Austrian Lakes Activities

Arrive at  your hotel in Strobl.  A  typical  itinerary  is  shown  below,  but  you're  free   to  pick  and  choose  your  activities  each  day.

Take  the  bus  to  Bad  Ischl  for  your  briefing  and  to  collect  your  bike.  Take  time  to  explore  the  spa  town -  visit  Franz  Josef's  Kaiservilla  and  the  imperial  hot  spa  that  houses  salt  baths,  steam  room,  hammam and  Alhambra  baths  before  pedalling  along  the  River  Ischl  back  to  Strobl.

Keeping close to Lake Wolfgang's southern shore, a level cycling track through a tiny nature reserve brings you into lovely St Gilgen where the busy waterfront is filled with restaurants, cafes and attractive frescoed houses. Visit Mozart's museum (his mother was born here), or take the cable car up Zwolferhorn for stunning 360 degree views.

Alternatively, try your hand at water skiing on Lake Wolfgang followed by a cooling swim from the hotel's bathing jetty.

Today head first by the river then along the north shore of the lake to St Wolfgang. Renowned for its beautiful 15th century church, this famously pretty village boasts a maze of cobbled streets lined with attractive frescoed houses, shops and cafe terraces affording superb lake views. Culture and music are very much part of St Wolfgang's fine tradition, so be sure to explore the boutique craft and chocolate shops! After lunch, hop on the antique cog railway as it chugs up to the summit of Schafberg (1782m) for unrivalled Alpine views.

Why not give yourself a break from cycling today and take the local bus (80 mins) to Mozart's fairytale city of Salzburg? Described as a Baroque jewel, and recognised by UNESCO, its idyllic setting, surrounded by the Alps and bisected by the gentle Salzach river, cannot be bettered by any other city in Europe. Take time to explore its historic heart and you'll find a wealth of Baroque palaces, Renaissance gardens, elegant Viennese cafes and the oldest open-air theatre in Europe.

Today's cycling route takes you along quiet country lanes and through rural farming hamlets bordered by low Alpine meadows - look out for the neat woodpiles to be used for heating over the winter months. Lunch at the popular Zur Wacht restaurant then ascend up to beautiful Lake Nussen, a hidden gem completely off the tourist trail; look out for rare orchids scattered around its shady shores. There's lots of time to swim and relax before completing a circular loop back to Strobl.

You have a choice of walking or cycling routes today across the valley and up through the forest towards Lake Schwarzen, perfectly positioned beneath the shadows of the Vormauerstein, Hoheneck and Breitenberg peaks. Have lunch in one of the restaurants basking in sunshine beneath the snow-capped mountains, then it's a delightful valley descent back to Strobl.

The tour ends after breakfast in Strobl.