By bike and boat along the river Danube – a really special experience, because your “floating hotel” is accompanying you at all times!
The impressive Danube loop, the fascinating landscape of the Wachau region with its wine terraces, fortresses and palaces, the untouched forests of national park Donauauen and the picturesque Hungarian Danube bend contrast well with the pulsating cities like Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.
The broad river runs like a silver thread through Budapest and divides the city into hilly Buda and flat Pest. In Esztergom the imposing dome of the basilica greets you from afar. Bratislava, formerly known as Pressburg, the Slovakian capital city at the feet of the Carpathians is inviting for a large stroll through the bewitching old city. Do you want to flirt with Vienna, the city of Waltz? A large variety of places of interest, small, dreamy coffee shops and comfortable wine taverns are awaiting you.
Boat ride: Passau – Engelhartszell Individual arrival to Passau. Embarkation is at around 4pm. In the evening, you cruise to Engelhartszell. Enjoy your evening aboard.
Cycling: Engelhartszell – Brandstatt | Boat: Brandstatt – Bratislava You start today's cycle tour from Engelhartszell where there is the only Trappist monastery in Austria and you cycle along the romantic river landscape of the Danube loop, which is one of the most beautiful sections of the river. In charming Brandstatt, you can get back aboard the boat again. In the night, you cruise to Bratislava where you will arrive at about midday.
Boat: Bratislava – Budapest (at night) The cycle ride goes from Bratislava via Hainburg to Hof castle with its gorgeous terrace garden and via Devin back to Bratislava. Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, can be experienced during a vespertine city tour through hidden alleys and squares. In the night, you cruise to Budapest.
Cycling: Round trip Szentendre | Boat: Budapest – Visgrad (at night) In the early morning, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Danube's gorgeous landscape from the sun deck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the river bank. In the afternoon you can explore the city on a city tour by coach and by foot (optional). Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or the charming town of Szentendre with Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. In the evening you can enjoy Budapest by night with folklore program (opt.) In the night, you cruise to to Visegrad.
Bike: Visegrad – Esztergom | Boat: Esztergom – Vienna (at night) Today there is a morning cruise through the picturesque, slightly hilly landscape of the Danube bend – also known as Hungarian Wachau – to Esztergom. Here you have two options: the longer route includes a detour to Szentendre Island and the baroque city Vác. The short route brings you directly to Esztergom where there is a precious basilica. In the night, you cruise to Vienna.
Boat: Vienna/Nussdorf – Wachau (at night) Make sure you visit the best sites in Vienna like St. Stephens cathedral and the Hofburg. You can take a city tour by bike or by coach/foot (optional, not included). The gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House and the town hall all take you back to the past. The evening ends impressively with a Waltz and Operetta concert (optional, not included). In the nigh, you cruise to Rossatz or Dürnstein (Wachau).
Cycling: Wachau/Rossatz – Melk – Pöchlarn | Boat: Pöchlarn – Passau (at night) Your last day's cycle tour 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 Spitz (possibility for a wine-tasting – optional) you will find comfy wine taverns right along the bike path. You owe it to yourself to take a break! You’ll board again in the small village Pöchlarn. After the farewell gala dinner, you start “sailing” back to Passau.
You arrive in Passau relaxed and rested around 10am. Disembarkation around 10.30am. Individual trip home. We recommend to book any travel connections from noon onwards.
Tour character
Flat and slightly downhill, for relaxed cycling, suitable for beginners and children.
Program as mentioned in the itinerary from/to Passau
7 overnight stays in cabins with shower/toilet in the booked cabin category
Full board: 7 x breakfast buffet, 6 x small lunch or lunch package for your bike tours, 6 x coffee and cake in the afternoon, 7 x 3-course dinner
Welcome and farewell drink
Musicians on board
Daily cleaning of cabins
Change of towels and bed linen if required
Port fees included
Daily bike tour briefings
1x route book for self-guided tours per cabin
GPS data is available
On board tour guidance
Rental bike insurance
Information
Arrival / Parking / Departure:
Passau main station is about 5km from the pier
Parking space (fenced area) incl. transfer parking space – boat – parking space CHF 79.- per week Park garage incl. transfer park garage – boat – park garage CHF 95.- per week (Application form in your travel documents, pay there)
Number of participants:
Minimum of 50 people
Notes:
Extra nights in Passau are possible on request!
Accommodation
MS Normandie
Enjoy a great bike tour where you get to sleep on board a boat each evening. The MS Normandie is a very middle-class barge with a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.
On joining this vessel you are immediately aware of the cosy and informal ambience on board. On the upper deck you will find the comfy panorama salon with its bar, on the main deck the comfortable restaurant (no direct access from the cabin-zone).
On deck there are both deck chairs and ordinary chairs and tables, which encourage conversation and communal activity in fresh air.
MS NORMANDIE possesses altogether two 1-bed-cabins and forty-nine 2-bed-cabins. They are all outside cabins, giving some 10-11 square metres of space (2-bed) and about 7 qm (1-bed). All 2-bed-cabins are equipped with two lower beds, one of which can be folded against the wall during the day to provide a more homely atmosphere, shower and WC, hairdryer, TV, safe,central air-conditioning and a picture window. Only on the upper deck the windows may be opened. 1-bed cabins have one lower bed and are otherwise equipped with same features.
visites des villes bien organisées. A vélo les circuits n'étaient pas toujours très clair, surtout en slovaquie points négatifs: seuls romands sur le bateau, nous avons eu quelques problèmes avec le guide qui ne faisait pas d'effort pour que nous comprenions son allemand. A été désagréable avec nous et impatient si quelqu'un se trompait ....
GüntherLämmereranswered:
Nous parlerons avec Jan qui s’occupe de nos clients au bord de la MS Normandie. Normalement, il est très salutaire et nous recevrons des bons feedbacks sur son travail. Mais il faut qu’il le fasse aussi pour nos clients francophones. Je suis désolé, que vous avez eu l’impression qu’il n’a pas fait d’efforts pour vous.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 stars
Lisbeth Fischer |02.07.2017
Herrliche Aktivferien
Erlebnisreiche Reise mit vielen Eindrücken vonLandschaft und Städten wie Bratislava, Wien und Budapest. Schiffscrew sehr nett und Essen ausgezeichnet. Tolles Angebot an Ausflügen z,.B. Besichtigungen und Konzerte.