To-do list Summer

Fancy a bike ride, but didn’t bring your bike? Not a problem along the Drau Cycle Path! This 5-star cycle path offers cyclists the perfect infrastructure, with bike hire and bike-friendly establishments along the way. Tip: From Villach via Rosegg (Rosegg Animal Park) and Feistritz im Rosental (Wahaha Leisure Centre) to the gunsmith town of Ferlach with its bee museum in Kirschentheuer und the gunsmith museum. After an eventful tour, simply return the bike at one of the drop-off stations and take the train back to where you set off. Find further information on the transregional “Carinthia rent e-bike“ system here (Motto: “Hire where you want, return where you want!“).

The "Carinthian Lake Loop“ makes this possible. The 420 km long round trip, which is actually a double loop. The tour boasts mountains and lakes and rivers of all sizes and at varying altitudes. The double loop makes it possible to design and combine the stages as you please, and the entire route serves as an excellent bike holiday for those who like to take things easy. The bike trip is for anyone who would enjoy a dip in the up to 28 degrees warm water of the bathing lakes along the way. You cross famous lakes like lake Wörthersee, lake Weissensee, lake Millstätter See or lake Klopeiner See which is the warmest bathing lake in Europe. Packages (including accommodation, luggage transfer, route maps and a service hotline) can be found at Alps2Adria and Kärnten Radreisen (German only).

Carinthia’s longest and largest river, the Drau, swings through Austria’s southernmost province like a green ribbon. Alongside cyclists, more and more “paddlers“ are drawn to quality down-time along the river, be it in kayaks, canoes or on stand-up paddle boards. A trip along the Drau Paddle Route can be combined with bike rides, hikes, fishing or golf. You can go back to your starting point easily with the train or take a shuttle from the Drau Paddle Center.
More information: www.draupaddelweg.com 

The new Nockberge Trail is Austria’s first online bookable, all-season trail. A hiking route to be expereinced step by step in summer, and a multi-day ski tour come winter. The high-altitude trail leads across the delightful peaks and ridges of the Nockberge Mountains in five day stages in summer, and four in winter.

With help of the Trail Angels Info & Booking Center, hikers can tailor-make and book their tour (selected partner establishments, luggage and shuttle service, route maps).
More information

The 35 km long Nockalmstraße mountain road is known as one of the prettiest and most varied panoramic routes in the Alps. It can be explored by car, bus, bike or motorbike from the beginning of May until the end of October. 52 bends promise ever-changing views of the gentle “Nock’n“ mountaintops, which gave the region its name.

A stop at the Karlbad is a must. This is Austria’s oldest farmers‘ bath house, where you can take a therapeutic soak in a wooden tub as they used to. The water is heated with hot stones, which release beneficial minerals.  More information

A particulary beautiful backdrop for this is the wildernis of the rockslide region along the Gail river. The journey is the reward, but after an exciting canoe trip you will also be treated to homemade breads, cider and apple juice at Lisi’s alpine farm! This is just one example of the “Magic Moments“ – a collection of unique, guided adventures in Carinthia’s natural paradise.

Now and then you have to see the world through new eyes! Or in other words: Carinthia’s warm bathing lakes are too good for swimming and splashing alone. How about a stand-up paddle tour on Lake Wörth (German only)? Your surroundings look completely different from the water. And those who like a more relaxed approach will love getting to know Lake Wörth as a yoga hotspot.
More information: holidays by the lake in Carinthia.

Just one example of the attractive trails that can be found throughout Carinthia. Mountain bikers have no less than 3,600 km of listed trails at their disposal in Austria’s southernmost province. What is special about the Bad Kleinkirchheim route? With 15.9 km it is the longest trail you can find. It is even longer than the world’s last record holder, the Flow Country Trail on the Petzen, which is also located in Carinthia
More information www.visitcarinthia.at/cycling/

On your mountain bike, get set, go! From the banks of Europe’s highest bathing lake, 13 mountain bike trails with a total length of over 150 km and of all difficulty levels lead into the surrounding mountain world. You can start your chosen route right from the doorstep of your accommodation, or make use of another of Lake Weissensee‘s advantages: the mountain bike taxi, by ship and boat. This is a great way to shorten or simply make the journey to and from your trail‘s starting point more enjoyable. 

The Weissensee liners are well-equipped to transport bikes, and there is even a designated bike transport chair at the Weissensee chair lift, taking riders and their bikes to the Naggler Alm in just 12 minutes amidst stunning views. This is a must for passionate mountain bikers as some key experiences await: three 3.5 km long downhill routes, plus a special mountain bike technique training site.
More information

Be it a 5-star hotel, farm stay or campsite, the choice is yours when it comes to accommodation. Amongst the most unusual: a tree house in Althofen, bivouacs at Lake Millstatt, a sunset suite by Lake Wörth, “earth houses“ at the Weissensee and barrel lodges in Hermagor. More information (German only)

You don’t have to cover all 43 stages of the Alpe-Adria-Trail, from the foot of the Grossglockner to the Upper Adriatic Sea (750 km) – you could start small. The Alpe-Adria-Trail Booking Centre can do the legwork when it comes to planning your trip (accommodation, luggage transport, restaurant tips), so you can completely focus on hiking while on this long-distance hiking trail through Carinthia, Italy and Slovenia. More information: alpe-adria-trail.com/en/ 

Equipped with crampons, a waist harness and rope, you make your way through the rugged ice landscape at the foot of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner. A tour led by a state-certified mountain guide (June – September) that leaves no one cold.
More Information

In Carinthia, the world’s first Slow Food Travel Destination, regional, seasonal and traditional cuisine is of particular importance. For this reason, locals and guests are invited to look over the shoulder of the dedicated food artisans, and perhaps even have a go themselves. The spectrum ranges from bread baking courses and hay milk processing to beer brewing and herb tastings. Find an overview of the workshops here.

The joy of life is not expressed quite so much in any other Austrian province as in Carinthia. Those looking to be in the middle of it all will find plenty to choose from. In addition to large public festivals such as the Villacher Kirchtag, there are a number of culinary events that should definitely be taken note of. There is the fish festival in Feld am See, for example, or the village and bread festival in Lesachtal. Tip: SeeEssSpiele (LakeFoodGames) by Lake Wörthersee, KüchenKult (KitchenCult) in Villach and Aufwort’n (Food’sUp) at the Weissensee.
More information here (German only).

Slow Trails are short hiking routes, close to a lake and through wonderful natural settings with stunning lake views. They can be found at the Weissensee, Lake Pressegg, Lake Klopein, Lake Ossiach, Lake Wörth and Lake Millstatt. Slow Trails are not just great for winding down, but also for exploring Carinthia’s unique landscape of mountains and lakes. The uniformly-marked trails are no more than 10 km long with a max. 300 m difference in altitude. None of the trails takes longer than three hours to complete, and benches, platforms and hammocks invite you to take a break along the way. More information: here 

And then have dinner in a third! Sounds utopian, but entirely possible when on holiday in Carinthia. On the one hand there is the proximity to courses in Italy and Slovenia, on the other there is the Alpe Adria Golf Card, which covers 20 of the finest golf courses in Carinthia, Slovenia and Friaul Julisch Venetien at one price. Too good to be true? More information: www.alpe-adria-golf.com