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Our most extensive Danube cruise, taking in four capital cities; the Austrian capital of Vienna, the picturesque old town of Bratislava, the majestic city of Budapest, and the revived city of Belgrade. This journey by comfortable river cruiser and bike offers the opportunity to experience life along the Danube and the surrounding countryside at your own pace. Using our comfortable boat as a base, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Pannonian Plain, the Hungarian and Serbian countryside, the Slovakian capital at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and the highlight, the mighty canyon of the Iron Gates National Park on the Romanian border. You will visit charming wine villages, marvel at imposing fortifications that sit high above the river, and cycle through the Danube-Drava National Park. Alongside the scenic and cultural highlights that the Danube offers, the friendly crew will guarantee that you have an unforgettable experience.
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121kg of CO2-e PP per day
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Day 1
Join Passau (Germany)
Boarding will begin at 4:00pm in Passau and the boat will depart at 5:00pm for the first cruise. Located at the junction of three rivers, the Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau has a number of interesting sites including the Fortress “Veste Oberhaus” built in 1219 where there is an observation tower for a good view of the town and the river and St. Stevens Cathedral with the world’s largest church organ. Cruise via a lock to the Jochenstein power plant on the border between Germany and Austria. As we cruise, information will be provided about the daily biking, sights and sightseeing trips. Dinner will follow.
Meals: D
Day 2
Cycle through the 'Great Loop' (42km/26mi)
This morning you will receive your bicycles from in front of the boat. Generally we provide bikes with 21 gears (or 7 gears if unavailable or requested). Enjoy a delightful day's cycling through the ruggedly romantic Danube Bend at Schlögen, one of the most beautiful sections of the river lined with sleepy farming villages and a natural landscape. Take a break at Austria's only Trappist monastery where you can taste their delicious liquors and cheese. On your way you will encounter tiny villages and cosy cider taverns. The famous “Schlogener View” provides a wonderful vista of the surrounding Austrian countryside. On arrival in the charming market town of Aschach, you reboard the boat.
Meals: B,L,D
Day 3
Cycle to Bratislava (15-43km/9-27mi)
After a morning arrival in Devin, you cycle along the former "Iron Curtain", cross the green line and reach the imposing Imperial Palace of Hof with beautifully terraced gardens and idyllic manor farm. You continue along the bike path through Austria's "vegetable garden" to the vibrant city of Bratislava at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. You can discover the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava on an optional city tour before reboarding the boat this evening for an overnight cruise.
Day 4
Arrive Budapest by boat, round trip to Szentendre (27-54km/17-33.5mi) or free time
Our boat arrives into Budapest in the morning and the panoramic view of the Danube bend is quite stunning. The day is free to explore the many sights of the city, with the vast majority located on the river banks, on your own or on an optional sightseeing tour by bus. You can also choose to cycle on a round trip to the charming town of Szentendre with its Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art scene. In the evening, you can explore the Hungarian metropolis on your own or relax onboard.
Day 5
Cycle past fields of sunflowers to Mohacs (37km/23mi)
From the quiet baroque town of Baja that is famous for its fish soup, you cycle along the flood protection dykes in the Gemenc floodplain, through sleepy river landscapes past fields of sunflowers. At the end of today's cycle stage, you take the ferry to the small town of Mohacs, Hungary's most southerly town on the Danube and the site of two historic battles with the Ottoman Empire.
Day 6
Day at leisure in Belgrade
Optional excursion: discover the vibrant Serbian metropolis by bike or bus on the confluence of the Save and Danube rivers, taking a small journey in time from the past to the present and discovering interesting facts about the rise and full of Yugoslavia. In the evening, Belgrade is bathed in a sea of light. Optional excursion: you visit a colourful folklore show with traditional dances from all parts of the country and then enjoy typical specialties of the country in the renowned artists’ district of “Skadarlija” with lively music from a Serbian band.
Day 7
Cruise through a spectacular landscape of deep gorges and impregnable fortresses
Experience the stunning fjord-like landscape from the boat as we cruise through the Romanian Carpathian mountains and the foothills of the Balkan mountain range, or the "Iron Gates". The steep gorges, dark forests with historic monuments, impregnable fortresses and monasteries on the shores that are reflected in the blue waters of the river are spectacular.
Day 8
Cycle from Novid Sad to Croatian wine town Ilok (48km/30mi)
Novid Sad, the provincial capital of Vojvodina, will capture your heart with its southern flair. The Petrovaradin fortress built in the 18th century by French architect Vauban as his masterpiece, one of the largest defensive structures in Europe, is the symbol of the city. You will cycle upstream along a flat cycle path then take a ferry to reach the gentle foothills of the Fruska Gora, with its orchards, vineyards and idyllic farming villages. Ilok, the eastern settlement of Croatia near the border of Serbia, is a wine kingdom of the Danube, known worldwide for its Traminer which the British royal family are fond of. Optional excursion: guided walk with Serbian wine tasting.
Day 9
Cycling options around Mohacs
Small, idyllic farming villages, bright yellow rapeseed fields, and endless farmland line your route through the Hungarian Great Plain. Farmers wave cheerfully from their fields, and horse-drawn carts pass by from time to time. The routes wind through the unspoiled nature of the Dunav-Drava National Park. Numerous white storks nest on the roofs of the farmhouses. On your way around historic Mohács, you’ll pass a national memorial commemorating the great battle of 1526.
Day 10
Cycle from Kalocsa, the Paprika capital of Hungary, to Solt (50km/31mi)
Kalocsa is the paprika capital of Hungary. Wreaths made of paprika peppers, hand-painted, bright floral patterns on houses and wonderfully embroidered traditional dress shape the image of the town. The cathedral rises like a cliff from the Puszta, the Archbishop’s Palace houses a collection of 150,000 books and you can learn all about Hungary’s favourite spice in the paprika museum. You will cycle on the well defined cycle path along the flood protection dyke through the expansive puszta, corn fields and orchards until you reach the historic town of Solt. It is the birthplace of the renowned conductor Sir George Solti, and worth seeing are its Vecsey Castle and the library with some 34,000 books in its collection.
Day 11
Cycle through the Hungarian countryside (43km/27mi)
The Danube is framed by steep wooded hills as it flows from the picturesque, hilly landscape of the "Hungarian Wachau". Setting off from Vac, you cycle past the island of Szentendre set in the middle of the Danube and continue on idyllic paths though the Hungarian countryside to Esztergom, the old royal residence and Hungary’s original capital city. The dome of the imposing basilica, Hungary’s largest Catholic church, that sits enthroned high over the Danube can be seen from far and wide and is well worth seeing with its Tuscan-style high altar and red marble walls.
Day 12
Cruise to Vienna
Today is an opportunity to relax as we cruise to Vienna and enjoy the breath-taking view of the idyllic floodplain forest of the Donauauen National Park. The choice is yours: cycle on Vienna's favourite recreational area the Danube Island, cycle out to the nearby Klosterneuburg Abbey or wander through the idyllic vineyards on Kahlenberg with magnificent views over the city and the Danube. Optional evening excursion: Waltz and Operetta concert.
Day 13
At leisure in Vienna, optional 3 hour cycle tour of city
Today is at leisure in Vienna. Optional day excursions: 3-hour guided bike tour, hop-on/hop-off bus tour. We will provide you with information to plan your sightseeing. You may choose to take a circuit through Hofburg with a visit to the Sisi museum or a short break in the antique bakery Demel. Or there is the middle ages area between Hafnersteig, Heiligenkreuzerhof and the Blut – and Domgasse. In the evening you may like to enjoy a glass of wine at a Viennese tavern. During the night we cruise to Krems.
Day 14
Cycle through the Wachau Valley to Melk (39km/24mi)
Today, one of the prettiest section of the trip, you pedal through the renowned Wachau, with its truly romantic scenery of vineyards and quaint villages, en route to Melk. Today’s cycle from Krems will take you past small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Durnstein. In Weißenkirchen you will find comfy wine taverns right along the bike path where there is the possibility for wine tasting. Our last evening on board will include a gala dinner and crew show, while we cruise overnight back to Passau.
Day 15
Morning cruise through the Danube Valley, disembark Passau, trip concludes
Check-out from the cabins is by 9:00am. During breakfast the boat continues to Passau with estimated arrival time 9:30am and disembarkation at approximately 10:00. We recommend that you do not make any travel plans until after midday.
Meals: B
What's included
What's not included
Standard cabin (main deck)
The standard cabins (approx. 11m²) are located on the main deck. They have two single beds and a small raised non-opening window.
Comfort cabin (middle deck)
The comfort cabins (approx. 11m²) are located on the middle deck. They have two single beds and a generous panoramic non-opening window.
Superior cabin (middle and upper deck)
The superior cabins (approx. 14m²) are located on the middle and upper deck and have a separable double bed and a French balcony.
Eco comfort and standard cabins (middle and main deck)
These cabins are located at the front and rear of the ship. It is possible that you may be disturbed by operational noise.
During the trip you will be provided with a 24 speed bike with handbrakes. You will also receive a pannier to carry your gear for the day, along with a handlebar bag, bike computer, lock and repair kit (per cabin). Helmets can be rented, included in the cost but must be pre-booked. Otherwise you can purchase, or bring your own. In the case of a puncture the assumption is that you can repair. You will be given a puncture repair kit, to fix the issue.
A limited number of electric bikes are available for an additional supplement. These must be requested at the time of booking or in advance. These are 8-speed KTM or Flyer models that increase your pedalling power and allows cyclists of different athletic conditions to book a bike tour together. Please note that e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes and given the higher speed possible, should only be ridden by confident cyclists. Note: Frame sizes 43/45/50cm - minimum height 153cm. E-bikes are not fitted with odometers.
GRADE 2 - This trip involves 10 days cycling usually along paved cycle paths across generally flat terrain with some lightly hill stages and up to 54km/33.5mi in a day. It is mostly on the Danube cycle path and also country roads with little traffic, generally following the Eurovelo 6 route. In and out of the cities there will be some traffic. You need only carry your camera/rain gear and water bottle. Your luggage remains on the boat. A limited number of children’s bikes are available (minimum height 120cm), as are bike seats (max 18kg) and trailers (2 children, maximum 40kg), and tag-a-long bikes (minimum height is 120cm/3ft 11.3in). *For safety reasons, we insist that cycle helmets be included as a compulsory item on your equipment list.
Per Person, Twin Share
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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We offer different levels of accommodation and comfort so that even the most budget conscious can treat themselves to active holidays on Europe's most celebrated tracks and trails. Our trips are great value for money because you only pay for what you want.
Our wide range of self-guided itineraries embody the UTracks philosophy of exploring Europe your way. We handle the logistics so all that's left for you to do is enjoy exploring Europe at your own pace. Most depart daily with a minimum of two people, meaning maximum flexibility.
With close to 400 trips in almost 50 countries, including the largest range of bike & boat holidays in Europe, we're confident that we can organise an Alps walk, Camino de Santiago or Via Francigena experience, Food Lovers' trip or a tour in a lesser-known pocket of Europe that you will love.
8Days
Moderate
Introductory to Moderate