On this voyage, let the Danube River be your guide. Go river cruising from Prague to Passau, Vienna to Bratislava and on to Budapest. Pedal through the Bavarian Forest. Stroll among baroque architecture. Sample local beers. And discover tucked-away hamlets. Then luxuriate on board the ship as it carries you to your next adventure.
Day
1 Take an easygoing ride through the Bavarian Forest to the Danube River 
Nothing like a bit of oompah music to get things started—enjoy an Oktoberfest-style celebration before we set sail. (Overnight Vilshofen)
Day
2 Sample local specialties at Hoftaferne Neuburg Castle Fall in love with Bavaria's quiet biking routes and stunning views into Austria Stroll amid Italian baroque architecture in Passau, the City of Three Rivers. (Cruise overnight Passau to Linz)
Day
3 What's your pleasure—a ride in the Austrian countryside or a guided walk in Linz? Later, choose an excursion to Salzburg, Český Krumlov or the Austrian Lakes District 
Or opt for a pleasant afternoon spin to Austria's oldest town. (Cruise overnight Linz to Melk)
Day
4 Bike or cruise the most stunning stretch of the Danube through Wachau Valley vineyards Visit majestic Melk Abbey, quaint towns and Heurigen (wine taverns). (Cruise overnight Melk to Vienna)
Day
5 From St. Stephen's Cathedral to the Opera House, Vienna's historic center is magnificent Bike along tranquil Danube Island and explore the city on foot during a private walking tour. (Overnight Vienna)
Day
6 Follow bike paths in serene Donau-Auen National Park, keeping an eye out for kingfishers and herons Ride between two capital cities—Vienna and Bratislava—passing remnants of the former Iron Curtain Picnic at Schloss Hof, a castle and working farm On a walking tour, be charmed by Bratislava's medieval center. (Cruise overnight Bratislava to Budapest)
Days
7-8 Enjoy a guided bike tour of breathtaking Budapest Soak in thermal springs, visit one of 140 museums or browse in Budapest's vibrant shopping district An evening cruise through the illuminated cityscape is the perfect finale to our trip. (Overnight Budapest)
Please note: Due to the multiple stateroom options available on this trip, reservations can only be made by contacting one of our Trip Consultants at 800-462-2848 or via email.
Very well done. The trip leaders (Kevin and Stephanie) were amazing as well as the support staff -- Malcolm and Eduardo)!!- Seattle, WA
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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A luxurious custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, expansive outdoor decks, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. (pool)
View the deck plans. See Dates & Prices for specific ship, stateroom category availability and embarkation/disembarkation details.
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 8 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 8 customers
Displaying reviews 1-8
Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
Very well done. The trip leaders (Kevin and Stephanie) were amazing as well as the support staff -- Malcolm and Eduardo)!!
Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
Great trip! Great food, biking, accommodations, trip leaders, crew. 100% would go again.
Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
Everything was perfect -- the riding, the scenery, the guides, the food, and the accommodations. It was a phenomenal trip.
Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
Seriously, what's not to love about this trip?! You get the amazing Backroads trip leaders, bikes and scenic routes while river cruising through FIVE countries! Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest -- each cities unknown to me before the trip and now places that I have explored and look forward to returning to again some day. One of my favorite memories of the trip was waking up in the early morning hours while the ship was sailing, opening the curtains of my cabin and realizing we were on a stretch of the Danube with no buildings, no other ships, not a person in sight! Just the quiet hush of the wake from the ship, and lush forested river banks draped in fog.
Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
You all do such a wonderful job. We feel so taken care of each moment of the trip and know we can depend on your staff for any of our needs and to simply have a great time. What we find noteworthy is how you secure such exceptional people to work on your staff. We can't wait for our next Backroads trip and are already considering options for our next trip.
Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
The Danube Cycling/River Cruise tour was our 4th Backroads trip. All of our Backroads vacations have exceeded every expectation and this one was no different. Cycling the Danube is a magical experience. The Backroads guides are helpful, fun, and make sure your every need is met.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
Thanks to all for planning and executing such a wonderful, different experience. Our 25th with Backroads. We were a little unsure how the "group dynamic" would go with the river cruise but it was excellent and far exceeded our expectations. Great trip!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Cycling on the Danube
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Comments about Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour:
I had never been to Eastern Europe and was a bit daunted by the logistics of traveling through 5 countries. Turned out I had nothing to worry about. Everything was so seamless and stress free!
I loved the biking on this trip, especially biking in the hills in Austria (I did most of the long option rides) and biking from Vienna to Bratislava (what a hidden gem of a city!). The boat was super luxe as advertised and I loved how much flexibility there was - you are free to go on any of the rides or activities, but you can always opt to stay on the boat to lounge by the pool or watch the scenery go by. It was a Backroads trip, so you know the leaders will be fabulous, and Carlos and Christian were amazing!
There was plenty of van support along the way as usual, so my mom had peace of mind that she could always hop in the van (turns out she did all the long options too, even more than me! She is hooked on these trips now!)
All in all I loved this trip and the Backroads experience let us get off the beaten track and really explore all the places we went through. I would go back in a heartbeat and would definitely recommend this trip to a friend.
Displaying reviews 1-8
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 16* | 600 | 26 | 1200 | ||||||
| 2 | 19* | 1300 | 35 | 2000 | ||||||
| 26 | 1500 | 36 | 2700 | |||||||
| Passau Guided City Walk (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 3 | 14* | 600 | 27* | 1000 | 43* | 1300 | ||||
| Salzburg, Cesky Krumlov or Austrian Lakes District Tour (4 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 15 | 500 | 30 | 1000 | 37 | 1200 | 42 | 2600 | ||
| 5 | 17* | 400 | 28* | 700 | ||||||
| Vienna Guided City Walk (1.5 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | 21* | 300 | 34* | 600 | 46 | 900 | ||||
| Bratislava Guided City Walk (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 7 | 8* | 300 | ||||||||
| Illuminations Cruise (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 8 | Disembarkation in Budapest | |||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Backroads is the only active travel company to forge a partnership with AmaWaterways, the leader in luxury river cruising. Beyond the unique perspective and amazing access of river-based travel, equally important to us is ensuring that our guests enjoy a fantastic onboard experience. This is where AmaWaterways shines, with spacious staterooms featuring outside or French balconies, plus amenities that include a spa, a gym and a pool with swim-up bar.
Backroads pioneered the active river trip, partnering with AmaWaterways, the leader in river cruising, to create a new kind of travel experience featuring biking and walking explorations from an elegant floating hotel. Read more about this ideal way to discover the heart of a region.
We design and support our Danube River trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
