BUSSI BABA GRAVELTOUR

Escaping the city on two wheels

You wheel your bike onto the train. At the main station, you quietly bid farewell to the hustle and bustle for the first time. A few tunnels later, you’re already setting foot in the Gesäuse region.

Ahead of you lie steep rock faces, forest tracks and the deep-blue river. Your only task for the next few days: pedal. Breathe. Feel. It’s uphill until your calves are burning – and that’s a good thing. Because your mind finally goes quiet.

In between, you cycle past gentle, lush greenery, marvel at the abbey library and, moments later, jump into the ice-cold Enns with a cheer. A treat for the soul.

In the evening, you fire up the espresso maker at the campsite or reflect on the day in the hotel sauna. No filters, no fakes. Just tired legs, a huge grin and a starry sky that needs no screen.

Everyday life? Bussi Baba, which means "Kiss and goodbye".

I'm off then... to the Gesäuse!

Whether you’re on a gravel bike, mountainbike or e-mountainbike, the route covers around 180 kilometres and 3,000 metres of elevation gain, taking you through forests, past waterways, up mountains and past cultural sites.

Your route through the Gesäuse.

In 1, 2 or 3 days: extreme, active or leisurely

The mountain bike loops add a bit of variety to the ride. Whilst some riders tackle a few extra metres of climbing, others can take it at a more leisurely pace. And later on, you’ll simply meet up again on the route.

Let them all talk. Roll your bike onto the train and say Bussi Baba.
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Your elevation profile along the route

Come on then: if you cycle the whole route, you’ve got four tough climbs ahead of you. They’re well spaced out, though, so you can rest and recharge your batteries in between. Alternatively, you can take a different route and save yourself a few metres of elevation gain.

Highlights on the go

Gravel riding. The Gesäuse. Goosebumps.

I’m off to another world for a bit: Bussi Baba takes you right across the Gesäuse. And that means: nature galore, views guaranteed to take your breath away, and plenty of culture – all just as you drive past. Whether it’s a sausage roll break, a dip in the lake or a visit to a museum: ‘Think regional’ isn’t just a slogan here. And you: get to know the Gesäuse from every angle!

Accommodation

A room or a campsite? As long as it’s in the Gesäuse!

Whether it’s an espresso maker and a starry sky or a plush deluxe mattress after a hard day’s ride, the accommodation options along your route range from one end of the spectrum to the other. What they all have in common: a power socket and a garden hose for your bike. And some even offer lockable bike storage.

Naturhotel Schloss Kassegg

Stiegenwirt

Freelife Gästehaus

NaturparkResort Gesäuse HideOut

Gesäuse Zimmer Motel

Treglwangerhof

Hotel Spirodom Admont

Pension Villa Elisabeth

Gasthof Schnabl

Hotel Bergkristall

Urlaub am Bauernhof Feldbauer

Xeis Natur Apartment

Der KUHle Bio-Bauernhof - Hotel Matlschweiger

Wood Apartments 4 Jahreszeiten

FAQs

We recommend riding a gravel bike, mountain bike or e-mountain bike to ensure you get the most out of the ride on the rough, gravelly forest tracks.

The route is around 180 kilometres long in total. You can cycle it over 1, 2 or 3 days and, depending on your fitness level, skip any hills along the way. It’s entirely up to you!

There are four steep climbs along the route: Mitterberg near Lassing, Kaiserau, Hochscheiben and Buchauer Sattel. These alternate with forest tracks and cycle paths along the river. You can also skip them and continue your route via an alternative route.

Forest tracks, with gravel that varies from fine to coarse, alternate with cycle paths. Perfect for gravel bikes, mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes. You’re better off leaving your road bike at home.

The route takes you right across the Gesäuse adventure region: Ardning, Liezen, Lassing, Rottenmann, Gaishorn to Treglwang, Admont, Gstatterboden, Hieflau, Landl, Großreifling and Sankt Gallen

Absolutely! There are no fewer than ten stations along the route: Ardning, Selzthal, Liezen, Rottenmann, Gaishorn, Admont, Johnsbach, Gstatterboden, Hieflau and Weißenbach near St. Gallen.

From the Forstgarten campsite or the Gaishorn am See campsite, where you can pitch your tent, to guesthouses and upmarket hotels, the route has something for everyone. All accommodation options have at least one power socket and a garden hose for your bike, and offer overnight stays for just one night. Some have lockable bike storage rooms.

Everyday life in Baba, little discoveries. There are plenty of sights right along the way, such as Admont Abbey with its world-famous monastery library and no fewer than five museums, Strechau Castle and the ruins of Gallenstein Castle.

You are in Europe’s largest natural dark sky area, which means minimal light pollution and a particularly bright starry sky. Johnsbach is the darkest place in the entire Alpine region, and nowhere else in the Gesäuse can you see the starry sky as magnificent and brilliant as here.

You’ll find no fewer than three sports shops along the way: Sport Vasold in Liezen, Pörl Sport in Admont and Bici Sport Trantura in Sankt Gallen. You can pick up equipment here and get help with any questions you may have!

Yes, part of the route runs through the stunning Gesäuse National Park. The Forstgarten campsite is right in the heart of it too.

Arrival

Goodbye bustle. Hello public transport.

There are a total of 10 stations along the Bussi-Baba route: Ardning, Selzthal, Liezen, Rottenmann, Gaishorn, Admont, Johnsbach, Gstatterboden, Hieflau and Weißenbach near Sankt Gallen. This means you can easily travel to the Gesäuse by train and bike from any direction.

Easily accessible from all directions: the main rail connections to the stations along the route:

Kommend aus	Ankunft in	Dauer der Anreise
Wien	Weißenbach bei Sankt Gallen	aprrox. 2 hours
Linz	Ardning	approx. 1.5 hours
Graz	Gaishorn, Rottenmann oder Selzthal	approx. 1.5 hours
München	Liezen	approx. 4 hours (1 - 2 changes of train)
Klagenfurt	Selzthal	approx. 3 hours