The bike tour starts in Hochpustertal, where the composer Mahler found most of his inspiration. The River Drau accompanies you from Spittal to Villach and to Klagenfurt On the way, there are several lakes that you can take a refreshing swim in if you want. Or you could just enjoy the sun on the banks of the Millstätter, Ossiacher, Faaker or Wörther lakes.

1. day Sillian Arriving

Individual arrival at your hotel in Sillian. Private car park at the first hotel included.

2. day Oberdrauburg/ Berg 47 / 59 km

In a cosy pace, your bike trip on the Drau bike trail starts with a 25 km long downhill stage. Enjoy the beautiful view on Heinfels castle and the impressive Dolomites. Lienz, Austria’s sunniest town, also lies on your route. Situated on a hilltop, Bruck castle idyllically integrates into the landscape. The chapel’s frescos are particularly worthwhile here. Even trails take you to the ruins of the former Roman settlement of Aguntum. After an unforgettable break, you continue cycling to Oberdrautal. Then, in Oberdrauburg, the historical town centre, the alpine pasture museum and the ancient mill wait to be visited. On the vestiges of the ancient Roman trade routes, the bike trail takes you to Berg, situated in the centre of the wide valley of the Drau.

3. day Spittal 45 km

An idyllic landscape with old farms and fuchsia gardens seams your way past Neustein and Raggnitz castle from Berg to Spittal on the Drau. Take a trip to the lake Millstätter See, a welcome occasion for a bath. Measuring 12 km in length and 1,5 km in breadth, it is, after the Wörthersee, the second largest lake of the Kärnten region. Make sure to also visit Porcia castle in Spittal, as it counts among the central buildings of the Austrian Renaissance.

4. day Villach 56 km

Anyone who favours nature and history gets his money’s worth today. Cycling mostly by the riverside, many highlights such as archaeological finds of the early Christian church near Molzbichl in the lower valley of the Drau, lie on your way. The museum Carantana and the nature park Dobratsch near Villach also wait to be visited. On a walk around Villach, you will discover numerous old alleys and idyllic arcade courts. For more than 800 years, the central square of the town was the focal point of the town’s trade activities. Designed in late gothic style, the town’s church is considered one of the country’s most beautiful hall churches.

5. day Ferlach-Kirschentheuer 51 km

Today, the Drau takes you to Austria’s most species-rich animal park near Rosegg castle and carries you off to the Celtic site near Frög. Visit this unique outdoor museum, erected on a former grave site uniting about 200 graves. About 3000 years ago, the Celts used to burry their deceased here under the huge barrows with precious gifts. After this interesting trip, you keep following the Drau past the pilgrimage church Maria Elend and Hollenburg castle to Ferlach, where a magnificent town centre with the well-known gunsmith’s and hunter’s museums are at home.

6. day Klopeinersee 47 km

A beautiful stage lies ahead of you! Follow the river and the rose valley, famous for the most beautiful valleys of Kärnten. Cycling through a wide bird sanctuary, you will soon reach the picturesque town of Völkermarkt with a worthwhile church, old town hall and new castle. In the south, the impressive hilltops of the Karawanken watch over the country, in the northeast, it’s the Saualpe. Through a magnificent panorama, small side streets take you to the lake Klopeinersee.