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Brixen to Villach--Kissed by the Sun
Drau River Bicycle Path

Type:	Self-Guided
Level:	Leisure
Duration:	7 nights
Distance:	26 miles/day average
Departure Dates:	Self-Guided: Sundays from 5/2 to 9/26/2010 (except 8/8 and 8/15/2010, no departures)
Base Price:	Self-Guided: €597
Start City:	Brixen, Italy
End City:	Villach, Austria
TODAY'S EXCHANGE RATE EUR 1.00 \| USD 1.33

Description

It is the area with the most hours of sunlight per day in the Alps. Italian kitchen, Tyrolese specialities and food to be relished from Carinthia. From the Eisack Valley onwards along the rivers Rienz and Drau. From the sunny "Brixner Becken" (basin) to the "Puster Valley", which is in the south of the main Alps ridge, then through the "Green Valley" up to Bruneck - the city of Michael Pacher. After the water-shed Toblach you cycle comfortably downhill to Lienz, the capital of East Tyrol. Through the "Oberdrau Valley" to Carinthia, passing Oberdrauburg and then from Spittal/ Millstätter Lake to the town Villach.

Route features:
It is an easy tour for real “bons viveurs” who do not like ascents. From Brixen to Innichen slightly uphill, and then along the Drau downhill.
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Daily Program

1st day: Arrival in Brixen
Sightseeing tour of the old town with its bowers and cathedral. It is situated between the Zillertal Alps in the north and the Dolomites in the south. Having been the seat of a bishopric since the 10th century, Brixen is surrounded picturesquely by vineyards of the well-known Silvaner.

2nd day: Brixen – Bruneck (approx. 40 km/25 miles)
Introductory presentation in the morning. Via Neustift (where you can see the world’s smallest bible) and the “Mühlbacher Klause” (former customs post of the Tyrolese sovereign princes) into the “Puster Valley”(antique bridge between the provinces of Rhaetia and Norikum). Then Dietenheim near Bruneck (folklore museum with several original Tyrolese farms). A digression to Sand in Taufers and a visit to “Taufers Castle” enrich this day. Finish of the stage is at Bruneck (a picturesque old town).

3rd day: Bruneck – Niederdorf/Toblach (approx. 30 km/19 miles)
Through the “Puster Valley” to Toblach. Charming trips to the “Toblacher Lake” or the “Dürren Lake”/ “Pragser Lake” can be taken. Near them are the most well-known summits of the Dolomites, the so-called “Drei Zinnen”.

4th day: Niederdorf/Toblach – Lienz (approx. 50 km/31 miles)
First Innichen (a museum worth seeing; a cathedral built in a Romanesque style) and then a comfortable descent from Sillian to Lienz, where the Isel and Drau confluence occurs. (Museum of local history “Schloss Bruck” – excavation site Aguntum.) With 2000 hours of sunlight a year this is the sunniest holiday resort of Austria.

5th day: Lienz – Berg (approx. 35 km/22 miles)
On the tracks of old Roman trade routes leading to Oberdrauburg, which is the city of custom with “Perchtenmuseum”, “Almmuseum” and an old mill which is still running.

6th day: Berg – Spittal/surroundings (approx. 45 km/28 miles)
Through marvelous landscapes to the Spittal or “Millstätter Lake” (fishing museum). There is the opportunity to swim in the beautiful “Millstätter Lake”. The “Kulturpromenade” (culture promenade) of Oberkärnten – Spittal/ Drau (Castle Porcia with a museum of folk culture, and comedy plays put on in July and August).

7th day: Spittal/surroundings – Villach (approx. 40 km/25 miles)
Villach – the second biggest city of Carinthia and its immediate surroundings offer numerous sights (mushroom museum, the dolly world of Elli-Riehls, the ruin Landskron) and inviting lakes like “Ossiacher Lake” and “Faaker Lake”.

8th day: Individual return journey
Individual return or additional nights.

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Services
Self-Guided:

Orientation at first hotel

Accommodation in hotels/guest-houses, category 3***

Breakfast buffet or extended breakfast

Half board if booked: at least a 3-course evening meal

Luggage transport from hotel to hotel

Carefully researched route

One set of detailed travel material (route description, maps, places of interest, important telephone numbers) per room

Service hotline during the tour

Marked route
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Dates
Self-Guided: Sundays from 5/2 to 9/26/2010 (except 8/8 and 8/15/2010, no departures)
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Tour Price (per person, double occupancy)
Self-Guided:
€597: Tour package
€115: Single supplement (if 1 person per room)

Optional Dinner Package: €125
Bike Rental: €60
High-Season Surcharge (7/18 to 8/22): €35

Additional Nights:
Brixen:
Double room: €65
Single room: €74

Villach:
Double room: €58
Single room: €73
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Travel Information
Brixen lies on the Innsbruck-Brenner-Verona train line about 50 miles from Innsbruck, the nearest airport.

Villach is about 25 miles from Klagenfurt, Austria, the nearest airport.

To Brixen by train costs approx. €45 per person (takes about 5 hours)

Transfer to Brixen by minibus (€49 per person, bike included, payable on the spot; limited space; reservation necessary)

Parking
Free but unattended hotel parking-place in Villach. In Brixen hotel garage about €45 per week or hotel parking space about €17 per week
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Tour Operator (click to view name)
BikeToursDirect does not operate any tours but represents all companies whose tours are listed on this site. You can book this tour through BikeToursDirect at the same prices you'd pay booking directly through the tour company. Book this tour by clicking on "Book Trip" button below, or contact us for help planning your tour.
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