Check in to your hotel and then take a stroll through the “City of Three Rivers”, so named because this is also the point at which the the Inn and Ilz rivers flow into the Danube. The narrow cobbled streets and pretty squares of the old town are a delight to explore and we also recommend a climb to Veste Oberhaus, a medieval fortress and museum that offers a fantastic, panoramic view of the town and surrounding rivers.

After breakfast you start to follow the Danube Cycle Path downstream. You’ll pass through a deep gorge, carved by the river over centuries, before arriving in the charming little village of Engelhartszell. Here you may choose to visit the nearby Monastery where a silent but enterprising order of Trappist monks make and sell some rather good liquors. Cross the river using the quaint little ferry and enjoy some serene cycling on an idyllic cycle path beside the river as you continue eastwards. You’ll spend the night at or near the Schlögener Loop, a grand bend in the river also referred to as the Danube Loop.

If you didn't have a chance yesterday we highly recommend investing in the 20 minute hike up to the lofty look-out point in the woods above the river to fully appreciate the majestic Schlögener Loop and it's beautiful setting.

Afterwards, the first section of today's ride leads you through a peaceful valley where nature still reigns supreme. This really is a sublime section with just the river, the cycle path and the forest for company. Leisure cycling at its best, far from hustle and the bustle of the modern world.

After a few kilometres the valley begins to widen out and soon you are cycling through an open plain with meadows on either side. Stop in Aschach at one of the riverside cafes for some refreshment or lunch before continuing downstream. After a bend in the river, the city of Linz, your overnight stop, comes into view. Linz is the capital of Upper Austria with a lovely old town centre and bustling main square.

Quite a long day in the saddle today but the scenery and level cycle path make the miles fly by. At Mauthausen a short detour away from the river will bring you to Mauthausen Concentration Camp and Memorial – a thought-provoking place. You then follow the cycle path downstream, through pleasant, undulating farmland. Why not stop for a break at the open-air museum near Mitterkirchen before pedalling on through the beautiful wooded Strudengau valley to the pretty town of Grein with its looming castle and historic theatre.

Today’s ride is a real treat and it’s worth starting early as you’ll probably want to to stop and look around some of the charming villages and towns along the way.

Cross the river using one of the small bike ferries at Grein and then saddle up to enjoy 20 kms of blissfully, scenic cycling along a peaceful riverside path. The route delivers you to the small pleasant town of Ybbs, a good place for a coffee break perhaps?

A little further on you’ll see a lovely church up on the hillside to your left. This is the Pilgrimage Church of Maria Taferl from where, following a bit of a climb, you can enjoy marvellous views along the Danube Valley. After a few more kilometres the spires of the Benedictine Monastery at Melk will appear on the horizon. On arrival in Melk we recommend visiting the 18th Century Monastery where you can visit an impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts as well enjoy more superb views along the river. You will spend the night in or close to Melk

Today’s ride is considered by many to be amongst the most beautiful sections of the whole river – the Wachau Valley. Romantic castles and palaces perch on strategic bluffs overlooking terraced vineyards and orchards that cascade down to charming wine villages such as Spitz, Weißkirchen and Dürnstein. Beautiful old taverns and inns invite you to stop and enjoy hearty, Wachau hospitality. It's an easy and very scenic ride so take your time and stop where the notion takes you. At the end of the valley you are delivered to the bustling old town of Krems where you will spend the night.

The day starts with a 40 minute train ride to the town for Tulln, some 40km downstream - here your ride will start. You'll ride through a very fertile region, famed for it’s vegetables, and on through through the Wiener Wald (Viennese Woods) to Klosterneuburg, with it's impressive monastery. After a few more easy kilometres you enter Vienna. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy the city. 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 film ‘The Third Man’. No trip to Vienna would be complete without enjoying a coffee and cake in one of the city’s elegant coffee houses. In the evening we highly recommend trying the local speciality – Wienerschnitzel. This pan-fried breaded pork cutlet has become popular around the world but this is where it was born.

Shortly after leaving the hustle and bustle of Vienna you enter a very different world, cycling through a riverside nature reserve full of diverse flora and fauna. The city suddenly seems a million miles away with the peace and quiet only interrupted by chattering birds. The Romans left their mark around here and we highly recommend stopping at the Carnuntum archaeological park just before the small spa town of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg where you will spend the night

The day starts with a ride northwards away from the Danube and past the grand and imposing Castle Hof. Shortly thereafter you cross the Morava River into Slovakia and follow the riverbank to the country’s charming capital, Bratislava. The medieval town at the city’s heart actually feels more like a large village than a city and the attractive flag-stoned streets are a delight to explore on foot or by bike. Other must-sees include the Castle, which offers fantastic views from its high vantage point and St Martin’s Cathedral, the city’s oldest church. You’ll spend the night in this enchanting city.

Today you have a lovely ride along an idyllic cycle path beside the river. The Danube broadens considerably just after Bratislava and resembles a lake more than a river. This area is a paradise for birds with hundreds of tiny, uninhabited islands offering sanctuary and peace. The route threads its way through this marvellous landscape, past quaint villages, canals and creeks. Your destination today is the beautiful, baroque city of Györ.

It is possible to shorten today's route to 44 km by taking the train from the town of Mosonmagyarovar to Györ.

From Györ the route leads you eastwards to the town of Babolna, home to a famous stud-farm known for breeding world-class Arabian horses. You can pay for a guided tour of the stud farm an learn more about the world of horse breeding if you like. From Babolna the route turns north and heads through open farmland back towards the Danube. You will spend the night in or near the village of Komarom.

The route continues along the embankment cycle path. After a few kilometres you might want to stop at the the Roman fort Kelemantia. From there you pedal on through quiet farming villages alongside the Danube. At Šturovo you cross the bridge to the city of Esztergom. Here you can visit the imposing basilica, the largest in Hungary. The town also has a beautiful town square. You’ll spend the night here or in a nearby town.

Your final ride leads you around the Danube bend and down to the captivating artists’ town of Szentendre - it's worth allowing some time to explore and enjoy this charming little place. From here you take a boat trip (with your bike) on into Budapest. Depending on the time of year this may in some cases be replaced with a train ride. If you are feeling up to it you can of course opt to complete the journey by bike and cycle into the city centre (total distance 70km)

The rest of the day and evening are yours to explore this fascinating city which is actually two cities, Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east.

After breakfast it’s time to head for home or your next adventure.