Bike and Barge: Passau-Budapest-Vienna-Passau (MS SE-Manon)

Arrival in the “Three River City”. Passau attracts many with the world’s greatest church organ at the Stephansdom and its charming Old Town. Embarkation will be around 4:00 pm, departure around 7 pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.

The day starts in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria), where we head towards the “Great Loop”-one of the most beautiful and original sectors of the Danube. Your cycling will encounter small villages and cosy must-see taverns. You’ll board again in Brandstatt. Then, you “sail into the night” towards Bratislava.

Arrival at Bratislava. You start cycling from Bratislava via Hainburg to the imposing Imperial Palace of beautifully terraced gardens and idyllic manor farm, further on to Devin and then back to Bratislava. Tip: Discover the hidden alleys of Bratislava, places and all the sights of this ambitious metropolis during a tour by mini train and on foot. In the night shipping to Budapest.

In the early morning, you enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube’s gorgeous landscape on the Sundeck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the riverbank. In the afternoon, you can explore the numerous attractions of the city. Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel, which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or the charming town of Szentendre with a Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. In the night shipping to Vác

The Danube bend is one of the most delightful and attractive parts and is called the Hungarian Wachau. Today’s bike leg starts at the baroque village of Vác, which has been influenced by the architects of the Austrian empress Maria Theresia. Cycling through the picturesque and gently undulating countryside, your route leads you directly to the bishop-town of Esztergom, with its gorgeous basilica–Hungary’s largest Catholic Church–overlooking the village. In the night shipping to Vienna

You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard “Ringstraβe” with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that takes you back to the past. In the night shipping to Rossatz or Dürnstein (Wachau).

Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the small village of Pöchlarn, you will board again. After the farewell gala dinner, you start “sailing” back to Passau.

Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge (“Great Loop”) before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival: approx. At 09 am, disembarkation half an hour later.

Embarkation is from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with disembarkation around 11:30 a.m. The minimum number of participants required is 90 guests, which must be confirmed within 21 days before departure.

Bringing your bike is available only upon request due to limited space on the sun deck. E-bikes must have a removable battery pack. We accept no liability for loss, theft, or damage, including damage incurred during transportation from shore to ship or vice versa.

We offer a small selection of excursions that can be booked directly on board with the cruise director. A brief description of the excursions will be provided with your travel documents. Depending on the number of participants, some excursions may be conducted in both German and English.

For your luggage, we recommend bringing rainwear, a bicycle helmet, a sunhat, and sneakers.

Please note that we reserve the right to make changes to the route and programme. In the event of flooding or low water levels, the shipping company may use buses to cover parts of the route. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey at short notice, with no legal claim arising from such changes. This also applies to previously unannounced repair work on locks or bridges.

Be aware that the cruise ship on the Danube serves as both your hotel and a functioning vessel, operating with engine power during the night. Noise may occur, particularly when crossing locks and bridges or during preparation work. If you are sensitive to noise, please bring your earplugs.

In the interest of sustainability and climate protection, we encourage you to use our digital route book instead of printed travel documents. The GUIBO app will be your constant companion throughout your SE-Tours trip. A glance at your smartphone will provide all essential information, including travel details, ship and contact information, and bike tours, all available offline for your convenience. The app is free and compatible with all standard smartphones. You will receive access data to download your trip via email before your journey begins.

For travel documents, EU citizens (excluding special cases such as dual citizenship, main residence abroad, or a passport with limited validity) must have a valid passport or ID card that does not expire within six months of the return date of your cruise. Non-EU citizens, EU nationals with multiple citizenships, or those with specific legal entry requirements should check visa and entry documents with the relevant embassy.

This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility. We recommend taking out travel health insurance with repatriation coverage, as well as baggage, accident, and travel cancellation insurance.

All times are subject to change. Please book your travel according to the scheduled arrival and departure times.

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  Ship name: MS SE-Manon
• Year of construction: 1999
• Registry: Netherlands
• Length: 110 m
• Width: 11.40 m
• Draft: 1.50 m
• Number of crew: approx. 30
• Passengers: max. 148

On board our comfortable premium ship, MS SE-MANON, you will find a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. After the bike tour, you can use the small inviting wellness area with a sauna and whirlpool, read a book in the pleasant library, or relax in the panorama salon. Then, enjoy your dinner in the restaurant with a panoramic view. The spacious and partly shaded sun deck holds deck chairs, inviting you to enjoy the passing scenery. Here is also the storage space for the bicycles. A special highlight is the outdoor pool (8.70 m x 4.50 m, approx. May to August, depending on weather).

All 74 cabins are outside cabins, about 14 m² in size, comfortably furnished with hotel beds and featuring en-suite facilities with shower/WC* (*cabins no. 306, 307, 308, 309 with bathtub), hairdryer, TV, safe, in-house telephone, and individually adjustable air conditioning. A lift connects the middle deck with the lobby and the restaurant. The upper deck and sun deck are accessible by a stair lift. The main deck can only be reached via the stairs.

• Upper deck: cabins with French balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows which can be opened).
• Middle deck: cabins with large panorama windows (can be opened).
• Main deck: cabins with small windows (height approx. 40 cm, cannot be opened).

Arrival: Passau

Departure: Passau

Nearest arrival airport(s): Munich or Nuremberg

Nearest departure airport(s): Munich or Nuremberg

We also recommend travelling by train to all of our cycling holiday starting and departure points. We can help you plan your journey to Passau by rail. Car parking is available on all tours at the first hotel or a nearby public parking location. Full details are available on request.

Please do not book travel until an official invoice confirms the cycling holiday.