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This Danube River bike and boat cycling holiday showcases the most beautiful sections of the mighty river as it makes its way through Austria. Enjoy easy, cycle rides along the riverbank through spectacular scenery. Take in the majestic natural beauty of the Danube Loop and the terraced vineyards and medieval villages of the spectacular Wachau Valley.
The adventure begins in the medieval town of Passau on the German/Austrian border. From here, the very well appointed MS Manon, embarks on a cruise downstream to Vienna and back. Along the way the many natural and cultural highlights of this grand old river are revealed.
MS Manon in the Wachau Valley
Follow the Danube River Cycle Path to the stunningly beautiful and tranquil Danube Loop at Schlögen. Then enjoy more idyllic, riverside cycling through a peaceful, completely traffic free valley to meet the boat in the small town of Aschach.
Spend a day in elegant Vienna taking in the historic sights, tastes and sounds of the vibrant Austrian capital.
Enjoy a stunning ride along the length of the spectacular Wachau Valley where terraced vineyards, castle ruins, fruit orchards and charming medieval wine villages vie for your attention. Another spectacular ride leads you through the pristine Strudengau gorge to the baroque town of Grein.
The MS Manon is an elegant and very comfortable river cruiser with a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. On the upper-deck there is a comfortable salon and bar with large panoramic windows. There is also a partly covered sun deck complete with plenty of seating – perfect for watching the beautiful scenery drift by.
This holiday offers easy, incredibly scenic cycle rides on a dedicated cycle path beside the river. Choose an e-bike or a regular bike. Fancy a day off from cycling? No problem, just stay on board and enjoy watching the scenery drift by as the MS Manon makes her way to her next mooring point.
Upon arrival in Passau make your way to the MS Manon where boarding take place at 4pm with a planned departure time of 7pm. Settle into your cabin and explore the ship before enjoying a welcome cocktail with your fellow passengers and hearing more about the coming week from the captain and crew. 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 riverbanks to stroll along. We recommend making the climb to Veste Oberhaus, a medieval fortress and museum that offers a fantastic, panoramic view of the town and rivers. Enjoy dinner on-board as the boat cruises downstream to Engelhartszell where she moors for the night.
The first bike ride of the week is a fabulous introduction to the Danube Cycle Path. You'll set off from Engelhartszell and follow the riverside bike path along a very scenic and peaceful stretch of the river. After 14 km of idyllic cycling you reach a huge natural bend in the river that is renowned for its natural beauty and tranquillity. This is the Danube Loop and, if you have the energy, we recommend a hike up to the vantage point above the loop where you can enjoy a marvellous view of the whole scene. Afterwards you continue along the riverside cycle path, through a valley where nature still holds sway. Bird song and the hum of your tyres on the asphalt are the only sounds as you roll along. The boat is waiting for you in the small hamlet of Brandstatt and once everyone is on board, the crew cast off and the ship cruises to the vibrant city of Linz where she moors for the evening. Take a stroll to the bustling main square, 'Hauptplatz', where you can catch the yellow City -Express for a tour of the city. In the late evening the Manon leaves Linz and cruises through the night to the town of Tulln.
After breakfast you disembark with the bikes in the pleasant town of Tulln, known as the flower-city because of its abundance of parks. Your destination today is Nussdorf, a suburb of Vienna on the banks of the Danube. Along the way, you pass through the town of Klosterneuburg (abbreviated to 'Kloburg' by locals). Here you cannot miss the impressive abbey that has been a religious and cultural centre for 900 years. it's also Austria's oldest wine estate.. The ship is waiting for you at its mooring in Nussdorf. From here we recommend investing in the short hike up through the vineyards to reach the Kahlenberg viewing terrace from where you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view across Vienna. The ship remains at its mooring in Nussdorf overnight.
Use the excellent public transport connections from Nussdorf to reach Vienna city centre. The day is then yours to explore this elegant city and take in its many sights. Visit Schönbrunn Palace for its imperial grandeur, and stroll through historic Stephansplatz to admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The grand facade of the Hofburg Palace also shouldn't be missed and maybe consider enjoying some art at the Belvedere or Kunsthistorisches Museum. Finally, find time to relax at a traditional Viennese café with coffee and Sachertorte. Oh, and don't miss the grandeur of the city's famous Opera House. In the evening the crew cast off and the ship cruises back upstream to the Wachau Valley.
Today's route is definitely another highlight of the trip as you cycle the length of the spectacular Wachau Valley. This wine region is achingly beautiful with castle ruins, fruit orchards and cascading vineyard terraces on either side of the river. In Dürnstein you can explore the quaint old village and hike up to the castle ruin where King Richard the Lionheart was help captive in 1192. The idyllic cycle path follows the bends in the river past more beautiful old wine villages such as Weissenkirchen and Spitz. The twin towers of the spectacular Baroque abbey in Melk signify you have reached the end of the Wachau Valley. You re-board the MS Manon and she remains moored in in the historic town of Melk for the night.
After breakfast you disembark with your bikes and continue to follow the Danube Cycle Path upstream. Today's beautiful route leads you through a charming landscape of wide river meadows, interspersed by small towns and villages. After a while, the valley and river narrow and and you ride through the Strudengau, an unpopulated, wild section of the river where the current is noticeably faster. This section was once feared by river captains due to the swirling waters but today its natural beauty and tranquillity make it a highlight for cyclists. At the end of today's ride, Greinburg Castle comes into view and you arrive in the charming little town of Grein where the MS Manon is waiting for you and remains moored for the night. In the late afternoon you are invited to join a guided walking tour of this pleasant, baroque town.
The wide plains of the Machland region are the setting for your final day cycling along the Danube. In the village of Mitterkirchen you may wish to stop and visit the fascinating, reconstructed prehistoric Celtic Village which shows how people lived in this region some 2,700 years ago. After a few more kilometres of idyllic cycling you arrive in Mauthausen. Nearby, it's possible to visit the memorial site of the former concentration camp, definitely a thought-provoking experience. The MS Manon is waiting for you at her mooring in Mauthausen and once everyone is on board the crew cast off for an evening cruise back upstream towards Engelhartszell. The farewell dinner on board is always a highly enjoyable affair.
The MS Manon arrives back in Passau around 9am. It is now time to disembark and head for home or your next adventure.
Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed unisex models with 7 speeds. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump.
Electric bikes are also available.
Helmets are not provided, so you will need to bring your own.
The MS Manon is an elegant, very comfortable river cruiser offering a tasteful interior and a wealth of on-board amenities.
She has a total of 74 air-conditioned cabins arranged over 3 decks (main, middle and upper) every cabin features en suite shower/wc (some also feature a bathtub), hair dryer, safe, mini refrigerator and TV.
The upper deck features 30 twin bedded cabins with panoramic floor to ceiling windows which can be opened to the fresh air.
On the middle deck there are 31 twin bedded cabins with large windows which can be opened to the fresh air.
The main deck features 13 cabins with small windows (40cm high) that cannot be opened.
On the upper-deck there is a comfortable panorama salon and bar with large panoramic windows. There’s also a quiet book corner as well as a wellness area with sauna and whirlpool. The top deck is a partially covered sun-deck with plenty of seating for enjoying the fresh air. A special highlight is the ship's outdoor pool (8.7m x 4.5m)
The convivial restaurant is on the main deck and here you will enjoy a hearty breakfast each morning, and a three-course meal each evening.
On-board payments: Cash and credit cards accepted.
The captain reserves the right to make changes to the planned route due to changing wind, tide and weather conditions, and where required by organisational necessities.
Fly to Munich or Vienna airports and then travel by train onwards to Passau.
Research flights from UK airports.
Research onward rail connections.
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