Danube Impressions
Bike + cruise | MV Theodor Körner ***+ Passau - Bratislava - Vienna - Passau | Self-guided or guided
Biking along the German/Austrian Danube is a very special pleasure because the hotel is always with you. Gently downhill, mostly supported by a tailwind, you are experiencing the impressive river as it meanders in the Donauschlinge ("Great Loop") and enjoying the gorgeous landscape of the legendary Wachau with its castles and fortresses. In Vienna, a beautiful city rich in architecture and history, you will enjoy exploring the metropolis during a wonderful sightseeing tour by bike. In many ways it is a city that is hard to describe - you really have to see and feel it for yourself! Once you have finished sightseeing on your bicycle you can relax in one of the many cozy cafés or in a typical Viennese wine tavern. After a great day of cycling and exploring relax onboard the MV Theodor Körner while listening to live music or discover the port city.
The cruise ship MV Theodor Körner ***+
Our spacious, nostalgic ship was completely redecorated in winter 2013/14 and offers a comfortable atmosphere in modern Art Deco style. Excellent service and attention to detail are the priority of the captain and crew who are looking forward to welcoming you on board. Your bike tour through various countries is also a culinary expedition through the diversity of national and regional cuisine. The ship offers a restaurant, a panorama bar with a dance floor, a salon with a sunny patio as well as a broad sun deck with comfortable deck chairs. Books and magazines from our library provide reading pleasure and parlour games offer all kinds of disport. After an eventful cycling day you will find relaxation in the sauna. In the evening a musician will perform for you to dance! The MV Theodor Körner also offers Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary).
3 passenger-decks:
Promenade deck + Upper deck (windows may be opened), Main deck
Cabins:
60 comfortable cabins (approx. 8 - 16 m2) with large picture windows, own bathrooms, flat-panel TV, hair dryer, mini-safe, air conditioning
2-bed-ECO: bunk bed (1 upper and 1 low bed, app. 8-9 m2)
2-bed: 2 low beds (app. 10-11 m2)
Junior Suite: queen size bed (app. 13-16 m2)
3- bed: in junior suite (couch), 2-bed cabin (promenade deck / bunk bed)
Highlights
- Passau, the Bavarian city of 3 Rivers
- the "Great Loop" Schlögener Donau-schlinge
- National Park "Donauauen"
- the World Cultural Heritage Site Wachau
- the cosmopolitan cities of Vienna and Bratislava with plenty of sights
Tour profile
Level 1: The cycle path is completely flat, at times on a gentle downhill slope and is ideal for bikers with less experience and children. The tour is rated easy on mostly flat terrain.
Itinerary
Day 1: Passau
Boarding time is at 4 p.m. The "Bishop City," close to the Bavarian/Austrian border, is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Use your free time and stroll through the old charming centre, visit the world largest catholic church organ in the cathedral and enjoy the easy atmosphere of a typical Bavarian beer garden. At 6.30 p.m. cast off! Your vacation begins with a cruise through the romantic Danube Valley.
Day 2: Mauthausen - Grein, approx. 35 km
Today's bike tour takes you directly along the Danube where you have enough time to enjoy the natural state of the meadow landscape. Visit the medieval village and former concentration camp at Mauthausen. The Celtic village Mitterkirchen gives you an insight into the past. The alternative route, "Clam Castle," through the beautiful back country of the "Strudengau" is slightly hilly but offers a fantastic scenery. Grein, with its mighty castle, is the final destination of today's stage. After a romantic sunset cruise you arrive at Devin with its castle ruin overviewing the Danube in the morning.
Day 3: Devin - Bratislava, approx. 18-43 km
From Devin you follow the former 'Iron Curtain', cross the former border and reach the imposing Baroque Palace of Hof with its beautifully terraced gardens. Cycle through Austria's "vegetable garden" to the coronation city and former capital of Hungary - Bratislava located at the slopes of the Little Carpathians. Explore the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava on an optional city tour.
Day 4: Vienna (day of rest)
During a city tour by bike or bus (optional) you will experience Vienna's most famous examples of architecture: the imperial Hofburg, St. Stephens Cathedral, the gorgeous 'Ring'-boulevard and the State Opera House, the Burgtheater and town hall and, of course, the colourful "Hundertwasserhaus". There is enough time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese cafés. The evening can end in numerous ways. For example by visiting a Waltz and Opera concert at a famous Viennese Palaces (optional).
Day 5: Wachau | Krems - Melk, approx. 37 km
Today's biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy towns, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this hilly landscape enchants everybody. You will be biking on cloud nine! A powerful ruin looms above the small baroque town of Durnstein, while the blue spire of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau valley. In Weißenkirchen (possibility for a wine-tasting - optional) you will find comfortable wine taverns right along the bike path.
Day 6: Melk - Grein, approx. 50 km
After breakfast you have plenty of time to visit the gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren of Melk. Today's stage is marked by diversity. Starting in the wide valleys of the Nibelungenau you follow the Danube and cycle further into the Strudengau - a narrow point of the Danube which used to be notorious amongst skippers. Yours today's final destination is the - already well known - city of Grein, home of Austria's oldest city theatre (optional, not included).
Day 7: Great Danube Loop | Obermühl - Engelhartszell, approx. 28-43 km
Today you will cycle through the Danube Valley and will pass through many picturesque villages. Along the cycle path you may smell freshly grilled mackerels, with small pubs doing all they can to entice cyclists to stay. Make sure you follow the small walking trail to the lookout high above the Danube Loop - what a breathtaking panoramic view of the Danube Valley it provides of the meandering Blue Danube! Need a refreshment? Try some of the special cordials at the Trappist monastery at Engelszell, your day's destination.
Day 8: Passau
As you cruise back up the Danube enjoy the early morning sunshine as you wind your way to Passau, where you will arrive at about 10:00 a.m. and you'll disembark about 30 minutes later. Connecting travel should be booked for 11.00 a.m. onwards.
Excursions
The following optional excursions (not included in the tour price) can be booked either separately or as a package directly on board:
Bratislava:
- City tour with the scenic train and walking tour
Vienna:
- City tour by bike or HOP ON HOP OFF bus
- Classical waltz & operetta concert in one of Vienna's famous palaces
Wachau:
- Wine tasting with a local winegrower
Grein:
- Visit of Austria's oldest theatre
General information
One the one hand, a riverboat is a "holiday hotel", while on the other, it is also a means of transport that moves with motor power and must always be operated, even at night (partially with lock and bridge passages and the retractions and extensions of the structures caused as a result). Mistakes can happen with lock passages. This is the case for all Danube journeys and cannot be avoided. Please bear in mind that riverboats are restricted (bridge passages, locks) in size (length, height, width) and therefore cannot be compared with cruise liners in the sea.
The cabins are limited in space but are nevertheless comfortable and furnished. In the event of extremely high or low water, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge stages by bus or even to cancel the trip at short notice without any legal claim arising therefrom (water levels are force majeure). The same applies for officially decreed repairs to locks or bridges, not announced in advance, or in the event of motor or propulsion damage to the ship without attributed fault.
Rental bikes & equipment
21-speed Unisex hybrid bike with caliper brake (on request 7-speed Unisex hybrid bike with coaster and caliper brake)
Electrically assisted bike / Pedelec
Child seat, child trailer or tagalong bike
All rental bikes are equipped with 20 l panniers and a handle bar bag
Helmets + cycling clothes available for purchase onboard
Minimum of participants:
50 people (has to be reached 4 weeks before cruise start at the latest)
Guided Comfort Relax Package:
Minimum 10 people (max. 22)
Characteristics:
Operator:
Participants:
from 10 up to 22
Tourtype:
guided
Children:
yes
Regions:
Bavaria, Bratislava, Danube, Inn, Krems, Lower Austria, Passau, Upper Austria, Vienna, Wachau
Countries:
Austria, Germany, Slovakia
Benefits:
- 7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities and air conditioning
- Program according to itinerary from/to Passau
- Captains greeting and Welcome cocktail
- Daily cabin cleaning, towels and bed linen
- Full board: rich breakfast, lunch on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), afternoon coffee break, dinner (2/3 dishes to choose from), late night snack
- Gala-dinner with farewell cocktail
- Farewell-Crew-Show
- Daily live-music
- Tour guide on board (does not cycle with the group)
- Daily information meeting
- Detailed roadbook per cabin
- Comfort Relax Package additional: Cycling tour guide, Ferry rides, Visit of Austria's oldest theatre in Grein, Tasting of homemade cider directly at the cider producer in the , Upper-Danube-Valley, Wine tasting in the Wachau region, Guided city tour by bike in Vienna, City tour with the scenic train and walking tour in Bratislava
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)