Tauern Cycling Tour
8 days / 7 nights
|
Starting point
Salzburg
Finish point
Salzburg
Season
From May to October
Fitness level
4/5
Tour type
Road / Gravel / E-bike
Starting point
Salzburg
Finish point
Salzburg
Season
From May to October
Fitness level
4/5
Tour type
Road / Gravel / E-bike
Highlights
- Explore the enchanting High Tauern region, known for its natural beauty and cultural appeal
- Immerse yourself in the historical ambiance of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Witness the awe-inspiring Liechtensteinklamm gorge with its waterfalls
- Traverse charming Austrian towns, such as Hallstatt, St. Johann im Pongau, and Kaprun
- Tackle the iconic Grossglockner High Alpine Road
- Enjoy spectacular panorama in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park
Itinerary of the trip
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What’s included in the price?
Self-guided
NOT INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Discover the breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and cultural attractions of the Tauern Cycling Tour, which takes you through the region of the High Tauern, the highest mountain range in Austria.
This cycling adventure combines the best of Austria’s natural beauty with the historic charm of cities like Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart.
The itinerary begins in this 'city of music' and leads you through the stunning Salzkammergut lake district to Hallstatt, then on to St. Johann im Pongau and Kaprun. Along the way, you will encounter stunning natural wonders, including waterfalls, gorges, and the impressive mountain panoramas of Austria’s highest peaks.
The true highlight of your adventure awaits on the legendary Grossglockner High Alpine Road. The winding masterpiece will lead you to Austria's highest pass, Hochtor, where you'll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic Glockner massif.
To ensure a seamless and hassle-free experience, we book all of your accommodations and provide a comprehensive itinerary booklet, complete with a GPS track for effortless navigation. We also offer reliable customer support throughout your journey, so you can focus on enjoying the captivating landscapes and charming towns along the Tauern Cycling Tour.
Set off on this unforgettable adventure and create lasting memories while exploring the natural beauty and rich history of Austria’s Tauern region.
Top Places You'll See
From natural wonders to authentic local culture, the route is packed with memorable sights—these are our absolute favorites.
Lake Zell am See
Nestled beside a deep-blue lake and framed by the Hohe Tauern mountains, Zell am See is one of Austria’s most scenic cycling bases. Riders can circle the lake on gentle paths or climb nearby roads for alpine views. With a glacier in sight and plenty of lakeside cafés, it’s a spot that combines adventure with relaxation.
Hohe Tauern National Park
The largest national park in the Alps, Hohe Tauern stretches across Tyrol, Salzburg, and Carinthia. Cyclists here are rewarded with views of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner (3,798 m), as well as glacial valleys and alpine meadows. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road runs right through the park, making it a legendary ride.
Grossglockner Pass
At 2,504 meters, this is Austria’s most famous climb—an engineering marvel that winds through the Hohe Tauern National Park For ambitious riders, this road is Austria’s most legendary climb. Winding toward the country’s highest peak, it offers 36 hairpin bends, challenging gradients, and breathtaking views at every turn. Even if you’re not chasing elevation, the road itself is a symbol of Austrian engineering and alpine heritage, making it one of the country’s great landmarks.
Salzburg
Known as Mozart’s birthplace and framed by dramatic peaks, Salzburg offers a mix of history, music, and alpine charm. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while nearby lakes provide some of Austria’s most scenic day rides. Cycling here means balancing cultural exploration with nature, from baroque squares to quiet paths leading into the Salzkammergut.
Zillertal Valley
This broad valley is ideal for varied cycling, with the Zillertal Radweg offering a family-friendly riverside route. For more ambitious riders, climbs lead toward the Hintertux Glacier and surrounding passes. It’s one of the most versatile bases for combining leisure cycling with alpine challenges.
Our Bikes
To ensure the best possible experience on your cycling adventure, we offer top-quality bikes for rent. Our fleet features the latest models, meticulously maintained for both performance and comfort.
To match each rider with the right equipment, our team will also assist you in selecting the most suitable bike based on your physical profile, personal preferences, and the technical requirements of the tour.
Road Bikes
Best for: Paved routes, longer distances, and climbs
Our road bikes are lightweight, fast, and built for endurance. They typically feature carbon or high-quality aluminium frames, smooth gearing, and reliable components—often Shimano 105 or similar. Well-suited for long days in the saddle, they’re perfect for climbs, steady cruising, and covering serious distance on tarmac.
Trekking Bikes
Best for: Multi-day touring, relaxed pace, and varied surfaces
These high-quality trekking bikes are built for comfort over multiple days. They feature a relaxed riding position, smooth-rolling wheels, and often come with practical additions like an adjustable stem, rear rack, or mudguards. They're not necessarily built for speed, but more for enjoying the ride.
Touring E-Bikes
Best for: Comfortable trekking, touring, longer distances, and hilly routes
These pedal-assist electric bikes are designed to make riding easier and more enjoyable—especially on longer or hillier routes. They come with powerful mid-drive motors, long-lasting batteries, and comfortable riding geometry for smooth support across varied terrain. With intuitive controls and quality components, they’re a great choice for riders who want extra assistance without giving up the feel of a real ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ratings & Reviews
From the very beginning, the Cycling Holidays Austria team have been amazing. They provided a flexible service that met our specific needs and journey itinerary, which a good number of other providers would not entertain. The speed of reply was excellent and the use of the Trip Plans and Cycle with GPS apps just made our journey so easy. The quality of the rental bikes was excellent and they easily met the demands of the cycle track. Overall, excellent friendly service that we will definitely use again next year as we plan our continued trip along the stunning Danube River. Huge thanks to the team.
I found this place with a simple Google search, and I never could’ve expected the custom experience I received. They provided options to help my husband and I hone in on exactly what we wanted to do for our honeymoon. We had perfectly curated GPS-lead rides all across the country, they booked all of our hotels, and planned all of our transportation. Every place that we went was so beautiful. I’m so grateful that we found this company to help us plan our honeymoon, couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
I was able to tailor a bike tour itinerary along the Adriatic coast that suited our group during the shoulder season. We added individual pre and post-trip activities which went smoothly. Our trip included stops in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. The trip planner, guide and support team were great.
I would highly recommend anyone doing this tour take the e-bike option. There were only 3 of us on our tour who completed this on regular bikes. Four others who started out on regular bikes swapped over to e-bikes after the first day. The climbs are long and steep. There is pretty much only up or down, not much flat or undulating road. It is doable, but very challenging. If you are on an e-bike then this also helps with the group staying together and no-one having to wait too long for others to catch up. The bikes were really good and had great gearing that was capable of handling the steeper climbs. When we booked we were unaware that we would be riding in a group of 20plus at all time. Thankfully our group had prior group riding experience but we did observe other large groups with less than desirable riding behaviours.Others in our group were extremely understanding and supportive. Our guide, David, was very adamant about staying safe on the road. He was flexible with the itinerary and made changes to suit the weather conditions and to ensure we got in as much riding as possible. He was vey knowledgeable about Croatian history and agriculture and taught us lots about the country he is so passionate about. Our captain, Tolma, was also amazing and along with his awesome crew, made our cruise an enjoyable experience.
From the very beginning, the Cycling Holidays Austria team have been amazing. They provided a flexible service that met our specific needs and journey itinerary, which a good number of other providers would not entertain. The speed of reply was excellent and the use of the Trip Plans and Cycle with GPS apps just made our journey so easy. The quality of the rental bikes was excellent and they easily met the demands of the cycle track. Overall, excellent friendly service that we will definitely use again next year as we plan our continued trip along the stunning Danube River. Huge thanks to the team.
I was able to tailor a bike tour itinerary along the Adriatic coast that suited our group during the shoulder season. We added individual pre and post-trip activities which went smoothly. Our trip included stops in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. The trip planner, guide and support team were great.
I found this place with a simple Google search, and I never could’ve expected the custom experience I received. They provided options to help my husband and I hone in on exactly what we wanted to do for our honeymoon. We had perfectly curated GPS-lead rides all across the country, they booked all of our hotels, and planned all of our transportation. Every place that we went was so beautiful. I’m so grateful that we found this company to help us plan our honeymoon, couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
I would highly recommend anyone doing this tour take the e-bike option. There were only 3 of us on our tour who completed this on regular bikes. Four others who started out on regular bikes swapped over to e-bikes after the first day. The climbs are long and steep. There is pretty much only up or down, not much flat or undulating road. It is doable, but very challenging. If you are on an e-bike then this also helps with the group staying together and no-one having to wait too long for others to catch up. The bikes were really good and had great gearing that was capable of handling the steeper climbs. When we booked we were unaware that we would be riding in a group of 20plus at all time. Thankfully our group had prior group riding experience but we did observe other large groups with less than desirable riding behaviours.Others in our group were extremely understanding and supportive. Our guide, David, was very adamant about staying safe on the road. He was flexible with the itinerary and made changes to suit the weather conditions and to ensure we got in as much riding as possible. He was vey knowledgeable about Croatian history and agriculture and taught us lots about the country he is so passionate about. Our captain, Tolma, was also amazing and along with his awesome crew, made our cruise an enjoyable experience.
All available guidance options
Self-guided
Those who like good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday. It offers complete freedom, multiple detour opportunities, and exploration at your own pace without having to adapt to a group.
Hassle-Free
We take care of route planning, accommodations, luggage transfers, and all logistics, so you can focus purely on enjoying your ride.
Tried & Tested Adventures
Our cycling routes are hand-picked & tested, to ensure breathtaking landscapes, smooth roads, and maximum safety - giving you the perfect ride every day.
Unbeatable Support
Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, ensuring your cycling holiday runs smoothly and your well-being is always our top priority.
Book with Confidence
We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.
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