Difficulty Rating : 3 Start: Passau Finish: Vienna Terrain: lat or slightly undulating, mainly on dedicated paths Daily Average: 51 - 55 km Weekly Average: 310 – 325 km Tour Type: Self Guided,Family Teaser: Our Passau to Vienna Safari starts in Passau, a delightful German baroque town, situated at the confluence of three rivers.
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Our Passau to Vienna Safari starts in Passau, a delightful German baroque town, situated at the confluence of three rivers. The classic route along the River Danube from Passau to Vienna is one of the most popular cycle routes on the Continent and is an ideal 'starter' for cycle touring. The way is flat (but you also have the opportunity to climb out of the valley to visit sights, or for a change of pace).

The quality of the trail is excellent as you visit charming towns such as Grein, a small town with a well preserved historic centre, which is dominated by the picturesque castle of Greinburg. You cycle through the famous Wachau region, where the scenery is breathtaking, probably the most beautiful encountered anywhere on the route.

The majority of the trail is on dedicated, smooth, paved traffic-free cycleway. There is a lot to see and do when not cycling and plenty of like-minded people to meet.

We also run another tour "Danube for Kids" which starts in Linz heading to Vienna,  which is suitable for children

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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Resources Tab

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival to Schärding/Passau

Today you will have a tour briefing as well as being fitted out with your bike. But there should be plenty of time to stroll through the baroque city Schärding and visit the "Silberzeile" or enjoy the newly renovated pedestrian zone in three rivers-city Passau.

Day 2

Schärding/Passau ~ Danube Valley (40 - 55 kms)

our cycle takes you along the river Inn to the three-rivers-city Passau which is well worth visiting before you contine along the Danube via Obernzell to the beautiful monastery at Engelhartszell. The Danube, Europe’s second largest river, has to make a 180° bend here which you can enjoy during your ferry tour to the other side of the river

Day 3

Danube Valley ~ Linz (50 kms)

Today you cycle via Aschach, Ottensheim and Wilhering nestling in the pristine Danube Valley to the upper Austrian capital city Linz with it’s historic old city. Another highlight of this city is the wonderful view from the mountain Pöstlingsberg or a stroll along Donaulände

Day 4

Linz ~ Grein area (55 kms)

You cycle to Enns with its market square and 60m high city tower, the emblem of the oldest city in Austria. Afterwards you continue along the river to reach the wonderful baroque city of Grein where you can visit the oldest city theatre in Austria. A visit to Austria's oldest residential castle of Greinburg is also an option for today.

Day 5

Grein area ~ Wachau (50-60 kms)

This part of the Danube was dreaded in former times as it was hard to pass by boat, but now you can happily cycle this section in a very relaxed way!. In Maria Taferl you can visit a wonderful church where thousands of pilgrims visit yearly.

Day 6

Wachau ~ Krems (40-60 kms)

n Melk a visit to the Abbey is a must, after which you cycle through the Wachau region where you can enjoy the beauty of fruit orchards and vineyards en route. The cycle passes Spitz, Weißenkirchen and the ruins of Dürnstein before you reach Krems, a thousand-year-old city and Tulln where we have organised a wine tasting for you!.

Day 7

Your Plan

Our destination is the magnificent city of Vienna, where you can enjoy a typical Viennese café and try a piece of Sachertorte. Stroll through Vienna’s Parade shopping street Mariahilfer Straße, visit the Stephen’s Cathedral or enjoy the most important places of interest during a trip in one of the famous Fiaker cabs.

The tour ends after breakfast the following morning.

  • 7 overnights in 4*hotel accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • Personal welcome briefing
  • Detailed route maps and descriptions   ( one per room )
  • Luggage transfer 
  • 1 journey by ferry (Au-Schlogen)
  • 1 wine tasting in Wachau
  • App for navigation and GPS tracks available
  • Service-hotline during your tour

In 2023 Bike Rental is not included in the basic tour price.
All rentals come with a pannier, lock and repair equipment

For 2021 bike rental is not included in the basic tour price

It is of course possible to rent a bike!

On this tour the standard rental bike is what is called a "unisex" bike or a step though frame, see our tour dossier for an image. It is possible to rent a more typical gents frame for taller men but this is on request only. It is also possible to rent an e-bike

Bike rental includes:
● 21 speed unisex bike (gents bike on request only/limited availability)
● Saddle bag (water-resistant)
● Handlebar bag (water-resistant)
● Tools / Repair kit / Pump
● Combination lock

PASSAU

DAY 1 Hotel Passauer Wolf ****

(Also possible to start from Scharding Stadthotel ****

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SCHLÖGEN / SURROUNDINGS

DAY 2 Hotel Donauschlinge ****

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LINZ

DAY 3 Arcotel Nike ****

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GREIN

DAY 4 Hotel Goldenes Kreuz ****

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WACHAU

DAY 5 Donauhof Emmersdorf****

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KREMS

DAY 6 Hotel Gastof Zum Schwan***

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VIENNA

DAY 7 Arcotel Kaiserwasser****

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PASSAU TO VIENNA SELF GUIDED TOUR 2024
Category A (4* hotels and hotels on 4* level)
€940 per person sharing    (Season 1)
€1030 per person sharing    (Season 2)
€1100 per person sharing  (Season 3)
€310 single supplement

Category B (4* and 3* hotels)
€830 per person sharing  (Season 1)
€930 per person sharing  (Season 2)
€990 per person sharing  (Season 3)
€300 single supplement

Category C (3* hotels and inns, at Linz and Vienna 4* hotels)
€730 per person sharing  (Season 1)
€800 per person sharing  (Season 2)
€870 per person sharing  (Season 3)
€290 single supplement

Bike Rental 7 Night Tour
€100   21/24 speed unisex touring bike
€170   20/28 speed touring bike with crossbar
€260   E-bike, unisex

Self Guided Tour Information

Daily departures from 23rd March - 12th October 2024

Flying to Passau

Munich Airport (MUC)
The closest airport to Passau is Munich Airport (München Flughafen / MUC) with its huge number of cheap flights to mostly German and European destinations.
Passau is around 160 km (100 miles) from Munich Airport. Driving time is around 90 minutes. From the airport, take Autobahn A92 towards Deggendorf and turn southeast onto Autobahn A3 when reaching the Danube.
Public transportation is slightly more complicated. From the airport, take bus 635 to Freising (18 minutes). Direct trains run from Freising to Passau every two hours. Alternatives require transfers in either Plattling or Regensburg. Total journey time varies from 2h20 to three hours.

Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Many international, and especially intercontinental, passengers will enter Germany at Frankfurt International Airport (FRA). It will often be both faster and cheaper to take the ICE train from Frankfurt to Passau rather than taking a connection flight to Munich. Many direct trains are available with more options requiring an easy transfer at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. Total journey time is just over four hours.

The following websites will help you with train connections between Vienna and Passau. www.bahn.de or www.oebb.at

High-Speed Inter-City-Express Trains to Passau

Passau is on the high-speed railway line that links Frankfurt am Main and Vienna. Luxury, high-speed Inter-City Express (ICE) trains run on this route roughly every two hours.
The ICE trains to Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) take around four hours and stop en route in Plattling (30 minutes), Regensburg (1h), Nürnberg / Nuremberg (2h), and Würzburg (3h). Many trains continue to Frankfurt International Airport and on to Cologne (Köln) and further destinations.

From Passau to Vienna on the ICE train is three hours with a stop en route in Linz (1h10).
• Passau station (Bahnhof) is at the edge of the old town in Donaustadt. From the station to the heart of the old town is an easy fifteen-minute walk through pleasant shopping streets.

Regional Trains to Passau
Many regional trains also pass through Passau. Although slower than the ICE, regional trains can be significantly cheaper and on short distances, the time differences can be negligible. In addition, discount tickets such as the Bayern Ticket and Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket may be used on regional trains only.
The regional trains are available amongst others to Plattling (36 min) and Regensburg (1h40). Only regional trains are available to München / Munich (2h15) and run mostly every two hours – more frequent connections require transfers at either Plattling or Regensburg.
German discount tickets are not valid on regional trains into Austria but the slower trains are cheaper than the ICE. Regional trains run to Linz (90 min to 2h) and Vienna (5h).

Daily return transfer by bus from Vienna at the end of the tour – pick up at the hotel between 3 – 3.30pm, duration approx. 3,5 – 4 hours. Cost per person €75, cost for bringing own bike €29. Reservation necessary, payable on the spot.

Our cycling holiday went really brilliantly - I have been recommending it to everyone!
All the travel arrangements worked perfectly - bags went ahead like clockwork and the trip is very manageable with children. Food was good - classic local cuisine. The accommodation was very comfortable and all the staff in the hotels extremely friendly.

Caroline M. (Danube for Kids self led 2014)

Tour Date Options

Red = booked out / not available, Blue = Limited Availability, Green = available

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Insurance

We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Acommodation

For single travellers, we organise accommodation on a twin sharing basis. Please note it may not be possible on all our tours and a single supplement will be applied.

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Other Information

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €250.00 deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The Balance payment is required two month prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The balancing payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.