Mrs Martin says...
We had a fantastic holiday overall. Megan was very professional and helpful during the booking process and we were delighted with our choice of route. ...
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Austria / Slovakia / Hungary: The Danube
This is a classic self-guided cycle ride linking three historic cities. Your journey starts in Vienna, which requires little introduction, with its abundance of famous sites, entertainment and culture. The River Danube serves as the spine of the cycling route as you meander back and forth through woodland, farmland, avenues of walnut trees, wide flat landscapes and shady hills. A night is spent in the pretty city of Bratislava and in the lovely town of Gyor, as we head towards the Danube Bend at Esztergom. The end point for the trip is the city of Budapest with time to soak up the wonderful atmosphere and enjoy the stunning architecture.
Make your own way to the hotel. The rest of the day is left free to explore Vienna at your leisure. It is a metropolis with unique charm, vibrancy and flair. It boasts outstanding infrastructure, is clean and safe, and has all of the culture, architecture and inspiration that you could wish for in this wonderful part of Europe. Highlights that you may consider include visits to the grand Schonbrunn Palace, Sigmund Freud Museum and a tour in the Vienna State Opera House. Don't miss a visit to one of the many wonderful coffee shops to enjoy the typical cake Sachertorte!
This morning you receive your bikes before setting off on your first day of riding.
On leaving Vienna the route takes you through the Donau-Auen National Park, an area of extensive flood plains, which have turned into small ponds offering a rich habitat to countless species of birds, animals and insects. From here, pass Orth Castle and the pretty village of Eckertsau before arriving in Hainburg.
Meals: Breakfast
Follow the Roman bike trail to one of Austria's most important archaeological sites, the Roman remains at Petronell-Carnuntum. End your day in the Gothic old town of Bratislava, Slovakia's pretty capital city that exudes old world charm.
Meals: Breakfast
After a short cycle through Slovakia, you cross the Hungarian border into Rajka. Cycle past storybook villages, where you can still find traditional thatched-roofed farm houses. Your route guides you through the Szigetkoz (a small Rye island) towards Mosonmagyarovar; the charming old 'city of 17 bridges'. The city centre is noteworthy for its impressive collection of Baroque buildings.
Meals: Breakfast
Today, you follow a flat cycling route as it takes you through the outstanding natural surroundings of the island between the Danube and the Mosoni Duna (Small Danube). Make a stop to see Hedervar Castle, before arriving in the colourful town of Gyor, to take in its sights and breathtaking historic centre.
Meals: Breakfast
Take the train to Komarom then pedal along the riverbanks of the flat Danube Valley, passing quaint villages and lush vineyards. Fitter cyclists can choose a route over Tata, but be aware this is more strenuous and there are no shops and restaurants along the way. Those interested in the history of the area should plan some time for the Roman archaelogical site of Kelemantia, where a military camp stood from the 2nd to the 4th Century. The absolute highlight of the day however, is Esztergom (also known as Hungarian Rome), with the largest basilica in the country.
Meals: Breakfast
Head to the Danube Bend, probably one of the most attractive sections of the Danube bike trail. Here, the river winds its way through the Visegrad Mountains and makes a sharp turn towards the south. The Royal Palace and castle of Visegrad, and the open air museum are well worth a visit, as is the old Baroque town of Szentendre. Here you take a leisurely boat ride into the centre of the city and appreciate the stunning architecture.
Meals: Breakfast
End your trip in Budapest. There is much to see in this iconic city and we are pleased to book additional nights for you if you wish. Hungary's capital is bisected by the River Danube, and the 19th Century Chain Bridge connects its hilly Buda district with the flat Pest. The city is easy to explore on foot; don't miss the chance to visit one of the city's famous thermal baths or walk up to the dome of St Stephan's Basilica for a fantastic panoramic view!
Meals: Breakfast
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
On this trip we use well selected charming 4-star hotels, generally family owned.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
We had a fantastic holiday overall. Megan was very professional and helpful during the booking process and we were delighted with our choice of route. The bikes were brilliant, some hotels were absolutely excellent (in Gyor and Bratislava specifically) and all personnel were amazing. The distances of the routes were just right for us (despite the blazing hot sunshine!) and we loved the cities and towns we visited throughout.
This was an excellent trip, made particularly memorable by the excellent (but very warm) weather. The itinerary is first class, but be aware that there are long stretches (full days in some cases) where you won't see the Danube. So, it is definitely not a cycle along the river bank. The route is mainly flat and there are stages where you cycle along man made 'dams' which are pretty boring at times. It is worth using the maps supplied to vary the route and explore other areas/routes.
The hotels were excellent and of 4 star quality. Our luggage always made it to the next hotel before us and we had no issues checking in.
The bikes are robust and 'industrial' and were in very good condition - we had no issues.
Overall, a great way to explore the 3 countries. I would definitely recommend it.
To be able to cycle on the level from Vienna to Budapest, taking in some interesting towns and countryside en route, is a great experience.
A really interesting and scenic journey but with some challenging surfaces on loose gravel along dykes[with alternative routes on/alongside main roads]and some quite long distances especially on the 1st day.
Lovely places en route such as Bratislava,Gyor,Visegrad and of course Vienna and Budapest.
We felt that the itinerary didn't allow adequate time for exploring the places we visited and we would suggest in future offering more flexibility i.e. some days off between cycling/taking us by car/train where the route is not so interesting or alongside main roads[something that Headwater have done on other holidays].
The written notes were on the whole good but the verbal briefing on arrival was non existent-I think that the bike company had staffing problems :this needs addressing and communication needs improving.
The bikes were fine and we had no problems with them.
We were very happy with all the hotels but especially liked Hotel Honti in Visegrad and Hotel Lajta Park at Mosonmagyarovar[smaller and a more relaxed friendly atmosphere].
Overall we would recommend the trip but with the provisos already expressed.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
High quality bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels
Esztergom to Visegrad boat including the transfer of the bikes
Train ticket including bike from Györ to Komàrom
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or click on the 'check availability' links below to complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or click on the 'Check availability' links below to complete our holiday enquiry form.
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20th Aug 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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27th Aug 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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3rd Sep 2022 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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10th Sep 2022 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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17th Sep 2022 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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24th Sep 2022 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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1st Oct 2022 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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8th Oct 2022 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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1st Apr 2023 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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8th Apr 2023 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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15th Apr 2023 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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22nd Apr 2023 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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29th Apr 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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6th May 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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13th May 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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20th May 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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27th May 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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3rd Jun 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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10th Jun 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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17th Jun 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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24th Jun 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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1st Jul 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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8th Jul 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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15th Jul 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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22nd Jul 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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29th Jul 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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5th Aug 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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12th Aug 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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19th Aug 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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26th Aug 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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2nd Sep 2023 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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9th Sep 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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16th Sep 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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23rd Sep 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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30th Sep 2023 | US$2149 | Tour only: US$2149 | Check availability |
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7th Oct 2023 | US$2049 | Tour only: US$2049 | Check availability |
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The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Minimum group sizes
No minimum group size, however transfers are subject to at least 2 people (in total) booked on each departure.
Children
Tour only from £939. Flight inclusive prices from £1239. Per child when sharing a room with 2 adults.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Selected Saturdays from 20th Aug 2022 to 7th Oct 2023, for 7 nights. All dates are subject to availability, please contact us to check.
Meals
All breakfasts
Electric bikes
It is possible to hire electric bikes for this holiday at a supplement of £110 per person. As these are available on a first come first served basis, we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment.
Other details
Half board (x5 nights) is available at a supplement of £120 per person. Meals may be at the hotel or in a local restaurant.
All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration.
This holiday does not include any flights or rail.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.