KK400 - The 400km long adventure round tour around the Lake Balaton

Do you consider Lake Balaton as just the Riviera? Yet, beyond the shores of the lake, countless adventures and experiences await cyclists. If you've circled the lake back and forth and think it holds no more challenges for you, then the KK400 Adventure Round Tour tour is tailored just for you!

Discover hidden settlements, climb never-seen-before lookout points, and admire the scenery of witness mountains as you deviate from the usual path!

On this 400-kilometer-long tour completely encircling Lake Balaton, but not on the traditional bike path, easier and more challenging terrain alternates. The diverse and beautiful landscapes speak for themselves, leading you into different worlds such as the Balaton Uplands, Zala, or Somogy roads. Whether you love castle ruins, enjoy resting in quiet villages, or want to taste fine wines, you don't have to give up on any of these if you embark on the KK400 Adventure Round Tour . This tour offers the opportunity to expand your list of favourite Balaton sights with places only the most determined cyclists can reach.

It's worth preparing physically for this tour, motivating you to stay in shape throughout the year. If you're sporty, you can tackle it with a gravel bike, or you can rely on your e-bike to effortlessly conquer every elevation. And if it's not just about performance but also about the sights, you can take smaller tours by joining the marked circle. The KK400 route is marked with a unified signaling system. Where to start the circle? With the help of the BalatonBike365 network, you can easily connect to the KK400 circle from any lakeside town. And if you believe in GPS-based navigation, download the BB365 app, which will guide you through the tours.

The tour touches many tourist attractions far from the shore, but you don't have to completely miss the proximity of Lake Balaton, as it occasionally returns to the shore. If you not only want to hike but also want to compare your performance with your future self or others, you're in the right place.

And if competition is everything for you, then the measurement of completing the tour is assisted by 50 QR codes, which, when scanned with your phone, allow you to compete with yourself, friends, or fellow cyclists with seconds of precision.

Currently, 24 Scott and 12 Bianchi gravel bikes are available for rent. Traditional and e-gravel bikes are available in all sizes, and they are delivered to any of the BalatonBike365 centers after prior reservation. Rental fees are favorable, starting from only 9,500 HUF for a one-day rental! As for the technical details of the rental fleet: equipped with the TQ HPR50 motor with the best weight/performance ratio internationally, the Scott Solace Gravel eRide eGravel series promises a high-end adventure with electric assistance. HMX carbon frame, comfortable endurance geometry, Sram Rival HRD brakes together provide a truly high-end adventure. For lovers of analog performance, the aluminum-framed, carbon-forked Scott Speedster Gravel 30 type awaits with Shimano GRX 400 set, 2x10-speed transmission, RX400 brakes, high-quality Syncros accessories, and almost limitless packing capacity. The sexy Bianchi Impulso Allroad models in the fleets embody versatility and comfort. Shimano GRX 600 set, 2x11-speed transmission, RX400 brakes. Bike reservations are available directly on the www.balatonbiketour.com website!

A larger circle, a much greater challenge, more experiences, and even more memories await on the KK400 Adventure Round Tour!

Detailed Tour Route Description

In terms of difficulty and terrain, the route can clearly be divided into four parts.

Southern Balaton

The biggest challenge is presented by the southern shore, where not only the elevation but also the often sandy, loose terrain lines up for gravel bikes. The route leading over the hills around Köröshegy can be surprising for many in terms of both steep uphills and technical descents.

Starting from Siófok, we can first ride on white, beaten paths, reminiscent in atmosphere of Italian beaten roads typical of Tuscany. The real challenge started from Jakabpuszta; from here, the elevation became increasingly hilly, with many short ascents, and the ground transitioned to sandy-loamy. From here, we are on a continuous roller coaster, either going up or down. The ascents are short, and in some places, quite steep, leading, for example, to the Nezde sculpture park. Technically, this may be the most challenging section where the tour goes.

Parallel to the M7 motorway, there are 1-2 walls of extreme steepness, where don't be surprised if, in case of mud, you have to push the bike. This part might be less recommended for families and cyclists with less experience due to the mentioned reasons. Another aspect on this section is that, except for the coastal settlements (Siófok, Balatonföldvár, Fonyód), there are few restaurants, buffets, and shops, so you need to pay more attention and plan for eating, buying, and water intake on this section.

Western Balaton

The "gravelliest" terrain is in the area around Little Balaton, where genuine long straight, flat, and gravelled roads await us. On these sections, you can progress at a much faster pace than on the southern shore. The paths along the Zala River and its surroundings are uniquely enchanting, and the small villages you pass through give your cycling a unique local color. This is the part that is enjoyable for anyone, and it is most suitable for family cycling with children. Passing through gravel and forest roads, you can reach places that would never be accessible by car. The mountain panorama, where Lake Balaton shines on the horizon, will be a real experience.

Northern Balaton

Somewhere between the two, both in terms of difficulty and terrain conditions, is the northern route between Keszthely and Veszprém, where everything is present: you'll find several forest sections, forest paths, sometimes asphalt, gravel, and rocky sections, while the kilometers before and after Veszprém again run on a bike path.

The section between Monoszló and Mencshely can be a favorite for many. Slightly deviating from the route, we can even see the Zádor Castle. This castle ruin built at the end of the 1300s is a lesser-known one. It's worth climbing or cycling from Barnag as the stunning location offers an unparalleled view towards Lake Balaton. In terms of ascents, in the Káli Basin, Balaton Uplands, the smaller hills are less of a challenge than the steep walls in the southern part. In terms of infrastructure, shops, cafes, and restaurants, this section is the best; here, you can easily find an open service provider for eating and drinking.

Eastern Balaton

The route of KK400 in the Eastern Basin, between Balatonalmádi and Sóstó, runs along the Balaton lakeside bike path. The special beauty of the bike path led on the high shore awaits us with this route, and for now, the more gravelly parts of the Eastern Basin are left out. Later, in this section, Balaton