pannier provided with your bike.
Formalities
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory to participate in an Ekilib trip. Your policy should cover emergency medical expenses abroad, travel assistance, and repatriation. Coverage for trip cancellation and interruption is also strongly recommended.
Cycling trips involve physical activity and daily travel. Having the right insurance coverage allows you to travel with peace of mind and be prepared for unexpected situations.
Before departure, make sure your policy covers cycling activities as part of your trip. We also recommend reviewing any travel insurance benefits included with your credit card or existing insurance plan.
Flights
International flights are not included in the price of this trip.
We recommend waiting until your trip has been officially confirmed before booking your flights. You may arrange your flights independently or ask our team to assist you with the booking process.
In all cases, we recommend checking arrival and departure times carefully to ensure they align with the transfers included in your itinerary.
Let's talk about your cycling trip
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