Mur Cycle Path
Austria Bike Tours
Austria’s Tuscany from Gentian to Riesling
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length7 days
- Prices from€923 Rates
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 soundtrack of more than 200 species of birds complete 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 Mercure
Cat. B: Intercity HotelDay 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.Extra night 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 21-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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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
- 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 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
Daily departures from April 27 up to & including September 21, 2024
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
2024
Cat. A Cat. B Season 1
April 27 to May 3 | September 14 to September 21$ 1858 £ 972 $ 1,661 € 1113 kr 170654 ₪ 4644 ¥ 191944 Mex$ 20834 NZ$ 2044 NOK 13402 zł 4898 S$ 1654 kr 13221 $ 1,214 $ 1541 £ 806 $ 1,377 € 923 kr 141522 ₪ 3851 ¥ 159177 Mex$ 17278 NZ$ 1695 NOK 11114 zł 4062 S$ 1372 kr 10964 $ 1,007 Season 2
May 4 to May 17 | September 7 to September 13$ 1958 £ 1025 $ 1,750 € 1173 kr 179854 ₪ 4895 ¥ 202291 Mex$ 21957 NZ$ 2154 NOK 14125 zł 5162 S$ 1744 kr 13933 $ 1,280 $ 1674 £ 876 $ 1,497 € 1003 kr 153788 ₪ 4185 ¥ 172974 Mex$ 18775 NZ$ 1842 NOK 12078 zł 4414 S$ 1491 kr 11914 $ 1,094 Season 3
May 18 to September 6$ 2042 £ 1068 $ 1,825 € 1223 kr 187521 ₪ 5103 ¥ 210914 Mex$ 22893 NZ$ 2246 NOK 14727 zł 5383 S$ 1818 kr 14527 $ 1,334 $ 1758 £ 920 $ 1,571 € 1053 kr 161455 ₪ 4394 ¥ 181596 Mex$ 19711 NZ$ 1934 NOK 12680 zł 4634 S$ 1565 kr 12508 $ 1,149 Single supplement (applies to all seasons) $ 349 £ 183 $ 312 € 209 kr 32046 ₪ 872 ¥ 36043 Mex$ 3912 NZ$ 384 NOK 2517 zł 920 S$ 311 kr 2483 $ 228 $ 332 £ 174 $ 297 € 199 kr 30512 ₪ 830 ¥ 34319 Mex$ 3725 NZ$ 366 NOK 2396 zł 876 S$ 296 kr 2364 $ 217 Extra Options
2024
Bicycle Upgrades
Electric bicycle: $ 267 £ 140 $ 239 € 160 kr 24533 ₪ 668 ¥ 27593 Mex$ 2995 NZ$ 294 NOK 1927 zł 704 S$ 238 kr 1901 $ 175
Rental Bike Plus: $ 117 £ 61 $ 104 € 70 kr 10733 ₪ 292 ¥ 12072 Mex$ 1310 NZ$ 129 NOK 843 zł 308 S$ 104 kr 831 $ 76
Bike helmets, UVEX i-vo, (for sale, advanced reservation): $ 67 £ 35 $ 60 € 40 kr 6133 ₪ 167 ¥ 6898 Mex$ 749 NZ$ 73 NOK 482 zł 176 S$ 59 kr 475 $ 44
Extra Nights
Cat. A Cat. B St. Michael - Season 1 & 2 $ 182 £ 95 $ 163 € 109 kr 16713 ₪ 455 ¥ 18798 Mex$ 2040 NZ$ 200 NOK 1313 zł 480 S$ 162 kr 1295 $ 119 $ 125 £ 66 $ 112 € 75 kr 11500 ₪ 313 ¥ 12934 Mex$ 1404 NZ$ 138 NOK 903 zł 330 S$ 111 kr 891 $ 82 St Michael - Season 3 $ 199 £ 104 $ 178 € 119 kr 18246 ₪ 497 ¥ 20522 Mex$ 2228 NZ$ 219 NOK 1433 zł 524 S$ 177 kr 1414 $ 130 $ 125 £ 66 $ 112 € 75 kr 11500 ₪ 313 ¥ 12934 Mex$ 1404 NZ$ 138 NOK 903 zł 330 S$ 111 kr 891 $ 82 Single room surcharge $ 92 £ 48 $ 82 € 55 kr 8433 ₪ 230 ¥ 9485 Mex$ 1030 NZ$ 101 NOK 662 zł 242 S$ 82 kr 653 $ 60 $ 58 £ 31 $ 52 € 35 kr 5366 ₪ 146 ¥ 6036 Mex$ 655 NZ$ 64 NOK 421 zł 154 S$ 52 kr 416 $ 38 Bad Radkersburg $ 215 £ 113 $ 193 € 129 kr 19779 ₪ 538 ¥ 22247 Mex$ 2415 NZ$ 237 NOK 1553 zł 568 S$ 192 kr 1532 $ 141 * $ 149 £ 78 $ 133 € 89 kr 13646 ₪ 371 ¥ 15349 Mex$ 1666 NZ$ 163 NOK 1072 zł 392 S$ 132 kr 1057 $ 97 Single room surcharge $ 42 £ 22 $ 37 € 25 kr 3833 ₪ 104 ¥ 4311 Mex$ 468 NZ$ 46 NOK 301 zł 110 S$ 37 kr 297 $ 27 * $ 82 £ 43 $ 73 € 49 kr 7513 ₪ 204 ¥ 8450 Mex$ 917 NZ$ 90 NOK 590 zł 216 S$ 73 kr 582 $ 53 *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: $ 132 £ 69 $ 118 € 79 kr 12113 ₪ 330 ¥ 13624 Mex$ 1479 NZ$ 145 NOK 951 zł 348 S$ 117 kr 938 $ 86 Minibus to Graz: $ 115 £ 60 $ 103 € 69 kr 10580 ₪ 288 ¥ 11899 Mex$ 1292 NZ$ 127 NOK 831 zł 304 S$ 103 kr 820 $ 75 Minibus to Bruck an der mur: $ 109 £ 57 $ 97 € 65 kr 9966 ₪ 271 ¥ 11210 Mex$ 1217 NZ$ 119 NOK 783 zł 286 S$ 97 kr 772 $ 71
(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.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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