Along the Blue DAnuBe
Imposing castles, glorious abbeys and pretty farms line the banks of the River Danube. We cycle along the most famous section of the river between Passau in Germany and Vienna in Austria, through densely-wooded valleys and green fertile countryside. Highlights along the route include Wilhering, the medieval city of Krems and the wine- growing region of Wachau.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Fly to Vienna and train/bus to Passau in Germany. Day 2 Engelhartszell to Schlögen From Passau, the ‘City of Three Rivers’, cycle along the north bank of the Danube through a narrow valley of densely- wooded slopes and into Austria. In Schlögen the river loops round a granite mountain, known as the ‘Schlögener Schlinge’. Day 3 Linz Pass Aschach and the 11th century Cistercian monastery at Wilhering; cycle on to Linz and tour its historic centre. Days 4/6 Linz to Melk Ride through green fertile countryside to Grein. Optional visit to ‘Burg Clam’ – one of the best preserved castles in the country. Cross the ‘Strudengau’, where the Danube creates rapid eddies. Continue to Melk and enjoy a rest day with the option to explore the Benedictine abbey. Days 7/8 The Wachau Cycle through the beautiful wine region of Wachau, passing romantic villages and medieval towns. Day 9 Vienna Visit the castle of Greifenstein on the way to the capital; tour the city’s architectural sights. Day 10 Fly to the UK.
For detailed information visit
www.explore.co.uk/tours/cbd
DETAILS
Cycle grade EASY Comfort
Accommodation and Meals: 9 nights hotels. 9 breakfasts are included.
Included Bike: We provide 21 gear Unibike Voyager hybrid bikes with front suspension – see trip notes for details.
Route and Terrain: On this tour we cycle 340 km over seven days (an average of 49 km per day). The path runs on cycle paths and gravel tracks beside the Danube and is almost completely flat. A support vehicle escorts this tour throughout. We have graded the route as easy.
Group Size: Generally 10 to 16. TOUR DATES
The Along the Blue Danube tour runs in the following months:
Jan
May Sep
Feb
Jun Oct
Mar
Jul Nov
Apr Aug Dec
For full details of the dates and prices visit
explore.co.uk/tours/cbd
TOUR ONLY – 10 DAYS Tour price without flights from £998
GERMANY
Train/bus from Vienna
PASSAU Engelhartszell
CZECH REPUBLIC
‘Schlögener Schlinge The Great Loop’
SCHLÖGEN Aschach Wilhering km 0 50 LINZD town centre Historic ‘Strudengau’
Burg Clam Castle
GREIN
Greinburg Castle
Maria Taferl
Ybbs Along the Blue Danube Ref CBD
Medieval city KREMS
‘Wachau’
Optional cycling
Benedictine Monastery
MELK AU S T R IA or call our experts on 0844 875 1894 STOCKERAU
Greifenstein Castle
VIENNA
City of culture
SLO VENIA PTUJ
Easy grade
inclusive from
£1173 10 DAYS
cycling along the banks of the Danube from Germany into Austria
Ref: CBD
flight
VineYArDS AnD SteppeS
Entering Central Europe’s finest wine growing region, we cycle along the acclaimed Mur River towpath. From Graz in Austria we ride through vineyard-laden valleys, grassy plains and the foothills of ancient volcanoes into Slovenia. Passing some fine architecture we reach the vast Lake Balaton – ‘Hungary’s Inland Sea’ – and explore historic Budapest.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Fly to Graz in Austria. Day 2 Graz Take a guided cycle tour of the city, following the Mur River through the Old Town. Continue along cycle paths to Leibnitz. Free afternoon to explore the abbey or Seggau Castle. Day 3 Slovenia Cycle along the river to Mureck and cross into Slovenia. Follow back-roads through beech forests, meadowlands and farmland to Ptuj. Day 4 Reservoir ride Cycle along the Phuksko reservoir shoreline; ride over vineyard-laden hills to Ljutomer. Day 5 Ljutomer Free day to relax; optional wine tasting or thermal baths. Day 6 Hungary Follow back-roads looking out for white stork nests. Lunch at Lendava with views of the white castle. Cross the border and continue to Lenti. Day 7 Kis-Balaton Nature Reserve Cycle through the reserve to the lakeside city of Keszthely. Day 8 Lake Balaton Follow the lake shores through the foothills of ancient volcanoes to Tihany Nature Reserve. Continue to Balatonfüred. Day 9 Budapest Cycle to Tihany village, take a ferry across Lake Balaton and drive to Budapest. Take a guided walk of Buda old town and castle. Day 10 Fly to the UK.
For detailed information visit
www.explore.co.uk/tours/cvs
DETAILS
Cycle grade MODERATE Comfort
Accommodation and Meals: 9 nights hotels. 9 breakfasts are included.
Included Bike: We provide 21 gear Unibike Voyager hybrid bikes with front suspension – see trip notes for details.
Route and Terrain: On this tour we cycle 305 km over seven days (an average of 44 km per day). We ride on mainly gravel paths and tarmac back- roads with several ascents. A support vehicle escorts this tour throughout. We have graded the route as moderate.
Group Size: Generally 10 to 16. TOUR DATES
The Vineyards and Steppes tour runs in the following months:
Jan
May Sep
Feb
Jun Oct
Mar
Jul Nov
Apr Aug Dec
For full details of the dates and prices visit
explore.co.uk/tours/cvs
TOUR ONLY – 10 DAYS Tour price without flights from £969
Vineyards and Steppes Ref CVS A UST RIA HUNG ARY GRAZ LEIBNITZ Mureck
White Storks Nesting site
LENTI LJUTOMER Optional rides
Kis-Balaton Nature Reserve
CROATIA
KESZTHELY Tihany
Nature Reserve Lake Balaton km 060 27
BALATONFÜRED Ferry
Bus to Budapest BUDAPEST
City tour Old town Castle
Cycle through
inclusive from
£1263 10 DAYS
unspoilt rural landscapes in Austria, Slovenia and Hungary, graded moderate
Ref: CVS
flight
gerMAnY • AuStriA • SloVeniA • hungArY
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