Bike and Barge Danube: Passau - Vienna - Passau
MS Normandie
The highlights of the tour: Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the Schloegen Danube Loop, the World Heritage Site Wachau, Upper Austria's capital Linz, the cosmopolitan city Vienna with a plethora of sights.
MS Normandie:
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 and a small sauna (advance booking at the reception only), 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 on main and upper deck 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 (deposit), 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. Technical details: Length 91.2 m, width 10.50 m, depth 1.60 m, max. 100 passengers. Currency on board: Euro. Credit cards: Mastercard and Visa.
Tour Details Danube: Passau - Vienna - Passau | MS Normandie
Day 1 (Sat): Embarkation: Passau | Passau - Engelhartszell
The Episcopal city close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Boarding time is at 5 p.m., departure around 7 p.m. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.
Day 2 (Sun): Engelhartszell - Untermühl - "Great Loop" (Approx. 35 km/21 mi.) | Untermül - Linz
Need a boost? Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell. Supposedly, they have "special healing power." Downstream, the way leads you to pretty villages amid natural landscape. For a change take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180 degree turn. Shipping from Untermühl to Linz. After dinner, ride on the bright yellow City-Express (optional, not included) and discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria.
Day 3 (Mon): Linz - Mauthausen | Mauthausen - Grein (Approx. 36-42km/21.6 mi.) | visit of castle of Greinburg (opt.)
In the early morning shipping to Mauthausen. You have the possibility to visit the memorial-place KZ-Mauthausen. The Celtic town Mitterkirchen gives you an insight of the past. For easy cyclists the tour leads along the Danube, the alternative route, "Clam Castle," through the beautiful back country of the "Strudengau" is slightly hilly, but a fantastic landscape. In Grein, the impressive Castle of Greinburg is worth a visit (optional, not included).
Day 4 (Tue): Grein - Melk (Approx. 50 km/30 mi.) | Melk - Tulln
Today's stage is marked by a diverse landscape. At the beginning, there is the Strudengau - a narrow point of the Danube which used to be notorious amongst skippers. The valley expands from Persenbeug and the bike tour leads you further to Melk with its gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren. On deck, you enjoy the sunset and the beautiful evening illumination of the Wachau. Today's final destination is Tulln, famous for its numerous market gardens where the famous Art Nouveau artist Egon Schiele was born (museum).
Day 5 (Wed): Tulln - Vienna-Nussdorf (Korneuburg may also be possible) (Approx. 35 km/21 mi.) | city tour by coach/by foot (optional)
Right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breathtaking landscape, the monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated. You can already see the cupola of this 900 year old baroque building from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with it's wine taverns is definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna. During the city tour by coach and by foot (optional, not included) in the afternoon, you will pass most of the numerous and famous sights of the beautiful city.
Day 6 (Thu): Vienna (day of rest) | Optional city bike tour| Waltz and Operetta concert (opt.) | Vienna - Dürnstein/Rossatz
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg. You can take a city tour by bike (optional, not included). The gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House and the town hall takes you back to the past. There is enough time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. The evening ends impressively with a Waltz and Operetta concert (optional, not included). In the night shipping to Dürnstein or Rossatz.
Day 7 (Fri): Wachau - Pöchlarn (Approx. 39 km/ 23,4 mi.) | Wine-tasting (opt.) | Pöchlarn - Passau
Your last biking day 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 Weißenkirchen (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! In the evening farewell dinner and cocktail.
Day 8 (Sat): Disembarkation: Passau
Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival is about 10 a.m., disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend to arrange connecting trips from noon onwards.
All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours.
When you do not want to cycle one day, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.
Program and details barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
Characteristics:
Operator:
Tourtype:
individual
Children:
yes
Regions:
Bavaria, Danube, Inn, Linz, Lower Austria, Passau, Upper Austria, Vienna, Wachau
Countries:
Austria, Germany
Benefits:
- 7 nights in a cabin with shower/toilet and air-conditioning in the booked category
- Program according to the description from/to Passau
- Full board (breakfast, lunch/lunch package, dinner, afternoon coffee break)
- Bed linen and towels on board
- daily cleaning of the cabin
- Captains greeting and welcoming cocktail
- Farewell-dinner with goodbye cocktail
- Daily live music
- 1x comprehensive maps- and info material per cabin
- Daily bike tour instructions
- Board manager
Start date: on request
End date:
Duration:
Price:
Click to order
Startdate
Middate
On request
Additional costs:
- All other costs: on request (bikehire, cabin categories, additional nights, transfers and so on)