Austria – Germany Danube Rhythm of the Waltz Bicycle and Boat Tour 2024

From € 699.00

The bike tour along the German / Austrian Danube is a very special pleasure, because your “swimming hotel” is always with you! Gently downhill, you will cycle along lush green river banks, through small, dreamy villages in the impressive Danube landscapes. You will discover the breath taking natural wonder of the “Great Loop” (a swift 180º turn!) and immerse yourself in legendary Wachau with its vineyard terraces and enchanted castles and monasteries. Then Vienna – an abundance of sights! A city, hard to describe – you have to see and feel it! Sights like St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the city hall and the world’s oldest Ferris wheel (Riesenrad) are easy to reach during a wonderful sightseeing tour by bike. A stroll through the Naschmarkt (famous food market) is a wonderful cultural and culinary adventure. You can also relax at any of the cosy coffee houses or at a typical traditional Viennese wine tavern in the suburbs. The highlights of the tour: Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the Schloegen Danube Loop, the World Heritage Site Wachau, Upper Austria’s capital Linz, the cosmopolitan city Vienna with a plethora of sights.

Trip Type

Bicycle Tours, Easy Level, Self-Guided
Group Size

2 - 20
Locations

Austria , Germany
Trip Duration

8 Day(s) 7 Night(s)

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Trip code WT-CODE 5912

Route:

Technical Characteristics:

Tour Profile: Easy. The bike tours are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. The tour can be classified as being easy. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour.

Distance: 199 - 225 km

Travel Season: Saturday departures Season A: April 20, 2024
Season B: May 4 and September 21, 2024
Season C: May 18; June 22; June 29; July 6; July 27; August 3; August 10; August 31; September 7 and September 14, 2024

The Cruise Ship Prinzessin Katharina

The comfortable MS Prinzessin Katharina provides the right ambiance to make you feel at ease. On board the premium ship you can expect classic elegance, a tasteful interior and a friendly crew. Enjoy the special atmosphere and let yourself be spoiled by the good cuisine. On two passenger decks you will find a panoramic restaurant, a comfortable salon, two bars and an inviting foyer, a book corner, a small shop and a massage parlour. On the spacious, partly covered sun deck there are plenty of deck chairs.

All 71 cabins are outside cabins and comfortably and tastefully furnished featuring en suite facilities with shower/WC, hair dryer, air conditioning, TV, on board radio, telephone and a small refrigerator. The upper deck has 29 two bed cabins, one triple cabin and two single cabins; all cabins are approximately 11 square meters with a French balcony (floor to ceiling windows that can be opened). The two bed cabins have a sofa bed with a pullman bed (stowed during the day for more comfort). In the triple cabin a third bed is folded down from the wall (maximum weight 80 kg). The main deck has 38 two bed cabins and one single cabin, all around 11 square meters, with two sofa beds standing in a right angle and a picture window (does not open)

Itineraries

Day 1

Passau - Engelhartszell

The Episcopal city close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Boarding time is at approximately between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., departure around 7:00 p.m. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.

Day 2

Engelhartszell – Aschach – “Great Loop” – Linz 40 - 46 km

Need a boost? Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell. Supposedly, they have "special healing powers." Downstream, the way leads you to pretty villages amid natural landscape. For a change take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180 degree turn (approximately €6 per person). Sailing from Aschach to Linz. Tip: Discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria while riding on the bright yellow City-Express.

Day 3

Linz – Mauthausen – Grein 36 - 40 km

In the early morning sailing to Mauthausen. You have the possibility to visit the memorial place KZ-Mauthausen. The Celtic town of Mitterkirchen gives you an insight of the past. The route continues through the fertile areas of the Machland region. The destination of the day’s stage is the charming town of Grein. Also called “the pearl of the Strudengau” due to its idyllic location. Worth a visit in Grein, the impressive Castle of Greinburg (closed on Mondays - can only be visited as part of an optional excursion).

Day 4

Grein – Melk – Tulln 51 km

Today's stage is marked by a diverse landscape. At the beginning, there is the Strudengau – a narrow point of the Danube which used to be notorious amongst skippers. The valley expands from Persenbeug and the bike tour leads you further to Melk with its gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren. On deck, you enjoy the sunset and the beautiful evening illumination of the Wachau. At night sailing to Tulln, famous for its numerous market gardens where the famous Art Nouveau artist Egon Schiele was born.

Day 5

Tulln – Vienna-Nussdorf / (Korneuburg may also be possible) 32 - 38 km

Right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breath taking landscape, the monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated. You can already see the cupola of this 900 year old baroque building from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with its wine taverns is definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna.

Day 6

Vienna-Nussdorf/Korneuburg (day of rest)

You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House and the town hall takes you back to the past. There is enough time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. At night sailing to Dürnstein or Rossatz.

Day 7

Wachau – Pöchlarn 40 - 50 km

Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the evening farewell dinner and cocktail.

Day 8

Passau

Every journey draws to an end. Arrival is about 11:00 a.m., disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend to arrange connecting trips from 1:30 p.m. onwards.

Prices

Included:

7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
Programme according to itinerary from/to Passau
All passenger fees and port fees
Captains greeting and Welcome Drink
Daily cabin cleaning and changing of towels and bed linens as necessary
Full meals: 7x breakfast, 6x lunch snack on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch for cyclists, 6x afternoon coffee break, 6x 3 course dinner and 1x farewell dinner with farewell drink
Daily informational meeting
Information pack with route book (one per cabin)
GPS tracks
Tour guide on board (does not cycle with group)