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Route:

Technical Characteristics:

Tour Profile: Easy. The cycle route is completely flat, at times on a gentle downhill slope, and is ideal for bikers with less experience and children. The tour is rated easy on mostly flat terrain.

Distance: 163 - 178 km

Travel Season: Self-Guided: Departures Saturdays April 27; May 25; June 8; June 15; June 22; June 29; July 6; July 13; July 20; July 27; August 17; August 24; September 7 and September 21, 2024

Guided: Departures Saturdays June 8 and September 21, 2024 (further dates upon request, minimum 10 participants required)

Season 1: April
Season 2: May and August
Season 3: June, July and September

The cruise ship MV Swiss Crown

 

Stylish, elegant and timelessly beautiful - this is how the 4* SUPERIOR ship MS Swiss Crown presents itself as it glides gently along the Danube river. You will immediately feel at home on board as soon as you enter the spectacular foyer. Designed in warm wood tones, the ship radiates a comfort and leaves nothing to be desired. The simple elegance of the timelessly beautiful staterooms, which are decorated with great attention to detail, will inspire you. Sit back, enjoy the serene, relaxed atmosphere, the fantastic views of breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes, sometimes from the bicycle seat, sometimes from the inviting, partially covered sun deck. Let yourself be pampered by the friendly, accommodating crew and create on board relationships alongside memories to last a lifetime.

It was in Passau that Sisi began her journey along the Danube as a young bride to Vienna, where she was eagerly awaited by her Emperor Franz. Follow in the footsteps of the Austrian empress by bicycle and on a nostalgia ship as you discover breathtakingly beautiful river scenery with small sleepy villages, castles and palaces set in gorgeous countryside and enjoy warm Austrian hospitality at every stage of your cycling tour. The region is a gourmand’s paradise and famous for its cakes, pastries and other irresistible culinary treats. After wiener schnitzel, sachertorte and apricot dumplings it’ll be much easier to burn up the miles...  Wines from the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Landscape Wachau enjoy an international reputation, Linz, the capital of Upper Austria is home to the biggest church in Austria. And then there’s Vienna... Enchanting, charming and perhaps slightly eccentric, the City of Waltz will capture your heart in an instant. Magnificent buildings from the imperial age bear witness to the impressive history of times gone by.

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival in Passau/Surroundings

Experience Mediterranean flair in Passau, the city of three rivers. You should definitely set aside some time on the day of your arrival for a walk through the picturesque baroque city with its narrow lanes and Passau cathedral home to the largest church organ in the world. After embarkation between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., it's time to cast off and begin your cycling vacation with a romantic boat trip into the sunset, with a view of the Passau backdrop of church towers and domes slowly disappearing on the horizon.

Day 2

Engelhartszell – Brandstatt 45 km

Breathe in the fragrance of the dense forest and freshly mown meadows. Explore the pristine countryside of the Upper Danube valley on the former towpath as it runs past sleepy villages. Small, rustic inns at the edge of the trail invite you to linger, the aroma of fresh fish grilled according to tradition on a stick wafts through the air. The Schlögener Blick observation point offers a truly stunning view of the Schlögener Schlinge where the Danube carves its way through a gorge and doubles back on itself.

Day 3

Brandstatt – Linz 24 km

Catch some fresh country air again - at lunch time, you’ll reach the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. Discover the European Capital of Culture 2009 on a bright yellow miniature train (optional). The cathedral is the biggest church in Austria, the Pöstlingbergbahn the steepest adhesion railway in the world. Are you curious about the future? At the ARS Electronica Museum you can try out some of the most impressive examples of modern technology for yourself. Make sure you don’t miss it!

Day 4

Mauthausen – Grein 36 km

A beautiful and varied route lies ahead of you as you explore the idyllic hinterland of the Strudengau by bike: the Celtic Village of Mitterkirchen, the Baroque monastery of Baumgartenberg and the romantic ruins of Burg Clam castle. Then it’s time to enjoy the little medieval town of Grein with its Baroque facades, imposing castle and the oldest municipal theatre in Austria. After a romantic journey sailing past towns and villages full of twinkling lights, you arrive in Tulln late in the evening.

Day 5

Tulln – Vienna 31 km

Right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breathtaking scenery, the monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated. You can already see the dome of this 900 year old baroque building from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with its wine taverns is only a hop from the shipping pier and definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna. During a city tour by bus in the afternoon, you will pass most of the numerous and famous sights and have a guided walking tour though the historic center of Austria’s capital (optional, not included).

Day 6

Vienna (day of rest)

On a city tour of Vienna all the sights are within reach from the saddle of your bike or on the HOP ON HOP OFF bus (optional). The magnificent Ringstraße will remind you of times long past and inviting coffee houses will tempt you with delicious Viennese cakes and pastries, while the Naschmarket market is a feast for all the senses. End the evening on a magical note with a concert of waltz and classical operetta music in Sisi’s summer residence (optional).

Day 7

Wachau –Krems-Melk 37 km

An unforgettable day in the picturesque Wachau. Cycle through delightful wine growing villages surrounded by terraced vineyards and apricot trees. The charming little town of Dürnstein with its narrow lanes is an absolute highlight. In Weißenkirchen – the most important wine growing village in the World Cultural Heritage Landscape – you can discover the first rate famous Wachau wines.

Day 8

Departure from Passau

Enjoy the first rays of sun and the early morning tranquillity one last time from the deck of the ship before you reach Passau, your heart bursting with memories. Disembarkation: approximately 11 a.m. We recommend that you do not make any arrangements for onward trains departing before 12.00 p.m. To be on the safe side, later departure times would be even better.

Prices

    Included:

    Self-Guided Tour

    • 7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities and air conditioning
    • Port charges
    • Program according to itinerary from/to Passau
    • Captains greeting and Welcome cocktail
    • Full board plus: breakfast buffet, lunch on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), afternoon coffee break, dinner including house wine, draught beer and soft drinks (2/3 dishes to choose from)
    • Gala dinner with farewell cocktail
    • On-board Musician
    • Tour guide on board (does not cycle with the group)
    • Daily information meeting
    • Detailed travel documents + cycling guide App + GPS tracks per cabin

    Guided Tour above plus the following

    • Cycling tour guide  
    • Ferry rides
    • Rental Helmet (adults only)

    Not Included:

    • Personal expenses

    No Details Found