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Cruise and cycle the Danube River between Passau and Vienna aboard the elegant and stylish MS Primadonna. Disembark each day for relaxing rides along the riverside cycle path to historic towns and delightful wine villages.
Your bike and boat holiday starts in Passau, on the German/Austrian border. From here you embark on a week long adventure to the Austrian capital and back again. Daily bike rides along the well-maintained riverside cycle path will unveil something different each day. You'll see the natural beauty of the serene and beautiful Danube loop at Schlögen before cycling through the Kaiserau, an enchanting, sparsely inhabited valley. You'll cycle from the bustling city of Linz, past castles and charming villages to the baroque town of Grein.
Dürnstein - Wachau Valley
A stop in Vienna allows you to explore the many sights and attractions of this historic and elegant city before heading back up-stream to spend a full day riding through the beautiful wine villages of the stunning Wachau Valley.
Your floating hotel, the MS Primadonna, offers a very high standard of comfort and service and is the perfect base for your Danube cyleing holiday.
This leisurely cycle route follows mostly level terrain along a dedicated cycle path and as such is achievable for anyone with a basic level of fitness. Regular hybrid bikes are included in the package but it is also possible to pay a supplement and upgrade to an e-bike if you prefer.
Below you will find the daily itinerary for cyclists but bear in mind if you fancy a day off or have travelling companions who don't wish to cycle it is perfectly fine to remain on board and enjoy a leisurely cruise along the river to the next port of call.
Upon arrival in Passau make your way to the boat and settle into your cabin, embarkation and check-in is at 16:30. 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 surrounding countryside.
After a hearty breakfast you disembark for the first cycle ride of the holiday. The ride starts at the Schlögener Loop, also known as the Danube Loop, where the mighty river makes an abrupt 180 degree turn – a very picturesque and famous scene. You continue along the riverbank cycle path, riding through a serene and peaceful valley where steep, forested hillsides descend to the river. Shortly afterwards you’ll pass through the pleasant town of Aschau, perhaps stopping for a coffee, before continuing on along the river. After passing through some more pretty riverside villages you arrive in the city of Linz, where the Primadonna is waiting for you. Here you may opt to attend a concert in the nearby village of St. Florian where you can hear the mighty Bruckner organ play (payable locally). Afterwards dinner on board. The Primadonna remains moored in Linz overnight
A beautiful ride today with mile after mile of beautiful scenery dominated by a green landscape and ancient castles. You leave Linz, cycling past the Pleschinger Lake, where locals go to relax and swim. Before long you are in open countryside following the riverside cycle path. In Mauthausen you may choose to make a short detour inland to visit the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial - a thought provoking place. A little further on you have a fabulous view of Castle Walsee on the opposite riverbank (you can also crossover the dam for a closer look and visit if you like). Today's destination is the beautiful baroque town of Grein. In the afternoon you are invited to attend a concert in the town's imposing Greinburg Castle. During the night the Primadonna cruises downstream to Ybbs.
Today's fabulous ride is incredibly picturesque and showcases some of the Danube's most iconic scenery. From Grein, you enjoy a peaceful ride through the Strudengau, a beautiful and serene stretch of the river where nature still holds sway - this is leisure cycling at its best with stunning scenery and only the sounds of the birds and your tyres on the cycle path. The imposing abbey at Melk can be seen from some way off and the town also marks the gateway to the stunning Wachau Valley. Vineyards line the route as you pedal to the idyllic wine village of Spitz, where the MS Primadonna is waiting for you.
Today's loop ride along the length of the Wachau Valley from/to Spitz is a feast for the senses. Seas of verdant vineyards line the steep hillsides and cascade down to the riverbank. the meandering cycle path leads you to Dürnstein, a delightful medieval wine village with it's iconic, blue and white painted, church. Invest in the hike up to the castle ruins above the village where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the 12th century. The route then returns to Spitz via another idyllic cycle path on the opposite bank of the Danube. Once everyone is on board, the MS Primadonna slips her moorings and embarks on an evening cruise to Vienna, the Austrian capital.
After breakfast you can follow the bike path into the centre of Vienna and spend the morning visiting the city's many famous sights. The Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the Imperial Palace are popular highlights. 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 without enjoying a coffee and cake in one of the city's famous and elegant coffee houses.
You can opt to join a guided bus tour of Vienna (2 hours). See supplements.
If you prefer a riverside ride through peaceful countryside to a day in the city then you can follow the beautiful route through the Danube's Floodplains National park to the town of Hainburg. At the end of the ride you catch a commuter train back to Vienna with your bike (payable locally (approx €15). The MS Primadonna remains moored in Vienna for a second night.
In the early morning, the MS Primadonna cruises back, upstream to the city of Tulln where you disembark for the final ride of the trip. It's another beautiful ride beside the river. Before long, you reach the lovely old town of Krems where a walk through the historic centre is a must. From here the route leads you through the Wachau Valley once more, past Dürnstein to the village of Spitz where the MS Primadonna is waiting for you. At around 4pm the boat begins her overnight cruise back to Passau.
The Primadonna arrives back in Passau at around 9am. Disembarkation begins after breakfast at 10am. Now it’s time to head for home or your next adventure.
Regular bikes provided are modern, alloy framed models with 21 speeds and come equipped with pannier and lock.
Electric bikes are also available. A security credit card deposit of €180 will be requested on arrival as a ‘guarantee’ only. This will be returned when you return the e-bike in good condition.
Helmets are not provided and therefore you will need to bring your own.
The MS Primadonna is the second largest cruise ship on the Danube and offers elegant, spacious accommodation and facilities.
All 80 outside cabins are arranged over three decks; main deck, mid deck and upper deck. All offer individually controlled air conditioning, en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. Additionally there is a hair dryer, satellite TV, minibar and spacious wardrobe.
There are 40 main deck cabins. 8 of which are 9.5 m² towards the stern of the ship with 1 lower and 1 upper bed/bunk. 32 of which are 11,5 m² and have 2 single beds (one can be a sofa-bed) and a desk with chair. 3rd and 4th bed will be a bunk bed/folding bed. All have a large porthole which cannot be opened.
There are 20 mid deck cabins. Mid deck cabins are spacious cabins occupying 16,5 m² and have panoramic, sliding French windows and balcony with external bench seat. All mid deck cabins are double cabins – 2 beds together, which cannot be separated and which have separate mattresses and duvets. There is also a desk with chair and a small sofa (75x185cm) which is used as the 3rd bed, when a triple is booked and a small safe.
There are 20 upper deck cabins. All upper deck cabins are spacious cabins occupying 16,5 m² and have panoramic, sliding French windows and balcony with external bench seat. All upper deck cabins are double cabins – 2 beds together, which cannot be separated and which have separate mattresses and duvets. There is also a desk with chair plus two separate small armchairs and a small safe.
The ship’s public areas are modern and elegant, providing customers with very comfortable amenities for the week afloat. A 6o meter long lounge provides a lively place to meet and socialise. There’s also a panoramic restaurant and bar. At the front of the boat there is a fabulous viewing gallery with wonderful, unobstructed forward views. Other amenities include a spacious sundeck offering a range of seating as well as a Jacuzzi (only open if the weather permits). The Spa with Kneipp pool is open all season while the sauna is open June through to August only.
Meals
On board you will enjoy sophisticated international cuisine. Breakfast is an extensive American breakfast buffet while lunch consists of a light 3 course, a-la-carte menu or a packed lunch for cyclists. In the evening there is a 4 course a la carte menu with a full gala dinner once a week.
Tea, coffee and cake is provided each late afternoon and the bar also serves snacks late into the evening.
On-board payments: Cash and debit/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 organizational necessities.
Fly to Munich or Vienna (Salzburg or Linz are also possibilities). Then take the train from Munich/Vienna airport to Passau with one change. From Passau train station it is a shot taxi ride of approximately 5km to where the boat is moored.
Research trains here.
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