Inn Valley Cycle Way: St Moritz to Passau | Cycling Holiday in Austria | Self Guided Cycling Holiday

The River Inn has its source high in the Swiss Alps before making its way out of Switzerland into Austria, through Innsbruck and on into Germany. It forms the frontier between Austria and Germany for a long way before joining the Danube at the border town of Passau. On its journey, the Inn passes through a great contrast in scenery, from the snowy Swiss Alps, to the wide valley it has created in Austria with mountains on either side, to the flatter country where it acts as a frontier before reaching Passau.

Grade: Easy

Getting there:
By Air: Fly to Zurich then travel by train to St Moritz.

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Day 1 Arrive St Moritz.

Day 2 St Moritz to Zernez.
Your journey down the valley, known here as the Upper Engadine, begins in St Moritz. You set off around the lake and are immediately onto a traffic free route. The scenery is breathtaking with snowy peaks on both sides of the valley. Picturesque villages line your route all the way to Zernez. ~ 22 miles

Day 3 Zernez to Scuol.
The Upper Engadine becomes the Lower Engadine as you continue following the river on its course. At times the river has to squeeze through narrow gorges as it tumbles its way down the valley. The route is quiet and the mountain views accompany you. The imposing castle at Tarasp stands high above the village. ~ 21 miles

Day 4 Scuol to Ried.
From Scuol the cycle way crosses the river and follows a traffic free route through the woods leading to Martina. Just beyond here you leave Switzerland behind and enter Austria. The river, hitherto known as the En, takes on the name Inn. Typical Tyrolean villages are soon encountered as you continue to Ried. - 32 miles

Day 5 Ried to Imst.
The River Inn and its cycleway soon bring you to the small town of Landeck with its castle and bustling town centre. Further on the traffic free route leads you via Schonwies and Mils to the small town of Imst. ~ 25 miles

Day 6 Imst to Innsbruck.
The distance is a little higher today but the cycling is easy. There are some lovely villages bedecked with flowers and with numerous wall paintings. It is a fertile region and crops are grown on the flat valley floor. Beyond Telfs the route right into the centre of Innsbruck hardly deviates from the river bank. ~ 40 miles

Day 7 Innsbruck - free day.

Day 8 Innsbruck to Strass.
The cycleway leaves the town along the riverside and you are soon passing the small town of Hall and pedalling through the fertile countryside beyond. Time should be allowed for exploring the old town of Schwaz before continuing to your overnight accommodation in the village of Strass, which lies at the foot of the well known Zillertal. ~ 27 miles

Day 9 Strass to Kufstein.
You will notice many castles standing proud above the valley as you pass the villages of Brixlegg and Rattenberg. At Kundl the gorge known as the Kundler Klamm is an impressive sight. Further on you pass Worgl and then the view ahead is of the impressive castle at Kufstein which looms large as you approach. ~ 27 miles

Day 10 Kufstein to Wasserburg.
The valley widens considerably as you leave mountain ranges behind and enter Germany. The Bavarian villages, though similar to those in Tyrol, have a distinct character of their own. You can detour into the centre of Rosenheim for some sightseeing before returning to the riverside cycleway and continuing to your destination at Wasserburg, a medieval town built on a bend in the river. ~ 40 miles

Day 11 Wasserburg to Muhldorf.
The nature of the Inn Valley has now changed considerably. The river slowly meanders its way through the fertile countryside and your route no longer sticks so rigidly to the river bank. You cycle through pretty villages and pass numerous castles, notably at Gars and Kraiburg before reaching Muhldorf, with its quaint buildings and historic heart. ~ 27 miles

Day 12 Muhldorf to Braunau.
The pilgrimage town of Altotting is reached today, world famous for its Black Madonna. The holy chapel in the spacious town square dates from the 8th century. The cycle route we use then takes you through the Ottinger Forest to Burghausen, on the River Salzach, which you cross to re-enter Austria. You then pass the point where the Salzach flows into the Inn before cintinuing to Braunau. ~ 37 miles

Day 13 Braunau to Scharding.
The river forms the frontier all the way today and you can choose between an Austrian and a German cycle path. The renaissance castle of Haguenau is passed and further on, the castle at Katzenberg is worth visiting. The historic villages of Obernberg and Reichersberg are also on today's route to Scharding. ~ 31 miles

Day 14 Scharding to Passau.
A short final day allows you plenty of time to look around the fascinating town of Passau. The River Inn remains as the frontier right up to the outskirts of Passau, but then you must enter Germany to explore the town where the three rivers - Inn, Danube and Ilz - all join. ~ 11 miles

Day 15 Departure.

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