Tauern Bike Path.

Krimml to Passau.

There can't be many more beautiful bike rides in the world, 340kms. of spectacular scenery with a rest day in Salzburg as an added bonus. We again used the Austrian company Rad Reisen for this ride. For around Euro 600 per person we had good [but heavy] bikes, very good accommodation, breakfasts and luggage transfers each day. In total we rode for 5 days and had 1 day free in Salzburg.

With hindsight I would do the ride differently next time. Instead of the rest day in Salzburg I would split the last 150kms. into three days. 75kms. per day on a heavy bike takes the fun out of it. The route notes describe it as a 1-2 ride, 1 being flat and 2 moderate hills, the first day is completely flat to Kaprun and then each day thereafter has a few short sharp climbs, the longest of these is around 3kms.

We had two days of rain but that didn't spoil it, the only problem we had was the first nights accommodation in Krimml. Rad Reisen had booked us into the Gasthof zur Post but the owner was screwing the system by sub contracting guests to various lower quality houses in the village. We were sent to a ski lodge which had seen better days and were treated as low priority guests when it came to breakfast. If you do this ride I suggest you insist they don't book this hotel for you. The other overnight stops were in Kaprun, Hofer, Salzburg, Simbach and Passau. The accommodation in those places was very good, clean and comfortable rooms with excellent German/Austrian breakfasts included.

I won't waste time describing the ride in detail, the following photos do a far better job than I could. All were taken from the cycle path except for the few taken in Hangar 7 at Salzburg Airport. A collection of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateshitz favourite toys. Entry is free to the display, a city tram stops at the door.

Re padlocks, how long before someone realises there is a fortune to be made by harvesting the free brass hanging off every bridge in Europe. 

If you are planning a ride like this and have any questions please contact me using the comment link on this post if you need more information, I would be happy to help if I can.

To get to Krimml you take the narrow gauge rail line from Zell am See, there is room for bikes if you are bringing your own. It's called the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn, tickets can be bought in Zell Am See or on the train but at busy times you probably need to pre book your bike. Our bikes were provided by Rad Reisen and were waiting at Krimml so we didn't have that problem.

Krimml

Wald

Wald

Zell Am See

Zell Am See

St George

Klamm

Klamm

Bischofshofen

Bischofshofen

Werfen

Werfen

Hangar 7 Salzburg Airport

Salzburg

Salzburg

St. Georgen

Oberndorf

Burghausen

Burghausen

Reichersberg

We often self cater our dinner or lunch, after a day on the bike it's a relaxing and inexpensive way to finish the day.

Photos taken with a Nikon S9100.

Bad Tölz - Hiking, biking und bier.

Last year we spent four days in this small Bavarian town, it's a beautiful place with many bike trails and hiking paths. It was the first stop for this years Europe trip  and was a good place to recover from the long flight from Sydney. 

45 minutes on the BOB train south from Munich and then onto the bus which is included in the price of the train ticket. The cost [Euro22 for two] to get from the airport into Munich on the U Bahn, then takethe BOB train and bus to our hotel was less than the cost of the airport train in Sydney. Amazing too is that you can actually see out of the windows.

Germany must be leading the world in the development of solar and wind power, solar panels on most houses, recycling of just about everything and the first time I had seen recharging stations for electric bikes. Another first was a condom machine for bikes.

German engineering at the top of its game, a Trabby, years ahead of the other makers with a very stylish matte paint job.

Day one was a 14km. walk to Ellbach, day two was a 61km. ride out to Tegernsee and back. The route took us through farmlands, thick forest and then a complete circuit of the lake, just a short section on quiet roads with the rest of the journey on cycle paths.

We stayed at The Alpenhof Hotel and rented bikes from The Bike Boutique. Both are highly recommended.

Photos taken with a Nikon S9100.