Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna

Day 1: Passau, boarding time between 4 and 5 pm.  Departure by ship at 7 pm to Engelhartszell.
Day 2: Engelhartszell - Untermühl - Great Loop - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22 - 26 mi. (36-42 km)
Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Tulln - Vienna - Nussdorf/ (Korneuburg may also be possible), 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Vienna - Nussdorf / Korneuburg (day of rest)
Day 7: Wachau - Pöchlarn, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 8: Passau, departure

All distances are approximate. 

Day 1: Passau, boarding time between 4 and 5 pm.  Departure by ship at 7 pm to Engelhartszell
The Episcopal city close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of Three Rivers." Boarding time begins at 4 pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail toEngelhartszell.

Day 2: Engelhartszell - Untermühl - Great Loop - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Downstream, the route leads to pretty villages amid a natural landscape. Need a boost? Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell, which are said to have "special healing power." If you’d like to take a break from cycling, you can take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180 degree turn (approx. € 3.- per pers.). In Untermühl , you’ll board the boat and cruise to Linz. Tip: discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria while riding on the bright yellow City-Express.

Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 22-26 mi. (36-42 km)
In the early morning the boat takes you to Mauthausen. You have the possibility to visit the memorial place, KZ-Mauthausen. The Celtic town, Mitterkirchen, gives you a look into the past. Today you have the option between two routes. For easy cycling,  the tour leads along the Danube. Alternatively, you can take a more difficult route to the "Clam Castle," through the beautiful backcountry of the "Strudengau". It is slightly hilly, but a fantastic landscape. Worth a visit in Grein is the impressive Castle of Greinburg.

Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
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, 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.

Day 5: Tulln - Vienna - Nussdorf/ (Korneuburg may also be possible), 22 mi. (35 km)
Right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breathtaking landscape, the monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated. From a distance, you can see the cupola of this 900-year-old baroque building. "Kahlenbergerdorf" and its wine taverns are definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna.

Day 6: Vienna - Nussdorf / Korneuburg (day of rest)
In Vienna, you should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House, or the town hall that takes you back to the past. Take your time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. Later in the evening the boat cruises to Krems.  

Day 7: Wachau - Pöchlarn, 24 mi. (39 km)
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 the evening, you will celebrate your tour and new-found friends with a  farewell dinner and cocktail.

Day 8: Passau, departure
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 look at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive in Passau. Arrival in Passau is at approximately 10 am and disembarkation is at 10:30 am. We recommend arranging connecting trips from noon onwards.

Language on board: German/English

Land excursions:
Offered as an option with surcharge (not included in tour price), these excursions can be booked directly on board. You will receive more information with your final travel documents. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be conducted in 2 languages (German/ English).

Day 1: Passau
Day 2: Engelhartszell – Brandstatt, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Brandstatt – Linz, 16 mi. (26 km)
Day 4: Mauthausen - Grein, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Vienna (day of rest)
Day 6: Wachau Valley, roundtrip, 16 - 25 mi. (25 - 40 km)
Day 7: Weißenkirchen - Pöchlarn, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Passau

All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Passau
Experience Mediterranean flair in Passau, the city of three rivers. You should definitely set aside some time on the day of your arrival for a walk through the picturesque baroque city with its narrow lanes and Passau cathedral home to the largest church organ in the world. Your cycling holiday begins after embarkation (4.00 p.m.) when you sail into the sunset as Passau’s magnificent silhouette with its church towers and domes slowly fades into the horizon behind you.

Day 2: Engelhartszell – Brandstatt, 28 mi. (45 km)
Breathe in the fragrance of the dense forest and freshly mown meadows. Explore the pristine countryside of the Upper Danube valley on the former towpath as it runs past sleepy villages. Small, rustic inns at the edge of the trail invite you to linger, the aroma of fresh fish grilled according to tradition on a stick wafts through the air. The Schlögener Blick observation point offers a truly stunning view of the Schlögener Schlinge where the Danube carves its way through a gorge and doubles back on itself.

Day 3: Brandstatt – Linz, 16 mi. (26 km)
Catch some fresh country air again - at lunchtime, you’ll reach the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. Discover the European Capital of Culture 2009 on a bright yellow miniature train (optional). The cathedral is the biggest church in Austria, the Pöstlingbergbahn the steepest adhesion railway in the world. Are you curious about the future? At the ARS Electronica Museum, you can try out some of the most impressive examples of modern technology for yourself. Make sure you don’t miss it!

Day 4: Mauthausen - Grein, 22 mi. (35 km)
A beautiful and varied route lies ahead of you as you explore the idyllic hinterland of the Strudengau by bike: the Celtic Village of Mitterkirchen, the Baroque monastery of Baumgartenberg and the romantic ruins of Burg Clam castle. Then it’s time to enjoy the little medieval town of Grein with its Baroque facades, imposing castle and the oldest municipal theatre in Austria. After a romantic journey sailing past towns and villages full of twinkling lights, you arrive - just like Sisi did way back then - in the City of Waltz early in the morning.

Day 5: Vienna (day of rest)
On a city tour of Vienna, all the sights are within reach from the saddle of your bike or on the HOP ON HOP OFF bus (optional). The magnificent Ringstraße will remind you of times long past and inviting coffee houses will tempt you with delicious Viennese cakes and pastries, while the Naschmarkt market is a feast for all the senses. End the evening on a magical note with a concert of waltz and classical operetta music in Sisi’s summer residence (optional).

Day 6: Wachau Valley, roundtrip, 16 - 25 mi. (25 - 40 km)
An unforgettable day in the picturesque Wachau. Cycle through delightful wine-growing villages surrounded by terraced vineyards and apricot trees. The charming little town of Dürnstein with its narrow lanes is an absolute highlight. In Weißenkirchen – the most important wine-growing village in the World Cultural Heritage Landscape – you can discover the first-rate famous Wachau wines.

Day 7: Weißenkirchen - Pöchlarn, 22 mi. (35 km)
Enjoy this stage of your cycling holiday passing through the wild and romantic scenery along the mighty Danube with its rustic wine-growing villages set amongst the vineyards. In Spitz, situated on the “1000-Eimer Berg”, take the ferry to the sleepy southern bank of the river and after a leisurely ride reach the imposing Benedictine Abbey of Melk, one of the loveliest Baroque ensembles in Europe. Having passed the town of Pöchlarn, which featured in the Nibelungen saga, settle down to enjoy the stunning views of the rugged and romantic Nibelungengau.

Day 8: Passau
Enjoy the first rays of the sun and the early morning tranquillity one last time from the deck of the ship before you reach Passau, your heart bursting with memories. Disembarkation: approx. 9 a.m. We recommend that you do not make any arrangements for onward trains departing before 10.30 a.m. To be on the safe side, later departure times would be even better.

Language on board: German Englishlish

Land excursions:
Offered as an option with surcharge (not included in tour price), these excursions can be booked directly on board. You will receive more information with your final travel documents. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be conducted in 2 languages (German/ English).