The witness mountains and the Káli basin are strung on an asphalt strip

Road information, legend
The 73-kilometer road route winds between the Witness mountains and the Káli basin. Despite the elevation gain of more than 800 meters, the tour includes only short, easy climbs, except for Hegyestű. It can be completed from both directions, and can even be easily shortened by varying the three loops.
The route is mainly on public roads, but on shorter sections you must also use the cycle path.

Recommended route: Köveskál-Kővágóörs-Kékkút-Káptalantóti-Badacsonytomaj-Badacsonytördemic-Szigliget-Kisapáti-Nemesgulács-Káptalantóti-Köveskál-Zánka-Tagyon-Szentantalfa-Balatoncsicsó-Monoszló-Hegyestű-Köveskál.

Download gpx or use the BB365 app for navigation, or use the road signs along the following BalatonBike365 route: 232 gray B Köveskál-Kővágóörs-Kékkút, 238 gray A Káptalantóti-Badacsonytomaj, 234 green C Balatoncsicsó-Monoszló

On the route, it is possible to buy food in the settlements, and we also visit excellent ice cream parlors and restaurants.

Recommended bike: road or gravel bike.

Difficulty factors
In the peak season, you must pay attention to the car traffic in some places - for example on the road section between Káptalantóti-Zánka, Nemesgulács-Káptalantóti - and follow the rules for driving on the side of the road. At Badacsony, you must also pay close attention to the traffic on the Roman road, as well as to pedestrians who are coming from wine tastings. The 1-kilometer climb leading to Hegyestú is steep.

Mood description
Even worldwide, it is a beautiful, varied circuit with the unique atmosphere of the Káli Basin, winding between the Tanúhegye and basalt organs, looking out over the water of Balaton, resplendent in a thousand different colors. If someone wants to choose only one road route in the Balaton highlands, then this should be it. The distance of 73 kilometers is a lot for some, a little short for others, but it is certain that those who only want to do sports will slow down from time to time to enjoy the landscape, and for those who find this circuit a challenge, they will happily complete it, if only for the sake of the view.

Detailed tour description
The tour starts from Köveskál and crosses at the two thirds of the distance, then returns to the same place. It actually consists of two smaller and one larger circle: with the "Káli" villages in the middle, the Badacsony-Szigliget-Hegymagas-Gulács mountain group in the west, and the villages around Hegyestű in the east. Biking starts with a pleasant warm-up. In the first third of the distance, we are rather loosing elevation, than climb. The terrain is a roller coaster, the road always goes up or down a little, but there is no need to be afraid, in reality this is only an easy-to-absolve, short loop in most cases. After Köveskál comes Kővágóörs, here you have to be careful not to turn left. The next village is Kékkút, where you can fill a water bottle from the mineral water spring. One kilometer after Kékkút, we join the main road, and soon we turn left to Káptalantóti. In the middle of the village, we turn left again towards Badacsony. After traveling 16 kilometers and the roundabout, we arrive at Badacsonytördemic, from where we turn slightly to the right and continue on the Roman road, be careful here because of the traffic. There are several good wineries and restaurants around Badacsony if we stop to eat. At Tördemic, we turn left, and after a hundred meters of cobblestones, we cross road 71 and we roundabout Szigliget. Even athletes should have an ice cream in the Vár Café, and tourers can aim for the new street food center as a place for lunch. After Szigliget west junction with the road 71, we are forced to go on the bike path for one kilometer. In season you have to be careful with the heavy bike traffic, but soon we turn left towards Hegymagas. Although a lunch at the Szaszi estate is tempting, according to the itinerary, we first turn right and reach Kisapáti on an asphalt strip rarely used by cars. From Kisapáti, we turn right towards Nemesgulács, where we continue to the left, past the halfway point. After Nemesgulács you can facing with heavier car traffic for 600meters, where you have to pay attention to turn right off the main road in the direction of Káptalantóti. From Káptalantóti, we follow the main road all the way to Zánka, passing through Köveskál. From Zánka, we turn left towards Tagyon and at Balatoncsicsó we turn onto the low-traffic asphalt strip again. This small road to Monoszló was recently renovated, it is a great experience to cycle here. After Monoszló, Hegyestű follows to the left, which is the biggest physical challenge of the entire tour. Here, before the geological exhibition site, it is worth turning left onto a small dirt road, as you get practically the same panorama of the Balaton as from the roof, but the ascent is not as difficult (especially on the highway). From Hegyestű, we just roll into Köveskál, where we can choose among the best places for lunch.