Drava/Drau – Alpe Adria
From the Dolomites to Villach and from there to Adriatic Sea
Along the Drava river and the homonymous cycle path you will reach Villach, the door between the nearbay lakes Faak and Ossiach as well as the Villacher Alpe. Turn of into the Cycle Path Alpe-Adria you reach the Adriatic sea with milelong sandbeaches and the bathing resort of Grado.
Undoubtedly, the „Drau Bicycle Path“ is one of the most spectacular bicycle routes in Europe and has been classified in 2016 from ADFC as 5-star-qualityroute. The cycle path starts at the source of the Drava River in Dobbiaco. The river Drava accompanies you on the way to the East Austrian capital of Lienz. From here the tour takes you through Spittal a.d. Drau to Villach. Real soon you have to say goodbye to Austria, before the bicycle tour continues in Italy. This mixture of the cultures reflects itself also in the cuisine: Alpine-Austrian, Slovenian and Venetian influences characterise the gastronomic offer of the region. Enjoy a “slacker-day” at Grado, one of the most popular bathing resorts of Italy.
The route from Hochpustertal to Villach mainly takes you alongside the river Drau and there are no steep inclines. The bicycle path is well marked. The route from Villach to Grado goes along bike paths or very quiet side roads, through small villages and picturesque landscape.
TRAVEL ITINERARY
8 days / 7 nights
Day 1: Hochpustertal (Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco)
Individual arrival at the hotel in Hochpustertal. Free, unguarded public car park near the hotel.
Day 2: Hochpustertal – Oberdrauburg
(approx. 70 - 75 km)
Starting in Villabassa or Dobbiaco you cycle along the bike path to San Candido and then on to Sillian. Afterwards the cycling path runs downhill all the way to the sunny Austrian town Lienz. You continue from where the Isel flows into the Drau and carry on with the bike path to Oberdrauburg (“Perchten and Alm” museum and old mill) – famous for its trout breeds.
Day 3: Oberdrauburg – Spittal a. d. Drau
(approx. 55 km)
Today you cycle to Berg im Drautal and you will pass idyllic landscape and dreamy villages en route to Spittal a. d. Drau. Soon after leaving Berg im Drautal you will reach Greifenburg, where a high rope course is located. There is also the possibility of taking a detour to lake Millstätter See for a quick swim or a short rest. Spittal a.d. Drau is famous for its comedies at Castle Porcia, one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Austria to visit.
Day 4: Spittal a. d. Drau – Villach
(approx. 40 km)
This day takes you to Villach, the second largest town in Carinthia. Villach is not only famous for its carnival adventures, but also for its fair. There are also many interesting places to visit. Enjoy a trip to the local lakes Ossiacher See and/or Faaker See. If you should still have plenty of time we recommend visiting castle Landskron with its eagle show and/or the nearby Monkey Mountain with 145 Japanese Macaques that move freely in the whole park.
Day 5: Villach – Moggio Udinese/Tolmezzo/Venzone
(approx. 85 - 90 km or approx. 40 - 55 km + train, ticket not included)
Following the river Gail you leave Villach behind and shortly after you say goodbye to Austria and welcome to Italy. In the three-nation corner of Italy-Austria-Slovenia the valley Kanaltal is extending, whose centre constitutes the Italian border town of Tarvisio. Here Austrians, Slovenes, Friulians and Italians have been living together since hundreds of years, because all the three big European language families – Teutons, Romans and Slavs – join there. Tarvisio, a small city – surrounded by wide valleys and woods – with its modern look and ancient soul, full of traditions, is not only one of the most important mountain resorts of Friuli - Venezia Giulia, but it is also famous for its winter offers in this region. Continuing through the valley of Kanaltal you can admire the beauties of the Friuli-Alps-Region with an intact, unspoilt nature and vast, intact forests. If you want, you can take the train (ticket not included) to Ugovizza and this way shorten a part of the route.
Day 6: Moggio Udinese/Tolmezzo/Venzone – Udine
(approx. 60 km)
The little city of Gemona which is located on the southern exit of the valley Kanaltal and on the foothills of the Julian Alps is one of the most beautiful historic towns of Friuli - Venezia Giulia. The view of the place is characterised by the majestic dome Santa Maria Assunta which is surely worth seeing. The wine defines today’s stage. Hills filled with grape-vines line your way and invite you to taste some drops. Udine - the city affected by Venetian cendancies – eradiates silence and thoughtfulness; over a cup of coffee on the Piazza or during a stroll in the inner city you can admire the great buildings of the late-gothic and renaissance.
Day 7: Udine – Grado
(approx. 55 km)
Accompanied by a breeze of the Scirocco you pass reed-landscape and water channels and arrive at Grado, a historic city of fishers and one of the most popular bathing resorts on the Adria.
Day 8: Grado
Individual departure da Grado or possibility to extend your stay.
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 | Grado | 89 € | |
| Single room supplement per night | Grado | 35 € | |
| Price per night in double room with breakfast | Toblach | From 06/05/2023 to 16/06/2023 | 79 € |
| Single room supplement per night | Toblach | From 06/05/2023 to 16/06/2023 | 25 € |
| Price per night in double room with breakfast | Toblach | From 17/06/2023 to 10/09/2023 | 89 € |
| Single room supplement per night | Toblach | From 17/06/2023 to 10/09/2023 | 25 € |
| Price per night in double room with breakfast | Toblach | From 11/09/2023 to 24/09/2023 | 79 € |
| Single room supplement per night | Toblach | From 11/09/2023 to 24/09/2023 | 25 € |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
| rental 21-gear bicycle (men) | 99 € | |
| rental bike 21-gear (women) | 99 € | |
| rental electric bike | 209 € | |
| rental bike TOP (men) | 139 € | |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
| Return transfer per person | 79 € | |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
Prices:
General information
Discover all the services we offer and book one of our tours now.
By car: on the Brenner/Brennero motorway (A22) to Brixen/Bressanone – take the exit “Brixen-Pustertal”, then through the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria (SS49) to Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco, depending on the location of your hotel or drive along the Felbertauernstraße to Lienz in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) and then further into Italy through the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria to Toblach/Dobbiaco or Niederdorf/Villabassa, depending on the location of your hotel.
By train: take the train from Innsbruck over the Brenner/Brennero to Franzensfeste/Fortezza. Change the train to the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria - Lienz and get off either at Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco depending on the location of your hotel. Timetable available on: www.deutschebahn.de, www.oebb.at, www.trenitalia.com.
By plane: low cost flights are available to Treviso, Venice Marco Polo, Trieste Ronchi dei Legionari and Innsbruck. We can organise your airport transfer to the first hotel (on request and not included in the price).
Guesthouses and hotels 3*** and 4**** category.
Attention: Tourist tax – if requested – has to be paid on the spot!
Free and unguarded parking facilities for the duration of the bicycle tour at a nearby public parking area.
Return transfer every Saturday from Grado to Hochpustertal (Toblach/Dobbiaco or Niederdorf/ Villabassa) at a price of € 79.00 per person + € 29.00 per own bike (reservation and payment upon booking)
Alternative: SAF – Bus from Trieste (daily at approx. 06.40 a.m.) to San Candido/Innichen at the cost of approx. € 23.00 per person (no bicycle transport possible; duration: 5 hours) –Timetable and details on www.autostazionetrieste.it.
• 21-gears women‘s or men‘s bicycle
• Rental bike TOP
• E-bike (unisex bike, 500 W battery, range up to 100 km)
We suggest travel insurance.
• Accommodation in guesthouses and hotels 3*** and 4**** category
• Breakfast buffet or full breakfast
• Personal tour information
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• Well planned routes
• Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
• Navigation APP
• Telephone service hotline for the entire tour
• Arrival to the starting point of the tour
• Departure at the end of the tour
• Drinks, tourist tax and all extras
• Lunch, Dinner
• Not mentioned entries
• Rental bikes and travel insurance
• All not expressly mentioned under the item „Included services“
FAQ
Questions and answers
In the vicinity of the start hotel there is a free parking place.
The handover of the rental bike takes place in Dobbiaco in our bike rental. Here your bike will be adapted to your needs and any open questions will be answered.
Please leave the bike locked with the panniers in the last hotel. For e-bikes, please put the charging station in the saddle bag and leave the key on the bike.
Every Saturday we offer a transfer with the shuttle bus from Grado to Alta Pusteria (Dobbiaco/Villabassa). Reservation and payment request at the booking time.
Alternative: SAF - bus from Trieste (departure daily at about 06.40 a.m.) to San Candido at a price of about € 23,00 per person (no bicycle transport possible, duration 5 hours). Timetable and details on www.autostazionetrieste.it.
