Compare Romantic Germany & Impressive Austria by Journeys Connect vs Passau to Vienna Cycling by Exodus Travels
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| Trip |
0 | Poor
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 3,059 | $ 2,900 |
| Price Per Day | $ 255 | $ 264 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included |
11 Breakfasts |
All breakfasts included |
| Description |
Southern Germany offers magical landscapes with lush rolling hills, medieval towns and picturesque castles such as Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. The combination with Austria shows you impressive mountains, magnificent lakes and historical cities, which leading to an unforgettable travel experience. |
The route from Passau, on Germany's eastern border, to Vienna is one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, and it's no wonder! This stretch of the Danube carves its way through a thousand years of history; 60 dramatic castles and palaces lie along the river and the ever-changing landscape is a kaleidoscope of fertile plains, narrow gorges, lowland forests, bird-rich marshland and acres of picturesque vines.Cycle through a thousand years of history |
Day 1: Arrive In Frankfurt, Germany
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Mövenpick City Center
Arrival at Frankfurt airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure. Frankfurt is the financial and commercial heart of Germany, a city full of fascinating contrasts between modern development and historic landmarks. At 7 pm you will meet your guide at the welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Frankfurt / Heidelberg / Black Forest
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western Hotel Hofgut Sternen
In the morning we travel from Frankfurt to Heidelberg. Visit the famous castle ascending with the cable car and enjoy a sightseeing tour of its historic city center. Idyllically located on the shores of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university town and one of the most popular destinations in the country. We continue to the famous Black Forest region. This night we will have an authentic experience: Enjoy a typical Black Forest dinner and overnight in a romantically located hotel. If you like, have a little walk to the beautiful Ravenna Gorge or see the region’s oldest chapel, both are next to the hotel.
Day 3: Black Forest / Lake Titi / Lindau / Füssen
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Hirsch
After breakfast we enjoy a short presentation on the cuckoo clock production. We continue to a small traditional Black Forest farm where we will have a cheese tasting and you will see the true life of the Black Forest. After we will travel to Lake Titisee, nestled in the legendary Black Forest. We continue the tour to the small island of Lindau in Lake Constance, which offers spectacular views of the Alps. Depending on weather conditions we will take the Alpine road from Lindau to Oberstaufen and Immenstadt to our final destination Füssen, the southernmost point on our tour of Romantic Germany.
Day 4: Neuschwanstein / Wieskirche / Oberammergau / Ettal / Innsbruck
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Grauer Bär
We begin the day with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, built by Ludwig II, the notorious “Mad King“. In the midday we travel to Oberammergau, famous for its Passion Play and lovely crafts. Along the way we visit the Wieskirche Church before continuing the tour to visit Linderhof Castle. This is one of the 3 castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one where the king actually lived for a significant amount of time. After a brief stop at the Ettal Benedictine Abbey we continue to our final destination, Innsbruck.
Day 5: Innsbruck / Munich
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Maritim Hotel Munich
In the morning we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Innsbruck, Austria, located in the Inn valley, in the heart of the Alps. In the afternoon we travel to Munich.
Day 6: Munich
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Accommodation: Maritim Hotel Munich
After breakfast we visit the city’s main attractions, concluding the tour at the Marienplatz square with its famous clock tower. The capital of Bavaria state, Munich, is famous for its Oktoberfest, which is annually celebrated in September. The afternoon is free to explore at your leisure. In the evening you enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner.
Day 7: Munich / Passau / Linz
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Arcotel Nike
In the morning we travel to Passau. This city, on the border between Germany and Austria, has a very privileged location on the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz rivers. In the afternoon we cross the Austrian border to the city of Linz, a picturesque town on the banks of the Danube river.
Day 8: Linz / Dürnstein / Melk / Vienna
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Arcotel Wimberger
After breakfast we enjoy a short stop at the village of Dürnstein, nestled in the heart of the magnificent Wachau Valley. The charming town of Dürnstein offers the unique combination of a breathtaking scenery and traditional architecture. It was in the Kuenringer Castle, whose ruins still overlook Dürnstein, that the English King Richard Lionheart was held prisoner. We continue to Melk for a short visit to the famous Abbey. Finally we arrive the magnificent capital of Austria.
Day 9: Vienna
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Arcotel Wimberger
Sightseeing tour of Vienna. We admire the Opera, Hofburg Palace, Heroes Gate, Parliament, the Council and the other attractions. Afternoon free to explore Vienna at your leisure. At night attend a gala dinner accompanied by live classical music (optional, not included).
Day 10: Vienna / Lake District / Salzburg
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel NH Salzburg City
In the morning we continue to the Lake District and ascend Mount Zwölferhorn by cable car to enjoy wonderful views over the Lake Wolfgang. Continue to the city of Salzburg, where the genius composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born. Sightseeing tour with examples of breathtaking Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque artistry. Our visit also includes the world famous Mirabell Gardens and we see the house where Mozart grew up.
Day 11: Salzberg / Berchtesgaden / Chiemsee / Munich
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Maritim Hotel Munich or Mövenpick Munich Airport
After breakfast we travel along the Königsee River Valley, through the Bavarian mountains, along romantic farmhouses to Obersalzberg. Special buses and an elevator will bring us to the Eagle´s Nest. From there we continue to Lake Chiemsee, the “Bavarian Sea” for a short stop. Onwards to Munich.
Day 12: Munich / Usa
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to Munich airport for return flight to US.
Day 1 Arrive in Passau
Arrive at your riverfront hotel and then enjoy dinner in the heart of the old town tonight. You stay at the Hotel Residenz (breakfast included)
Day 2 Passau to Schlogen
After receiving your bike and welcome brief, pedal east to Obernzell, famous for pottery, before popping into the Keramicmuseum in a riverside castle. The scent of wood smoke and grilled trout may tempt you into lunch as you cross into Austria where the valley is steeper and cloaked with oak woods. On reaching the hotel, relax in the pool before dinner on the terrace watching passenger boats sparkling with fairy lights cruise past. Cycling distance either 23km/14.5mi or 47km/29.5mi You stay at the Hotel Donauschlinge (breakfast included)
Day 3 Schlogen to Aschach (Linz)
Spot kingfishers today in the Donauschlinge Nature Reserve. Stop and enjoy the views at the picnic tables that dot the waterfront before you reach Aschach's frescoed waterfront. Catch the Linz ferry, or follow the towpath through reed marshes to Ottensheim beach for a swim. Hop on the train here and in no time you'll arrive at your hotel, an ancient convent, in Linz's extravagant town square. Cycling disctance either 27km/17mi or 46km/29mi You stay at the Hotel Wolfinger (breakfast included)
Day 4 Linz to Ardagger/Grein
The route leads you away from the Danube to 12th Century Enns. Austria's oldest city, before returning to the Danube and an onward ride to the beautiful little village of Ardagger. Cycling disctance either 56km/35mi or 61km/38mi You stay at the Hotel Schiffmeisterhaus (breakfast included)
Day 5 Ardagger/Grein to Melk
Explore the small baroque town of Grein before cycling through the fertile Danube Valley for a lunch stop in Ybbs, home to a quirky collection of penny-farthings bicycles. The hilltop twin towers of Maria Taferl appear and Melk's monastery looms high above as you pedal towards Margaret Ebner's welcoming family hotel in Melk. You stay at the Hotel Zur Post (breakfast included) Cycling distance either 55km/34mi
Day 6 At Melk
Melk's massive Benedictine monastery was rebuilt in 1683, and the interior abbey is as breathtaking as the countryside views from the rooftop terrace. For a day trip, cycle to Schloss Schallaburg (8km return), one of the finest Renaissance castles north of the Alps, where you can stroll in the magnificent rose gardens and enjoy acclaimed cultural exhibitions. You stay at the Hotel Zur Post (breakfast included)
Day 7 Melk to Krems
Today you coast along the UNESCO Wachau Valley, a necklace of villages and vineyards, anchored by pretty churches along the north bank. Each is charming, especially Durnstein where Richard the Lionheart was held for ransom in the craggy hilltop castle. Admire the statuette, Venus of Willendorf, dating back to 23,000BC, before arriving in Krems for a splash in the pool, and candlelit dinner on the terrace overlooking the valley. You stay at the Steigenberger Hotel & Spa (breakfast included)
Day 8 At Krems
Krems has one of the most beautiful historic centres in Europe and is packed with interest, from the Wine Museum housed in a restored Dominican monastery to the 13th century abbey that exhibits paintings of Martin Johann Schmidt. You can cycle out to Schloss Grafenegg (14km away), a gargoyle-encrusted Gothic castle set in 85 acres of parkland, perfect for picnics, or just relax in the fabulous hotel spa and pool. You stay at the Steigenberger Hotel & Spa (breakfast included)
Day 9 Krems to Tulln
Freewheel down river to Tulln, known as the 'Town of Roses'. Pop into the Roman museum, which is packed with artefacts, and dine out tonight amid the fountains, statues and ornate buildings that crowd the pretty centre before returning to your waterfront hotel. You stay at the Hotel Nibelungenhof (breakfast included)
Day 10 Tulln to Vienna
Coast along the last stretch and relax over lunch in imperial Klosterneuburg. Then cycle along Danube Island before continuing to your hotel, right in the heart of the city. Enjoy dinner out in Vienna's lively centre which is breathtakingly floodlit at night! You stay at the Hotel Austria (breakfast included) Cycling distance either 22km/13.5mi or 41km/26mi
Day 11 Leave Vienna
The tour ends after breakfast in Vienna.
