> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.sebcycles.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cycling trip to the Southeast: the first few days - URL: https://blog.sebcycles.com/radreise-sudost-die-ersten-tage/ - Published: 2025-06-06T02:26:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-05T02:26:53.000Z - Author: Sebastian - Tags: Turkey 🇹🇷 It finally arrived! My new bike has finally come after five months. A gravel bike from Rose. After a few day trips, I can say it was worth the wait 😄. Riding with clipless pedals takes some getting used to, but I adapted quickly. After a spell of bad weather, we were finally able to set off last weekend. But where to go? To Croatia, to the sea, and via the Alpe-Adria cycle path. 🗺️ My current position and route with pictures can be found under [current-trip](https://blog.sebcycles.com/aktuelle-reise/) . ## Day 1 - Chiemsee - 93 km We set off from home in beautiful weather, heading east. Our first stop was in Grafing at the town market, where we enjoyed brass band music. This led to a delicious lunch at 11:30 am. After Grafing, the terrain became hillier, but with the training I'd done on my practice ride, it wasn't a problem. Near Griesstätt, I crossed the Inn River and arrived at Lake Chiemsee by 3 pm. It wasn't too warm yet, but warm enough to enjoy an ice cream by the water in just a t-shirt 🍨. I spent the first night at a friend's house on their couch. We went to a beer garden for dinner. Thanks again, if you happen to read this. ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250427_131314_585.jpg) ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250427_143855_550.jpg) ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250427_131911_735.jpg) ## Day 2 - Sankt Johann im Pongau - 113 km The day started early, so the first few kilometers took me to Traunstein for some shopping. I reached the highest point around ten o'clock and enjoyed the view of the Alps in beautiful sunshine. Shortly before noon, I reached Salzburg after 50 km and my actual destination for the day. The entrance to the city was along the main road, and I should have planned it better. During my lunch break, I considered how much further I should cycle. Since the train service from Bad Hofgastein is closed, there's a rail replacement bus service, or I'd have to cycle via Obertauern and the Katschberg Pass. Both passes have steep climbs. Therefore, I opted for the easier option: the rail replacement bus service. With two departures a day, and reaching Villach afterward, given the location of the campsites, I'd have to catch the earlier bus. To manage that, I'd have to go to the next campsite. And so I cycled another 60 km along the Salzach River to Sankt Johann im Pongau, where I arrived, somewhat tired, at 4 p.m. ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250428_161514_841.jpg) ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250428_153006_529.jpg) ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250428_113320_685.jpg) ![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/IMG_20250428_082614_625.jpg) ## Day 3 - Villach - 52 km After the previous day's 27 degrees, the night's 5 degrees was rather chilly. Awake early, I was able to wait for the sun to set, get up at my leisure, and pack my things. With another hour to spare before the replacement bus service started, I used the time to clean my necklace as best I could. After a two-hour drive, I arrived on the other side of the Tauern mountains, in Spittal an der Drau. Feeling hungry, I headed straight to the supermarket. There are many drinking fountains and benches along the Drava Cycle Path. I used the first one for my lunch break in the sun, where the temperature was already 27 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, not much happened along the Drava River until Villach. It's a riverside cycle path, after all... After a short tour through Villach's city center, I went straight to the campsite. After I cooked myself some pasta, more cyclists arrived. One was from Austria, with whom I chatted for a long time, and four Poles who were taking advantage of a week with two public holidays. ## Day 4 - Soca Valley/Juliane - 91 km The day started early, as the garbage truck had already passed through the campsite at 7 a.m. After quickly packing up and having breakfast, I set off for Italy. The route followed the main road, but there weren't any major highlights, except for the fact that there were a few other cyclists on the road (communication was impossible, presumably Polish). After 20 km, I reached the Italian border, which greeted me with a short, paved farm track leading into the mountains with a 15% gradient. The view from the road, however, was fantastic, overlooking the Julian Alps. I had barely reached the cycle path when I had to leave it again after only one kilometer, heading towards Slovenia. I opted for the Predil Pass, as it's only slightly steeper for the last 3 km. With only 30 cars on the 25 km to the pass, it was very pleasant for cycling. Reaching an altitude of 1150 meters and the border with Slovenia, I was greeted by the still-snowy mountain peaks and a steep 7-kilometer descent. There I hit about 75 km/h 😄. From there, the road leveled out somewhat as I continued into the valley. Unfortunately, there was more traffic on the road from Bovec onwards. However, I was able to ride the last 15 kilometers through the villages and avoid the main road. Finally, in still 28-degree heat, I arrived at my campsite right on the Soča River. After a quick dip to cool my feet, I started my evening routine. 💡 Song/Earworm of the Week: Codo (...jet at breakneck speed) by Düf ## Day 5 - Trieste - 91 km Waking up to the first rays of sunshine in the tent is something special. Following my now well-established morning routine, I set off again along the beautiful Soča River towards Italy and the sea. The last 10 km in Slovenia were along a lovely, well-maintained cycle path. In the border town of Gorizia in Italy, we had an ice cream for lunch to say goodbye to the Soča River. From there, it was a 40 km ride on the country road to Trieste. Since it was the May Day holiday, there was a lot of tourist traffic and many people on the beach outside Trieste. Trieste still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to its cycle path network. Sometimes the cycle path is on the left, sometimes on the right, and often it disappears without warning. But upon arrival, I was greeted by my Warmshowers host and was able to set everything up in his apartment. It was very cozy with three other Couchsurfing and Workaway guests. There was a bunk bed on the glassed-in balcony, where I slept on the top bunk. Inside, there were two fold-out beds set up between the sofa and the dining table. We explored the city with a long-term traveler (1.5 years from Brazil) and a backpacker from London. In the evening, we had really good pizza at sunset by the harbor. ## Day 6 - Rijeka - 85 km Day 6 started with me being woken up in my bunk bed on the balcony. Then I checked the weather forecast ⛈️. It's supposed to rain on Monday (in 4 days). So I'll postpone my rest day and then find somewhere to stay for the rainy day and my rest day. It wasn't until 10:30 that we finally continued south. Country number 5 was already waiting. Leaving Trieste was even more nerve-wracking than entering it. There was no bike path through the city center and up to the castle, which I had already huffed and puffed my way up to on foot the day before. A little further up, a former railway line began. It was 12 km long and initially paved with a 2-4% gradient. From the halfway point onward, it was all rough gravel and only suitable for mountain bikes. Once I reached the top, I was back in Slovenia, where Komoot immediately sent me down a muddy forest path. After a few meters, however, it became impassable. Back on asphalt, I continued uphill towards the second border crossing of the day. There was much less traffic at the border pass. I recognized the border post from two years ago when I had driven over it as an alternative route. With an elevation gain of 1100 meters, the climb to Rijeka was very strenuous and hilly. There are so few towns and villages along the route through the Istrian hinterland that I almost ran out of water. I came across a brand-new drinking water fountain near a monument. Unfortunately, it wasn't working, but luckily there was a large cemetery with water shortly after. The last 10 kilometers led through suburbs, continuing along hilly terrain down to the harbor. First, I walked along the industrial port to the city center, where I only had a quick look around. To finish off the day, I climbed another 150 meters to my hostel. I then enjoyed the evening with Timo, who is cycling from Munich to Istanbul. Unfortunately, he's traveling in an ultralight setup and covering 150 km a day. Nevertheless, it was a lovely first evening in Croatia, exchanging stories about bicycle touring. ## Day 7 - Krk - 57 km The day started with Timo at the supermarket, where we had breakfast after shopping. After a steep climb right after, our paths diverged. Komoot then guided me up steps and through an olive grove. There, I decided to plan only road bike routes from then on. Even if it meant mostly main roads, at least they were paved and rideable. The traffic really started to pick up after the bridge to Krk. The main road to the ferry port and the town of Krk was very busy and, of course, hilly. After 20 km of cars overtaking closely, there was suddenly a cycle path alongside the road all the way to Krk. Leaving Krk, I slowly realized that my legs and backside needed a break as there was another 4 km with steep sections towards the ferry. Shortly before reaching the harbor, at the campsite, I unpacked my swimming trunks for the first time and tried them out in the pool. From that day on, I regularly saw other cyclists. I even chatted briefly with some of them. ## Day 8 - Rab - 17 km The alarm rang at 6:30 so I could catch the 7:45 ferry. Having barely eaten breakfast, I wasn't in a good mood and thoughts like "How can I get home as quickly as possible?" crossed my mind. Arriving on Rab, I still had to walk 12 kilometers to my accommodation, where I first had something to eat, which improved my mood. After checking in, I took a walk through the small town and thus began my rest day. ## Conclusion The first part was very nice. Camping was never a problem for me thanks to the campsites, and I also met other cyclists with whom I could chat. On the trail itself, I encountered relatively few other cyclists, but occasionally curious passersby who were interested in the bicycle or the route. [Cycling trip Southeast 🇹🇷 - Cycling Basti - My cycling trip blogFrom 27.4.2025 to 16.6.2025 I was on my bicycle traveling towards Croatia and southeast to Istanbul.![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/DSC04328-3-5.JPG)Cycling Basti - My cycling travel blog![](https://blog.sebcycles.com/content/images/2026/07/DSC04301_1-4.JPG)](https://blog.sebcycles.com/tag/radreise-sudost/) Next time, we'll continue our journey through beautiful Croatia. If you don't want to miss it, subscribe for more updates from my trip. Feel free to use the comment section if you have any questions.