Innsbruck to Salzburg by Road Bike

Arrival to Innsbruck and check into your hotel. If you have time explore the city, check out the famous Golden roof or take a cable car ride to 1900m!

You will leave Innsbruck by following the river cycle trail but shortly afterwards you turn upward to follow smaller roads along the edge of the well-known mountain range of “Nordkette”. Passing small villages and towns you have the optional tour up towards the mountain Lake of Achensee before you reach the Zillertal valley.  Overnight Zillertal valley – e.g. Strass.

Today has wonderful flat roads that will lead you into the Zillertal valley with famous winter sports villages. After the warm-up ride, you will start to cycle over the mountain pass Gerlos with wide views into the Alps, passing barrier lakes, upland moor and later on a fantastic view to the Krimmler waterfalls. The mountain road is 12km long and has about 9 % elevation. The highest point will be at 1630 metres. In the afternoon you will certainly time to visit the waterfalls which is one of the highest in Europe.

A day to relax because you will follow the valley, sometimes along the river Salzach. On the right-hand side the national park of Hohe Tauern and on the other side the “meadow mountains“. In the village of Mittersill, you may visit the national park centre which gives you all the details about the park. The cycle route will end in the small city of Zell am See next to the lake. In summertime it is a fine place for a swim!

Mount Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria (3798 m) and there is an exciting road going over this mountain. The ambitious route combines the athletic challenge with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The ascent will be between 9 and 12 % with a lot of hairpin bends. The shorter tour up to the Edelweißspitze isn’t too long and could be done with good fitness (there are many places for a rest to enjoy the alpine area).

Cycle around Lake Zell am See and afterwards, you will follow small roads passing some hamlets to the regional city of Saalfelden. Now you can decide to follow a direct (very short) road to Lofer or the road passing by the mountain Lake of Pillersee. You will cycle into a smaller valley up to an easy mountain pass with a nice alpine pasture. All around you the so-called “Leoganger Stone Mountains” which look like the Dolomites. Afterwards descending towards to Lake Pillersee and Lofer.

You will start following a cycle trail into the Saalach valley to the village of Weißbach where you find a wonderful gorge to visit. Afterwards, there will be 3 heavy ascents to the Hirschpichl mountain pass. These ascents are up to 30% of elevation but quite short. At the pass, you will pass the frontier to Germany and a nice restaurant awaits you (and many other walkers and bikers). You will descend through the national park of Berchtesgaden (wonderful valley) to lake Hintersee and on to the famous lake Königssee. A wide road will lead you to the festival city of Salzburg where you should take a rest in a coffee house next to the river Salzach – the best impression of Salzburg!

Depart after breakfast.