Boarding time is at 4 p.m. The “Bishop City,” close to the Bavarian/Austrian border, is also known as the “City of three Rivers.” Use your free time and stroll through the old charming centre, visit the world largest catholic church organ in the cathedral and enjoy the easy atmosphere of a typical Bavarian beer garden. At 6.30 p.m. cast off! Your vacation starts with a cruise through the romantic Danube Valley.
Jour 2
Sunday: Mauthausen – Grein
45km
Today’s bike tour takes you directly along the Danube where you have enough time to enjoy the natural state of the meadow landscape. The celtic village Mitterkirchen gives you an impression of the past. The alternative route, “Clam Castle,” through the beautiful back country of the “Strudengau” is slightly hilly but offers a fantastic scenery. Grein, with its mighty castle, is the final destination of today’s stage. After a romantic sunset cruise you arrive at Devin with its castle ruin overviewing the Danube in the morning.
Jour 3
Monday: Devin - Bratislava
26km
From Devin you follow the former ‘Iron Curtain’, cross the former border and reach the imposing Baroque Palace of Hof with its beautifully terraced gardens. Cycle through the Austria’s ‘vegetable garden’ to the coronation city and former capital of Hungary Bratislava located at the slopes of the Little Carpathians. Explore the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava on a city tour (optional).
Jour 4
Tuesday: Vienna (day of rest)
35km
During a city tour by bike or bus (optional) you will experience Vienna’s most famous examples of architecture: the imperial Hofburg, St. Stephens Cathedral, the gorgeous ‘Ring’-boulevard and the State Opera House, the Burgtheater and town hall and, of course, the colourful ‘Hunderwasserhaus’. There is enough time in the afternoon to scroll or visit one of the famous Viennese cafés. The evening can end in numerous ways. For example by visiting a Waltz and Opera concert at a famous Viennese Palace (optional).
Jour 5
Wednesday: Wachau | Krems - Melk
Today’s biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy towns, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this hilly landscape enchants everybody. You will be biking on cloud nine! A powerful ruin looms above the small baroque town of Durnstein, while the blue spire of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau valley. In Weißenkirchen (possibility for a wine-tasting – optional) you will find comfortable wine taverns right along the bike path.
Jour 6
Thursday: Melk - Grein
40km
After breakfast you have plenty of time to visit the gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren of Melk. Today’s stage is marked by diversity. Starting in the wide valleys of the Nibelungenau you follow the Danube and cycle further into the Strudengau – a narrow point of the Danube which used to be notorious amongst skippers. Yours today’s final destination is the – already well known – city of Grein, home of Austria’s oldest city theatre (optional).
Jour 7
Friday: Great Danube Loop | Obermühl - Engelhartszell
35km
Today you will cycle through the Danube Valley and will pass through many picturesque villages. Along the cycle path you may smell freshly grilled mackerels, with small pubs doing all they can to entice cyclists to stay. Make sure you follow the small walking trail to the lookout high above the Danube Loop – what a breathtaking panoramic view of the Danube Valley it provides of the meandering Blue Danube! Need a refreshment? Try some of the special cordials at the Trappist monastery at Engelszell, your day’s destination.
As you cruise back up the Danube enjoy the early morning sunshine as you wind your way to Passau, where you will arrive at about 10:00 a.m. and you’ll disembark about 30 minutes later. Connecting travel should be booked for 11.00 a.m. onwards.
What others think of this tour
Leave your review