Now available: Guided cycling and cruising on the Danube
We are delighted to offer you a fully guided SPECIAL version of the famous Danube Bike Trail. Are you looking for great days of cycling? That is certainly the strong point of this trip. It is not about the number of countries you visit, this trip focuses on having the best rides there are, not skipping any of the beautiful Austrian parts of the Danube. The river cruise ship Primadonna sails during the night and lets us off to explore and cycle to the next destination. The scenery changes every day and the cycling is part following the Danube, and also into Vienna!
The ship we are on for our tour is an elegant and luxurious vessel. It’s a catamaran, all cabins have a river view and some even have a balcony. Or visit the front of the ship for a panoramic view from the bar area. Jacuzzi and great dining await you! As we will be with our small group, we will be together for breakfast and dinner. During the day we will go with our own guide(s) and cycle. We invite you to be part of this new way of cruising and guided cycling!
The tour itself gives us the option to cycle on the most beautiful part of the Danube river, which stretches from the west of Germany and ends in the Black Sea! It’s a very popular bike path and for most Europeans one you must have been on once, at least! So we are excited about taking you there to show you its beauty.
After this trip, you may also join another bike that is offered as a post-trip and a pre-trip at the same time. This tour will start or end in Muenich or Salzburg, yet to be determined! Soon online though, departure would be the 3rd or 4th of September, a few days after this trip ends!
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Day-to-day
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Arrival at Passau, boarding the ship
We are welcome on board at the end of the afternoon. First, we will meet to go there between 3 and 4 pm. We will check out our cabins and have our first dinner on board. Our guide(s) will welcome you and explain what’s ahead, talk about safe biking and other info about what’s to be expected in the upcoming days. The ship will start sailing while we are having dinner en cruise through the evening until arriving at Schloegen at midnight.
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Starting on the Danube Bike Path, cycling 55 km Schloegen to LInz (Austria)
Our bikes will be fitted at Schloegen and off we go! Our first ride is a special one right away: it’s a famous part of the Danube: the „Schlögener Schlinge“ which has been appointed a „Natural Wonder of Austria“ in 2008.
This rarity, called epigenetic cross valley, was being generated when the Danube carved its way through the soft layers of the Tertiary and created its meander-formed river bed, in the hard granitic rock. Because of the elevation of the landmass later on, the Danube carved itself nearly 300m into the ground and thereby created the dell, which almost forms a full circle. We cycle to Linz in Austria -
LInz to Grein 57 km
Our day starts from Linz and we cycle along no less than 3 castles, the last one, Greinburg, awaits us with a nice concert! Ice cream shop right in front of our docking spot in Greinburg might be the cherry on the cake today!
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Ybbs - Duernstein 59 km
Today we will cycle through the wine region of the Wachau area. Through beautiful villages, along the vineyards, this ride is just superb! Let’s taste some wine in Duernstein, and say Prost for a great ride!
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Hainburg, a ride into Bratislava, Slovakia 40 or 60 km
The ship arrives at its docking in the course of the morning, this is the furthest point the ship will go!
Although the ship will dock in Austria, we will cross the border and visit the lovely capital of Slovakia, Bratislava by bike. We will walk through the historic centre and continue cycling afterwards, either back to the ship, or with a smaller or bigger loop. Depends on the time schedule and your wishes!
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Vienna! Optional bike rides 20 to 50 km
A whole day to visit Vienna!
We will offer two options for a bike ride, one short one just into the city, and one longer one to visit Schoenbrunn, the big summer palace outside of Vienna.
You can also join the morning bus ride that shows you Vienna and makes a stop at Schoenbrunn. And then cycle to the inner city at noon, or have lunch on board and go cycling after that! The ship will be docked here until midnight, so there is also the option to visit a concert. One of the things many tourists do so here. Vienna had a huge reputation for classical music.
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Krems - Poechlarn 48 km
This part of the Danube Radweg is very beautiful. We are in Austria and will pass some vineyards, castles, monasteries and the like. Starting in Krems, and a short visit there, let’s move on, through the wine-growing region and its villages to the very impressive Monastery of Melk, worth cycling or walking up to. We will have a guided tour through the abbey and the church. And then continue along the Danube, through the romantic region of the Danube called Strudengau. Our last cycle destination is Poechlarn, where the Primadonna awaits us. Time to hand in our bikes. During dinner we can enjoy one last sail, the ship will arrive in Passau the next morning.
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Passau, end of tour
The last night on board brings us back to Passau, where all the fun started. Passau itself is definitely worth spending another day, but between 8.00 and 10.00 we need to disembark. If all goes according to plan, a bus takes us to the train station, where we will arrive at around 10 am.
Looking back on a lovely week of cruising and cycling on the prettiest river of all, the impressive Danube.
Photos
Accommodations
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Our rivercruise ship the PRIMADONNA
The PRIMADONNA is a beautiful fully updated river cruise ship. It can take up to 160 guests and has options on different levels of cabins and comfort. The standard cabins we offer as a price example offer two low beds and a small window. Like on the IRIS more or less. There are upgrades available to more spacious cabins on the Promenade and Upper Deck which offers cabins with a small balcony and wall to ceiling sliding doors.
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Standard cabin
The PRIMADONNA has 4 levels of cabins on offer. You can check the different prices at “what’s included and optional”.
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Superior cabins on Upper and Promenade Deck
Upgrades possible to Upper and Promenade Deck
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INDOOR Jacuzzi
Every cabin gets one free Hydro Jet treatment and also one free Beard Shave per cabin.
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Outdoor small pool
A nice way to spend some time on the ship at the sundeck
Please ask for our info sheet about the trip to know all about the details of the ship, the cabin, the services and the inclusions!
On this tour, offered by BikePlanet Tours on the PRIMADONNA, the following is included:
Welcome snack on arrival
7 days of sailing, breakfast buffet (American style), lunch/packed lunch and 4-course dinners on PRIMADONNA
Afternoon tea/coffee on board including Kuchen (cakes!), in case we are there on time (4 pm)
Daily midnight snack at the Panorama bar
2 hydro jet massages of 15 minutes per cabin for 1 guest. And 1 free beard shave or hair wash and dry.
City tours in Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava
1 Tour guide for 18 guests, cycling with the guests + maps
Panniers, water bottles and helmets
OTHER CABINS:
The price mentioned on this tour page is the price for a Standard Cabin on the Main Deck. The window can’t open on the lower part of the ship.
There are two more spacious cabins with a small balcony and floor-to-ceiling doors: the Promenade Deck and the Upper Deck. The Upper Deck is below the Promenade Deck and above the Main Deck.
The pricing in 2023:
Standard cabin Main Deck (mid/front)
(sharing a double cabin) per person € 1262.–
Deluxe cabin Upper Deck
(sharing a double cabin) per person € 1740.–
Deluxe cabin Promenade Deck
(sharing a double cabin) per person € 1920,–
SINGLE-USE PRICES:
Standard cabin Main Deck (mid/front) € 1660
Deluxe cabin Upper € 2610
Deluxe cabin Promenade Deck € 2910
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REGULAR BIKE RENT IS INCLUDED,
AND THE RENT OF E-BIKES IS ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY!
Optional:
You are allowed to bring your own (regular or e-) bike to the ship.
Bike rent on the ship, to be ordered ahead:
Regular Bike provided by Primadonna is included
E-bike + 100 euro (pre-order only!)