Austria - The Alps - Panorama Cycle and Hiking Tour 2019 Individual Self-guided 10 days / 9 nights You will cycle along the Alps from Innsbruck to Salzburg. In Innsbruck you will follow the wide valley of the Inn River passing little historic cities like Wattens, Hall or Schwarz. On both sides you will see huge impressing mountain ranges and sometimes you will even see a glacier. Cycling into the Zillertal valley along the little mountain river will be nice and easy. The landscape changes a little bit because you have softer mountains where you can see farm houses high up in the mountain. At the end of the valley you will see the glacier of the Alps where you can ski all year round. A taxi will drive you over the mountain pass into the state of Salzburg where you will see one of the most impressive nature attractions in Austria. The Krimmler Waterfalls! On the right hand side you see the high mountains of the national park with many side valleys and on the left hand side the smooth mountains where you find wonderful alpine pastures. You will still pass farming landscape and will come to a lovely lake called Zellersee. Following the Saalach River passing gorges and caves (which of course you may visit!) you come to the village of Lofer with still an old fashioned village centre. Following the river you will come to Bavaria where you should visit the city of Bad Reichenhall. The end and maybe the highlight of the tour will be the festival city of Salzburg. You will walk on high trails and into a deep valley in the Alps. Wonderful view over the glaciers of the Alps, romantic huts where you get local food and exceptional sights will await you.
Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Arrival in Innsbruck Enjoy the city with some impressing attractions like the castle, old town and the ski jumping station. Day 2: Walking high trail Zirbenweg Stone pine Trail 2.5 to 4 hours of walking 7.70 km + 132 m and - 230 m With the tram you will leave Innsbruck and a cable car will lift you up to 2,000 meters. Afterwards you will follow an easy high trail passing old stone pines high above the Inn valley. Enjoy some moments at a mountain hut where you will get snacks such as fresh cheese. Downwards again with a cable car and you will return to Innsbruck. Day 3: Innsbruck Zillertal valley 45 km You will follow the cycle trail along the Inn River out of the city. On well signed paths you will pass historic cities where you can visit the famous Swarovski crystal world in Wattens or take a rest in the old streets of the little cities. On one side you will see the Alps and on the other side the Karwendel mountain range. Today you will stay overnight at the entrance of the Zillertal valley. Pinterest.com Day 4: Zillertal Mountain Pass Gerlos Krimml 25 to 40 km Gently upwards you will cycle into the Zillertal valley which is famous for skiing all year round at the glacier. It offers much more of its wonderful scenery, alpine pastures and little villages with good restaurants. It is up to you if you cycle deep into the valley or only to the meeting point of the taxi in Zell am Ziller. The overnight will be in Krimml where you still have time to walk to the water falls. Day 5: Krimml water fall and an alpine valley in the national park 1.5 to 4.5 hours of walking 11.4 km + 34 m and - 583 m On your tour you will pass by the famous water fall of Krimml (one of the highest in Europe) on you way into the national park. Depending on how long you want to walk you can walk deep into this valley to the edge of the Alps. At the mountain hut Tauernhaus the trails start over the Alps for a Trans Alps trekking tour. If you like you may return by taxi to Krimml. You will mainly walk along a nice gravel road with fantastic views.
Day 6: Krimml Zell am See 65 km Today you will follow the Salzach river valley almost from the source. Again impressing mountain ranges on both sides of the wide valley. There will be a lot of side valleys into the National Park of Hohe Tauern and it is highly recommended to visit the information centre of the park. The tour ends in Zell am See with a wonderful lake and a view to the highest mountain in Austria, the Großglockner. Day 7: Walking / excursion around Zell am See 2 to 4 walking hours 11.5 km +493 m and - 512 m Hiking is an especially satisfying experience in Zell am See-Kaprun. The spectacular combination of glacier, mountains and lake is nothing short of unique and guarantees unforgettable insights into Austria's nature. Discover the reservoirs of Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden embedded in the impressive mountains of the Hohe Tauern! The dam is 107m high and 500m long enjoy the astonishing view at the huge reservoirs at 2,000m altitude. Modern busses take you straight up into the heart of the alpine world. Guided dam tour: Hike to the Mooserboden dam and explore its inside. You ll learn how green electricity is generated through the 160 Million m³ of water, for example with the new pumped storage power station Limberg II. The herbal path takes you from the Mooserboden reservoir to the rustic Fürthermoaralm. Along the path, you can explore the unique vegetation of the Hohe Tauern Mountains. With a 45 minutes' walk (one way) and a difference in altitude of 237 metres, the herbal path is also optimally suited for families. Day 8: Zell am See Lofer 45 to 60 km You will start cycling around the lake and afterwards passing little hamlets with old farm houses. Today there will be some ups and downs in the morning and a sensational view to the so called Stony Sea Mountain range. In the afternoon you will pass some impressing gorges (open to visit) and a huge cave. Day 9: Lofer Salzburg 50 km You still follow the river Saalach passing a part of Bavaria. The mountains are not as high as the other days but there are parts of the National park of Berchtesgaden. You will cycle through the spa city of Bad Reichenhall where you can visit the old salt mine, have a break in the old town or taste the beer in the brewery. Afterwards you are almost in Salzburg and you should visit the open air museum of Großgmain with old farm houses,.. For the ones who love the movie Sound of Music, we will pass a castle with a lake where part of the movie took place. Welcome to Salzburg. Day 10: Departure
Route Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Relatively Easy. You mainly follow river cycle trails and there are only short up and downs. There will be a transfer for the only mountain pass on the tour so that we could say that a good basic fitness in enough for this tour. For the walking tour you will need walking shoes for gravel roads and walking trails. Distance: 260 km by bike and 30.5 km hiking Travel Season: Departures Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from June 15 to September 22, 2019
Price per Person: Double Occupancy 1230.00 Single Occupancy 1430.00 Single Traveler Supplement 125.00 Bike Rental (24 gears, cycle bag, lock, repair kit) 145.00 E-Bike Rental 180.00 Tandem Bike (9 gears, 2 cycle bags, lock, repair kit) 265.00 GPS rental 25.00 Helmet rental 12.00 Additional Nights Innsbruck 4* Double Occupancy 70.00 Additional Nights Innsbruck 4* Single Occupancy 105.00 Additional Nights Salzburg 4* Double Occupancy April 1- June 30; September 1 October 30 60.00 Additional Nights Salzburg 4* Single Occupancy April 1- June 30; September 1 October 30 80.00 Additional Nights Salzburg 4* Double Occupancy July 1 August 31 90.00 Additional Nights Salzburg 4* Single Occupancy July 1 August 31 110.00 Included: 9 nights in 3 and 4 star hotels 6 x half board (not in Innsbruck and Salzburg) Luggage transfer Transfer Gerlospass including cycle Tour book, leaflet and GPS Data Hotline 48 hours Innsbruck Card (free cable cars, busses, museum) Tourist card Krimml (free entrance water falls) Not Included: Train Zell am See Hochfilzen (optional on day 8) Excursion reservoir or cable car Zell/See Bus to Tulfes, Taxi to Zell/See and Taxi to Krimml (optional)
Bikes Road Bike: Trek, Aluminium road bike with carbon fibre fork and 20-speed Shimano 105 group set. Frame Size from 50 to 60 cm. Hybrid Bike: Hercules. Equipped with components of the Shimano LX group, Suntour suspension fork, complete lightning system and a robust porter it is a reliable all-rounder. Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848