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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 small market town of Engelhartszell just a few km from Passau on the German/Austrian border. From here, the very well appointed MS Prinzessin Katharina, 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 Prinzessin Katharina 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 Prinzessin Katharina is an elegant and very comfortable river cruiser with a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. On the upper-deck there is a panoramic restaurant, a comfortable salon and two bars. 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 Prinzessin Katharina makes her way to her next mooring point.
Make your way to the charming market town of Engelhartszell on the banks of the Danube, just 18 miles downstream from the city of Passau. Embarkation takes place at 4pm. At the southern end or the town you will find the Cistercian Abbey of Engelszell. The abbey is famous for its excellent liqueur, beer and cheese products. The ship stays at her mooring in Engelhartszell overnight.
A return transfer can be pre-booked from Passau Main Station to the boat. This leaves at 16:00.
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 sound as you roll along. The ship is waiting for you in the town of Aschach and once everyone is on board, the crew cast off and the ship cruises through the night to the Austrian capital, Vienna.
An easy and highly enjoyable ride from the riverside town of Tulln to 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. i'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 quint old village and hike up 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 and here you re-board your ship. The MS Prinzessin Katharina remains moored in Melk overnight.
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 Prinzessin Katharina 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 Prinzessin Katharina 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 Prinzessin Katharina 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 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 Prinzessin Katharina is an elegant, very comfortable river cruiser offering a tasteful interior and a wealth of on-board amenities.
She has a total of 71 air-conditioned cabins each with en suite shower, toilet, hair dryer, mini refrigerator and TV.
The upper deck features 29 twin cabins, 1 triple and 2 single cabins. All feature floor to ceiling windows which can be opened to the fresh air.
On the main deck there are 38 twin bedded cabins, each featuring two sofa beds at right angles to each other and there is also one single cabin. The picture windows in these cabins cannot be opened. Some cabins, located towards the bow or stern, have been designated as ‘eco’ cabins and are available at a lower price because of perceivable engine noise when underway.
On the upper-deck there is a panoramic restaurant, a comfortable salon and two bars. There’s also a quiet book corner as well as a small shop. The top deck is a partially covered sun-deck with plenty of seating for watching the scenery drift by.
A hearty breakfast is provided each morning, as are packed lunches to take with you on the daily rides. A three-course meal is served 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 airport and then travel by train to Passau. From Passau station you can either catch the 670 Postbus to Engelhartszell (38 min journey time) or take a taxi (the distance is 18 miles).
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