Danube Explorer to Budapest
Danube Explorer to Budapest
Danube Explorer to Budapest
8 Days Starting and ending in Passau
Visiting: Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria
Tour operator:
Tour code:
DEX
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
90 - 150
Physical rating:
introductory to moderate
From:
$1486
$1412 (USD)
The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$74
Tour Overview
From the cobblestone streets of charming Passau to the Austrian capital of Vienna and the majestic city of Budapest, this journey by comfortable river boat and bike offers the opportunity to experience life on the Danube and the surrounding countryside at your own pace. With a comfortable river boat as your base, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the legendary Wachau, Bratislava, the Slovakian capital at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and the icon studded cities of Vienna and Budapest.
Note: This trip is not exclusive to UTracks clients and you will be joining a group of up to 150 passengers from around the world.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Passau, Cruise To Engelhartszell
Meals Included: D
Boarding is between 4-5pm and the boat will depart at 6pm for the first cruise. (Luggage drop-off is available from 3.30pm). Located at the junction of three rivers, the Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau has a number of interesting sites. Use your free time and stroll through the cobblestone old town centre, listen to the bells of Passau’s Gothic Town Hall or have a look at the world’s largest Catholic Church organ in the Passau Cathedral. This evening we will cruise to the traditional town of Engelhartszell, home to Austria’s only Trappist monastery and where you can taste some delicious liquors and cheese. While cruising, information will be provided about the daily biking, sights and sightseeing trips, followed by dinner.
Day 2 : Cycle From Engelhartszell Through The 'Great Loop' And On To Aschach (43Km/26.8Mi)
Meals Included: B, L, D
This morning you will receive your bicycles. Today's cycle tour will begin through the classic scenery of the 'Great Loop' Schlögener Donauschlinge, where small villages developed through the river trade of years gone by. Along the way you will encounter tiny villages and cosy cider taverns. The famous 'Schlogener View' provides a wonderful vista of the surrounding Austrian countryside. On arrival in the charming town of Aschach you will re-board the boat for an overnight cruise.
Day 3 : Cycle To Bratislava (43Km/26.5Mi)
Meals Included: B, L, D
After a morning arrival in Devin, you will cycle along the former "Iron Curtain", cross the green line and reach the imposing Imperial Schloss Hof palace with its beautifully terraced gardens and idyllic manor farm. Continue along the bike path through Austria's "vegetable garden" to the coronation city of Bratislava, at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. You can discover the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava or there's an optional city tour. Re-board the boat this evening for an overnight cruise.
Day 4 : Arrive Budapest By Boat, Round Trip To Szentendre (54Km/33.5Mi) Or Free Time
Meals Included: B, L, D
We arrive at Budapest in the morning and the panoramic view of the Danube bend is quite stunning. Savour the city's beauty during a bus tour or a guided bike tour (optional) to discover many of the city's highlights. You can also choose to cycle to the charming town of Szentendre, with its Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art scene. In the evening, visiting the Jewish Quarter is recommended.
Day 5 : Cycle Through The Hungarian Countryside (43Km/26.5Mi), By Boat To Vienna
Meals Included: B, L, D
Early this morning the boat brings us to the Danube Bend. In a wonderful landscape that is a nature lover's paradise you cycle from the village of Vac via the idyllic isle of Szentendre with its baroque architecture, churches, colourful houses and narrow, cobbled streets. Continue to the bishop town of Esztergom with its imposing basilica – Hungary’s largest Catholic Church – overlooking the village. During the night we cruise to Vienna.
Day 6 : At Leisure In Vienna, Optional City Tour By Bike
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today is at leisure, or you have the option of joining a city tour by bike or bus, to experience some of Vienna’s main sights including the imperial Hofburg, St Stephens Cathedral, the gorgeous ‘Ringstrasse’ (boulevard) and the State Opera House, the Burgtheater and town hall, and of course the colourful 'Hundertwasserhaus'. Information will be provided to help plan your sightseeing. Take time to relax in one or more of Vienna’s famous cafés, while an optional evening excursion is available: a classical concert in one of Vienna’s famous palaces. Later we will cruise through the night to Krems.
Day 7 : Cycle Through The Wachau Valley To Melk (39Km/24Mi)
Meals Included: B, L, D
The last biking day is a highlight, pedalling through the renowned Wachau valley, with its truly romantic scenery of vineyards and quaint villages. Cycling from Krems to Melk you will pass small dreamy villages, orchards, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Durnstein. In Spitz you will find cosy wine taverns right along the bike path where there is the possibility for wine tasting (optional). Before re-boarding the boat it is worth visiting the Baroque monastery of the Benedictine Brethren of Melk. This evening on board includes a gala dinner and crew show.
Day 8 : Morning Cruise Through The Danube Valley, Disembark Passau, Trip Concludes
Meals Included: B
Check-out from your cabin by 8:30 am. During breakfast the boat continues to Passau, with disembarkation at approximately 11am. Your onward travel plans should be made from midday.
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 nights accommodation in an air conditioned cabin with ensuite facilities on board MV Swiss Crown Or MV Vivienne (date dependent) - price varies according to chosen category. See inclusions for further details -
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners. The trip is based on full board which includes a buffet breakfast daily, 5 packed lunches and 1 full 3 course lunch and 3 course dinner each night (2-3 choices for main course). Vegetarian or other dietary requirements
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7 nights accommodation in an air conditioned cabin with ensuite facilities, choice of cabin categories. In 2023 aboard MV Vivienne (MVV) or MV Swiss Crown (MVSC) and the trip price is based on a standard cabin on the main deck. For other categories and se
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Information pack including route notes & maps per cabin, navigational app to use on your smartphone, GPS tracks available on request
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Bike rental (21 or 24 speed) with pannier (20ltr) and a handlebar bag. A limited number of electric bikes are available, approx 12-15 per departure - must be pre-booked and a supplement applies (min height 160cm). Children trailers (max 2 children, 40kgs)
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Welcome drink, crew show, live music every night, gala dinner on last evening with farewell cocktail
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Cruise director on board - does not cycle with the group, provides daily briefings
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Docking & harbour fees
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Emergency hotline
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Towels and bed linen, daily cabin cleaning
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7 nights accommodation on board a deluxe category river boat - MV Vivienne (MVV) or MV Swiss Crown (MVSC) and the trip price is based on a standard cabin on the main deck. For other categories and seasons a supplement applies. Cabin upgrade options: MV Sw
What's Not Included
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Travel to and from Passau *Parking in Passau including transfer to and from the boat (reservation necessary, payable locally); Closed parking lot EUR75 approx, Parking garage EUR87 (subject to change) *Private transfer from Munich Airport to Passau – pric
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Optional excursions - booked and paid on board only (detailed information will be provided on board):- *Bratislava: City tour by scenic train and on foot *Budapest: City tour by bike or by Hop On Hop Off bus *Budapest by night + folklore show at a traditi
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Drinks other than afternoon tea and coffee on board
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Meals not detailed in the itinerary - eg not taken on board
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Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, entrance fees etc.
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Entrance fees and sightseeing fees
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Travel insurance - mandatory
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Tips
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Bike insurance is available locally - allow EUR15 for hybrid bike, EUR50 for electric bike (subject to change)
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Helmets - can be purchased on board for EUR29 (subject to change, advance reservation recommended)
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Tour guide - this is a self guided tour. A guided cycling package is available on select departures - see below for details.
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Optional guided cycling package inclusions (supplement applies): with a dedicated tour guide cycle in a small group to explore local cultures and discover hidden sites. Includes tour guide, tasting at a cider producer in the Upper Danube, ferry rides, Gui
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We recommend bringing a mobile phone holder to fix to the handlebar to cycle smoothly following the app (self guided cyclists)
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Helmet. Optional rental (EUR15) or purchase (EUR32) available - payable locally but must be pre-booked - please request with your consultant
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Helmet. Optional rental (must be pre-booked & pre-paid) or purchase (EUR32 - payable locally but must be pre-booked) available - please request with your consultant
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Meals not detailed in the itinerary
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Meals not listed as included, drinks
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Bike insurance. Available onboard: €18 per standard bike, € 50 per e-bike (subject to change)
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Guide - this is a self guided cycling holiday. A guided cycling package is available on select departures aboard MVV only) - see below for details.
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Optional guided cycling package (supplement applies). Inclusions: with a dedicated tour guide cycle in a small group to explore the local culture and discover hidden sites. Includes tour guide, tasting at a cider producer in the Upper Danube, ferry rides,
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A supplement will apply if you are booking a single cabin
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Entrance and sightseeing fees not listed as included
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Optional excursions - can only be booked onboard: *Bratislava: City tour with scenic train and walking tour *Budapest: City tour by bike or bus *Vienna: City tour by bike or by bus, Waltz & operetta concert at Schönbrunn Palace *Wachau: Wine tasting with
Grading
This trip involves 5 days cycling usually along paved cycle paths across generally flat terrain. It is almost exclusively on the Danube cycle path. In and out of the cities there will be some traffic. You need only carry your camera
ain gear and water bottle. Your luggage remains on the boat. For this reason the trip is a grade 2 cycle and is considered suitable for beginners and children. A limited number of children’s bikes are available (minimum height 120cm/3ft 11.3in), as are bike seats (max 18kg/39lb 10.93137oz) and trailers (2 children, maximum 40kg/88lb 2.95oz), and tag-a-long bikes (minimum height is 120cm/3ft 11.3in). *For safety reasons, we insist that cycle helmets be included as a compulsory item on your equipment list.
What You Carry
During the cycle day you will carry your daily requirements in the pannier provided with the bike. This may include your lunch, wet weather gear, mobile phone and water. A small daypack which can be kept inside the pannier is useful for sightseeing.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
UTracks allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform utracks, 70 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
UTracks requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of utracks charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 35 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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