Engelhartszell - Vienna - Bratislava - Budapest
The lightest cycling holiday, covering largely flat terrain, suitable for everyone and people of all ages; with distances to 45 kilometers. You spend about 4 hours on your bicycle.
Accompanied by a cruise ship you cycle along Europe's second largest river Danube from the charming riverside town in Upper Austria Engelhartszell straight into the heart of the once glorious Imperial and Royal Monarchy. Enjoy three of the most enchanting European capitals: the lively Vienna, the Slovak coronation city of Bratislava at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and Budapest, the "Hungarian Danube Queen"!
By bicycle you discover the stunning natural spectacle of the Schlögener Donauschlinge ("Great Loop"), the legendary Wachau with romantic towns and mighty castles amidst lovely vineyards, the untouched alluvial forests of the Danube National Park, as well as the baroque town of Vác with its colourful 18th century houses. The highlights of the tour: the Schloegen Danube Loop, the Hungarian Danube Bend, the World Heritage Site Wachau, the metropoles of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.
Individual journey to Engelhartszell, known for its Trappist monastery and scenic natural surroundings, approx. 30 km/18,64 miles from Passau. Embarkation will be around 4:00 pm. Overnight in Engelhartszell.
The day starts in Engelhartszell, where we head towards the "Great Loop" - one of the most beautiful and original sectors of the Danube. Your cycling will encounter small villages and cosy must-see taverns. You'll board again in Aschach. Then, you "sail into the night" towards Vienna-Nussdorf.
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens Cathedral, the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that takes you back to the past. In the night shipping to Budapest.
In the morning, you enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube's gorgeous landscape on the Sundeck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the river bank. In the afternoon you can explore the numerous attractions of the city. Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or the charming town of Szentendre with Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. In the night shipping to Visegrad.
The Danube bend is definitely a delightful part and is called the Hungarian Wachau. Today's bike leg starts at Visegrad with its famous fortress and the ruins of the former palace. You cycle through the picturesque countryside via the Szentendre Peninsula to the baroque village of Vác, which has been influenced by the architects of the Austrian empress Maria Theresia. Via small Hungarian villages you return to Visegrad. In the afternoon shipping to Bratislava.
Arrival at Bratislava in the morning. Today, the bikes remain on board, and you have time to discover the small, lively capital of Slovakia. Tip: Enjoy a magnificent panoramic view from the castle and take a ride on a mini train through the enchanting old town. In the night shipping to Rossatz or Dürnstein (Wachau).
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 small village of Pöchlarn you will board again. After the farewell gala dinner, you start “sailing” back to Engelhartszell.
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 sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Engelhartszell. Arrival: approx. at 09 am, disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend to book train connections from Passau from approx. noon onwards.
Austria
Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the Danube region
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
Departure on Saturday April 11 & October 3rd
Main deck: twin cabin Eco € 849,-
Main deck: twin cabin € 949,-
Main deck: one bed cabin € 1.349,-
Upper deck: three bed cabin € 949,-
Upper deck: twin cabin € 1.279,-
Upper deck: one bed cabin € 1.549,-
Departure on Saturday April 25th
Main deck: twin cabin Eco € 949,-
Main deck: twin cabin € 1.179,-
Main deck: one bed cabin € 1.449,-
Upper deck: three bed cabin € 1.049,-
Upper deck: twin cabin € 1.379,-
Upper deck: one bed cabin € 1.649,-
Departure on Saturday May 9th, 23rd, June 13th, 27th, July 27th, August 1st , 29th, September 5th and 19th
Main deck: twin cabin Eco € 1.049,-
Main deck: twin cabin € 1.299,-
Main deck: one bed cabin € 1.569,-
Upper deck: three bed cabin € 1.149,-
Upper deck: twin cabin € 1.499,-
Upper deck: one bed cabin € 1.769,-
Extras
Bus transfer Passau Main Station to Engelhartszell and return (no bicycle transportation): € 50.- per person
Passenger car parking options in Engelhartszell
Extra options:
Rental bike fee 7-gear-Unisex: € 99.-
Rental bike fee 8-gear-E-Bike: € 219.-
Bring your own bike / own E-bike: € 49.- (on request only, limited number)
Bike helmet for adults: bring your own or buy on board a helmet € 45,- (helmet use is mandatory in Slovakia)
Special details
The nearest international airport to the embarkation point in Engelhartszell is Munich Airport (MUC). Driving Munich airport - Passau (via Freising): approx. 2 1/2 h (bus/taxi, train)
Recommended routing:
Munich - Freising
BUS Munich Airport - Freising train station (ca. € 3,30/person)
TAXI Munich Airport – Freising train station (ca. € 30,-/way)
Freising - Passau
TRAIN Freising – Passau / Bayernticket: 1st person € 26,- >> www.bahn.de
every next person € 6,- (up to person).; driving time approx. 2 hrs
Train
Passau is connected with the regional and intercity trafficnet of the Deutschen Bahn (german train). Main train station is reachable - depending on the ship landing stage of the ship - between 2-6 km. You´ll find taxis at the Airport exit. No liability for any delays. Please be informed that seat reservations can only be done via Deutsche Bahn AG (f.i. via webpage >>www.bahn.de) or in your travel agency.
Bus transfer Passau Central Station to Engelhartszell and return (no bicycle transportation) : € 50.- per person
(Departure from Passau Central Station around 4:00 p.m., return transfer from Engelhartszell after disembarkation)
Passenger car parking options in Engelhartszell
Via the following page you have the possibility to reserve a parking place for your trip from Engelhartszell: Online parking reservation Danube (only in German language)
(Directly at the harbour and within walking distance of the mooring location, for 7 nights/8 days)
End of the tour
Disembarkation will take place after arrival of the ship (about 10:00 h) and will take about 1 hour to complete.
Please take this into account when planning your return journey and do not book trains before 12:00 h.
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
Bicycle equipment:
Travel safe and secure : We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Onboard Selling: UVEX I-VO € 45.- per helmet, limited number. And, if necessary, please bring your high-visibility vest from home.
By this tour you can rent the following bikes:
8-gear e-bike with Bosch motor
7-gear Unisex trekking bikes
Embarkation from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Disembarkation approx. 09:30 am
Minimum number of participants 80 guests (must have been reached within 21 days prior to departure)
To bring your own bike On request only – due to lack of space on sun deck. E-bikes exclusively with removable battery pack. We exclude any liability for loss, theft and damage - this also applies to damage caused by transportation from shore to ship or vice versa.
Travel safe and secure with SE-Tours We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Onboard Selling: UVEX I-VO € 40.- per helmet, limited number. And, if necessary, please bring your high-visibility vest from home.
Please note: In Austria, helmets are compulsory for children under the age of 13, in Slovakia for all cyclists outside built-up areas and generally for children under the age of 15. High-visibility vests are compulsory in Slovakia and Hungary in poor visibility and at night.
Excursions We offer a small excursion program, that can be booked directly on board at the cruise director only. You will get a brief description together with your travel documents. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be carried out in 2 languages (German/ English).
Luggage We recommend: rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers.
Digital Travel documents and roadmaps: In the interest of sustainability and climate protection, please choose our digital route book instead of printed travel documents. The GUIBO app is your constant companion during your SE-Tours original trip. A glance at your smartphone is enough to keep you safe and worry-free, with all the important information at hand. Travel information, ship and contact details and your bike tours are available digitally in the route book, available offline and thus accessible at any time. The app is available for free and works on all standard smartphones. You will automatically receive the access data to download your booked trip via email before your journey begins.
Schedule and program changes Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal). Same applies to previously unknown administrative orders of lock or bridge repairs. Notes: Please be aware that a cruise ship on the Danube is not only your hotel but also a machine, working with engine power also during the night. Especially crossing locks and bridges - and the preparation work - may cause noise. If you are sensitive please bring your own ear plugs
Travel documents EU-citizens (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months of the return of your cruise. We kindly ask non-EU citizens, EU-nationals with multiple citizenship or anybody who has to respect special legal entry requirements for the country to visit, to inform about visa and entry documents at the competent embassy.
This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
We recommend that you take out a travel health insurance with repatriation coverage as well as baggage, accident and travel cancellation insurances.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (but that is almost never the case!), you can stay on board or your guide can organize an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours (at your own expense).
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.
No, the barge doesn’t take the same route as the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.
Yes, free WiFi is limited available in lounge and on deck.
We offer a cancellation insurance. We recommend that all travelers take out cancellation insurance for their tour with us or with an insurance company of their choice in their home country.
For more information: Insurances
Bike insurance For the tours on the barges Anna Antal; Anna van Aemstel; Liza Marleen; Sailing Home; Clair de Lune and Feniks the bike rental includes a bicycle insurance. This insurance covers the cost of the repair or replacement of bicycle parts in case of an accident. It also protects against theft of the bike while it was locked.
On some tours you can add this insurance to your reservation or buy it on board. This is indicated on the tour page under ‘Rent a bike’.
