Ladakh - Season 1
I have been living in Austria for the last three years, but somehow I never managed to visit Hallstatt. It is not the easiest place to reach, especially for someone like me who prefers to avoid the peak tourist season.
If you are planning to visit one of the most famous places in Europe, the easiest way is by your own transport. Otherwise, the nearest airport is Salzburg, and from there you still need to take a train and then a bus. And of course, during peak season, you should be ready to see a lot of tourists.
I rode from Graz to Hallstatt on my sport-touring motorcycle as part of a two-day trip. I believe places like this are best experienced when there are fewer people around — early mornings, late evenings, and if possible, spending the night under the open sky. That is when you truly feel the atmosphere of the place.
I started the ride from Graz and headed toward Köflach before taking Route 77 through the beautiful Gaberl Pass. The roads slowly transformed from rolling hills into alpine scenery as I crossed Judenburg and continued on Route 114 through Thalheim and Trieben.
From Liezen, the ride became even more dramatic. Route 320 and 145 opened into the breathtaking Salzkammergut region, surrounded by lakes and massive limestone mountains. The final stretch through Koppen Pass and Obertraun felt surreal — narrow alpine roads, tunnels carved into rock, rivers flowing beside the road, and mountain walls rising in every direction. By the time I reached Hallstatt, it no longer felt like just a destination. The entire route itself had become the experience.
I arrived in the evening, and since it was off-season, there were very few tourists around. I enjoyed a pizza, walked through the town for a while, sat quietly by the lake, and took some pictures before setting up camp for the night.
The next morning, I woke up early and headed straight back into town to watch the sunrise and see the reflection of the morning light on the lake. Some of those moments can be seen in the images below.
Hallstatt itself felt calm and timeless — small streets, quiet water, old wooden houses, and mountains surrounding everything. It was one of those rides where the destination mattered less than the feeling of the journey itself.
Ride Details
Location
India
Bike
himalayan 450
Route
offroad, train Roads
Season
Late Spring
Ladakh Gallery
Photos and ride moments from Ladakh are available on Instagram and YouTube.