Cycling on the Danube from Passau to Vienna

Name: Cycling on the Danube from Passau to Vienna
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 3 (1 reviews)

8 Days Excluding Flights From

8 Days from

£ 1119

£ 1169

3.0/5 from

Cycling

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Ages :

Trip Code :

C07LA

Enjoy riding on traffic-free cycle routes along the Danube

Follow the curves and bends of the Danube as it flows through steep-sided valleys and wide riverside woods towards beautiful Vienna. The densely wooded slopes and ravine forests help to create the setting for one of the most significant river landscapes of Central Europe; with the largely flat landscape perfectly suited to self-guided cycling. You will pass many delightful castles, ruins and abbeys whilst visiting historic towns such as Linz, Melk and Krems. The final destination of Vienna is the perfect place to explore, enjoy some great food and perhaps take in a concert.

Highlights

Discover the rich culture and historical architecture of Vienna
Ride on dedicated cycle routes
Visit infamous castles, ruins and palaces along the Danube
Sample the fine wines of the Wachau Valley

Key Information

7 nights family-owned and tourist class hotels
6 days cycling
E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies)
99% cycle path, 1% road
Mainly flat cycle paths with some gentle hills
Self-guided holiday. Min age 5 yrs

Countries visited: Austria, Germany

What's Included

All breakfasts
Luggage transfers between hotels
Route notes and maps
Local bike hire

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas or vaccinations

6 Days of Cycling

Terrain:

Low altitude; 75% cycle paths, 25% cycle tracks

Day 2

40 km / 24.9 miles

Day 3

50 km / 31.1 miles

Day 4

60 km / 37.3 miles

Day 5

50 km / 31.1 miles

Day 6

40 km / 24.9 miles

Day 7

40 km / 24.9 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

C07LA - Cycling on the Danube from Passau to Vienna

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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

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Passau Vienna London London

Start at your hotel in Passau, the city of three rivers. If you arrive with time to explore be sure to visit the well-known cathedral; housing the world’s biggest church organ. In the evening receive your bikes and a personal welcome briefing.

Leave Passau, and cycle from Germany into Austria amidst one of the most significant river landscapes of Central Europe. The trail runs beside densely wooded slopes and ravine forest passing the only Trappist monastery in Austria at Engelhartszell before continuing to the famous Schlögener Loop. Here the Danube does a U-turn around a granite mountain before changing the direction of its flow twice, providing spectacular views from the surrounding hills.

Distance covered: 25mi (40km)

Meals included: Breakfast

The valley narrows as it continues downstream and has a wilder appearance passing the beautiful castle of Ottensheim, also one of the oldest places in Austria. A day of river crossing and cycling along country lanes, entering the fertile plains of the grand Eferdinger basin before reaching the historic Cistercian Abbey at Wilhering. The trail continues to Linz, where the central Hauptplatz is a good place to start exploring the old town.

Distance covered: 31mi (50km)

Meals included: Breakfast

A change of scenery today as the route guides you away from the Danube, via St Florian (an Augustinian abbey) to Enns. See the town square with its 60 metre high tower, the landmark of the oldest town in Austria. Back along the Danube you reach the beautiful baroque town of Grein; with a chance to visit the oldest municipal theatre in Austria, the maritime museum or Greinburg Castle.

Distance covered: 37mi (60km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Historically Grein marked the beginning of the river’s most treacherous stretch, often feared by sailors. The cycling is through the fascinating landscape of tall and densely wooded rock formations on both sides of the Danube. The journey takes you through quiet riverside towns, with numerous examples of castles that were positioned to exert power over the area, collecting tolls from those following its path. Your journey will end as one of the most striking edifices on this whole route comes into sight, the Benedictine abbey at Melk – stunning both inside and out, you can’t miss it!

Distance covered: 31mi (50km)

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning you ride through the magnificent Wachau terraced vineyards, which give this area its distinct and beautiful appearance. It is one of Austria’s best known wine growing regions, with centuries old tradition of wine production. The route winds between the pretty villages of Spitz, Weisenkirchen and Durnstein; castles continue to dot the landscape. In Durnstein you will find another spectacular monastry and also the ruins of a castle where King Richard the Lionheart was held for ransom. All along the route there are opportunities to experience Austian hospitality in small taverns offering local food and drink. Finish your journey in the 1000 year old town of Krems and enjoy a wine tasting to showcase some of the delightful local produce!

Distance covered: 25mi (40km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today starts with a train ride from Krems to Tulln, then ride past Greifenstein and Klosterneuburg.This area has always been important culturally, politically and economically with settlements in existence before the Romans moved to the area. Again you will pass many castles, including the Kreuzenstein Castle in Korneuburg. There is also the famous story of the Korneuburg Rat Catcher, a similar story to the Pied Piper. Arriving into Vienna, enjoy a cup of coffee and a piece of typical Viennese cake, ‘Sachertorte’, in one of the numerous coffee houses. Enjoy an evening stroll around Stephansplatz or walk along the famous shopping street Mariahilfer Strausse.

Distance covered: 25mi (40km)

Meals included: Breakfast

End Vienna. The city is a metropolis with unique charm, vibrancy and flair. It boasts outstanding infrastructure, is clean and safe, and has all of the culture, architecture and inspiration that you could wish for in this wonderful part of Europe. Highlights that you may consider include visits to the grand Schonbrunn Palace, Sigmund Freud Museum and a tour in the Vienna State Opera House. Don’t miss a visit to one of the many wonderful coffee shops to enjoy the typical cake Sachertorte!

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)
Average daily distance: 47km (29 miles).
No. of days cycling: 6
Terrain and route: A great introduction to self-guided cycling abroad using mostly cycle paths and quiet roads. The valley is particularly steep on either side of the river but hills are only encountered if you choose some of the optional visits available. Occasionally the hotels you stay in are located further up a hill but these hotels offer a pick up for those who wish to arrange it.
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 accommodation, 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.

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 routes notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are also a great option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. Our local partner is able to offer a range of bikes that suit children and carrying options for parents, these are all subject to availability, therefore we ask that you enquire about these on booking. As a guide we have suggested that 5 years is the minimum age for this departure, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. On many of the days on this trip it is possible to substitute cycling with taking the boat down the river. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities.

Joining Instructions

Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Passau on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start hotel are confirmed in the Final Joining Instructions.

Full joining instructions including route notes, hotel list, map and local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Flights from the UK
Flights from London are available with British Airways. Low cost airline Easyjet flies from London Luton and Gatwick to Vienna and Budapest. Ryanair flies from Edinburgh, Liverpool, Dublin, Birmingham, Bristol and London Stansted to Bratislava. This may be a convenient and good value option for some clients.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Passau
Location end: Vienna

Transfer Details

From Vienna Airport, there are numerous trains travelling to Passau. Please speak to your sales consultant for more information.

Vaccinations and Health

Austria

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Germany

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Austria

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Austria. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/austria
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/austria
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/austria/entry-requirements
USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Austria.html

Germany

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Germany. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts and one wine tasting included.
Breakfast: Buffet style breakfast will usually consist of fresh bread, cheese, ham, croissants, butter, jam, tea or coffee.
Lunch and Dinner (not included): there are numerous restaurants along the route with a selection of menus of two or more courses and the route notes will provide more details to help you decide. Self-guided cycling also lends itself really well to picnics. You can stop wherever you please, in a spot that suits you and eat your lunch taking in your chosen view.

Weather

The weather here is comparatively stable, particularly during mid-summer. Temperatures are similar to those experienced in the UK and rainfall, although relatively low, is possible throughout the year.

Weather Charts

TRIP

C07LA - Cycling on the Danube from Passau to Vienna

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

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

3 and 4-star hotels

We use a mixture of charming 3 and 4 star hotels, on this trip, that are generally well located. All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration. For a solo traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs.

We may be able to arrange a triple room if required, and there is a small reduction for this. The reduction will need to be calculated for each booking, as we cannot guarantee availability of triple rooms on all nights. Please ask for a quote if this is your preferred option.

TRIP

C07LA - Cycling on the Danube from Passau to Vienna

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

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

Joe M

Reviewed September 2023

Reasonable Value

Our Exodus tour seemed to be a reasonable value. The customer service experience isn’t as good as other companies, but that might be a get-what-you-pay-for outcome.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Self-guided.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The hotels were better than we expected. Not Exodus’s fault, but all our hotel rooms were unairconditioned, so it was hot (leaving the windows open in-town makes it quite loud). Exodus says their bikes are “hybrid”…that might be a tour-industry term. The bikes are heavy upright rental bikes with a big bouncy seat and huge tires…not what US customers might consider to be a hybrid bike you’d use for distance riding. Consider bringing your own seat and clipless pedals (which the guy delivering the bikes said he can’t install). We found you need to pay (in cash only) a daily tourist tax at hotels in Austria, not included in your tour price. Exodus added a wine tasting on our tour, which turned out to be very nice…pleasant tasting room, courteous service, excellent wine. The printed and app directions weren’t as easy as other tour company’s apps, but it’s not a huge deal since you’re just biking down-river. The provided navigation app crashed a few times a day, but when it worked, it took you to the town, but not the hotel. This is not also a big deal in a tiny town…but one hotel required waiting for a van to take you 5 miles up into the hills, and our Vienna hotel was on the outskirts and without navigation it was a harrowing 90-minute experience trying to bike/walk through busy Vienna roads without English-language instructions. Some emailed questions we asked Exodus were never answered, and other answers were delayed a number of days before someone got back to us. After we paid, we were required to sign a document that literally says “Exodus can cancel our trip for any reason whatsoever”. So, you’d be on the hook for international airfare you bought. Which raises the issue of travel insurance. In its documentation it sends after you pay, Exodus says, “Please note to travel with Exodus, you must have adequate [insurance] coverage for the activities involved”. In other post-payment documentation, it says, “You must carry proof of insurance with you on your tour: if you cannot provide this at the start of the trip, you will be required to take out a suitable policy at that time.” Both times, Exodus provides the link to their “partner”, Redpoint Travel Protection. Judging one’s tolerance for risk is obviously (and only) the consumer’s decision, but Exodus’s pretend-compulsory upsell was kind of a stain on what would have been a reasonable consumer experience.

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