Carinthian Lakes Cycling Holidays
Start: Villach

Your Itinerary


Carinthian Lakes Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Self-Guided | Individual | 8 days | 7 nights | From £639 per person
Full holiday prices by date are shown on the ‘Book Now’ tab.

Book the Carinthian Lakes cycling holiday here >>

Cycle Tour Highlights
• Cycle along the mountain range Karawanken to the turquoise
Lake Faaker See
• Visit the warmest lake in Carinthia, the Lake Klopeiner See
• Cycle along the River Glan.
• Visit romantic castles, ruins and hill

Cycle Route features
The alternation between the individual river valleys and Lakes – as well as avoiding roads with heavy traffic – brings about a slightly hilly tour course. This journey can be easily overcome with a “normal” biker’s constitution. Mostly you cycle along asphaltic bike paths and side roads with less of traffic.

The approximate difficulty level for this tour

Difficulty Scale

Day-by-Day Cycling Holiday Itinerary


1st day: Arrival in Villach

The stillness of the mountains, the gentle lakeside of the crystal-clear lakes, pure nature – located in the heart of Carinthia the entire region around Villach reflects this entire diversity. Already the Romans, probably the first lakeside tourists appreciated relaxation and recuperation in these thermal baths and even Paracelsus enjoyed here the healing effects of the thermal springs.

Day 2: Lake Faaker See approx. 50 km

Past Villach’s thermal spa you leave the town and cycle at the foot of the Karawanken-mountains headed East to the first lake of your loop tour, the turquoise-blue Lake Faaker See. The lake’s backdrop is the Mittagskogel-peak, a genuine rock giant. Extensive, undeveloped meadows and green wooded areas surround the lake and in the middle of the lake you find a wooded island.

After a relaxing break at the lakeside and/or a lunch break you start your journey back. You tackle a small ridge on your bikes and hence reach the glistening river Drau with grey-green milky waters. The Drau-cycle path – on flat terrain and very well-developed – leads you along a leisurely route back to Villach.

Day 3: Around Lake Ossiacher See approx. 45 km

You leave Villach along the Seebach-stream and enjoy the view onto the castle ruin Landskron. On a clear day the castle ruin is visible above Villach and far beyond. The knights from long ago knew exactly where they took up residence. It is no surprise since the picturesque backdrop has not changed over time: in the forefront the green colour of the Gerlitzen Alpe, in the background the blue of Lake Ossiacher See. Lake Ossiacher See, the ’bath‘, with a total length of eleven kilometres features (just like nearly all of Carinthia’s lakes) drinking water quality.

In Ossiach the mountains and the crystal-clear water of the lake with a water temperature of up to 27 degrees in summer delight on the one hand and on the other hand the monastery dating back to the 11th century with its spectacular, late baroque church. Next the pretty resort of Steindorf on Lake Ossiacher See beckons. Then a short stop in Bodensdorf before today’s tour has come full circle in Villach.

Day 4: Villach – Klagenfurt approx. 40-50 km

You start the tour by cycling a few kilometres along the Drau-cycle path headed East. The route continues through unspoilt Carinthian farmland. Your next destination is the bussling town of Velden on Lake Wörthersee. The clear, turquoise-blue water of Lake Wörthersees and the hussle and bussle invite you to a break in the ‚celebrity ‘-town. Through a charming scenery with rolling hills you reach the ‚Keutschach Seental‘.

Sometimes it is a languorous wayside cross, sometimes it is a farm house decorated with flowers that catches your eye. The wide valley, the soft rolling hills and wooded mountains, four lovely lakes and in the distance: mountains. Even the close-by sunny South can be felt.
Lake Hafnersee, Lake Keutschacher See, Lake Baßgeigensee and Lake Rauschelesee are grouped around the resort Keutschach. The ‚Lend ‘-canal, situated at the eastern shores of Lake Wörthersee, leads you into the state capital of Carinthia, to Klagenfurt.

As an alternative (approx. 40 km) to the ‚Keutschacher Seental‘-region you can also embark on the option along the northern shores of Lake Wörthersee leading via Velden, Pörtschach and Krumpendorf to Klagenfurt.

Day 5: Klagenfurt – Lake Klopeiner See approx. 40 km

Klagenfurt – “the Rose of Lake Wörthersee” – captivates with its enchanting old part of town. Built by Italian architects in the 16/17th century, it has kept its southern flair over centuries. As legend has it the home of a dragon (Lindwurm), today features winding alleyways, romantic archade courts churches and town houses to explore.

After such a big dose of culture you continue by bike. Past Ebenthal featuring a palace and past Grafenstein palace you reach the Völkermarkter-reservoir. Now it is only a short distance before you reach the warmest lake of the state, Lake Klopeiner See. The shores of Lake Klopeiner See are very inviting: the surroundins are mostly wooded and from the hilltops you see flashes of white little churches, in the South the Karawanken-mountain chain rises and above it all you see the sun in the (usually) blue sky. Now there is only enough time for a refreshing swim in the lake.

Day 6: Klopeiner See – St. Veit approx. 40-km

You cross the river Drau for a final time and cycle across the scenery with its soft rolling hills towards Maria Saal. Soon you focus will be on the mighty twin-towers of Carinthia’s impressive fortress church Maria Saal. The cycle path leads you past Carinthia’s ‚Herzogsstuhl‘; it has been there for more than two thousand years now and is literally the belly button of the Carinthian world.

As far as the eye can see the history-charged area called Kärntner Zollfeld expands in front of you. Hochosterwitz Castle (detour to the castle approx. an extra 15 km): It is truly astonishing what first nature and then later people have created there. In the middle of the field there is a chalk-monolith with a height of 150 metres with steep rockfaces on all sides and this was used and developed into an unpregnable fortress. Numerous castles and palaces in the surroundings remind us of the former significance of the onetime state capital St. Veit.

Day 7: St. Veit– Villach approx. 60 km

For centuries St. Veit has been the seat of the Carinthian bishops. The city wall, the medieval main square, the oppulent Rainassance houses, beautiful archade courts, Herzogsburg-castle and many monuments still testify of this period even today.

You head west and cycle along the river Glan to Glanegg. Already visible from afar is Glanegg castle ruin, towering here over and above the valley. Lake Maltschacher See with its idyllic location embedded in a gentle hillscape entices you for a welcome cool-off.

Feldkirchen is surrounded by wooded hills, romantic palaces and venerable ruins. The cycle path along the river Glan leads you directly to Lake Ossiacher See and back again to your start-and end destination Villach.

Day 8: Departure or extension

Individual departure or you have the option to extend and spend a few more days in the Carinthian lake district. It is definitely highly recommended!

Map & Route Information

Route Profile
The alternation between the individual river valleys and Lakes – as well as avoiding roads with heavy traffic – brings about a slightly hilly tour course. This journey can be easily overcome with a “normal” biker’s constitution. Mostly you cycle along asphaltic bike paths and side roads with less of traffic.

Where is the starting point of the holiday?

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View Larger Map

Tour Route Map

Tour Information

Holiday Information

The Carinthian Lakes tour stays in, 3* or 4* hotels carefully chosen for their location, hospitality and proximity to your tour route.

Your stay includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and permanent assistance in case of problems.

Included services

- 7 nights accommodation as described
– 7 x breakfast
– Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
– Individually marked daily stages
detailed cycle map with information about the route in English and Italian
– GPS-Tracks available on request
– Service hotline (also weekends and public holidays) in German and English

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Rental Bike Information

All touring bikes are high quality, comfortable aluminium unisex 21-gear /Shimano) touring bikes, with 2 hand brakes, 28–inch wheels and dependable Continental-toptouring tyres.

The bikes are also equipped with a comfortable saddle, a tachometer, two bags, a bike lock, a bicycle pump, a small repair kit and a spare inner tube.

It is possible to adjust the saddle and angle of the handlebars for extra comfort. This can easily be done yourself at any time during your trip. All cycles are checked after every trip by our qualified staff to ensure maximum safety.

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Your Prices

Carinthian Lakes, 8 days, 7 nights
All prices are per person and include bike hire.

Cycling Holiday Prices:

Prices are based on seasonal date bands

Every Wednesday and Sunday from April to October

Season 1: April. – April | September – October
Season 2: April – June | August – September
Season 3: June. – August

Category A: Prices per person including bike hire
Season 1: From £669 | Book online here >>
Season 2: From £719 | Book online here >>
Season 3: From £759 | Book online here >>
Single Room Supplement: From £219
Half Board Upgrade: From £119
Electric Bike Upgrade: From £109

Calculate the cost of your cycling holiday







Hotel Category Descriptions
Selected hotels and inns of the national 3* and 4* category, mostly in a central location.

Extra nights are available to book on this tour!
Prices are per person per night and based on two sharing. Single supplements apply.

For extra nights, you will stay in the same hotel. Please let us know if you wish to book extra nights at the start or at the end of the tour when completing your ‘Booking Request’.

Any local tourist taxes are not included in the holiday price and are payable at the hotel.

For help and queries regarding this tour…
Contact us | F.A.Qs

Holiday Price: From £669
Single Supplement: From £219

Click here to book now
Call: 01706 618155

Wheel2Wheel Holidays is part of KE Adventure Travel Ltd.

Central Car Park Road, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DF

Registered Address: Fifth Floor, 27 Greville Street, London, United Kingdom EC1N 8SU

Registered in England: 1911512