Bike and Barge Tour on the Danube: Passau to Budapest

Accompanied by a cruise ship you cycle along Europe's second largest river Danube from the charming Bavarian “three river city” of Passau 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 picturesque Hungarian Danube bend where the important cupola of the basilica in Esztergom salutes from the distance. The highlights of the tour: Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the Schloegen Danube Loop, the Hungarian Danube Bend, the World Heritage Site Wachau, the metropoles of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.

Accommodation:

All 75 cabins are outside cabins (approx.14 m²) and are comfortably equipped with hotel-style beds. They feature en-suite facilities with shower* (*cabin no. 306, 307, 308, 309 with bathtub), satellite TV, safe, hair dryer, internal telephone line and individual adjustable air conditioning. Upper Deck:  cabins featuring French balconies (= floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door). Middle Deck: The huge panorama windows can be opened. Main Deck: The small windows cannot be opened.  (Height approx. 40 cm).

The inviting spa area offers a holiday for body and soul, and in the small sauna and in the whirlpool, you may want to rest and relax. For endurance and fitness training, there is a small number of cardio equipment available. The barge has a reading lounge with small library, an elegant place for a quiet time to devour your summer reads. In the restaurant with panorama windows, enjoy the views over the passing scenery while the crew serves your meal or while you recall the moments of the day over a glass of wine listening to relaxing music. The spacious sun deck is partly shaded and features plenty of deckchairs. A special highlight is the outdoor pool at the aft of the ship.

There is an elevator running between Middle and Upper Deck! The ship is not wheelchair accessible. Smoking is permitted on the open deck, all the other spaces on board are non-smoking areas

Included in the Bike and Barge Tour:

• 7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities and air conditioning
• Program according to itinerary from/to Passau
• All passenger fees and port fees
• Captains greeting and Welcome cocktail
• Full board: 7x breakfast, 6x lunch on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), 6x 3-course dinner, 6x afternoon coffee break,1x  farewell dinner with a farewell drink
• Bed linen and towels on board changed as necessary
• Daily cleaning of the cabin
• Tour guide on board (does not cycle with the group)
• Detailed road book (one per cabin) plus GPS tracks
• Daily information meeting for bike tour instructions

Not Included in the Tour:

• Transfers to/from the docking place in Passau
• Other transfers, shuttles
• Bike rental
• Helmet rental (40 EUR, limited)
• Entrance fees & excursions
• Drinks on board
• City maps
• Ferry fees
• Personal insurances
• Gratuities (at your discretion)

If you would like to rent a bike (89 EUR) or E-Bike (199 EUR), please contact [email protected] when booking

Arrival/parking/departure:

• Parking fee (parking space approx 78 EUR, parking garage approx 92 EUR) inclusive transfer to/from ship
• Departures from Friday to Friday
• Embarkation 4:00pm - 5:00pm / Disembarkation from 10:30am

Notes:

• Upper deck from 1599 EUR p.p or Middle deck from 1399 EUR p.p). Single travellers on request Only
• Safe on the way, helmet required in Slovakia!: We advise you wear a bike helmet (in Austria children under 12 yrs are obligated to wear a bike helmet, in Slovakia children till 15 yrs and all bikers (except in built-up areas) are obligated to wear a helmet. Please bring your own helmet. You can also buy a helmet (UVEX I-VO) for 40 EUR p.p. on board (limited stock).
• To bring your own bike on request
• 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.
• Schedule and program changes: Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by buses. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges.
• 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. Please note: at low tide, the pool may need to be emptied in order to reduce the vessel’s draft and will not be available.

Slow Tours offers other Bike & Barge tours in Europe

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