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Highlights of this tour
Cities of Vienna, Bratislava, & Budapest
Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
Around 220 km / 135 miles
Barge with max. 150 passengers
- Fully-guided: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
- Semi-guided: Daily briefing by the tour leader, independent cycling but tour leader available ICE.
- Independent: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
Individual Fully-guided - Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
- Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
- Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
- Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1 
Bike and Barge Danube: Passau – Budapest – Passau | Carissima
By bike and boat from the “Bavarian Venice“ directly into the heart of the famous and glamorous former K+K monarchy Austria/Hungary. Look forward visiting three of Europe’s most charming capitals: Vienna, the metropolis of Waltz, Bratislava, the capital of coronation and Budapest, the „Paris of the East“. The bike tours lead you to the romantic „Great Loop“ (Schlögener Donauschlinge), the picturesque Danube Bend with Hungary’s largest cathedral and the legendary Wachau valley, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage with its small villages, beautiful palaces and castles.
Highlights
- Passau at the intersection of three rivers
- the “Great Loop” Schlögener Donauschlinge
- World Cultural Heritage site Wachau
- Hungarian Danube Bend
- the metropolises of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest
On board our comfortable cruise ship you enjoy an exclusive atmosphere – in the spacious, convenient cabins as well as in the stylish outdoor area. Experience the fantastic view to breath-taking landscapes – on the bike, from the pool on the sun deck, in the comfy seats of the panorama-lounge, and even during your amazing meals in the first class restaurant. This exciting bike trip will make your holiday unforgettable.
Day to day program
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
Day 1 (Sun): Passau
Boarding time at 4.30 p.m. Located at the confluence of Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau has numerous interesting sites to visit. Use your free time and stroll through the
cobblestoned 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.
At 6.00 p.m. we cast off!
Day 2 (Mon): Great Loop | Engelhartszell – Aschach, approx. 42 km / 25.3 mi.
Your first day’s tour begins with a ride through the classic scenery of the ‘Great Loop’ Donauschlinge – one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube. Along the way you
will encounter tiny villages and cozy cider taverns. In Austria’s only Trappist monastery at Engelhartszell you can taste their delicious liquors and cheese. The famous
‘Schlogener View’ provides a wonderful panorama of the surrounding Austrian countryside. The boat welcomes all cyclists back on board in the charming market town
of Aschach.
Day 3 (Tue): Devin – Bratislava, approx. 43 km
You pedal along the former ‘Iron Curtain’, cross the green line and reach the imposing Imperial Schlosshof Palace with its beautifully terraced gardens. Follow the bike path
through Austria’s ‘vegetable garden’ to the coronation town Bratislava and the slopes of the Little Carpathians and discover the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava on an optional city tour.
Day 4 (Wed): Budapest | Excursion to Szentendre, approx. 54 km (or day of rest)
The entrance to Budapest, Hungary’s capital is stunning. Savour the beauty of Budapest during a coach tour or a guided bike tour (optional) to discover many of the highlights of this beautiful city. You can also choose to cycle to the charming town of Szentendre with its Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art scene. You will get a very close experience of Hungarian culture at an evening Folklore show with traditional music, local appetizers and dance (optional).
Day 5 (Thu): Danube bend – Esztergom, approx. 43 km
Situated in the middle of the Danube River the idyllic isle of Szentendre exudes silent Puszta romance. History, folklore and Hungarian way of life will accompany you on your way to Esztergom where the gorgeous basilica – Hungary’s largest Catholic Church – impresses its guests.
Day 6 (Fri): Vienna (day of rest)
Discover Vienna’s most beautiful attractions. 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 colorful “Hundertwasserhaus”. Take time to relax in one or more of Vienna’s famous cafés, while the evening ends impressively at a classical concert (optional) at a famous Viennese Palace.
Day 7 (Sat): Wachau | Krems – Melk, approx. 37 km
Your last biking day is a special highlight! A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Durnstein, while the blue spire of the monastery church is a landmark
of the renowned Wachau Valley. Amidst dreamy towns, apricot trees, vineyards and castles, this hilly landscape enchants everybody who visits … you will be biking on cloud
nine! In Weißenkirchen (possibility for wine-tasting – optional) you will find comfortable wine taverns along the bike path.
Day 8 (Sun): Passau
As you cruise back up the Danube enjoy the early morning sunshine as you wind your way to Passau, where you’ll disembark at approx. 10.00 a.m. Connecting travel should
be booked for 11.30 a.m. onwards.
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.
The cycling tours are individual and self-guided. A guided tour is at extra cost. The bike tours vary between 29 and 50 km in length. All quoted distances are “approximate distances” for the recommended cycling tours.
Tour profile: Level 1: The Danube cycle path leads trough terrain with only slightly gradients. Do not feel like cycling? Without effort you will also reach your destination by ship.
Luggage: we advise you to bring good shoes (for example sport shoes), bike helmet, a warm sweater, rain wear, sun hat & sun lotion.
Travel document: Nationals of EU member states will need a valid identity card or passport for this trip.
Diet: (for example lactose or gluten free diet) on request possible. Has to be requested at least 14 days before the departure date. Please bring your own special diet products.
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.
Prices & information
7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities and air conditioning
Port Charges
Program according to itinerary from/to Passau
Captain‘s greeting and welcome cocktail
Daily cabin cleaning, towels and bed linen
Full board: breakfast buffet, lunch onboard (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), afternoon coffee break, dinner (2/3 dishes to choose), late night snack
Gala dinner and farewell cocktail
Farewell crew show
Daily live music
Cruise director onboard (does not cycle with the group)
Daily information meeting
Detailed roadbook per cabin
Insolvenzabsicherung: Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden (SGR) und (nur für Endverbraucher aus Deutschland) Sicherungsschein über tourVERS
Reiseveranstalter sind nach geltendem Europäischen Recht dazu verpflichtet, erhaltene Kundengelder für den Fall eigener Zahlungsunfähigkeit oder Insolvenz abzusichern. Boat Bike Tours (Handelsregisternummer 3714 7084) ist ein in den Niederlanden unter Nummer 3734 registrierter Teilnehmer von SGR (Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden). Diese Registrierung ist auf www.sgr.nl überprüfbar. Die teilnehmenden Reiseveranstalter unterliegen dem in den Niederlanden gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Garantieschutz des SGR Insolvenz-Garantiesystems. Gemäß der Garantieleistung von SGR werden dem Endverbraucher die im Voraus bezahlten Reisesummen erstattet, wenn der Reiseveranstalter finanziell nicht in der Lage ist, seine vertraglichen Verpflichtungen zu erfüllen. Sofern die Vereinbarung Transport beinhaltet und das Ziel bereits erreicht ist, wird die Rückreise arrangiert. Boat Bike Tours hat die vom Gesetzgeber vorgeschriebene Insolvenzversicherung für Endverbraucher, deren Wohnsitz in Deutschland ist, über die tourVERS, eines in Deutschland führenden Anbieters, abgeschlossen. Über 1.200 Veranstalter aller Größenordnungen und touristischen Bereiche sind über tourVERS versichert. Auf der Internetseite der tourVERS finden Sie alle Informationen zur Insolvenzabsicherung. Endverbraucher, die in Deutschland bewohnhaftet sind, erhalten bei Buchung bei Boat Bike Tours mit der Buchungsbestätigung auch den Sicherungsschein von tourVERS.
Hinweis: Die o.g. deutsche Übersetzung des Abschnitts über SGR ist keine offizielle SGR-Übersetzung. SGR kommuniziert nur auf Niederländisch und Englisch. Der niederländische Text zum SGR-Garantiesystem ist allgemeinverbindlich.
Read moreTransfers to/from the ship,
Other transfers
Rental bicycle / E-Bike
Rental Helmet
Entrance fees & excursions
Parking fee
Drinks on board
Personal (travel) insurances
Gratuities (at your discretion)
Wifi
Rental bicycle: € 74 per week/person
Rental E-Bike: € 168 per week/person (only on request, limited number of e-bikes available, early bookings strongly recommended.
You can find a description of the bicycles when you click on ship.
Own bike: If you want to bring your own bike you have to pay €15 (in advance)
Save on the way, helmet required in Slovakia: We advise you wear a bike helmet (in Austria children till 12 yrs are obligated to wear a bike helmet, in Slovakia all bikers are obligated to wear a helmet (except in built-up areas). Please bring your own helmet . You can also buy a helmet on board. (limited stock).
Additional: Comfort Relax Package (guide bike tour): € 235 p.p.
(departure dates: May 5 and 19, June 2 and 23, July 14, August 11, and September 1, 15 and 29)
Included in the price:
- A locally known cycling tour guide
- Ferry crossings
- Tasting of homemade cider at a cider producer in the Upper-Danube-Valley
- Wine tasting with a local wine grower
- Guided city tour by bike in Vienna & unguided by Hop On Hop Off bus in Budapest
Minimum number of participants: 8. Maximum 22 participants.
Excursion program
Optional excursions (not included in the price of your tour) can be booked individually or as a package at a discount on board only.
Bratislava: City tour with scenic train and walking tour
Budapest: City tour by bike or HOP ON HOP OFF bus / Budapest by night folklore show at a traditional Hungarian Csarda
Vienna: City tour by bike or by bus / Classical waltz & operetta concert in one of Vienna’s famous palaces
Wachau: Wine tasting with a local wine grower in Wachau Valley
Parking Passau
incl. shuttle transfer to/from pier
outdoor area € 66
Parking garage € 77
(registration form in the travel documents or online, payable locally)
Minimum of participants
50 people (has to be reached 4 weeks prior cruise start)
Legal notice: Boat Bike Tours is not the operator of this tour; this is a so called ‘partner tour’. Tour operator is: Rad & Reisen, Vienna (A). The tour operator is entitled to cancel the tour if the minimum number of participants has not been reached. If the tour will not take place, all deposits/payments will be fully refunded.
Photos
Reviews
Catherine and Rob
My husband & I took our 23- and 18-yr old sons on the Carissima for the Passau-Budapest-Passau bike-boat trip and it was FANTASTIC. 5 stars from each of us! Paula at Boat Bike Tours worked tirelessly with me to ensure we had the dates & cabins needed, & answered so many questions for me. Carissima cruise director Albert, dining manager…
Bradley Williams and Anne Williams
The boat was very comfortable. Our room was bigger than I thought it would be. The bike rides went through beautiful countrysides. At times the routes were a little confusing, but that made it more of an adventure!
Tessa
The Danube tour was very well organised and was like a standard river cruise in many ways. Personally I prefer not to be on a cruise style boat trip with so many people or with organised boat activities. I understand that, with such vast distances to cover there is a lot of boat time to fill in. This is a…
Henry and Linda Lee
Carissima was clean, welcoming staff, and adequate food and beverage. Would have enjoyed the espresso coffee “hours” machine available a bit longer so that more folks could have a chance to enjoy their coffee of choice! The Bike director Albert was not very easy to work with. He was uninterested in the bikers comments, especially the women, and made us…
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