The Alps, Salzburger Land and Portugal. These are our travel tips for gravel bikers. Although crossing the Alps from Upper Bavaria to Lake Garda is probably not an insider tip for most people, few people have heard of the new gravel routes from tour operator Alps Biketours. On a gravel tour through Salzburger Land, you can choose between two difficulty levels in advance - and experience Austria's breathtaking nature up close on both. A trip to Portugal promises more than just gravel: in addition to the tours, the programme also includes wellness and yoga.
3 cycle tours for gravel bikers
Crossing the Alps by gravel bike
The route from Upper Bavaria to Lake Garda has been a classic Alpine crossing by bike for almost three decades. Thanks to the growing popularity of gravel bikes, this famous route is now experiencing a renaissance. The Transalp experts from the tour operator Alps Biketours in Munich have therefore expanded their offer to include Alpine crossings by gravel bike. Based on over 30 years of Transalp experience and meticulous route planning, they have created new gravel routes in two performance levels to Lake Garda.
With daily stages of up to 105 kilometres and a maximum altitude difference of 1800 metres, the routes are challenging, but reward the effort with the crossing of three legendary Alpine passes and unique Alpine panoramas. The ride begins in picturesque Upper Bavaria, leads over the Brenner Pass, Jaufen Pass and Mendel Pass, through dreamlike South Tyrolean landscapes and along the breathtaking Brenta Dolomites to the eagerly awaited destination, Lake Garda. Along the way, you can feel like a true pioneer, as many sections of this route are unique and have hardly been travelled by gravel bikers. Participants can concentrate fully on the route and the panorama on the guided Gravel Transalp. Luggage is transported and the bus takes you back to the starting point.
Facts about the Gravel-Transalp at a glance
- Transalp classic from Upper Bavaria to Lake Garda
- 6 stages, 440 kilometres, 8800 metres in altitude
- Impressive landscapes: Walchensee, Karwendel, Stubai Glacier, main Alpine ridge, Texel Group, Sarntal Alps, Brenta Dolomites
- Historic climbs: Brenner Pass, Jaufen Pass, Mendel Pass
Cycling holidays for gravel bikers: soft or hard through Salzburger Land
From May this year, gravel fans can explore Salzburger Land on a large, multi-day tour. There are two variants to choose from: The destination speaks of a "hard" and a "soft" one. The latter covers 460 kilometres and 6700 metres in altitude, the more difficult 650 kilometres and a whopping 12700 metres in altitude. The shorter route leads on a circular route from Salzburg via the spectacular Strubklamm gorge to the deep blue lakes of the Salzkammergut. It continues along the old Postalm road into the Tennengau region, on cycle paths along the Enns and Salzach rivers and around Lake Zell to Mittersill. Passing the Leoganger Steinberge mountains and along the Tauern cycle path through the Salzburger Saalachtal valley, you finally reach the city of Salzburg again.
The longer route is largely the same as the "delicate" tour, but is peppered with the extension over the Salzburger Lungau and Carinthia. Additional mountain stages and passes await with the Zwölferhorn (Lärchenhütte), the Radstädter Tauern (Obertauern), Leogang with the Asitz, the Aschauer Sattel and, as a highlight, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. The individual route sections can also be combined with each other. There are specialised bike hotels as well as additional loops and other highlights in all gravel regions.
Gravel biking and yoga in the north of Portugal
Are you interested in gravel biking? Do you want to get to know the Atlantic coast and the interior of the country on a wide variety of terrain in one of the wildest landscapes in the north of Portugal? Do you want to pamper yourself after the tours with yoga, wellness and good food in one of the most beautiful bike hotels in Portugal? Beautiful coastal paths, wild gravel roads, small mountain roads into the interior, picturesque villages along the Way of St James - the north of Portugal has a lot to offer gravel bikers.
The flight takes just two hours. And you don't even have to bring your bike, as there is a test centre on site with the latest gravel bikes from Scott. So, let's get there! The one-week gravel bike camp with seven overnight stays costs 1140 euros. All services except the flight to Porto are included. Karen Eller from the lawnmowers will be on site as a guide.
