Austrian Alps, Giulian Vines 2026

 “New and Improved” for 2026
Everybody loved this tour when we first
offered it in 2019. Now it’s even better with
a more relaxed start in beautiful Salzburg,
Austria.
We hop on and off the popular
AlpeAdria Bicycle Tour route from Salzburg
to the resort town of Grado at the top of the
Adriatic. En route we detour twice to enjoy
features which guests tell us were don’t-miss
highlights along the way.
The full AlpeAdria Bike Route is here:
https://alpe-adria-cycling.com/the-alpe-
adria-cycle-route/9984/.

Tour dates:   August 24 – September 4  or  September 9 – 20

Day 1 – Salzburg, Austria We take an
extra day for a relaxed arrival at our hotel, near
the historic center of town. Check out
Mozart’s birth place and then the house
where he grew up as he developed his
remarkable musical talents.
Stroll the shopping plazas or venture
south to Hellbrunn castle and its whimsical
water features. Dinner at our hotel tonight.

Day 2 – 10:00 Break out the bikes,
enjoy an exploratory first ride. Work out
the kinks with a short adventure round town,
maybe down as far as Hellbrunn castle with its
whimsical water features.

Day 3 – Salzburg to St. Johann
Out of Salzburg and headed South.
We cycle along the shaded cycle path
next to the river Salzach. We enter
Hallein, a former Celtic town made
wealthy through salt mining. Hallein
surprises with a romantic historic town
center including little alleyways,
archways and opulent house fronts.
Beyond the roaring waterfall you
pass Golling and continue along the
well-developed cycle path to St. Johann.
The distinctive twin peaked steeples of
the Pongau cathedral rise as we
approach.

  Day 4 – St. Johann to Bad Gastein
Shortly after Schwarzach you bid
farewell to the river Salzach, and
onwards the Gasteiner Ache brings us
through the wild Gasteiner valley.
Via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein
we ride into the renowned spa and ski
resort Bad Gastein situated at the foot of
the Hohen Tauern mountain chain. A
variety of natural history and
architectural sights greet us. The
Gasteiner waterfall is the landmark
situated in the center of town, which has
been the subject of many artists and
poets.

Day 5 – Bad Gastein to Berg
Following a brief train ride under an
impenetrable alpine range, we strike out
on a new route slightly up stream to
another scenic and popular route, the
Drau Cycle Path.
We cruise along the river Drau
through the marvelous Carinthian
farmland featuring forests, fields, old
farm houses, and little hamlets. Cozy
wine taverns, called
”Buschenschenken” await with proper
farm food and invite you to take a
break. Past time honored farmhouses
decorated with flowers the well
developed Drau path takes you to our
hotel in Berg

Day 6 – Berg to Tropolach
Over a small pass this morning,
Kaiser Franz Josephs Hohe, and past
vistas of azure alpine lakes. We suggest
lunch in the village of Hermagor where
cobblestone lanes invite you soak up the
local flavors. We turn into another river
valley, the Gail. Water wheels turn on
old mills as we wind along the river.
Our destination is the giant lodge at
the base of the
Nassfeld ski resort.
Dinner at the hotel
tonight– but don’t
forget to book your
massage in
advance!

Day 7 –Tropolach to Gemona
Sleep in and
ride the aerial tram
with your bike to
the top of Nassfeld
Pass, a
breathtaking trip
ending just feet
from the Italian border. Or rise early to
climb the seven switchbacked miles (3,000′,
average 8.2%) to the summit.
Then we all experience the dramatic
descent of the southern slope of the Alps–
long traverses, tight turns, waterfalls, and
occasional goats on the road.
Stop to inspect cannon emplacements
and trenches preserved from World War 1 at
a walk-in monument along the road.
Once down we join the ciclopista for a
spectacular ride on the old Pontebba rail line
with tunnels and bridges high over the
Tagliamento River. Toast our conquering of
the Alps tonight in Gemona, gateway to
Friuli.

Day 8 – Gemona to Udine, or Cividale
First ride on the verdant Friuli plane,
gently rolling hills lead us to charming cities
of culture and history. Vineyards and farms
spread before us as we approach our hotel
for a well deserved two night stay.

Day 9 – Cividale Group 1
Wine, food, history, and art are yours to
discover. For the Lombards in the 500s this
was their gateway to the lush land that
would become Italy and the National
Archeological Museum reveals their
contribution to Western culture. Or book a
guided tour of the markets to taste layers of
history that shape culinary culture today.
Udine, “the city of Tiepolo” with its
unrivaled collection of Renaissance art is a
15 minute train ride away.
Udine Group 2
Relax in this sophisticated and historic
regional capital. The hilltop Udine Castle is
home to several museums and an art gallery
with works by the incomparable muralist
Tiepolo and original works by Caravaggio.
Views of the city and surrounding
mountains may inspire you as they have for
artists over the centuries.
Shopping or just hangin’ out on a square
may become some of your fondest
memories

Day 10 – to Spessa
We ride easily and lunch
luxuriously for we are deep in
the heart of wine country. A
detour through the vineyards of
Slovenia may add a few miles,
but our focus is fixed on food
and wine. The Knights of
Malta maintain vineyards and
an estate worth visiting, and
hilltop wineries and restaurants
abound. Tonight we rest
at a country club for
those desiring a late
afternoon tee time.

Day 11 – Spessa to Grado
Enjoy lunch today
as we pause in
Aquileia.
Second only to Rome
in size it was the
empire’s commercial
access to the northern
Mediterranean. Then
our afternoon’s
ride brings us to the shores of the Adriatic at Grado. We’ve powered
ourselves over Alpine passes and down to the sea; tonight we celebrate with
a rooftop dinner as the sun sets on our adventure.

Day 12 – home, or onward bound
After breakfast a chartered bus will take
us to Airport Marco Polo for afternoon
connections. Mille Grazie e Buon Viaggio!

Tour Price: approx. $3,499 per person, double occupancy.
Included price per person are:
* Our own van large enough for 10 ElliptiGos plus bikes
* Luggage transfers between hotels
* Transfer Grado/ Venice Marco Polo airport
* SOS support en route
* Route finding and leadership on the road
* 10 ElliptiGo 8C’s available first come, first served
$249 for the duration of the tour
* Road, Hybrid, and E-bikes available,
book separately, ask us about availability.
* 11 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
* 11 breakfasts
* 4 dinners select hotels or restaurants
   At the time of this posting we’d like to discourage E-bike use as there is ample time to prepare for the moderate riding required.

Looks like something you’d like to do? Then bang the tiny PayPal button below. Questions? Please contact Pete directly: petevannuys@cox.net
or call anytime: 949 492 5737

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