Cycle the Danube

Trip Type: Cycling
Austria | 8 Days | 1 - 15 People
Starts From:

NZD 2,741.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

Retrace the steps of the Roman, Ottoman and Habsburg Empires on this cycling adventure along the mighty Danube River. Over eight days, you’ll ride ...

Cycle the Danube

Retrace the steps of the Roman, Ottoman and Habsburg Empires on this cycling adventure along the mighty Danube River. Over eight days, you’ll ride through small villages, lowland forests and lush farmland as you cycle from Vienna to Budapest, passing through Slovakia. Discover the Baroque style at the Schonbrunn Palace or get lost in the cobbled laneways of Komarom – a spa city with one foot in Hungary and the other in Slovakia. Visit the architectural jewel of the Danube River – the Esztergom Basilica – and pass by the white-hued Bratislava Castle. Celebrate a day in the saddle with a luxurious soak in one of Budapest's steaming baths, then maybe spend the night at the iconic ruin bars. If you’re seeking an active adventure – cycling is the best way to experience the cosmopolitan cities along the Danube.

Willkommen! Welcome to Austria. Your cycling adventure begins in Vienna with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, explore the city at your own pace – the best way to see Vienna is on your own two legs! After the meeting, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner at a Viennese Heurigen (wine tavern). Heuriger means ‘this year's wine’ and it originated as a way for winemakers to offer samples of their new wines along with a few snacks. Fortunately, this now also includes a hearty meal, which will be much needed for the days of cycling ahead!

After breakfast this morning, you’ll have a bike fitting for the group followed by a short test ride to check everything is in working order. Then, you’ll join with your leader and take a tour of Vienna on two wheels. Follow the path of the Habsburg and explore the rich artistic and cultural icons of the city like the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace and all that the Ringstrasse has to offer. Tonight, you’re free to explore at your own pace – ask for dinner recommendations from your leader, they will always have the best suggestions!

Leave Vienna’s city centre and ride along the mighty Danube to the tiny hamlet of Hasslau an der Donau. From here, you’ll journey east along the riverbanks to one of Austria's most important archaeological sites – Carnuntum, with its eclectic mix of Roman ruins and modern reconstructions. Spend some time wandering among the remains of Roman life on the Danube before climbing back onto your bike and slowly winding along the riverside bike paths to the Slovak border. In the afternoon you’ll arrive in the Slovak capital – cosmopolitan Bratislava. See firsthand how bordering two independent countries has left its mark on Bratislava with a leader-led orientation walk. Tonight, you’re free to rest and recharge.

Follow the flowing waters of the Danube as it turns south today. Your ride today will pass by picturesque villages, lowland forests and across farmland to the Hungarian city of Gyor. This vibrant Baroque city – highlighted by Kaptalan Hill, Becsi Kapu Ter Square and the picturesque Kiraly Street – has been inhabited by varying cultures since ancient times and now offers a fascinating contrast to the slow pace of the river and its surroundings.

Leaving Gyor behind, track back to the banks of the Danube and on to the city of Komarom, which straddles the borders of Hungary and Slovakia. While Komarom is known for its forts and strategic position on the Danube River, it’s also a beautiful city housing many museums and historical sites. Take a leader-led orientation walk when you arrive, across the Elizabeth Bridge, which is the pathway between the two counties. If you feel called to add some pampering to your afternoon, why not head to a local spa and soothe those leg muscles.

Today there’s an early departure to ride into your next stop – Esztergom. The former capital city of Hungary is the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church and boasts an amazing array of architectural gems such as the Royal Palace and Watertown, which is built on the banks of the Danube itself. When you arrive, take a leader led orientation walk of the city and see the crowning jewel at the Esztergom Basilica – a beautiful example of Classicism and the third largest church in Europe. Reflected in the still waters of the Danube Bend, the Basilica is a sight to behold from both outside and from within. Your evening is free to find some delicious local cuisine and wander the city streets at your own pace.

Cycle the famous ‘Danube Bend’ today, beneath the wooded hills of Visegrad. Here, the river turns south towards the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. Today will be your longest day in the saddle, but you’ll break it up with a scenic a picnic lunch on the riverbank. After cycling through the city itself, end the day on a high with an afternoon visit to one of Budapest's famous spas! After indulging with your group, your night is free to explore at your own pace – maybe visit the ruin bars or walk along the river as the sun falls.

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(s),

Transport
Bicycle , Support vehicle , Ferry , (e-bike option available , subject to availability)

Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), guesthouse (1 night)

Included Activities
  • Vienna Guided Cycling
  • 6 Days included bike hire
  • Carnuntum entrance
  • Vienna to Bratislava Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Bratislava to Gyor Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Gyor to Komarom Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Esztergom Basilica entrance
  • Komarom to Esztergom Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Budapest - Szechenyi Baths
  • Esztergom to Budapest Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Follow the Danube downstream, passing romantic castles, small villages and lowland forests – the best way to see Eastern Europe is on two wheels!
  • Cycle leafy paths away from the traffic of main roads and cities, from vibrant Vienna to cosmopolitan Bratislava and bohemian Budapest. Away from the tourists, you’ll have a better chance of connecting with local cultures!
  • Spend some time at the domed Basilica of Esztergom – the biggest church in Hungary – and see how it’s reflected in the still waters of the Danube Bend. Then, make your way into Budapest and indulge in one of the steaming public baths.
  • See the Roman remains at Carnuntum – one of Austria's most important archaeological sites. Wander the ruins and reconstructions and then hop back on your bike to the Slovak border.
  • Straddle the borders of Hungary and Slovakia in the historic spa town of Komarom and soothe your sore muscles during one of the optional spa visits.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
  • To complete this trip, it’s important that you’re both confident and competent in riding a bicycle. On this trip, we have a single leader who rides with the group and another who drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker. While the cycling distances are relatively long – sometimes up to 75 km – the terrain of the Danube as it flows downstream is naturally flat, so you’ll only need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip. But remember, we will always have the support vehicle on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day. As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Cycle Central Europe & the Danube trip.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Price: NZD 3,740.00

Price: NZD 3,740.00

Price: NZD 3,520.00

Price: NZD 3,660.00

Price: NZD 3,660.00

Price: NZD 3,660.00

Price: NZD 3,520.00

Price: NZD 3,520.00

Price: NZD 3,740.00

Price: NZD 3,740.00

Price: NZD 3,520.00

Price: NZD 3,660.00

Price: NZD 3,660.00

Price: NZD 3,660.00

Price: NZD 3,520.00

Price: NZD 3,740.00

Price:
NZD 3,355.00 NZD 2,852.00

Price:
NZD 3,485.00 NZD 2,962.00

Price:
NZD 3,355.00 NZD 2,852.00

Price:
NZD 3,355.00 NZD 2,852.00

Price:
NZD 3,225.00 NZD 2,741.00

Price:
NZD 3,355.00 NZD 2,852.00

Price:
NZD 3,485.00 NZD 2,962.00

Price:
NZD 3,485.00 NZD 2,962.00

Price:
NZD 3,485.00 NZD 2,962.00

Price:
NZD 3,225.00 NZD 2,741.00

Price:
NZD 3,485.00 NZD 2,962.00

Price:
NZD 3,485.00 NZD 2,962.00

Price:
NZD 3,355.00 NZD 2,852.00

Price:
NZD 3,225.00 NZD 2,741.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
ZMXD
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Vienna, Austria
Trip Finishes:
Budapest, Hungary
Countries Visited:
Austria
Hungary
Slovakia
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Destination Details
Austria | 8 Days | 1 - 15 People

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