Days Off Travel - Adventure: Bicycling - Czech Republic/Austria/Poland

Czech Republic/Austria/Poland

Bike through the capitals of 3 countries in the footsteps of the Danube Monarchy, starting in the Austrian capital of Vienna, and following the Danube River across the border to Budapest. You will be dazzled by the combination of Gothic architecture and rich history.

Tour available as both Self Guided and Guided

Includes:

7 nights accommodations
Daily breakfast
Daily dinner
Pick up in Vienna, drop off in Budapest
Luggage transfers between hotels
Bicycle and equipment (Model-Sumava Gent bicycles with ALU Frame and suspension fork. 24 speed hybrid bike with front bag, small rack, lock, pump and extra tube. No helmets are provided. Woman`s bikes are 17" OR 19", men`s 19" or 21".
Local guide (if opt for guided tour; local contact if self guided), information packet, route notes & maps.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate: 28-40 miles, 6-8 hours daily

Dates: Daily departures May 1, 2003 - October 31, 2003. Guided tours require a minimum of 4 riders per group.

Price: Self Guided $859 ; Guided $1899

DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1 Please be dressed to ride. Your contact or guide will pick you up in Vienna at the Franz Joseph rail station waiting area between 9 and 10am to drive you to the outskirts of Vienna. Here you will be fitted for your bike and you are off on your biking adventure. Cross the border into the Czech Republic to an area called South Moravia. A long climb will reward you, when you reach the top, with panoramic views of the surrounding country. Bike through vineyards, farmland and small villages. On the way see the Obelisk that commemorates the peace pact of Napoleon with the Archduke of the Czechs, built in 1798. Overnight, Cejkovice

Day 2 Bike to Lednice, see Valtice Castle and the Italian influenced garden complex. The town and chateau were founded in the early 13th century. The chateau today is furnished as it looked in the 1850s. The spiral staircase located in the blue room is said to be carved from a single tree. Also ,if time permits, visit the villages and limestone cliffs of the Pavlov Highland. Overnight in Cejkovice.

Day 3 Bike from Cejkovice by the Morava River to Slovakia. This is a protected natural reservation. Continue to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Once in Bratislava, take time to visit Devin Castle. This ruin sits at the juncture of the Morava River and the Danube. Overnight, Bratislava.

Day 4 From Bratislava, cross the border to Hungary. This area is famous for its mineral spas. Your ending spot today is Mossonymagyaovar. This town is situated on three national borders. Spots of interest here are Hanság Museum, Cselley House, Fire Museum, and Castle Mosonmagyarovar. Overnight, Mossonymagyaovar.

Day 5 Bike from Mossonymagyaovar to Gyor. Here you will find the "Xantus Janos" Museum, Exhibit of the life works of Miklos Borsos, Ceramics by Margit Kovács, Collection of the works of Imre Patko, House of Napoleon, and the Pharmacy Museum to name a few. The thermal bath of Gyor was opened in 1977. Overnight, Gyor.

Day 6 From Gyor, again cross the border to Slovakia. Kormarno is a town on the crossroads of the Danube and Vah Rivers. Birds and other wildlife are very abundant here. Overnight, Kormarno.

Day 7 Today you continue on to Sturovo, another Danube port, where you will catch a ferry to the Hungarian side of the river, to the historical city of Esterghom. You will soon see the Basilica of Esterghom, built on a rock high above the Danube. We will follow the river for a stretch until we come to the former royal castle of Esterghom. Central to Roman Catholicism and birthplace of St Stephen, the first Hungarian king, Esterghom is the most significant city in Hungary, after Budapest. Overnight, ,Esterghom.

Day 8 Leaving Esterghom, you continue on to Szentendre via some of the most beautiful scenery of the Danube delta. Via ferry, you cross to the island of Szentendre, an idyllic artists community near Budapest. You can bike to the numerous galleries and workshops along the island and enjoy the view of the two cities along the Danube River banks. From Szentendre, continue by van to Budapest railstation. Tour ends.

Want more information or would like to book your trip? Please call Days Off Travel toll free 1-877-580-0861 or email: bikeczech@daysofftravel.com

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DAYS	ITINERARY

Day 1	Please be dressed to ride. Your contact or guide will pick you up in Vienna at the Franz Joseph rail station waiting area between 9 and 10am to drive you to the outskirts of Vienna. Here you will be fitted for your bike and you are off on your biking adventure. Cross the border into the Czech Republic to an area called South Moravia. A long climb will reward you, when you reach the top, with panoramic views of the surrounding country. Bike through vineyards, farmland and small villages. On the way see the Obelisk that commemorates the peace pact of Napoleon with the Archduke of the Czechs, built in 1798. Overnight, Cejkovice

Day 2	Bike to Lednice, see Valtice Castle and the Italian influenced garden complex. The town and chateau were founded in the early 13th century. The chateau today is furnished as it looked in the 1850s. The spiral staircase located in the blue room is said to be carved from a single tree. Also ,if time permits, visit the villages and limestone cliffs of the Pavlov Highland. Overnight in Cejkovice.

Day 3	Bike from Cejkovice by the Morava River to Slovakia. This is a protected natural reservation. Continue to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Once in Bratislava, take time to visit Devin Castle. This ruin sits at the juncture of the Morava River and the Danube. Overnight, Bratislava.

Day 4	From Bratislava, cross the border to Hungary. This area is famous for its mineral spas. Your ending spot today is Mossonymagyaovar. This town is situated on three national borders. Spots of interest here are Hanság Museum, Cselley House, Fire Museum, and Castle Mosonmagyarovar. Overnight, Mossonymagyaovar.

Day 5	Bike from Mossonymagyaovar to Gyor. Here you will find the "Xantus Janos" Museum, Exhibit of the life works of Miklos Borsos, Ceramics by Margit Kovács, Collection of the works of Imre Patko, House of Napoleon, and the Pharmacy Museum to name a few. The thermal bath of Gyor was opened in 1977. Overnight, Gyor.

Day 6	From Gyor, again cross the border to Slovakia. Kormarno is a town on the crossroads of the Danube and Vah Rivers. Birds and other wildlife are very abundant here. Overnight, Kormarno.

Day 7	Today you continue on to Sturovo, another Danube port, where you will catch a ferry to the Hungarian side of the river, to the historical city of Esterghom. You will soon see the Basilica of Esterghom, built on a rock high above the Danube. We will follow the river for a stretch until we come to the former royal castle of Esterghom. Central to Roman Catholicism and birthplace of St Stephen, the first Hungarian king, Esterghom is the most significant city in Hungary, after Budapest. Overnight, ,Esterghom.

Day 8	Leaving Esterghom, you continue on to Szentendre via some of the most beautiful scenery of the Danube delta. Via ferry, you cross to the island of Szentendre, an idyllic artists community near Budapest. You can bike to the numerous galleries and workshops along the island and enjoy the view of the two cities along the Danube River banks. From Szentendre, continue by van to Budapest railstation. Tour ends.