General
The length of the Drau Cycle Path, which starts in Toblach (South Tyrol) and finishes in Maribor (Slovenia), is 360 kilometres. If you include a circuit of the Mediterranean-style Carinthian lakes (Millstätter See, Ossiacher See, Faaker See, Wörthersee) in the tour, you can collect additional kilometres. The route is characterised by impressive mountain panoramas and towns worth seeing such as Spittal, Villach and Klagenfurt (a worthwhile detour).
From Toblach to Völkermarkt (around 250 km), the well-signposted cycle path runs along the banks of the Drava on tarmac and easy unpaved paths, with hardly any ascents to be expected. From Völkermarkt onwards, the route becomes more mountainous and only very sporty cyclists with little luggage should tackle the remaining stretch to Maribor.
Journey
Toblach (railway station in Neutoblach), Innichen and Lienz are very easy to reach by train, information at www.bahn.de
By car, you drive over the Brenner Pass, then through the Pustertal Valley to Toblach and Innichen. The route via Kitzbühel and the Felbertauern tunnel to Lienz is less busy than the Brenner-Pustertal route. The Drau cycle path transfer bus takes you back to Sillian from Lavamünd, Völkermarkt, Klagenfurt or Villach.
Info and booking: Kärnten Radreisen, tel. 0043-664/5301884, www.kaernten-radreisen.at
The company also offers package cycle tours along the Drava Cycle Path with luggage transfer.
Information
Information is available from the Carinthia Information Centre on 0043-463/3000, www.kaernten.at;
the Lienz Dolomites Tourist Office on tel. 0043- 4852/65265, www.lienzerdolomiten.info
at the South Tyrol Information Centre on tel. 0039-0471/999999, www.suedtirol.info
the Slovenian Tourist Information Centre on 089/29161202, www.slovenia.info
Further information at www.drauradweg.com
Accommodation
Dorfgasthof Tschitscher, 9782 Nikolsdorf No. 21, Tel./Fax 0043-4858/8219, www.dorfgasthof.at
Hotel Mosser, Bahnhofstraße 9, 9500 Villach, Tel. 0043-4242/24115, Fax: 0043-4242/24115-222, www.hotelmosser.info
Gasthof Plasch, 9170 Ferlach, Ressnig district (house no. 17), Tel.: 0043-4227-23700, Fax: -237050,
www.gasthof-plasch.at
Worth seeing
The Dolomites Museum "Dolomythos" in San Candido (P.-P.-Rainerstr. 11). In addition to information on the flora, fauna (dinosaurs, cave bear etc.) and geology of the Dolomites, there is an interesting photo exhibition on the Dolomite War, tel. 0039-0474/913462, www.dolomythos.com
Galitzenklamm gorge near Lienz, tel. 0043-664/1567457, www.lienzerdolomiten.info
Zoo and castle (with wax museum and labyrinth) Rosegg, Tel. 0043-4274/3009, www.rosegg.at
With the adventure boat "Arche Noah" you can discover the flora and fauna of the Drau in the surroundings of Ferlach (only for groups), tel. 0043-664/2716183.
If you would like to take a boat trip along the Drau or on one of the Carinthian lakes, you will find important information at www.schifffahrt.at
Literature / Maps
Bikeline cycle tour book and map "Drau-Radweg", published by Esterbauer, with lots of tips, precise route descriptions and detailed maps at a scale of 1:75,000, 9.90 euros.
The full-length article from issue 1/2011 is available as a free PDF download.
