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The Danube |
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A Self-Guided cycling: A relaxing one or two week ride exploring the history and landscape of the Hapsburg empire |
Ref: EX-DAD
15 days
from £0 (minimum 1 passengers)
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Destination:
Hungary Germany
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Self-Guided cycling: A relaxing one or two week ride exploring the history and landscape of the Hapsburg empire
For nearly 3,000km the Danube flows through the heart of central Europe. The cycle path along the river is the perfect means to explore this beautiful area. In Austria it runs through steep-sided valleys and wide riverside woods, to the pretty vineyards of the Wachau. Historic towns and cities such as Linz, Melk and Krems are visited, and of course Vienna, long the artistic heart of Europe and still a cultural gem. After just a few miles in Slovakia the route continues to Hungary. Riverside woodland gives way to fields and walnut avenues, wide flat landscapes and the shady hills towards the famous Danube Bend. The beautiful city of Budapest is the end-point of the trip. From Passau to Vienna there are no hills on the main route, which follows dedicated cycle paths, shared routes and cycle tracks. Between Vienna and Budapest the route makes more use of roads, but traffic is not heavy. This section also moves away from the banks of the river more often but follows cycle paths and good quality flat tracks for much of the time. There is one hilly day. Average daily distance for both sections is about 55km. You have the choice of riding the two-week route all the way from Passau to Budapest, or either of the one-week sections.
NB: We offer you the choice of riding the two week route all the way from Passau to Budapest, or either of the two one week sections, Passau to Vienna; trip code (DAV) - days 1 to 8 in the itinerary panel or, Vienna to Budapest; trip code (DAH) - days 8 to 15 in the itinerary panel.
This trip departs 17, 18, 24 and 25 April, then any Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 30 April to 25 September 2004.
Departures in April : from London £889, land-only £770
All other departures : from London £945, land-only £825
Extend your stay:
extra accommodation can be booked at the following hotels:
4-star Hotel Donauzentrum, Vienna. £49 per room single occupancy, or £73 double occupancy.
Hotel Holiday Inn, Passau. £45 per room single occupancy, or £69 double occupancy.
2-star Hotel Liget, Budapest. £44 per room single occupancy, or £65 double occupancy.
Plus a £5 booking fee in each case.
Further Information:
Special equipment required: cycling gloves and shorts, eye protection (against grit and insects), water bottle. Helmets are highly recommended.
Extra Expenses:
visits to all the places mentioned in the itinerary are optional. Entrance fees are not included and are usually around € 4 to € 8 each. Lunches and dinners are not included - allow about € 20-25 per day; costs will depend on the standard of restaurant chosen. You may need extra to buy wine each evening.
Meals Included:
all breakfasts from day 2 to the end of the trip.
Transport:
transport from and to the airport is by rail or scheduled bus service (bus tickets not included in the holiday price). No other transport is necessary to complete the itinerary.
Children:
children who can ride with confidence for the distances described can join this holiday.
Joining locally:
for each of the three itineraries the joining point for those with land-only arrangements is the hotel on the first night. To reach Passau by train from Vienna takes about 3 hrs and costs € 37. From Munich, the journey takes about 2 1/2 hrs and costs approx € 30. In Vienna, a regular bus operates between the airport and the city centre, costing approx € 5. A taxi costs approx € 30.
Reduction for child under 12:
Reduction for third and fourth person
Group & Staff:
Min 1, self guided, luggage is transferred and telephone contact numbers are supplied.
Accommodation:
Bed and breakfast accommodation is provided in simple inns and hotels along the route. In the larger towns such as Vienna, Linz and Budapest, the hotels are standard city tourist-class hotels. Due to the ad hoc nature of the bookings for these trips, the exact list of hotels used may vary slightly.
Food:
Lunches and dinners are not included on this trip so there is plenty of opportunity to try local restaurants, cafes and taverns. In Austria there is more to choose from than the well-known Wiener schnitzel (though the cuisine may be somewhat restricted for vegetarians); strudel is a good pudding for cycling energy! Hungary has perhaps a more interesting variety of cuisine, often enlivened with a touch of paprika. The wines of central Europe are well worth a try – viniculture has been practised here for centuries and with all that experience the results are quite palatable.
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Day 1 | Start the trip at the hotel in Passau. | Day 2 | After exploration of Passau, cycle on either bank of the river. Cross from Germany into Austria and continue to Schlogen through forested hills, a distance of approx. 44km. | Day 3 | The valley has a wilder appearance passing the castle of Neuhaus and a detour can be made to the historic town of Efferding. The main trail continues to Linz, where the central Hauptplatz is a good place to start exploring the old town. Approx 50km of cycling. | Day 4 | See the large sculptures dotted about the riverside park before the route passes the former Nazi concentration camp at Mauthausen. In the afternoon follow the river as far as Grein, a distance of approx 59km. | Day 5 | Historically Grein marked the beginning of the river’s most treacherous stretch between wooded mountains. The old towns lining the river are always worth lingering in; one of the most striking edifices on this whole route is the Benedictine Abbey at Melk – stunning both inside and out, you can’t miss it! Today’s ride is approx 46 km. | Day 6 | Heading north through the vineyards of the Wachau, the route winds between the pretty villages of Weisenkirchen and Durnstein which house respectively the local museum and the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. After approx 40km reach the historic town of Krems. | Day 7 | To Vienna, approx 80km, passing Greifenstein castle and Klosterneuburg. Navigation in Vienna can be tricky (look out for trams). The central area around Stephansplatz is perfect for an evening stroll, and is close to most places of interest. All hire bikes are handed in on arrival in Vienna. | Day 8 | /1 The Passau to Vienna trip ends today at the hotel in Vienna. Land-only clients for Vienna-Budapest start the trip at the hotel, and all clents are presented with their bikes for this section of the route. Time in Vienna is left free to explore at leisure. | Day 9 | /2 Follow the Donauinsel, a long, thin island at the start of this 55km section. Much of the track is gravel/grit but is comfortable to ride on. Finish the day at one of Austria’s most important archaeological sites – the Roman remains at Petronell-Carnuntum.
| Day 10 | /3 Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, not bad for a day’s ride! It is also worth making a short detour into the old city of Bratislava. The route moves away from the water to follow quiet roads through villages and woods on the way to Mosanmagyarovar, a good introduction to the complexities of the Hungarian language. Approx 65km. | Day 11 | /4 Quiet roads through rural villages, then from Dunaszeg an excellent riverside gravel track leads to the historic city of Györ. Cycling approx 50km. | Day 12 | /5 50 kms to Tata and the first hills on the described route. The ascent is not difficult, and affords better views across the countryside. There are longer routes via Komarom or Pannonhalma. | Day 13 | /6 The beginnings of the famous Danube Bend with a longer variant heading north to rejoin the river or a more direct route passing over the hills (2 notable climbs and long descents). Approx 54km to Esztergom. | Day 14 | /7 Cycling around the Danube Bend pass Visegrad, once the corner of the Roman empire, and Szentendre. Arriving in Budapest, you are greeted by the impressive parliament building. Try to arrive in time to return your bike and have a few hours to explore a little of Budapest.
| Day 15 | /8 End the trip in Budapest.
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Departures Between | Price from | Price TBA | *£0 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Single supplement (1 week) £85 or (2 week) £160 (compulsory if travelling alone).
Bike hire 1 week £35 or 2 weeks £70, paid on booking
Insurance 1 week £25, 2 weeks £33
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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The Danube
A Self-Guided cycling: A relaxing one or two week ride exploring the history and landscape of the Hapsburg empire
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