Tour information
The Carinthia Lakes Roundtrip is a bicycle tour to the most beautiful lakes of Carinthia. It follows the original Great Lakes Loop but longer passages along the route and the challenging uphill to Weissensee are replaced by transfers by train or van. Past blue and turquoise lakes, accompanied by a hilly and mountainous landscape, the route fascinates with a varied landscape. The Mediterranean influence in the south of Austria makes cycling a pleasure from April to October. The cycling tour takes you from Villach, the cycling capital of Carinthia, to Lake Millstatt and Lake Weissensee, then from Lake Pressegg along the Gailtal cycle path past Lake Faak to the emerald green Lake Wörthersee. The well-known Drau cycle path takes you to Lake Klopeiner See and then back to the provincial capital Klagenfurt and further along Lake Wörthersee towards Villach. On the last day of the tour you will cycle around Lake Ossiach before returning to the starting point of your enjoyable bike tour – Villach.
This tour leads mostly on well laid out bicycle routes, often directly along the lakesides. The route is mainly flat inthe eastern section, slightly hilly along the western one.
Included and Not Included Services
Accommodation in inns and hotel 3** and 4*** category
Breakfast
Videobriefing
On the day of arrival, our service team is available on site for questions and bike handover
Train ticket: Villach - Lendorf near Spittal an der Drau; transfer to the Weissensee according to the program;
Transfers and train tickets according to the program
Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
Train ticket: Villach - Lendorf near Spittal an der Drau; transfer according to programme: Millstatt - Weißensee and boat trip Weissensee Ostufer-Neusach
Well planned routes
Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
navigation APP
Telephone service hotline for the entire tour
Navigation app; GPS data
Arrival transfer to the starting point of the tour
Departure transfer at the end of the tour
Drinks, tourist tax and all extras
Lunch, Dinner
Ticket boat trip Weissensee
Not mentioned entry fees
Not mentioned train and boat tickets
Rental bikes and travel insurance
All not expressly mentioned under the item „Included services“
Route highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Villach
You will arrive at your hotel in Villach. Parking spaces available close to the hotel.
Day 2: Villach – Lake Millstatt round trip – Millstatt/Seeboden
(approx. 30 km)
In the morning you take the train to Lendorf near Spittal a.d. Drau. From there you cycle on secondary roads to Lake Millstatt, which is completely surrounded by a cycle path. You will discover the untouched south shore without any roads where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake in many places. Along the northern shore you cycle, partly directly along the lake, to the capital of the region, Millstatt am See. Already the Austrian emperor spent his holidays here, and many elegant villas from this era are still preserved.
Day 3: Millstatt/Seeboden – Lake Weißensee – Hermagor/Tröpolach/ Pressegger See
(approx. 30 km)
In the morning, a shuttle bus takes you up to the lake Weissensee. Once on the top you have time to enjoy the impressive natural surroundings of the lake. Take a boat trip (ticket not incl.), a short hike or a swim. Afterwards a short ascent awaits you before descending along the dreamy Gitschtal valley to your stage destination.
Day 4: Hermagor/Tröpolach /Lake Pressegger – Gailtal - Lake Faaker See
(approx. 55 - 60 km)
Your cycle tour today takes you downhill throughout, along the Gailtal cycle path. The wide valley is unspoilt and the cycle path runs right through the natural landscape along the river. At the beginning of your cycle tour you will pass the Pressegger See lake. Like all Carinthian lakes, it is a bathing lake with warm temperatures. Part of the tour then leads before Villach at the foot of the majestic Dobratsch mountain through a nature reserve that was created in the course of a historic rock fall. Here, too, you cycle directly along the Gail River, which is wide and shallow at this point and used as a bathing spot by many nature lovers. The cycle path continues towards Lake Faak. It is the emerald among the Carinthian lakes, not very big, but very warm and turquoise like the Caribbean.
Day 5: Lake Faak - Wörthersee - Klagenfurt
(approx. 40 km)
In the morning you start at Faakersee and then cycle a short distance along the Drau towards Lake Wörthersee. Before reaching Velden am Wörthersee you turn into the idyllic Kreutschacher Seental, which lies parallel to the Wörthersee and is characterized by several charming little lakes that form a string of pearls along your route. Your stage destination today is the capital of the region, Klagenfurt. The old town is characterized by its Renaissance buildings and southern atmosphere. Small bars and shops contribute to the beautiful atmosphere of the town. Culture lovers should visit the Museum of Modern Arts, while history lovers should visit the newly designed Carinthian Museum. Those who prefer to take a panoramic view of the city must go to the city parish tower.
Day 6: Wörthersee/ Klagenfurt - Lake Klopeiner See - Wörthersee/Klagenfurt
(ca. 50-65 km)
The short tour to Lake Klopeinersee takes you directly from Klagenfurt to southern Carinthia and back along the same route. The round tour is a little further but more rewarding. Past the imposing pilgrimage Church of Maria Rain, the route descends over the Ferlach power station to the Drau cycle path. Follow this until Tainach, the tours continues then via Stein im Jaunta to Lake Klopeiner See. This is one of the smallest lakes but it is considered one of the warmest in Europe. You will cycle back along the Völkermarkt reservoir and then on a direct route to Klagenfurt.
Day 7: Klagenfurt – Villach
(approx. 40 km)
The first part of the stage will take you along the northern shore of Lake Wörthersee, then you will go back along the Drau cycle path and past the Lake Silbersee towards Villach - the starting point of your cycling tour.
Day 8: Villach
Tour end and departure from Villach or possibility of extension.
Prices and dates
| Standard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Package | view calendar | |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
| Price per night in double room with breakfast | Villach | 79 € | |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
| rental bike 21-gear (men) | 99 € | |
| rental bike 21-gear (women) | 99 € | |
| electric bike rental | 249 € | |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
Price schedule
General information
By car: Villach is easily accessible on the motorways A2, A10 or A11 (depending on the point of origin).
By train: Good train connections to Villach. Timetable on: www.deutschebahn.de, www.oebb.at, www.trenitalia.com.
By plane: Airport Klagenfurt, Salzburg or Ljubljana. There are good train connections from all these cities to your starting point.
Inns and hotels 3*** and 4**** category.
Please note: Tourist tax – if applicable – has to be paid on spot!
Depending on the hotel at arrival, unattended parking facilities are available, either directly at your hotel or nearby (for the entire duration of the tour). No reservation of the parking area/parking garage possible; payable on spot.
• 21-gears women‘s or men‘s bicycle
• E-bike (UNISEX bike, 500 W battery; range up to 100 km)
We suggest travel insurance.
Tour information
- Duration 8 days
- Minimum age 14 years and older
- Difficulty Level Easy
- Distance 250 - 250 km