Headwater - Five Waterways of Bavaria Self-Guided Cycling

11 days
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£1,679
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Leisurely / Moderate
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Trip code: 
C10BA
Way to Travel:
Self-Guided
Activity:
Cycling
Min age:
8

Welcome to the Funf-Flusse-Radweg, one of Bavaria's long-distance cycle routes.

This circular route starts in the UNESCO mediaeval city of Regensburg and takes you on a 10-night journey through the north-east of Bavaria. You'll follow a series of well-networked paths along a mix of waterways: the majestic Danube, the stunning Altmuhl, the Main-Danube Canal, the tiny Pegnitz and the beautiful Naab.

Highlights

  • Scenic cycling along the five waterways of Bavaria - perfect for those looking for longer cycling days
  • An abundance of flora and fauna: scented pines, fruit orchards and poppies; deer, boar, hawks and kingfishers
  • Beautiful towns and quaint hamlets, including the spa town of Bad Abbach and Kallmunz with its fairytale castle
  • Traffic-free, well-signed cycle paths
  • Fantastically different accommodation, including spending two nights in a restored prison!

Key information

  • 10 Nights, hotel-to-hotel
  • 5 Days cycling
  • Departs Every two days from 03 May '19 to 14 Oct '19
  • Headwater beer service 
  • GPS route navigation provided 
  • High quality bikes provided
  • Optional electric bikes 
  • Luggage transfers between hotels

What's included

  • All breakfasts and 2 evening meals
  • All accommodation
  • Headwater beer service 
  • GPS route navigation provided 
  • High quality bikes provided
  • Luggage transfers between hotels

What's not included

  • Optional electric bikes
  • Visas and vaccinations
  • Travel insurance
  • Single supplements
Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes
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5

Days of Cycling
Terrain:

The suggested cycle routes mainly follow traffic-free, well-signed cycle paths.

Day by day breakdown
Day 284.0km/52.0miles
Day 444.0km/28.0miles
Day 648.0km/30.0miles
Day 877.0km/47.0miles
Day 1063.0km/40.0miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here… 

Itinerary

Include flights Expand all
London
to
London

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Regensburg

    Head out for dinner in this charming city, perhaps in a traditional beer garden, which is often the best place to sample the local food. (Staying at Hotel Jakob)

  • Day 2

    Regensburg to Beilngries

    You take the Danube Cycle Way today, which follows the river. Cycling through the wide verdant valleys of the Danube, you'll pass pretty hamlets, stunning cliffs and lovely churches. Passing through the spa town of Bad Abbach with its relaxing gardens and lively cafes, you'll leave the Danube at Kelheim then follow the Altmuhl river that meanders its way through the stunning Altmuhl valley with its high peaks on either side. Look out for fishing herons and speedy kingfishers and the 'Tatzelwurm' - a waved wooden bridge spanning over 600m. Take time to wander around riverside Reidenburg and stop off in one of the beer gardens en route. (Staying at Hotel Fuchsbrau)

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 3

    Beilngries

    Either relax in the pretty town of Beilngries - there's a small toy museum to visit - or walk up to the Schloss Hirschberg, where you'll find the rock cellar brewery museum. Alternatively, pick the Altmuhl river and follow to the Pfraundorfer See, a popular local swimming spot. Continuing along the river you'll arrive at Kipfenburg, the geographical centre of Bavaria, with its famous mediaeval castle. (Staying at Hotel Fuchsbrau)

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 4

    Beilngries to Neumarkt

    After following the Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal to the beautiful walled town of Berching, from here you'll head through pretty villages and small farming communities, passing woodlands and meadows on your way to Freystad with its pretty walled old town, where you'll stop off for lunch. It's then a short climb to Neumarkt and your hotel for the next two nights. (Staying at Hotel Lehmeier)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 5

    At Neumarkt

    Today you could follow a walk around the Weinberg to the ruined castle or mooch around the only museum dedicated to the Maybach. Alternatively, take a train to Regensburg to spend more time in this city, or take your bike on the train to Parsberg and cycle back along the Schwarze Leber river cycle route. (Staying at Hotel Lehmeier)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 6

    Neumarkt to Nuremberg

    Today you'll follow the Ludwig-Main-Donau Canal for the whole day to arrive at Nuremberg. The canal passes through some wonderful scenery, pine-scented forests, apple, cherry and pear orchards, all wrapped up by beautiful mountains. En route you'll pass many quaint locks and a good choice of gasthofs to stop and enjoy a radler. The cycle track takes you right into the centre of Nuremberg. (Staying at Hotel Prinzregent)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 7

    At Nuremberg

    'The most German of German cities', Nuremberg was named this after the beauty of the town (pre-war). One of the most important trading points under papal rule, Nuremberg grew from C10. Its huge castle still to this day hovers over the town and the old city walls are still complete. There is a good choice of museums to visit, from the German National Museum to the cute Nuremberg Toy Museum, or perhaps go on a tour of the subterranean beer cellars. You can stay longer in this city or add extra days to visit nearby Bamberg and Weurzberg. (Staying at Hotel Prinzregent)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 8

    Nuremberg to Amberg

    Today you'll enjoy a beautiful ride along the Pegnitz river, passing a series of pretty towns, including Lauf which is a highlight to stop off at. You'll then climb a little through stunning mountain landscapes, high meadows and small farms to the reach the beautiful town of Sulzbach. A long freewheel then takes you to Amberg and your prison cell for the next two nights. (Staying at Hotel Fronfeste)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 9

    At Amberg

    Enjoy the sights of this walled town today - it is a lively place with many bars and restaurants and plenty of sights such as the C15 New Palace, the Gothic town hall and market square, the world's smallest hotel, 'Little Wedding House', and the town museum. A walk around the mediaeval walls is a popular local stroll. (Staying at Hotel Fronfeste)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 10

    Amberg to Regensburg

    Today you'll follow a beautiful old railway track along the Pengitz; sitting above the villages and meadows it offers wonderful views as you slowly make your way down Kallmunz, a quaint village that sits at the confluence of the Pengitz and Naab rivers. Let the castle lead you into town and then pick up the Naab river, following it through woodlands past the wonderful monastery at Pielenhofen to rejoin the Danube. Then it's back to your hotel in Regensburg for a final night. (Staying at Hotel Jakob)

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 11

    Leave Regensburg

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes
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Essential Info

Visas

Germany

No visa required for British passport holders.

Vaccinations

Germany

There are no specific health risks.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 2 evening meals.

What is your first thought when you think of German food, Bier und Bratwurst or Beer and sausages, and if this is what you want then you will not be disappointed. However there is much more to Bavarian cuisine. Meat and freshwater fish are heavily used but vegetarians are also well catered for. Germans tend to follow similar eating patterns to the UK, with breakfast, followed by a small lunch, and large evening meal, dinners tends to be taken fairly early and restaurants will start serving from 6pm. Throughout the towns there are a good choice of differing places to eat, the most traditional of these are the beer halls, these are not just places to
drink the local brew, they are also offer traditional cuisine, they can be nice for lunch as they offer small plates of tasty morcels, you will also find the local bratwurst in served them. The most social of places are the beer
gardens, these offer really good food in an outdoor setting many have indoor eating areas as well, don’t let the name put you off they also normally have a fairly good wine list too. Then there are the restaurants you will find in most towns a good choice of both German and International cuisine.

Weather

Average temperatures in summer are in the region of 25'C-30'C. The warmest month is usually July whilst the coldest is mainly January. Every month has its share of precipitation on an average of 14 days per month.

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)
Average daily distance on move on days: 63.2km (39.3miles). 
No. of days cycling: 5
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Along the way you'll pass a series of beautiful towns and quaint hamlets. Each waterway brings its own scenery, from the wide rolling valleys of the Danube, the narrow high valleys of the Altmuhl, the fruit orchards along the canal, the old railway cycle route along the Pengitz, and the beautiful churches found along the Naab. On each day you'll find your own favourite jewel, from the spa town of Bad Abbach to completely walled Berching, to lovely Lauf that straddles the Pengitz to Kallmunz at the confluence of the Pengitz and Naab rivers, with its fairytale castle towering above.

As meadows turn to forests, you'll admire a cornucopia of flora - heavily scented pines, silvering birch, orchards of fruit, wild orchids and poppies. Deer and boar scarper through the woods whilst eagles, buzzards and hawks circle above, and herons and kingfishers enjoy their surroundings along the waterways. The cuisine is rich in tradition with hearty meats and local vegetables - it's not just bratwurst and beer on offer, in the north of the region one of the most popular dishes is Spatzle, a pasta dish covered in a creamy sauce and deep-fried onions. There are also lovely white wines available.

Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Accommodation

Hotels

Your accommodation en route is special too: the modern 3-star hotel Jakob, a converted 4-star brewery in Beilngries, a traditional hotel in the pretty main square, a riverside hotel just metres from the old walls of Nuremberg, and a restored prison in charming Amberg.

Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

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Dates & Prices

An overview of flight options

Exodus is committed to making joining our tours as easy as possible, wherever you live. We generally only block book seats from London, but this certainly does not mean that you need to fly from there. Depending on the route and airlines available, there will usually be various options available for those who want to fly from their local airport.

This page aims to provide a useful overview of the options available to our clients. However, the best flight arrangements should be tailored to your personal requirements, so please contact our Sales team for expert advice.

 

What kind of options do I have ?

1. We can book for you: Flights from anywhere in the world - not via London  

Depending on the route, this may be direct or via an overseas hub like Amsterdam, the Middle East or elsewhere. On short haul routes there may be direct flights with low cost airlines, charter flights or scheduled airlines. Exodus can book most, but not all, of these for you. The most appropriate airline may be different to that which we use for the group flight from London, but many people now travel on different airlines and meet up with their fellow passengers at the destination.

Pros Cons
  • May be the most direct route
  • Often the extra fare compared to the London flight is minimal.
  • As you will be in the hands a single airline for your entire journey, the airline will be responsible for your bags and your connections.
  • You may not be able to join the group transfers. However, we can usually arrange private transfers, or book your flights to try and coincide with the group transfers. See notes on transfer arrangements below.

 

2. We can book for you: Connecting flights from your local airport to London

Exodus can book connecting flights to London so you can join the group flight there. Connecting times will be followed according to airline advice, or as requested by clients. There are two types of fares we can use for this option: a 'through-fare' or a 'published fare'.
 
a) A 'through-fare' is where you will be in the main airline's care throughout. You change planes, but your bags are checked all the way through to your final destination. 

b) A 'published fare' ticket is completely seperate from your onward ticket from London. It is usually cheaper than a through-fare but will need to be paid for and issued as soon as it is booked. This can be a problem if your tour has not yet reached minimum numbers. On 'published fares' neither airline is aware that you have connecting flights, so Exodus is responsible for timing your connection, not the airlines involved. The tickets are also usually non changeable and non refundable.

Pros Cons
  • Depending on the fare type, Exodus or the airline is responsible for flight connections.
  • Through fare tickets can be expensive.
  • On a published fare, tickets must be issued immediately; tickets on published fares can be very difficult to change if onward flight times change; bags are not checked though to your final destination.
  • Published fares are non-refundable.

 

3. Booking some or all of the flights yourself

You can also book connecting air travel yourself, either to London, or all the way to the start point. There may be certain airlines or routes we don't have access to, so this is always an option. However, if you make your own travel arrangements you become liable for any delays, cancellations or missed connections, and Exodus is not required to offer refunds if you have trouble reaching the start of your trip.

Pros Cons
  • You might find cheaper fares, or routes not available to Exodus.
  • You are responsible for any delays or missed connections, and the cost of the tour is not protected should you miss your flight be cancelled.

 

 Notes on transfer arrangements

Sometimes it is possible to travel on a different airline to the group flight from London. Where this is the case, we need to think about ensuring you meet up with the group with minimum extra cost and hassle.

  • On certain trips, it is easy to arrive on a different flight and still meet the group at the hotel with time in hand. We can usually arrange private transfers (at extra cost) or offer advice on taking a taxi to the start hotel.
  • On other trips (especially in Europe), the transfer meets the group flight and then travels some distance to the first night's accommodation. Where this is the case, our Sales team will try to arrange flights that arrive before (and depart after) the group. However, we do have to make it clear in your final documentation that if your flights are delayed, the transfer cannot wait for you. While Exodus or our local operators will do what we can to help you reach the start point of the tour, any additional costs must be paid by the client. 

 

Next steps? 

Call our Sales team on: 0203 733 0698

Email your query: [email protected]

Call us on 020 8772 3936
Chat with us online