Lower Austria’s longest continuously signposted cycling route offers you great roads, far away from any crowds. Starting at the town of Krems on the Danube, the route leads along the Kamp, Thaya and March rivers before returning to the Danube near the Slovakian border. The Kamp-Thaya-March Cycle Route (KTM for short) is considered an insider tip. It reveals many of the most scenic spots of Austria’s largest province.

First, you ride through well-known wine-growing regions around the town of Langenlois. You pass through the Kamptal valley which exudes an almost southern charm. Next, you reach the high plateaus of the Waldviertel, where you are greeted by panoramas that stretch into the horizon. The route runs along the Thaya River and brings you into Austria's smallest national park. From the town of Retz, the terrain flattens out for the time being, as you ride through the Weinviertel. The final stretch is defined by the Morava River and its beautiful floodplain landscapes.

This route can be quite challenging. At the beginning, the climbs are plentiful and often steep along the Kamp. Don’t expect a classic bike path here, like along the Danube. Instead, you ride along field paths, side roads and, in some sections, along main roads. Well-built bike paths are included too. This makes the route very varied and also demanding. I recommend a bike with robust tyres that can manage the gravel sections that feature again and again. I personally found the Tour very enjoyable on a gravel bike, but a trekking or touring bike would work just as well.

At over 400 kilometres (248 mi), the route is long. You should plan your stage lengths and accommodation in advance. The stages I suggest here always end in a place with sufficient accommodation. If you don't want to do the whole Tour, I recommend the section from Krems to Retz. The train station in Retz has good connections to Krems or Vienna from where you can continue your journey home.

I particularly enjoyed the small towns along the route, which are always worth exploring. Whether Zwettl, Waidhofen, Drosendorf or Raabs, they all offer historical town centres, nice pubs and a cosy flair. The signposting is great too, so you barely have to look at your mobile phone.

If you want to discover an exciting part of Austria and are looking for a bike Tour that is a bit off the beaten track, then I can unreservedly recommend the Kamp-Thaya-March Cycle Route.