7 nights | 22 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 869
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Danube Family Tour
7 night self guided bike tour in Austria and Germany
This Danube Family Tour was designed especially for families. It offers shorter daily distances than the usual tour program. Hotels are family friendly and vary from an original family farm where children are allowed to assist in feeding the animals to a two-night stay in an exclusive hotel with a pool and spa in the beautiful Wachau valley. A ride on the famous Ferris wheel in Vienna's Prater is the highlight of this amazing bike trip.
The Danube River Bicycle Path offers nearly carefree cycling and an ideal way to view the region. It's downstream most of 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. The unforgettable end of the tour is the Austrian capital, Vienna, with its countless sights and historical monuments.
You start in a deep valley with craggy outcroppings topped with the ruins of ancient castles. Soon, the hills turn to the rolling vineyards of the Wachau region, dotted with medieval towns. As the river widens, flat pastures spread to the horizons, and you meander through farms and villages. From time to time you cross the river, over dams, locks and bridges, and occasionally via small ferries there specially for cyclists.
You may also book this tour as a guided option for an increased fee. Please inquire for further details.
Highlights
- Europe's best-known and most-loved bike route
- Vienna, the capital of Austria
- Romantic Wachau, well known wine-producing region
- Rest day in Durnstein
- Overnight at working farm where children may feed animals
- Wide range of landscapes and cultural landmarks
- Ride on Vienna's Prater Ferris Wheel
Learn More
Learn more about self-guided tours.
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Daily program
Distances listed are miles traveled by bike - actual distances may be longer and include boat or train transportation.
Day 1: Arrival in Linz
If you arrive early enough, you can visit Fairytale World at the famous Postlingberg. The Cave Railway, installed in 1906 as one of seven Medieval hilltop towers, is the major tourist attraction of Upper Austria's capitol.
Overnight in LinzDay 2: Linz – Mitterkirchen (28 miles/45 km)
Start your trip and cycle through the river wetlands to the mouth of the river Enns. Take time to visit the oldest city of Austria before you reach Mitterkirchen for the evening. You will be accommodated at an original farm where children have the possibility to help feed the animals. Additionally, a Celtic village will give you an idea about life in simpler times.
Overnight in MitterkirchenDay 3: Mitterkirchen – Marbach (28 miles/45 km)
Today you cycle through the rich planes of the Machland area and enter the wild Strudengau-valley with its dreamy little towns and villages. On the way to your destination, "Nibelungengau area," you cycle through lush forests and untouched nature.
Overnight in MarbachDay 4: Marbach – Dürnstein (22 miles/35 km + boat)
This stage first takes you to Melk with its world's biggest Baroque abbey. Subsequently you pass winegrowing villages, old fortified churches and ancient castles of the Wachau region. The last part you will board a riverboat. (Please note that the boat is not running before April 11, 2020, and guests will receive a train ticket instead). In your destination you will spend two nights in a wonderful hotel with pool and spa.
Overnight in DürnsteinDay 5: Rest day in Dürnstein
You will have several options on how to spend your day. Hiking around the beautiful wine-growing region, taking a boat ride, or spending the day relaxing in your hotel are all options. The children will have fun in the pool while you have time to taste some different wines in the shadow of the hotel garden.
Overnight in DürnsteinDay 6: Dürnstein – Tulln (28 miles/45 km)
Only a short distance until you reach Krems. Take time to visit the 1000-year-old capital of the Wachau. This distance of your bike trip leads you through the region of "Donauauen" until you reach Tulln, which is also known as the "city of flowers." It is worth a visit to Egon-Schiele-museum.
Overnight in TullnDay 7: Tulln – Vienna (25 miles/40 km)
Today you pass Greifenstein and Klosterneuburg. Your tour ends in the Danube metropolis of Vienna. Don't forget to visit the "Wurstelprater," the vibrant entertainment area of Vienna's Prater and experience its positive mood. We have included a ride with the well-known and famous Ferris wheel.
Overnight in ViennaDay 8: Departure or extension in Vienna
Your bike tour finishes after breakfast. Vienna has a lot of attractions. We would be pleased to book some additional nights for you.Surface and terrain
The route follows dedicated bike paths the entire route, the terrain is nearly flat or slightly downhill. It's paved and almost traffic-free, following an old horse path where teams of horses once struggled to tow barges upstream.
To shorten a day's riding, you can often board a train or barge along the way. Many trains have cars specifically for bicycles, and barges carry them with no problem as well.
From time to time you cross the river, over dams, locks and bridges and sometimes cross via small ferries that hold about a dozen cyclists.
On this tour, reasonable distances were chosen specifically with families in mind.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Park Inn by Radisson, Linz
www.radissonhotels.comRadlerbauernhof Moser, Mitterkirchen
www.radlerbauernhof-moser.atHotel Wachauerhof, Marbach
www.wachauerhof.atGartenhotel Pfeffel, Durnstein
www.pfeffel.atHotel Nibelungenhof, Tulln
www.nibelungenhof.infoAustria Classic Hotel, Vienna
www.classic-hotelwien.atPlease note if visitors tax is due, it is not included in the tour cost.
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: Linz or Vienna, Austria or Munich, Germany
Nearest train station: LinzTour end:
Nearest airport and train station: Vienna , AustriaPublic Transportation
Trains frequent between Vienna and Linz. Take a bus to the railway station in Munich or Vienna. Check Rail Europe or Austrian Rail for schedules and fares. Train rides to Linz from Vienna and Munich are between 1.15 and 2 hours.Arrival by car to Linz
Public garage parking is available directly next to the start hotel (€14 per day, payable locally).Vienna City Center to Vienna Airport
There are a number of convenient and inexpensive ways to get from Vienna City Center to the Vienna Airport (about 15 miles away). Depending on which hotel you stay in and at what time your flight is, one option may be better than another. All hotels used in Vienna are happy to provide detailed information. Taxis are also available.Vienna City Center to Munich Airport
If you are returning to Munich to fly out, trains leave often from Vienna's West Station and Main Station to Munich Main Station or East Station, from which you take local rail (SBahn) number 8 to the airport. This ride takes 5-5.25 hours.If you would like to request a private transfer please inquire at the time of booking.
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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Dates
Daily: Apr 2 -Oct 8, 2022 (minimum 2 participants)
Prices
Tour package
Per person, double occupancy € 869 Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room) € 299 Optional dinner package € 179 Bike Rentals
Hybrid touring bike, 21-speed unisex frame € 89 Hybrid touring bike, 21-speed men's frame € 89 Hybrid touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade € 139 Electrically assisted bike € 199 Tag-along € 79 Children's bike € 79 Children's trailer € 79 Child's seat € 29 Extra Nights, Durnstein
Single room (1 person/1 room) € 139 Per person, double occupancy € 95 Extra Nights, Linz
Single room (1 person/1 room) € 119 Per person, double occupancy € 75 Extra Nights, Vienna
Single room (1 person/1 room) € 109 Per person, double occupancy € 75 Discounts
Child, ages 0-5 sharing room with 2 full-paying adults (on base package price) 100% Child, ages 6-11 sharing room with 2 full-paying adults (on base package price) 50% Child, ages 12-14 sharing room with 2 full-paying adults (on base package price) 25% Child, ages 15-17 sharing room with 2 full-paying adults (on base package price) 10% Included services
- 7 nights accommodations in 3- and 4-star hotels with one night at an authentic farmhouse
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
- Detailed route information and maps; personal tour information upon arrival
- Service hotline for the duration of the tour
- Boat tickets from Spitz to Durnstein (including the bike; train ticket instead of boat ticket for tours starting before Apr 11, 2020) as mentioned in program
- Ticket for the Ferris wheel in Vienna
- Surprise for the children
- Rental bike insurance
- Optional dinner package, if booked: 6x dinners (not possible in Vienna)
- GPS tracks are available upon request
Please note if visitors tax is due, it is not included in the tour cost.
Bike rentals
Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:
- Hybrid touring bike, 21-speed, unisex
- Hybrid touring bike, 21-speed, men's frames, crossbar
- Hybrid touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade
- Electrically assisted bike, Pedelec, unisex*
- Tandem bikes are available (upon request only)
- Children's bike, tag-along, child trailer, or child seat
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge:
- Saddlebag (water-repellent), rear
- Handlebar bag (water-repellent), with clear cover on top for easy map viewing
- Tools
- Repair kit (with extra bicycle tube)
- Pump
- Combination lock
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals. Toe cages are not available to rent.Seats:
If you plan to bring your own seat, please make sure it will be compatible with a 27.2 to 31.4 mm seat post. If necessary, you may also need to bring your own adapter. The tour company will assist in switching the seat post for you.Helmets:
Helmets are not included with the bike rentals. You can buy a helmet (not rent) from the tour company for €40. It will be a high quality, brand new helmet. You must let us know your helmet preference upon booking. If you do not buy a helmet through the tour company, we recommend you bring your own.Specifications on hybrid touring bikes
- Modern, high-resistant aluminum frame
- V-brakes
- Aluminium-rims
- Reliable tires, which ensure high duration
- Shimano Alivio derailleur on 21-speed
- Selle Royal Saddles
*Posture for 21-speed hybrid bikes will be upright for comfort
Upgraded components on 27-speed hybrid bikes
- Hydraulic Magura HS 11 brakes
- Shimano Deore XT derailleur on 27-speed
- High-quality Suntour suspension fork
*Posture for 27-speed upgraded hybrid bikes will be upright and forward
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ gillianrides August 28, 2019
We LOVED this!
Overall this was OUTSTANDING--Biketours was a great company that made fantastic hotel choices and provided top quality support. The breakfasts were wonderful. The bikes were great. The hotels were well situated (or there was a shuttle e.g. Marie Teflar) and some had real character. All were very clean. The scenery was amazing. The riding was amazing. I realize that Biketours can't control the weather but that was amazing, too. We only had a few comments--1. The only place the trail wasn't well marked (only time we wondered if we were "lost") and the trail was partly gravel/rough rock was between Durnstein and Tulln. We wish we had known this. This was also a much longer day of riding than we were prepared for (nearly 54 km). 2. We didn't realize that virtually nothing would be open for breaks on a Monday--our kids needed those breaks!
But really, small peanuts for what was the BEST vacation I have ever been on. I will take another trip with bike tours absolutely!- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ DanubeNewbie August 6, 2019
Lovely relaxing week
My husband & I did this tour without kids! We are occasional cyclists, in our 50s & chose this trip to allow for easy going days with time to explore, & because we liked the idea of a rest day in the middle. It was great. Gentle, flat cycle, 99% away from cars, beautiful countryside & interesting villages. Accommodation was great. Half board option kept our lives simple & dinners were varied & very good.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 18th 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Cassie September 6, 2018
A Family Holiday Adventure
For our family of three this was a great way to see the countryside of Austria. The bikes were in very good condition with packs included. The course guide was clear, with additional information if you wish to site see along the way... we opted out of site seeing as the weather was very hot, so we made regular stops to swim in the river, for ice-cream, and to pick ripe plums off the tree! We rode up to 50km the first two days so be prepared for that if you aren't used to riding... our 9year old did fine with regular stops. The course is very easy and picturesque with plenty of other riders to chat with.
The hotels were charming and the food very nice, the only flaw being no air-conditioning (average team for us was 33).
We really had a great time and I would definitely recommend this tour to other families.- What was the date of your tour?
- 16th August
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Susana September 5, 2018
Family trip
This trip is perfect for a family with small children. We have 2 kids, 6 and 8 years old and they have enjoyed everything! The bikes, the swimming pools at Mauthausen, the swims in the Danube, the playgrounds alond the way...We hired a one tag along bike (carried by his father :) and a children bike in order to change during the trip and make it easier for them.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Yavuz September 5, 2018
The best ever
We had a self guided tour from Passau to Wien. Except the rainy days, the tour was fantastic. We are ready for the next one ;)
- What was the date of your tour?
- 9-17.07.2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Lisa C July 9, 2018
Excellent family holiday!
Great cycle tour for family. Maps and local guides were helpful. Only suggestion would be to have hotel in Linz not be so far out of town in industrial area and to skip lodging in Marbach; most of the town was boarded up or vacant. Otherwise hotels and locations were great. A wonderful experience I would recommend.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2018
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Tiff from Colorado July 1, 2018
The perfect trip for 3 generations!
The directions, places to stay and length of trip were exactly as described. The tour was fantastic in June. Excellent service, no lost bags, everything went smoothly. An amazing time was had by teenagers, ourselves and my parents. Just stupendous!
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 15-22, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our first!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Saint Malo September 5, 2017
Pleasant bike ride
There are dedicated bike trails through the trip and the difficulty level is appropriate for a casual rider. Unfortunately, most of the hotels lacked air conditioning, which was sorely missed in the hot August nights after a long day of cycling. We wished we had an opportunity to opt for better hotels. In addition, the written directions were too brief and should have been more detailed. For example, we missed the segment with a boat ride because it did not appear in our booklet. The local operator was very accommodating and friendly. We appreciated the instructions from George.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 28th 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Crazy Canuck August 9, 2017
Everything we had dreamed of !!!
The trip along the Danube was great for the entire family, ranging in age from 11 to 66. The accomodations with breakfast along the route were great. Great service in getting the correct size of bike for everyone. The supplied maps and signage along the root were well detailed for finding our way. The bikes were great with waterproof front and side bag.
A great experience with awesome views.- What was the date of your tour?
- July 19th, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Lola August 9, 2017
First family cycle trip
This was a fantastic trip; the cycling; the countryside, the food and the weather were all excellent. My 7 year old managed to cycle it all independently without bother. The organisation was very good and the local company answered any queries very quickly. I would recommend this tour for families without hesitation.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ djmeissner13 June 30, 2017
Perfect Family Trip!
Our family had an amazing experience. With 2 boys (13 & 15) the distance was easily manageable, and we could focus on the "travel experience" and not just getting there. My first experience with a bike tour company was a good one. Great hotels, good service, super nice people along the route. BikeTours even switched out a malfunctioning bike for us mid-trip. Tour materials were very easy to follow and super helpful. Great memories for sure.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Traveldeb October 18, 2016
A Family Ride on the Danube
I was looking for a relatively easy ride for a group that included two grandchildren. This was perfect. The equipment (trailer and tag along) were just right, the easy paved course let everyone enjoy the scenery, and the accommodations were wonderful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 21 - 29
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Bernard D August 19, 2016
Danube from Linz to Vienna with some Extra
As a family of four (kids aged 10 and 11) we took six days to cover the 230 kilometers needed to pedal from Linz to Vienna. It was a fantastic way to discover beautiful country along one of the most picturesque stretches of European riverfront. 99.9% of the way is paved, and 80% is on dedicated bike paths (the remainder is biking on quiet country roads). With one rest day in the middle, the days represented between 35 and 55 kilometers of biking. Considering our younger one, our daughter, doesn't have the big leg muscles, our average speed was 14 km/h. We would set off between 9 and 10 am, and reach our accommodations in the early afternoon. The 55 kilometer day was a bit hard towards the end, but still very feasible. All hotels were very clean, quiet, with friendly staff and with delicious breakfast spreads included. We would highly recommend this trip, especially if you tag on a few days for culture in Vienna, at the end, as we did. It gave our kids and us the opportunity to have an active family trip in which we all felt a sense of accomplishment. And you don't have to do more than bring your suitcase up to your room and back down! The rest is taken care of. We are extremely happy with this trip. Thanks to BikeTours, and their Austrian associates (Rad Reiss Freunde) for making it all happen at a reasonable price and without a single hiccup! We could not have planned it better ourselves.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ JenniferW June 16, 2016
Wonderful family vacation!
The Danube bike path is an amazing ride and great for kids, ours were 9 and 12. The ride has endless beautiful river and hillside views, charming villages, cafes for lunch along the way, and fun parks for the kids to stop and play. The monastery in Melk is awesome. The hotels were lovely and unique, and the rooms were spacious for four. There are paths on both sides of the river, and many opportunities to cross back and forth for different scenery. There were a few short sections along roads shared with cars, which could usually be avoided by crossing to the other side over a bridge. The ride to the hotel in Vienna was easy, it is close to the waterfront path, past the amusement park along a few bike friendly streets. Vienna itself is very bike friendly. A representative from the local tour company met with us at the hotel the night before we started the trip, he was very helpful and explained all the maps and provided local contact information. The bikes were great. Highly recommended!
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2015
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ adortman June 5, 2016
The best tour in 4 years
The tour was perfect for the beginners. Beautiful views, good hotels and food, excellent guidance before tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 1st September 2015
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Gramps May 31, 2016
A great way for a grandfather to take grandchildren captive
I had done the Danube ride with my son in 1991. We brought our own bikes to Europe that year and did the trip using only a map and the excellent signposts for guidance and finding overnight accommodations on the fly. I turned 78 last summer; and after waiting years for his children (there are 4 of them whose ages last summer ranged from 15 - 21) to get to an age where I could feel safe with them in my charge, they agreed to come on this ride with me. To be sure, the bikes that were provided were not road bikes or even high quality hybrids; but they were reliable and comfortable to the point that my non-biking grandchildren had no problem with saddle sores or other discomfort. While the overnight hotel facilities for which Biketours had arranged were not of 5 star quality, without exception they were very, very good (comparable, I would say, with Embassy Suites and similar) The hotel keepers were especially hospitable; and the food offerings were varied and of very good quality. Biketours delivered on every single thing that was promised. In fact, they exceeded expectations. Most important, it was a memorable experience that I'll look back upon for the rest of the years that have been allotted to me; and the kids had a grand experience and a fun time. Assuming that travel to Europe is still worthwhile when they have teen aged children of their own, I know my grandchildren will want to take them on a Danube Family Adventure.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Late May, 2015
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Egeny May 26, 2016
It was unforgettable tour!
It was unforgettable tour!
It is the perfect way for a first family tour by bikes. We are family (parents and 12 years old son). We have had tour the last summer. Everything was great: accommodation, meals, information materials, supporting.... Thank you very much to the Bike Tour.com. This summer we are going to book new tour via Bike Tour.com!- What was the date of your tour?
- last summer
- How many tours have you completed?
- it was first time
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Pam P May 24, 2016
Amazing experience
We traveled on this self guided tour with our 10 and 12 year old daughters. We were very impressed with the organization of this trip. The maps were excellent. The trails were scenic, well marked and flat. I highly recommend this trip.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens, Solo travelers, Families with young kids, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ TannisR May 24, 2016
Fabulous Family Experience!
If you are looking for a family adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life, this tour is for you! Our family had a truly enjoyable experience on the Danube family bike tour. It was a unique family holiday where we all worked together as a team - cycling along the Austrian countryside - to reach our destination. The scenery was breathtaking! The hotels were good to very good (what we expected). The pre tour arrangements, communication and maps provided were excellent. The bike service was excellent and assistance was provided promptly for the few challenges we had.
We are a family of 5 with kids aged 13, 11, and 8. The cycling, coupled with the heat (up to 28-30C most days) was a big challenge for our 8 year old but she did it and is very proud of herself. We had planned to get her a trail bike - to go behind my husband's bike - but it did not work out. The trail bike provided for her was tipping over when she was on it - attached to the adult bike. Maybe it was because the equipment was not good, maybe she was too big for it? That hiccup set us back 2 hours on our first morning which was frustrating. By 10:30 a.m. we were on our way, each of us on our own bike. The tour company linked us up with a bike shop that gladly swapped our trail bike for a 'real bike' for my daughter. Overall, the equipment provided was of excellent quality. The bikes were simple, but that's all we needed with the non-hilly paved terrain. We did not 'train' for our tour. Bring cycling shorts (padded) and gloves to help prevent chaffing. We used ours every day.
Another challenge was map reading. We were given detailed map books of roads and cycle trails. They were excellent maps. But in this digital age, we are used to using Google Maps to tell us how to get to our destination. It was sometimes a frustrating challenge to read the maps correctly.
The bike route we took was mostly along either dedicated bike paths along the Danube, or on country roads with little traffic. There were just a few areas where we needed to bike along a major road. In studying the map carefully, we chose to take the routes with less busy roads. One side of the river tended to have busy traffic roads and the other did not. The map was colour coded accordingly as to the type of path/road/country road. There were not many hills at all.
The hotels were all good. Some were more simple than others. We were not on this vacation for a luxury experience. We were worried that, being a family of 5, the hotels would squish us into one small room. On the contrary, we usually had two rooms or a suite, which was fabulous. The 'spa hotel' where we stayed for 2 nights mid-tour was nice. The pool was welcome, since the weather was quite warm. It was a true European experience when we saw two naked senior citizens enter the pool. At first, my family was shocked (being from modest Canada), but then, two of our kids jumped in naked as well (after the seniors left). When in Rome...
The bike days were quite long. It took us about 6 hours of biking each day to reach our destination. Our speed was limited by my 8 year old daughter. She went as fast as her little legs could take her. I would recommend 8 as the youngest age for this tour. Ideally, kids would be age 10 and up - in order to ride a bigger faster bike.
Due to our 'slow' biking, we were not able to stop at many of the sights along the way. A few highlights were Pöstlingbergbahn and Grottenbahn in Linz, the Melk Abbey, town of Dürnstein (where we spent two nights), the Burgruine castle ruin in Dürnstein, and a lake between Dürnstein and Tulln where we enjoyed a picnic lunch and jumped in for a swim.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and unique family experience for us. We would highly recommend it to family with kids age 10 and up (age 8 and up if your child is tall + athletic). A moderate fitness level is recommended.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Mama May 22, 2016
Danube family bike tour???
This trip did not turn out to be anything like we expected. Although the hotels and the scenery were beautiful the support from The Bike Company was useless. When a child with a temp of 104 needed a hospital they had no suggestions on where to go or how to get there. The maps they provided were useless and the directions given to us on the first night we're completed in about 20 minutes. The bikes were inconsistent some had water bottle holders some not. The day at the spa although nice contain total nudity. American children aren't used to that. The Farm Hotel turned out to be 3 goats. The bike ride into Venice was four miles of City biking. bike trails in Vienna are gorgeous but not particularly child friendly. The Danube bike paths all though lovely contained many areas where the speed limit was 70 kilometers an hour. We had seven and 10 year old children riding.The bike support was not given by the tour company but by another tour company. Support really meant they just transported our luggage. This would have been a beautiful ride for adults and teenagers. Not young children. the maps need to be completely redone.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Lindsay May 23, 2016
Hi Sharon, thanks very much for your feedback. We're requesting a response and feedback from the local tour operator and will be following back up with another comment very shortly. - Lindsay
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Hi Sharon,
We're very sorry to hear that this tour did not meet your expectations. We try our best to educate travelers on what to expect, especially with self-guided tours. Please accept our apologies if you did not find the information sufficient on this tour page and in the materials provided during correspondence with our staff and with the tour company during your tour.
We chatted with the local tour operator regarding your comments about their service. While they regret that you were dissatisfied with the overall experience, they did provide the level of support detailed in the ""Included Services"" for this tour package. They also noted that they organized a taxi to transport your bikes on the rainy day for no additional charge (which is typically not included on self-guided tours). It sounds as though you may most enjoy a private guided tour for your next trip, which would include your own private support vehicle and guide.
The Danube Bike Path is consistently rated one of the best bike paths in Europe for its safety, ease, and family-friendliness, and we've confidently recommended it to families for more than ten years based on the great comments and stories we've always heard from past clients, as well as our own experiences. We're sorry this was not your experience, and we hope to have the opportunity to help you organize another trip in the future that's a better fit for your family.
A note to travelers considering this tour in the future: please be sure to review this page with general information on self-guided tours (https://www.biketours.com/self-guided-bike-tours/) and this page on what to expect on a typical day on a self-guided tour (https://www.biketours.com/typical-day). Also carefully review the ""Included Services"" section on this tour page to familiarize yourself with the level of service you should expect when booking this tour.
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