Carinthia Lakes Loop

A cycle tour of around 420 kilometres to the 20 most beautiful lakes and rivers in Austria's southernmost province

Pure cycling pleasure: cycle lightly through Austria's sunny south - past blue and turquoise lakes nestled in the beautiful hilly and mountainous landscape on the border with Italy and Slovenia. Depending on your time and fitness level, the varied route, which is around 430 kilometres long, can be divided into any number of stages. Ideally, you should allow at least a week for the entire tour. This leaves enough time to enjoy the warm bathing lakes, nature and the special features along the way. Cyclists will find plenty of accommodation along the route to suit all tastes and budgets. The tour is also perfect for e-bikes. If you don't have your own bike, you can hire a modern e-bike with accessories at one of around 50 hire stations in Carinthia and return it to another hire station if you wish. Info: Carinthia rent e bike
 

Attention!!!
* Some sections lead over public provincial or federal roads! Please observe STvO! This applies in particular to the section from Treffen to just before Afritz, where the route runs along the main road (without a cycle path) for around 4 kilometres.

Example:

1. Stage: Villach - Millstatt

67 kilometres, 690 metres in altitude

The start and finish of the Carinthia Lakes Loop is at the striking red Friedensbrücke bridge, which crosses the Drau to the east of Villach. A cycle path heading north takes you to Lake Ossiach after around five kilometres. With great views of the water and the surrounding mountains, you cycle round Lake Ossiach in an anti-clockwise direction. In Ossiach, the impressive monastery with its baroque church from the eleventh century is well worth a short visit. After rounding the lake, the first long climb follows. The road winds along the Afritzer Bach stream for a good 15 kilometres up to the Afritzersee and Feldsee lakes. Then it goes through Radenthein to the eastern shore of Lake Millstatt and on via Dellach to Millstatt.

Route in detail: R2 to Steindorf, then change back to the R2A towards Villach as far as St. Andrä on the western shore of Lake Ossiach. From there follow the R2 to Annenheim, in Annenheim take the R2B towards Millstättersee.

Worth seeing and experiencing in the neighbourhood:

Slow Trail Bleistätter Moor/Lake Ossiach

Show dairy Kaslabn'n Radenthein

First Carinthian bathhouse on Lake Millstatt

2. Stage: Millstatt - Techendorf

49 kilometres, 732 metres in altitude

Day two of the Carinthian Lakes Loop begins at a leisurely pace - but over the course of the day, it accumulates the most metres in altitude of the week. First you cycle along the shore of Lake Millstatt towards Seeboden, in Seeboden take the R9 towards Gmünd. Follow the R9 to Kalsdorf, then change to the R9A to Lendorf. From Lendorf take the R1 (Drau cycle path) to Pobersach (before Greifenburg). From Pobersach, follow the old Kreuzbergstrasse to Weissensee.

Alternative from Seeboden: Follow the R2A to Seeboden, then through the Lisaschlucht gorge to Spittal on the R9. In Spittalm, the route joins the famous Drau cycle path, which accompanies Carinthia's largest river. At Neuolsach, the route branches off to the west and leads steadily uphill to Zlan and along the idyllic Weißenbach stream to Stockenboi. From there it is only ten kilometres to the eastern shore of picturesque Lake Weissensee. This is where the road ends - and the only way to continue is by boat across the fjord-like lake between the mountains. After a 30-minute boat trip to the Ronacherfels landing stage, five fantastic kilometres of cycling along the shores of the lake to Techendorf await you at the end.

Things to see and do nearby:

Ride up to Goldeck on the summer mountain railway

Mountain bike trails in the Weissensee Nature Park for beginners and advanced riders

Magical moment - breakfast raft on Lake Weissensee

Boat trip on Lake Weissensee

3. Stage: Techendorf - Pressegger See

30 kilometres, 246 metres in altitude

After two days with a total of more than 1,400 metres in altitude, the short third stage almost feels like half a rest day. If it weren't for the 1,074 metre high Kreuzbergsattel. However, as Lake Weissensee is already 930 metres above sea level, the difference is easily manageable. And then, after the ascent, a beautiful long descent through the Gitschtal valley towards Hermagor awaits. From here, the route is flat along the Gailtal cycle path to Lake Pressegger See. There should definitely be enough time for a dip in the warm lake on this day.

Detailed description of cycle paths: From Weissensee take the country road to Kreuzberg and Hermagor, from Weissbriach follow the R3B to Hermagor, then take the R3A to Pressegersee.

Things to see and do in the neighbourhood:

The regional cuisine and experience programmes of the world's first Slow Food Travel Region, e.g. at Lerchenhof Castle or at the Bärenwirt in Hermagor.

Action, fun and relaxation right by the lake: Carinthian adventure park on Lake Pressegger See

4. Stage: Lake Pressegg - Lake Faak

49 kilometres, 295 metres in altitude

Most of the altitude metres of the Carinthian Lakes Loop are done. Today you cycle back eastwards along the Gailtal cycle path on the border with Italy and Slovenia. The crystal-clear waters of the Gail ripple gently alongside the cycle path and the view of the striking Dobratsch mountain with its broadcasting tower on the summit is breathtaking. The day's destination is the turquoise shimmering Faaker See. The route first leads to the southern end with a view of the island and its nostalgic hotel. Then it continues along the eastern shore to Egg am Faaker See.

Detailed description of cycle paths: R3A to Görtschach, then onto the R3 to Müllnern, in Müllnern cross the Gail heading south and change to the R1C, follow this to Faak am See.

Worth seeing and experiencing nearby:

The citrus garden with around 280 different citrus plants in Faak am See (combination of botanical garden and organic farm)

Indian-Spiritcanoe tour through the reed belt on Lake Faak

5. Stage: Faaker See - Klopeiner See

71 kilometres, 369 metres in altitude

From the north side of Lake Faak, the first kilometre in Egg am Faakersee is steeply downhill. Cross the main road at St. Niklas and over the Drau bridge directly to the Drau cycle path, which you reach immediately after the end of the bridge. Follow the Drau cycle path through the beautiful Rosental valley and the Jauntal valley to Stein im Jauntal (or Dullach). The best transport connection to Lake Klopeiner See is via the village of Stein im Jauntal, where there is a short climb. From Stein im Jauntal it is then just 2 kilometres to Lake Klopeiner See. On the way to Lake Klopeiner See, it is definitely worth making a detour to the gunsmith town of Ferlach.

Things to see and do in the neighbourhood:

Excursion destinations in the Carnica-Rosental region

Tscheppaschlucht gorge near Ferlach - a natural jewel of a special kind

EXPI Science Centre full of (physical) experiments in Gotschuchen/St. Margarethen im Rosental

Info: www.suedkaernten.at

Detailed description of cycle paths: R1C, R1B to Egg am Faakersee, follow the steep descent of the main road, after approx. 350m turn right onto Deutschbauerweg. At St. Niklas, cross the main road straight ahead and over the Drau bridge, immediately after the Drau bridge onto the R1 (Drau cycle path), then follow this to Stein im Jauntal. From Stein im Jauntal via Littermoos to Lake Klopeiner See.

Alternative route via Lake Wörthersee:

From the northern end of Lake Faak, with its spectacular views of the Karawanken and the pyramid-shaped rocky cone of the Mittagskogel, you cycle back into the Drau Valley and on to Velden am Wörthersee. On the cycle path along the northern shore of Carinthia's largest and most famous lake, you pass the seaside resort of Pörtschach with its pretty villas, small castles and stylish lake houses. From the lakeside promenade in Klagenfurt, you cross the provincial capital with its historic centre, which is well worth seeing. In the afternoon you reach the lively town of Sankt Kanzian on Lake Klopeiner See, which is considered the warmest bathing lake in Europe.

Detailed description of cycle paths: R1C, R1B to Egg am Faakersee, follow the steep descent of the provincial road to St. Niklas. At the roundabout in St. Niklas turn right towards Rosegg for approx. 500m, then left towards Föderlach over the Drau bridge, immediately after the Drau bridge onto the R1 (Drau cycle path), then follow this to Stein im Jauntal. From Stein im Jauntal via Littermoos to Lake Klopeiner See.

Things to see and do in the neighbourhood:

A drink with a view of the lake in one of the cafés along the Velden promenade

Culinary excursion to the Benedictine market in Klagenfurt

Klopeiner See forest adventure world in St. Kanzian with 75 attractions and high ropes course

Free access to the lake for a dip in the refreshing water

Carinthian bathhouse on Lake Klopeiner See: Carinthian bathhouse Klopeinersee

Forest adventure world with indoor playhouse on Lake Klopeinersee

Geo-Dom, the new visitor centre of the Karawanken UNESCO Global Geopark: Geo-Dom

Ober stalactite cave

Viewing platform-slow-trail-Kitzelberg

Special excursion destinations in South Carinthia:

Excursion destinations-family

6. Stage: Lake Klopein - St.Veit an der Glan

Route via Grafenstein and Klagenfurt

64 kilometres, 411 metres in altitude

From Lake Klopeiner See you cycle towards Wasserhofen, via Peratschitzen and St. Lorenzen to the reservoir, follow the northern shore to Dullach, via Althofen and Grafenstein and the railway accompanying path to Klagenfurt. A stay in Klagenfurt and the city centre is always worthwhile, the provincial capital has a lot to offer guests.

From the centre of Klagenfurt, follow the R7 (perfectly signposted!) to St. Veit an der Glan in the Central Carinthia region. The R7 cycle path runs almost entirely parallel to the Glan, the river that connects St.Veit and Klagenfurt.

Detailed description of the cycle route: From Lake Klopeiner See, you cycle on tarmac side roads past Wasserhofen, via Peratschitzen and St. Lorenzen to the banks of the Drau. Here you cycle along the unsurfaced cycle path to the large bridge - on the roadside cycle path - over the reservoir. On the other side of the bank, turn left and follow the bank for just under 8km to the next bridge, where you turn right at Dullach, follow the main road for around 300m and then immediately turn left again and follow the L115 to Althofen, where you turn right after the railway subway onto the accompanying railway path, which you then follow to Grafenstein. Follow the railway track from Grafenstein to Klagenfurt (R6). Follow the R6 cycle path to the centre of Klagenfurt, then change to the R7 cycle path at Neuer Platz, which connects Klagenfurt and St. Veit an der Glan. Always follow the "R7" signs.

Things to see and do in the neighbourhood:

Central Carinthia region: https://www.mittelkaernten.at/

Provincial capital Klagenfurt: www.visitklagenfurt.at/de/

Alternative route from Lake Klopein via the Drau cycle path and the Rosental valley back to Lake Faakersee

69 kilometres, 493 metres in altitude

After a beautiful loop around Lake Klopeiner See, today's stage is all about the River Drau. The route runs largely along the well-known Drau Cycle Path, which has been listed by the ADFC as one of four 5-star quality cycle tours since 2016. Here you can enjoy a relaxed ride along the water - past rocks, castles and reservoirs. In the Rosental hiking region, you pass the gunsmith town of Ferlach. The elegant Rosegg Castle with its large garden, labyrinth and zoo is located in one of the many Drau loops. From here it is only a few kilometres to the stylish town of Velden am Wörthersee.

Things to see and do in the neighbourhood:

Tscheppaschlucht gorge near Ferlach - a natural jewel of a special kind

EXPI Science Centre full of (physical) experiments in Gotschuchen/St. Margarethen im Rosental

Cruise on the Wörthersee boat and/or excursion to the Pyramidenkogel

7. Stage: St.Veit an der Glan-Wörthersee

50km, 350HM

The Central Carinthia region is known for its large number of castles. One of the most famous castles in Austria is Hochosterwitz Castle, which you will pass if you choose the attractive route around the Längsee lake. The route continues past St. Veit towards the Hörtzendorfer and Maltschachersee lakes. The tour is more undulating in this area, but no less attractive as a result. From Maltschach, the route then descends slightly towards Moosburg and Lake Wörthersee.

Detailed description of cycle paths: on this route, it is best to use your GPS device as a navigation aid, as the route mainly leads along side roads with little traffic.

8. Stage: Wörthersee-Villach

20-25km, flat

From Lake Wörthersee, the last stage takes us back to Villach via the R4 and R1 cycle paths. The tour is mostly flat (except for the exit in Velden). From Föderlach to Villach, the last few kilometres lead along the 5-star Drau cycle path.

Further tips: https://radland.kaernten.at/de/

Tours in Carinthia