Carinthian Lakes Sportive: E-Bike and Ambitious Riders Loop

Day 1: Arrival in Villach
You will arrive individually at your first hotel in Villach. Parking is available near the hotel. The evening is yours to explore this compact town at the confluence of the Drava and the Gail.

Day 2: Villach – Ossiacher See – Gegendtal – Millstätter See (75 km, +545 m / −430 m)
Leaving Villach you ride towards the Ossiacher See, soon catching sight of the ruins of Landskron castle above the valley. Framed by mountains, the emerald water of the lake is a sight in itself. After following its shore you continue to the Millstätter See through the Gegendtal, passing the Afritzer See and the Brennsee and the small town of Radenthein before reaching the eastern shore and your overnight stop.

Day 3: Millstätter See – Weißensee – Hermagor/Tröpolach/Pressegger See (50 km to the Weißensee, +480 m / −140 m; 30 km after, +160 m / −530 m)
Today you leave the Millstätter See for the Weißensee. Two approaches are possible. The first follows the Drava cycle path and turns off shortly before Greifenburg towards the western shore on small tracks. The second reaches the eastern shore via Spittal an der Drau and the Stockenboier Landesstrasse, from where a boat takes you across — the ticket is not included, as there is no road link between the two shores. Both have their appeal and you can decide on the spot. After the lake, a short climb to the Kreuzbergpass is followed by a quick descent and a few kilometres through the Gitschtal valley.

Day 4: Hermagor/Tröpolach/Pressegger See – Faaker See – Wörthersee (70 km, +265 m / −400 m)
The stage follows the Gailtal cycle path, running through an unspoilt valley alongside the river. Early on you pass the Pressegger See, one of the warmest lakes in Austria. Before Villach the route skirts the foot of the Dobratsch through a nature reserve formed by an enormous landslide. Continuing along the Gail, broad and shallow here, the path brings you to the Faaker See, the emerald of the Carinthian lakes, with water as warm and turquoise as the Caribbean. You ride round it from south to east and then take a short stretch of the Drava cycle path to the Wörthersee.

Day 5: Wörthersee – Klopeiner See – Klagenfurt (90 km, +630 m / −640 m)
The day starts through the idyllic Keutschacher Seental, which runs parallel to the Wörthersee and is strung with small lakes like a necklace. You then turn south near Klagenfurt, pass the pilgrimage church of Maria Rain and descend past the Ferlach power station to the Drava cycle path. Stay on it as far as Tainach, then continue via Stein im Jauntal to the Klopeiner See, one of the smallest but warmest lakes in Europe. The route then follows the Völkermarkt reservoir and a former railway line into Klagenfurt.

Day 6: Klagenfurt – Längsee – St. Veit an der Glan – Klagenfurt (85 km, +830 m / −830 m)
Today you head north into central Carinthia, rich in castles and historic buildings. Along the way stand the cathedral of Maria Saal, Hochosterwitz castle with its fourteen fortifications, the small and picturesque Längsee and the ruins of Taggenbrunn on vine-covered slopes. You stop at St. Veit an der Glan, the old capital of Carinthia, whose main square is still ringed by fine buildings. The route then follows the Glan back south past the Maltschacher See towards the Wörthersee and Klagenfurt.

Day 7: Klagenfurt – Wörthersee – Villach (40 km, +190 m / −140 m)
The first part of the stage runs along the northern shore of the Wörthersee through the well-known resorts of Pörtschach and Velden, any of which will tempt you into the water. From Velden you return along the Drava cycle path and, past the Silbersee, arrive back in Villach.

Day 8: Departure
Your tour ends after breakfast. You may choose to extend your stay in Carinthia.