Tour description
This is the classic version of the Danube Bike Path tour. For 5-star hotels in different towns along the way, please also see the Upscale Lodging version of this tour.
Explore the paths along the blue Danube River just like the Romans, the legendary Nibelungs, and even Europe's powerful kings and emperors did before you. You will get to know the beauty and historical significance of this ancient military and trading route.
Never far away from the cool, clear water of the Danube, you will enjoy one of Europe's most beautiful and popular cycle routes. Start your trip in Passau, the town of three rivers. You will cycle through various districts of Upper and Lower Austria and finally to the Danube metropolis of Vienna. You will love the breathtaking natural beauty of the Danube valley and the Schlögen bend or perhaps you will fall in love with the landscapes along the Danube River such as the Machland, the Strudengau or the famous Wachau.
In the rural areas, to accompany these wonderful impressions, you can enjoy many traditional Austrian delicacies: from savory dumpling specialties up to wines of the Buschenschenken taverns in the Wachau region. This cycle tour is a true classic and is ideally suited as a first cycling holiday with the whole family.
The Danube Bicycle Path offers nearly carefree cycling and an ideal way to view the region. It's flat or slightly downhill all the way, passing through picturesque towns and villages and across lush farmland. It's paved and almost traffic-free, following an old horse path where teams of horses once struggled to tow barges upstream. Along the majestic river, you pass romantic castles, cozy villages and sprawling vineyards.
From time to time you cross the river, over dams, locks and bridges and sometimes in small ferries that hold barely a dozen cyclists. You'll be on minor roads for only short sections of the route. You finish in Vienna, where you have a chance to see the city by bicycle.
This is an excellent tour for families with children. You may even find a special family-friendly version of this itinerary, which offers shorter daily rides. Children's bikes, seats and trailers are available.
A support vehicle may be available for an additional charge. Please inquire.
Many people wish to do research before the tour. We recommend The Danube Cycling Path from Donaueschingen to Budapest and Frommer's Guide to the Danube Valley and Vienna.
You'll receive the Danube Bike Trail book by Esterbauer at your start hotel. You can purchase it in advance through www.gotrekkers.com. Enter "BK002" in the search box for the book that covers the area from Passau to Vienna. Enter "RK1" for a foldable map of the trail. The rates are in Canadian dollars.