Upon arrival in Passau make your way to your riverboat where boarding commences at 4.30 pm. The boat casts off at 6pm for a leisurely cruise through the serene and beautiful Danube Valley.

If you arrive early, Passau is a charming town with plenty to see and do. It is the point at which the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers all meet, so there are plenty of river banks to stroll along. We also recommend making the climb to Veste Oberhaus, a medieval fortress and museum that offers a fantastic, panoramic view of the town and river.

Enjoy a pleasant, gentle start to your cycling holiday, pedalling alongside the river downstream through pretty towns and villages. Stop to visit the only Trappist monastery in Austria at Engelhartszell where you may wish to sample the locally produced and rather good liquors. Further along, you reach the stunningly beautiful Danube Loop. Here highly recommend making the hike, up through the woods, to the viewpoint where the stunning scene is revealed in its full glory. From here you follow an idyllic cycle path along a particularly peaceful and serene section of the river to the charming village of Aschach where you re board the boat.

Overnight the boat cruises downstream to Devin on the Austrian/Slovakian border. Today your ride takes you along the former Iron Curtain border, first to the grand and imposing Hof Palace and then on to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Join the guided tour of this fascinating city (optional) or explore it at your own pace. Highlights not to be missed are the gorgeous medieval old town in the centre of the city with its many winding lanes and beautiful squares, wonderful St Martins’s Cathedral and the city’s prominent feature, Bratislava Castle.

After a relaxing cruise downstream into Hungary you arrive in stunning Budapest, cruising past the awe-inspiring Gothic Parliament building on the riverbank – have the camera ready! The river divides the city in two, Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east. After mooring up you can either cycle out to Szentendre a charming artists’ town, or explore Budapest at your own pace. There is also an option to join a city tour of Budapest by bus or bike (not included).

Today the boat starts back upstream to the idyllic artists’ island of Szentendre where you disembark to begin following a delightful route upstream. After a few kilometres you reach the the Danube Bend, a particularly beautiful meander in the river’s course. Carry on upstream, enjoying the wide green valley and eventually you arrive in Esztergom, home to Hungary’s largest Catholic Church. Re-board the boat and settle in for the night while the boat cruises upstream to Vienna.

Today is your free day to explore Vienna. Visit Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the Imperial Palace. You may also want to take in the ‘Riesenrad’, the giant ferris wheel, made famous in the 1949 British film, ‘The Third Man’, and no trip to Vienna would be complete with out enjoying a coffee and cake in one of its famous coffee houses. In the evening you may wish to visit a Waltz and Opera concert at the famous Viennese Palace (not included). Late at night, the Swiss Crown leaves Vienna and cruises through the night to the Wachau Valley.

There’s a real treat in store today as you get to enjoy a leisurely cycle ride through the stunning Wachau Valley. Picture perfect villages, apricot orchards, vineyards and hilltop castles characterise this stunning landscape that captivates all who visit. The charming village of Dürnstein with its haunting ruin and monastery church is definitely a highlight as is Weisskirchen which offers many opportunities for wine tasting. The route also leads you past the town of Melk with it's impressive baroque abbey standing guard over the river. A farewell dinner on board in the evening brings this very pleasant day to a close.

Enjoy a gentle morning cruise back to Passau with one last look at the Danube Loop on the way. You arrive in Passau at approximately 11am.