Mur Cycle Path
Austria Bike Tours
Austria’s Tuscany from Gentian to Riesling
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length7 days
- Prices from€863 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
When rivers were the easiest way to travel, traders followed the Mur on their way south from Salzburg to the Slovenian border. On this self-guided tour, you will bike the most diverse scenic river bike path in the Alps following the same river course, through nature at her loveliest.
The Styrian Alps are the backdrop and the more than 200 species of birds, the soundtrack that completes this experience.
Contrasted with the stunning nature and wildlife, your tour through Graz, the beautiful and historic capital of Styria, will be infused with the wisdom and relics of old and the vibrancy of youth, thanks to the many universities there.
Your tour will end in the fertile plains of South Styria, often called Austria's Tuscany, whose vineyards rival those of Italy. Be sure to enjoy the thermal spas in Bad Radkersburg.
Highlights
- The landscape of the Mur River
- Graz, Unesco World Heritage Site
- South Tyrolean wine by lake Calterio
- Remote farms of the Lungau mountain farmers
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in St. Michael im Lungau
Day 2: St Michael - Murau, 35 mi. (55 km)
Day 3: Murau - Judenburg/surroundings, 43 mi. (65 km)
Day 4: Judenburg/surroundings - Bruck an der Mur/Oberaich, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 5: Bruck an der Mur/Oberaich - Graz, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 6: Graz - Mureck, 41 mi. (65 km)
Day 7: Mureck - Bad Radkersburg, 16 mi. (25 km)All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork, In this case, please follow the directions posted on site.
Day 1: Arrival in St. Michael im Lungau
Arrival in St. Michael im Lungau, check-in to your first hotel, and enjoy. You will have a welcome briefing and distribution of tour information and rental bicycles as pre-arranged. This meeting generally occurs at 6 pm at your first hotel. If you know you cannot make the welcome meeting, you can collect your tour documentation from the reception of your start hotel. Rental bikes, too, will be at your hotel. Advance notification is necessary.The market town of St. Michael's on the upper Mura river used to be a miners' settlement originating in the 12th century. Lungau is the most remote district of the state of Salzburg.
Sample hotels:
Cat. A: 4* Romantikhotel Wastlwirt
Cat. B: 3* Landhotel StofflerwirtDay 2: St. Michael - Murau, 35 miles (55 km)
Passing first through Tamsweg, a historic market town with a Rathaus (old town) from 1570, and a Baroque parish church from about 1741, you will also find an interesting local museum exhibiting items from peasant life. You will spend the night in the old town of Murau, nestled amid extensive forests in the upper valley of the Mura River. Murau is nestled at the foot of the Stolzalpe mountain, which rises to over 5900'. Sights in Murau, other than the spectacular scenery surrounding you, include the 13th-century Murau Castle, the Gothic church, and the Leonhard Temple. Every year in July, the European Shakespeare Days take place here, where you can watch the performances in English.Sample hotels:
Cat. A: 4* Hotel Lercher
Cat. B: 3* Gasthof LercherDay 3: Murau - Judenburg/surroundings, 43 miles (65 km)
Today, you will ride your bike through the straits of the Murvalley at the foot of the Lower Tauern Mountains. In Frojach, you will find the Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum, in Frauenburg legendary ruins, and in Sauerbrunn the oldest mineral water source in Styria. Many historic sites can also be seen in Judenburg: the city tower, the former sovereign’s castle, townhouses, and Magdalen Church.Sample hotels:
Cat. A: 3* Guesthouse Karl August
Cat. B: 3* Landpension BirkerDay 4: Judenburg/surroundings - Bruck an der Mur/Oberaich, 37 miles (60 km)
On the fourth day, you will visit Marie Buch (pilgrimage church) and the Seckau Monastery (Benedictine abbey). In the old industrial towns, one can clearly see the well preseved legacy of the past: well-kept old towns, vibrant pedestrian zones, and interesting museums. In Leoben, you can visit the Göss Monastery and the Gösser brewery. In Bruck an der Mur you will find interesting sites such as the Schlossberghill, the Kornmesserhaus, and the city hall.Sample hotels:
Cat. A: 4* Hotel Landskron
Cat. B: 3* Guesthouse PichlerDay 5: Bruck an der Mur/Oberaich - Graz, 37 miles (60 km)
Through the lush green that is Styria, your tour leads to Frohnleiten, a typical example of a medieval market that has grown into a roadside village. Then, passing ancient farm buildings surrounded by old fruit orchards, you cycle by the fortress of Rabenstein into the Tanneben pine forest. Austria's largest stalactite cave, Lurgrotte, is located here. Also, the Austrian Open Air Museum, Stuebing, is very interesting. It is among the 10 largest and most spectacular open-air museums in Europe. There are original, historic rural buildings from all over Austria. Stuebing gives an insight into the peasant culture of Austria in the past. You will spend the night in Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, overlooked by the prominent hill, the Schlossberg. Graz is known for its value on education as manifested by the six universities that are located here. The roots of Graz can be traced back to Roman times when a small fort was built where the city center is today; Slovenians later built a larger fortress in the same place. You will want to visit the clock tower on the Schlossberg hill, also, Castle Eggenberg, which is the oldest family-owned brewery in Austria. It dates back at least to the year 999 A.D. At this time the beer was brewed only for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. Since 1681 the Castle Brewery Eggenberg has been brewing on a commercial basis. About 200 years ago the ancestors of the present owner bought the castle. There are also several museums in Graz that are worth a visit. The Old Town of Graz was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1999 due to the blend of typical buildings from different time periods and architectural styles.Sample hotels:
Cat. A: 4* Hotel Drei Raben
Cat. B: Star InnDay 6: Graz - Mureck, 41 miles (65 km)
A highlight today will be the Seggau Castle, rising above Southern Styria's wine-growing area. It can be seen for miles around. Its history goes back to Roman times and the lover of such will find satisfaction in the royal room with its perfectly preserved baroque furnishings, considered a true artistic treasure. The wine connoisseur will covet the 300-year-old wine cellar stocked with wooden barrels. The castle's vineyard was once episcopal, dating back to the baroque period. Be sure to visit the unique river mill, the church and the town hall. Or perhaps venture to neighbor Slovenia and the Obermureck castle.Sample hotels:
Cat. A and B: 3* Pension SteirerlandDay 7: Mureck - Bad Radkersburg, 16 miles (25 km)
On the short final stage, you will find water of all kinds: the Mur River will guide you, you can swim in Lake Röcksee, visit the mineral water spring of Peterquelle and relax in the thermal waters of Bad Radkersburg (a historic old town with many different architectural styles!). At the end of the day, you will leave your rental bike at the designated location, and either extend your stay or depart. You can take advantage of a return transfer by bus to St. Michael, (every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 pm, and every Sunday at 11 am) - see pricing. Advance reservation is required.If you are booking Category A accommodations, admission to the thermal bath in Bad Radkersburg is included in the price so booking an extra night is recommended. Of course, in either category of accommodations, an extra night is enjoyable so that you can finish your cyling day and still have your evening in Bad Radkersburg.
Additional Options:
Trip to the Spring of the Mur River approx. 35 mi. (55 km)
There is little traffic along the Mur River to the national park village of Muhr. You will cycle through lush meadows to the car park, Muritzen. Her (transfer possibility for €75,- for up to 4 people incl. bikes, 5-8 people: € 95,- incl. bike). From there, you will cycle uphill, on a partly very steep route (gradients of 12 % and 19 %) to the Stickler alpine hut. The last part of the way, you will walk to the spring at 1898 meters in altitude (about one hour hike). You will then ride your bike downhill back to St. Michael. Transfer possibilities depend on the weather and operate from the end of May at the earliest! Due to varying weather conditions, the information about transfer possibilities is subject to change.Sample hotels:
Cat. A: Romantikhotel Wastlwirt
Cat. B: StofflerwirtYou can view all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.
Map
Hotels & Bikes
You have two options for accommodations for this tour. Option A features 3 and 4-star hotels and guest houses and Option B features mainly 3-star hotels, guesthouses, and inns. On each day’s details, you will find the name of the preferred hotel. We strongly advise that you research the hotels listed and are satisfied with the accommodations. A hotel list can be provided at the time of your tour confirmation. Please request this. However, it is important to understand that at times, changes must be made, and your final hotel list may reflect this.
Bicycles
Standard touring bike
The standard touring rental bikes are 7-speed unisex or 21-speed. There are two types of frames available for the 24-speed bike, a men's frame or a unisex frame. These bikes also feature:
- Modern V-breaks
- Aluminum rims
- Aluminum frame
- Mudguards
- Selle Royal Comfort gel saddles (seatpost diameter is 27.2)
- 28-inch puncture-resistant tires
*You must specify at time of booking which bike you would like to reserve, 7 speed unisex or 21 speed unisex or men's frame.
Accessories
- Handlebar bag
- Rear pannier
- Combination lock (one per room)
- Repair kit (one per room)
- Pump (one per room)
- Bottle holder
- Odometer
- Bike helmets, UVEX i-vo, (for sale, advanced reservation, €40)
Plus bike
The Plus bike allows for a slightly sportier sitting posture, 27 gears offer the highest flexibility and a high-quality Suntour suspension fork provides the best possible comfort across all surfaces. All accessories are also available on Rental Bike Plus.
- Hydraulic Magura Brakes
- Shimano Deore XT gearings
- Aluminum rims
- Aluminum frame
- Pannier
- Mudguards
- Handlebar bag
- Bicycle repair kit with tools, a pump, a spare inner tube, and a combination lock
- Selle Royal Esenza (seatpost diameter is 27.2)
- 28-inch puncture-resistant tires
*Availability is limited. You must specify at the time of booking if you are requesting a Plus Bike
Accessories
- Handlebar bag
- Pear pannier
- Combination lock (one per room)
- Repair kit (one per room)
- Pump (one per room)
- Bottle holder
- Odometer
- Bike helmets (for sale, advanced reservation, €40)
Electric bike
These pedelec bikes have an electric motor fixed on the frame with a removable battery. A pedelec's motorised assistance only engages when the rider is pedaling and cuts out once 25 km/h is reached.
- 36 volt Bosch motor
- 500 wh battery
- Shimano 8 gear Nexus hub gears with backpedaling brake hub.
- The removable battery provides a ranch of 120 to 180 kilometers.
- Weight approximately 23 kg.
Accessories
- Handlebar bag
- Rear pannier
- Combination lock (one per room)
- Repair kit (one per room)
- Pump (one per room)
- Bottle holder
- Odometer
- Bike helmets, UVEX i-vo, (for sale, advanced reservation, €40)
*It is important to reserve your electric bike at time of booking.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations for 6 nights in the selected hotel category
- Breakfast
- Welcome briefing & presentation of tour
- Luggage transfer (must be delivered by 8:15 to 8:30 am to the hotel reception, guaranteed delivery to next hotel by 6 pm). Maximum weight: 20 kg per piece.
- Detailed travel documents (1 package per room)
- 7-day service hotline
- 7 or 21-speed city touring bike
- Bicycle protection
- GPS tracks (must be requested in advance)
- Navigation App & GPS data
- Service hotline
What’s Not Included
- Lunches & dinners
- Visitor’s tax approx. €4-7 per person per night (payable upon arrival)
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2023
Daily departures from April 29 up to & including September 23, 2023
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2023
Cat. A Cat. B Season 1
April 29 to May 5 | September 16 to September 23$ 1711 £ 905 $ 1,520 € 1023 ₪ 4166 ¥ 156939 NZ$ 1849 NOK 12419 kr 12099 $ 1,117 $ 1444 £ 763 $ 1,282 € 863 ₪ 3515 ¥ 132393 NZ$ 1559 NOK 10477 kr 10206 $ 942 Season 2
May 6 to May 19 | September 9 to September 15$ 1812 £ 958 $ 1,609 € 1083 ₪ 4411 ¥ 166144 NZ$ 1957 NOK 13148 kr 12808 $ 1,183 $ 1544 £ 816 $ 1,371 € 923 ₪ 3759 ¥ 141598 NZ$ 1668 NOK 11205 kr 10916 $ 1,008 Season 3
May 20 to September 8$ 1879 £ 993 $ 1,668 € 1123 ₪ 4574 ¥ 172280 NZ$ 2029 NOK 13633 kr 13281 $ 1,226 $ 1611 £ 852 $ 1,431 € 963 ₪ 3922 ¥ 147734 NZ$ 1740 NOK 11691 kr 11389 $ 1,052 Single supplement $ 316 £ 167 $ 281 € 189 ₪ 770 ¥ 28995 NZ$ 342 NOK 2294 kr 2235 $ 206 $ 299 £ 158 $ 266 € 179 ₪ 729 ¥ 27461 NZ$ 323 NOK 2173 kr 2117 $ 195 Extra Options
2023
Bicycle Upgrades
Electric bicycle: $ 234 £ 124 $ 208 € 140 ₪ 570 ¥ 21477 NZ$ 253 NOK 1700 kr 1656 $ 153
Rental Bike Plus: $ 100 £ 53 $ 89 € 60 ₪ 244 ¥ 9205 NZ$ 108 NOK 728 kr 710 $ 66
Bike helmets, UVEX i-vo, (for sale, advanced reservation): $ 67 £ 35 $ 59 € 40 ₪ 163 ¥ 6136 NZ$ 72 NOK 486 kr 473 $ 44
Extra Nights
Cat. A Cat. B St. Michael $ 166 £ 88 $ 147 € 99 ₪ 403 ¥ 15188 NZ$ 179 NOK 1202 kr 1171 $ 108 $ 109 £ 57 $ 97 € 65 ₪ 265 ¥ 9972 NZ$ 117 NOK 789 kr 769 $ 71 Single room $ 214 £ 113 $ 190 € 128 ₪ 521 ¥ 19637 NZ$ 231 NOK 1554 kr 1514 $ 140 $ 167 £ 88 $ 149 € 100 ₪ 407 ¥ 15341 NZ$ 181 NOK 1214 kr 1183 $ 109 Bad Radkersburg $ 199 £ 105 $ 177 € 119 ₪ 485 ¥ 18256 NZ$ 215 NOK 1445 kr 1407 $ 130 * $ 142 £ 75 $ 126 € 85 ₪ 346 ¥ 13040 NZ$ 154 NOK 1032 kr 1005 $ 93 Single room $ 231 £ 122 $ 205 € 138 ₪ 562 ¥ 21171 NZ$ 249 NOK 1675 kr 1632 $ 151 * $ 224 £ 119 $ 199 € 134 ₪ 546 ¥ 20557 NZ$ 242 NOK 1627 kr 1585 $ 146 *includes admission to the thermal bath Parktherme in Category A
Extra nights are available in every city, please ask us for pricing!
Return Transfer
Minibus to St.Michael: $ 114 £ 60 $ 101 € 68 ₪ 277 ¥ 10432 NZ$ 123 NOK 826 kr 804 $ 74 Minibus to Graz: $ 77 £ 41 $ 68 € 46 ₪ 187 ¥ 7057 NZ$ 83 NOK 558 kr 544 $ 50 Minibus to Bruck an der mur: $ 90 £ 48 $ 80 € 54 ₪ 220 ¥ 8284 NZ$ 98 NOK 656 kr 639 $ 59 Transfer to the spring of the Mur River:
Up to 4 people: $ 125 £ 66 $ 111 € 75 ₪ 305 ¥ 11506 NZ$ 136 NOK 910 kr 887 $ 82 5 - 8 people: $ 159 £ 84 $ 141 € 95 ₪ 387 ¥ 14574 NZ$ 172 NOK 1153 kr 1124 $ 104(Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at 2 PM, and every Sunday at 11 AM, incl. bike, to be paid on-site, advanced reservation needed)
Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
From the spring of the Mur River to the Slovenian border, the Mur cycle path inclines by a total of 1,700 meters in altitude at a length of about 365 kilometers. From St. Michael to Bad Radkersburg you will cycle downhill another 870 meters in altitude, highlighting that the Mur cycle path mostly leads downhill. Some slight climbs have to be cycled during the first two stages, but you will always find yourself on tranquil bike paths. The route is almost completely devoid of traffic. Daily distances are from 15 to 40 miles.
Airport Info
The closest international airport (s) to your tour start in St. Michael im Lungau is Salzburg International Airport (SZG) located 1.5 hours distance or Munich International Airport (MUN) located 2.5 hours distance.
Local Travel
SZG is approximately 57 miles from St. Michael im Lungau. Public buses go at regular intervals between Salzburg Airport and Salzburg main railway station. A taxi bus transfer (supplemental fee) is then available from main railway station in Salzburg to St. Michael (minimum of 5 people required) or public transportation travels 3 x daily to St. Michael for about €15 per person.
Climate
The Lungau large valley is wind-protected against the North, West, and South. Due to its alpine location, you get cool nights even in summer. This is one of Austria’s sunniest regions. Onwards to Graz and into Styria the climate is mild due to its Mediterranean influence, which is also called an ‚Illyrian Climate’!
Day of Rest
It is possible to request an extra night in any overnight destination based on availability which would provide a full day to rest a relax and explore the destination.
Recommended
Highly recommended to arrive a day or two early in St. Michael’s to explore Lungau, “Austria’s Little Canada”. You can bike to the spring, the source of the Mura River, by following the course of the river in the Mura National Park. You can also cycle part way and then be transported up to the peak. (€ 50, up to 4 persons, incl. bicycles, needs to be reserved in advance.) The spring is an approximate 1 hour walk from the hut.
Remarks
Available for this tour is an app that can be downloaded to your smartphone (Apple or Android). You can request the GPX tracks by email which you can then upload into your device. The maps are available in offline mode to avoid data charges. Just ask us for a helpful PDF file with step by step instructions from downloading the app, to uploading the GPX tracks and hotel lists.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements, and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
Extra nights are possible in St. Michael and Bad Radkersburg upon request. If you book an extra night in Bad Radkesburg in Category A accommodations, a spa entrance is included.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Eurobike.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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