Join Family Bike Shop owner Jonathan Seibold and our bi-lingual Tour Guides this fall as we experience hidden waterfalls, pristine mountain lakes, exquisite alpine lodging, and warm Austrian hospitality. Our route captures the essence of Austria by bike, as we take in the Zell and Pinzgau regions and intimately explore the beautiful Saalach Valley.
Our Austria program includes transportation to and from Munich. Our routes feature EASY CYCLING through two river valleys with no major climbs. You’ll actually lose 1,500 vertical feet by the time we reach Salzburg! Reasonable daily distances of 25 – 45 miles, allow you to truly appreciate this magical region. Much of the route follows along traffic-free bike paths!
Lodging in authentic Austrian chalets is surely a highlight! We’ll experience just three different hotels over seven nights. (You won’t have to pack & unpack each day.) Hotels include the four star Krimmlerfaelle, Alpin Sport, and the luxurious Gruenauerhof. We hope you’ll join us for what will be an unforgettable journey with breathtaking cycling and scenery
SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 3, 2010
SUNDAY
- Arrive in Munich
- We will personally meet guests at the Munich Airport (morning pick-up, time to be determined) and the transfer to our first hotel in Krimml, about a 3-hour scenic drive, where we'll check-in for one night.
- Krimml is a small Alpine village nestled in the palm of the Tauern Mountain Range, part of the Austrian Alps which includes both the highest Austrian mountain - The Grossglockner at 12,500ft and the second highest The Grossvenediger at 12,000ft. Although this trip takes us through some of the most beautiful parts of the Austrian Alps, it is considered an easy cycling route, because most of the tour follows two river valleys that lead us to Salzburg. We actually loose about 1500 feet during our 8 day journey. It's a gently rolling tour with no MAJOR hills to climb!
- This evening, we’ll join our fellow travellers as well as Family Bike Shop owner Jonathan Seibold and our bi-lingual Tour Guides for a small welcome reception followed by dinner in the chalet dinning room.
- Guests will have the rest of the day to relax by the pool (indoor/outdoor), enjoy the sauna/steam bath or stroll through the village.
- The Krimmlerfalle Hotel is a 4-star family run Austrian chalet with all the modern amenities and comforts expected by our North American clientele. It’s been in the Schoppl family for over 50 years and 3 generations live here.
- Dinner that night in the hotel dinning room
- We spend the night at the KRIMMLERFALLE HOTEL (KRIMML)
MONDAY
- Today we shuttle to the top of the The Krimmler Achental (valley) behind the head of the world famous Krimmler Water Falls. It is the longest and the highest upland valley in the Austrian Tauern Alps and is a protected area accessible only to bikers and hikers. Above the falls the path levels out and the valley broadens into wonderful Alpine pastures. Some of these pastures have been in use by farmers from the South Tyrol for 170 years.
- Lunch at the Krimml Tauernhaus, a secluded Alpine Chalet, over 600 years old that was an important base for many merchants and hikers who already used this crossing point in the Middle Ages.
- At the end of the day guests will have the option of shuttling back to the hotel or hiking back along the river banks for amazing views and photo opportunities of the highest waterfall in Europe—the Krimml Waterfaelle. The Krimml River drops in three high steps, plunging downward nearly 400 meters (1300 feet).
- Distance of 18 or 36 km (11 or 22 miles)
TUESDAY
- Today we’ll cycle to the village of Zell am See, home of one of Europe’s cleanest and most beautiful lakes. The area was already populated at the time of the Romans and in 740 AD monks founded the village we see today.
- We follow bike paths and quiet farm roads downhill through lush mountain forests, past traditional Pinzgau villages, and the scenic Obersulzbachtal and Untersulzbachtal valleys.
- Through the market square of Neukirchen am Grossvenediger we reach Mittersill, the largest town in the upper Pinzgau. There are numerous lunch options in the square including the famous Meilinger Tavern with one of the best Austrian kitchens in the region.
- After lunch your choice of taking a shuttle to the hotel.
- We also pass by the town of Kaprun, which lies near the base of the Kitzsteinhorn a mountain in the main chain of the Hohe Tauern range of the eastern Alps that reaches a height of 10,377 feet above sea-level and is snow covered most of the year.
- We’ll lodge at the Sport Hotel Alpin (4 star), where we will spend the next three nights.
- Here guests can make use of the indoor pool or modern sauna and steam facilities.
- Distance of 36 or 67 km (23 or 42 miles easy riding)
WEDNESDAY
- Today we ride along the beautiful shores of Lake Zell, into the Ursulau Valley to Maria Alm, a true Storybook Village. Nestled in a green, unspoiled, natural landscape in front of the stunning Steinernen Meer mountain range it is home to the Maria Alm Pilgrimage Church mentioned for the first time in documents dating from 1374. With an 83m tower, the highest in Salzburg Province, it sits in the centre of the town and houses Gothic statues and frescoes from the 15th century.
- After leisurely exploring the village, we return to Zell Am See by choice of bicycle or van shuttle.
- In the after noon guest are free to explore the town on their own. Some options include shopping, taking a boat ride on the lake, glacier skiing, paragliding with a licensed instructor, golf at one of the many nearby golf courses, Nordic walking or a breathtaking gondola ride to the top of the 6,000-foot Schmittenhohe to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding Alps with a coffee and Apple Strudel.
- Distance of 16 or 31 km (10 or 20 miles)
THURSDAY
- A short train ride from Zell Am See to the town Saalfelden where our bikes will be waiting for the start of one of the finest days of cycling on the tour! Alpine pastures, quiet villages, quiet streams, mirror lakes, waterfalls, stunning mountain scenery and all of it along bike paths and quiet roads. We cycle in the peaceful valleys surrounded by the Lofer and Leogang Mountains (Loferer and Leoganger Steinberge), 2 isolated massifs of the Salzburg Limestone Alps, at the border of Salzburg and Tirol.
- Our lunch spot is Waidring, a small idyllic village at the bottom of the massive Steinplatte, where someone once described it by saying: "The sun's glow glides over the mountain peaks, plunges into the deep green valley and slowly flows over the village's houses".
- Waidring was settled by Bavarians in the 5th and 6th century and as a climatic health resort began attracting tourists from Vienna in the late 19th century. Mozart spent time in both Waidring and Lofer, on his journeys to Italy.
- After lunch we continue past the village of Lofer and along the Saalach River Valley, past the Seisenbergklamm, one of Austria's deepest gorges, back to the start.
- Guests will have a number of distance options today including cycling back to our hotel.
- Distance of 37, 74 or 91 km (21, 43 or 52 miles easy cycling)
FRIDAY
- This morning we leave Zell Am See and transfer to the village of Lofer. Here our bikes will be waiting for the ride to Salzburg. From Lofer we’ll cycle along the Saalach River on a romantic trail via Unken and Schneizlreuth through a spectacular forested region that enters Germany at Bad Reichenhall. Mozart made a trip to this well known spa during the last stay in Salzburg in 1780.
- The bike path takes us right to the door of the Gasthof Grunauerhof, our 4-star family run Inn, for our final two nights.
- Distance of 25 or 63km (16 or 40 miles easy cycling)
SATURDAY
- After a hearty breakfast we join the bike path beside the hotel and follow it into the heart of Old Salzburg.
- We’ll cycle along a level pathway that follows the Saalach River to its confluence with the Salzach River. We then arrive in the heart of the city, Mozartplatz where we’ll meet our local cycling guide who will take us around the city and surrounding area by bike. We’ll stop at important points where we’ll learn about the history that made this city so rich and famous including architecture, religion, history, art and The Sound of Music film. In the afternoon, you are free to explore the fantastic shopping districts, enjoy one of the many famous cafe’s or take in some of the sights such as the Salzburg Cathedral or St. Peter's Abbey or the Hohensalzburg Fortress perched on a rocky peak.
- After a leisurely day guests will have the option of cycling back to our hotel along the river paths or enjoy a van shuttle.
- Distance of 24 or 39km (15 or 25 miles)
SUNDAY
- Morning transfer to Salzburg Central Station for trains to Munich.
SUMMARY OF WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 2-3 weeks before departure each guest will receive a welcome package which will include general information with a list of web-sites to prepare for the tour. Also included will be suggestions for clothing, hotel lists with phone numbers, information on climate, language, local customs and some general safety tips.
- 7 nights accommodation in 4-star Austrian Chalet/Hotels
- Pick up and drop off at the Munich airport and all transfers during the tour
- 6 dinners, 7 breakfasts
- Welcome reception with local wine and beer
- Use of a modern 21-speed hybrid bicycle
- Use of helmet
- Daily route directions
- Complimentary water bottle
- Full information and welcome package
- Entry to the Krimml Waterfalls
- Full van support during providing fruit, snacks and fresh water
- All luggage transfers with bags waiting in each room when guests arrive
- Private guided bicycle tour of Salzburg
- Two bi-lingual leaders will always be available with suggestions and information on things to see and do during our tour!
- All hotel gratuities, service charges and taxes
- Plenty of Free Time to explore Salzburg!
- Maximum group size of 20 guests
- Minimum group size of 8 guests
- Price Per Person - $2945.00 (Price does not include airfare)
- Single Supplement - $400.00 (note: single guests may request to be paired to avoid the single supplement fee)
IF BOOKED BY MARCH 15th we are offering a 10% discount
DOWNLOAD PDF OF TOUR DETAILS »Martin&Keegan LLC reserves the right to make changes to itineraries due to unforeseen circumstances. In the unlikely event that Martin&Keegan LLC has to cancel a tour, you will receive a full refund. Martin&Keegan LLC cannot be held responsible for any personal expenses incurred due to changes in itinerary or trip cancellation.
Payment Policy & Schedule
- Tour payments may be made by cheque, payable to Martin & Keegan LLC, or credit card via our website.
- We require a per person deposit of $750. The balance payment is due by July 12th, 2010.
- Deposits and payments are refundable if written notice of cancellation is received 60 days or more in advance of departure, less a $100 per person nonrefundable cancellation fee.
- We regret that refunds cannot be made for cancellations less than sixty (60) days prior to the departure date.
- Travel insurance is highly recommended and can be purchased at an additional charge through
Access America. Please call us for information.
- Martin & Keegan LLC cannot assume responsibility for any fees relating to the cancellation of air tickets.
- Please do not purchase airfare or make travel plans until confirming we have at least 8 guests on our tour.
Links
MUNICH AIPORT
www.munich-airport.de
KRIMML HOTEL
www.krimmlerfaelle.at
SPORT HOTEL ALPIN
www.sporthotelalpin.com
HOTEL GRUNAUERHOF
www.gruenauerhof.com
