Adventourus Active Vacations

8 day Independent OR Guided tour

The most famous bike tour in Europe along the beautiful Blue Danube, however this time we enjoy our travelling hotel the MS Theodor Körner, as we cruise and cycle through the Austrian countryside to Vienna before returning to Passau, Germany.

Biking along the Danube – always gently downhill, mostly with a helpful tailwind, you will experiencing the impressive meanders of the Donauschlinge (“Great Loop”). Enjoying the gorgeous landscape of the legendary Wachau region you will immerse in the untouched woods of the National Park Donauen (”Danube Meadow”).

And then Vienna – a city hard to describe– you have to feel it! Sights like St. Stephen´s Cathedral, the town hall or the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel) are close to reach during a sight-seeing tour by bike. At the Naschmarkt (famous food market) a stroll will become a cultural and culinary adventure. Recreation will be found at cosy coffee bars and at the typically Viennese wine taverns at the periphery. The Austrian hospitality and cuisine will make this trip an unforgettable experience.

Where the rivers Inn, Ilz and Danube unite, the bishop's town Passau is located at the Bavarian/Austrian border. Embarkation 05:00 p.m. The MV Theodor Körner is waiting for you in the harbour of Passau and the crew bids you welcome onboard. Dinner onboard with a welcome drink and music.

Downstream, the river leads you through pretty villages amid a natural landscape. Need a boost? Try some of the special cordials and liquers in the Trappist monastery in Engelszell. Supposedly they have "special healing powers".

Let yourself relax on the sun deck after a successful day while the ship takes you through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180 degree turn. And after dinner, ride on the bright yellow City-Express (optional) and discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria.

Day 3: Linz - Grein (60 km)

Todays bike tour takes you directly along the Danube where you have enough time to enjoy the celtic town of Mitterkirchen, giving you an insight to the history of this area. The alternative route “Clam Castle” through the beautiful back country of the “Strudengau” is a little hilly, but a fantastic landscape. Grein is the destination of todays stage, the birthplace of Austria´s oldest city-theatre and the Castle of Grein (optional tour).

Today’s stage is marked by a diverse landscape. At the beginning you traverse 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 monkhood.

On deck you enjoy the sunset and the beautiful evening illumination of the Wachau region. Today’s final destination is Tulln, famous for its numerous market gardens.

Situated right in front of Vienna’s entrance, embedded in a breathtaking landscape, is the monastery of Klosterneuburg. You can already see the cupola of this 900 year old, baroque building from a distance. “Kahlenbergdorf” with it’s wine taverns is only a hop from the shipping pier and definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna.

City tours by bike or bus, Waltz Concert (optional).

You can discover this city of vitality during a sight-seeing tour by bike or bus. The most famous places of interest are the Prater Amusement Park, St. Stephens Cathedral and the Royal Hofburg. The gorgeous boulevard “Ringstraße” with its Burgtheater, State Opera House and Town Hall reminds one of Vienna's imperial past. There is enough time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. The evening ends impressively with a Waltz and Opera Concert at the Wiener Kursalon (optional) or at a wine tavern.

Your last bike touring day – a special highlight! Surrounded by small towns, apricot orchards, vineyards, castles, monasteries and medievel ruins, this hilly landscape is simply enchanting. This is pure biking enjoyment! In Spitz you will find comfy wine taverns directly besides the bike path. You owe it to yourself to take a break! After a ceremonial gala dinner this evening lots of fun and entertainment can be experienced during the folklore show.

Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the sunrise and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Disembarkation: 2:30 p.m.

PRICE & DETAILS

DEPARTURE DATES:

Independent tours depart every Saturday from April 7th to October 13th.

Guided Tour dates: April 14, May 12, June 09, July 14, August 18, September 15 + 29

April and October departures include free wine with dinners.

- 7 nights in outside cabins on the Main Deck (Haupdeck), front or rear of ship

- Program according itinerary from/to Passau

- Welcome cocktail

- Daily cabin cleaning, towels and bedlinens

- Full-board: breakfast, lunch on board (non cyclists) or packed lunch/lunch box (cyclists); afternoon coffee break or snack; full dinner

- Gala-Dinner with Farewell-Cocktail

- Farewell Crew Show

- Daily Live Music

- Bike rental (Modern 7-gear comfort bike with bck pedalbrakes and saddlebags)

- 1x detailed map and information material kit per cabin

- Daily tour information meeting

- Cruise director/tour guide on board (does not accompany cyclists)

- Harbour fees and port taxes

Logding:

Your boat: MV Theodor Körner, 3***

Spacious middle-class cruiser with a comfortable interior.

Restaurant, Panoramabar, Wiener Café, 2 Sun Terraces, spacious Sun Deck with comfortable deck-chairs, Library with books, magazines and games.

Your bike/ cruise through various countries is also a culinary expedition through the diversity of the national and regional cuisines.

A local musician will perform in the evening for dancing!!

All the 65 well furnished cabins are cosy, rustic, approx. 10m² in size and equipped with either 2 adjoined beds (2-Bed-Cabin) or with bunk beds (Double-Cabin). All have an ensuite (shower and toilet), TV, radio and air conditioning.

Also available are 3-Bed-Cabins on the Wiendeck; 2 adjoined beds and 1 upper bed on the Linzdeck; plus 3 adjoined beds also on the Linzdeck.

The windows can be opened in all cabins on Wiendeck and in most double cabins amidships on Linzdeck.

EASY: Flat paved cycle paths along both sides of the Danube, suitable for beginner cyclists, children and experienced cyclists alike!

We suggest flying into Munich. We can supply semi-private transfers from Munich Airport to Passau for $100.00 per person each way (min. 2 persons).

NEW FOR 2012: Guided Tour Option
You cycle in a small group guided by a local tour guide who’s familiar with the region. Taste some Austrian delicacies: at an Upper-Austrian must-tavern you’ll try sweet and bitter must; at a wine-tavern in the world-famous Wachau-region you savour a small variety of regional wine specialities. You experience the Upper-Austrian capital Linz on an excursion train. During a guided tour by bike you’ll pass by the numerous sights of Vienna – the city of Waltz. A visit of the monastery of Melk – also an unforgettable experience.

ADDITIONAL INCLUSIONS IN GUIDED TOUR PACKAGE
  - Cycling tour guide
  - 2 ferry rides
  - Cider-tasting in the Upper-Danube-Valley
  - City tour Linz by excursion train
  - Visit of the monastery of Melk
  - Wine-tasting in the Wachau region
  - Guided city tour Vienna by bike and/or bus

OPTIONAL SERVICES:

- Additional nights in Passau

- airport transfers

- upgrades are available to either the Wien or Linz deck. Contact us for pricing

- Entrance and sightseeing fees, optional tours, and ships gratuities are not included

GENERAL INFORMATION

Your tour guide provides daily route notes, maps, advice etc each morning however the the daily bike tours are unescorted.

All mileages are approximate distances of recommended routes.

Please notice that storage space in cabins is very limited.

Please be aware that your ship MV Theodor Körner, like all other ships on the Danube, is not only your hotel but also a machine, working with engine power often during night. Especially crossing locks and bridges, the preparation work may cause noise.

Schedule: In case of flood or low tide the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages with buses. In extreme cases  the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations (Water level is force majeure). The same applies for officially ordered (previously not announced) repair work on locks or bridges or in case of undeserved breakdown of engine and power unit. We reserve the right to change the Schedule when low/high water bars the ship from passing through a certain area. Some parts can be negotiated by bus (free of charge)