Danube Bike & Boat: Passau to Budapest - MV Carissima

Ideally suited to beginners, novices and families this cycle and sailing tour is on a flat cycle paths with the options for shorter bike routes each day. Visit no less than four countries and three capital cities as you travel past vineyards, orchards, castles and rolling hills, with each night spent on a charming traditional cruise boat.

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Solo Travellers

This cycling trip is graded easy as the route is almost completely flat. The daily distances range from 18 to 54 km, although it is often possible to shorten your ride (by taking an alternative route, jumping on a ferry or train) and you could even decide to skip the ride altogether by staying onboard. You will be cycling on the Danube Cycle Path which follows dedicated cycle paths and some quiet roads. This tour is particularly well suited to families and novice cyclists as the route is flat and predominantly traffic-free. 

MV Carissima

You will be staying on floating hotel MV Carissima (4*), which is a traditional river cruiser with comfortable cabins, spread over three passenger decks. There are Standard cabins on the main deck, Comfort cabins on the middle deck, and Superior cabins on the upper deck. There are some ECO cabins at the front and rear of the ship, where some operating noises may be possible. Please note that windows on the upper and middle deck can be opened, but not on the main deck. 

All 75 comfortable cabins (14 m²) have a private bathroom with a shower (or bathtub), hairdryer, TV, safe and full air-conditioning. There is a lounge and bar area with panoramic views, a restaurant, a library, spa facilities (sauna and whirlpool, free of charge), and a large sundeck with a swimming pool (swimming pool is only opened from June to August).

This trip is available to solo cyclists and this is a fantastic trip to get to know fellow cyclists. Single cabins are limited and subject to availability, please note that on the MV Carissima only Superior cabins are available for single occupancy.

Meals

All meals onboard are included; breakfast, lunch on board for non-cyclists or a packed lunch for cyclists, afternoon coffee break, dinner each evening and a late-night snack. The restaurant serves authentic food, reflective of the region and country that you are sailing through. Drinks packages are also available onboard and can be booked on arrival. Please let us know in advance (at the time of booking) if you have any special dietary requirements.

The route is an established European cycle path with fantastic waymarking along the way. We supply you with a detailed information pack and access to the GPS tracks in our Smartphone App. Upon arrival, you will receive a guide with route notes, and the onboard tour leader will give you a briefing each evening to inform you about the route and highlights of the next day's cycle. You should have no problem finding your way! Please note that this is a self-guided trip and the bike rides are not guided, unescorted.

Flood or low tide: In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by bus. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted in both situations, the water level is force majeure. The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges or in case of undeserved breakdown of engine or power unit.

Please be aware that your cruise ship on the Danube is not only your hotel but also a machine, working with engine power even at night. Especially crossing locks and bridges - and the preparation work - may cause noise. If you are a light sleeper please bring earplugs.

This tour is available to start on selected Saturdays (MV Carissima) or Sundays (MV Fortuna) from April to October. Prices vary depending on the season, the ship and the type of cabin that is preferred.

When travelling in May and September please keep in mind that these are the busiest months, and July and August are the hottest time of year. This trip books out quickly, so we recommend booking early if you have specific travel dates in mind or if you are travelling in a group.

Bike & Boat tours require a minimum number of participants for each departure to go ahead. Should a departure have insufficient participants, you will be notified in good time, and you can change your departure to an alternative date. For more information, please speak to one of our team.

Passau is located in Germany close to the Austrian border. It has a railway station and is easily accessible.

By Air: Passau has direct train connections to Linz (1h30), Salzburg (2h45), Munich (2.5h) and Vienna (3.5h), which are the most convenient airports. Please visit the DB Bahn website to check the times. We can arrange transfers from Munich Airport to Passau.

By Train: Visit the DB Bahn website to check train times and book tickets to Passau from European destinations. You may also wish to try Rail Europe for European rail tickets and passes.

The MV Carissima will be your floating hotel for the week transporting your belongings while you discover the Danube Cycle Path on two wheels. 

An important note on your luggage: Hardcover suitcases do take up a lot of room in your cabin, you may find softer, wheeled luggage a better option. All pieces of luggage must be labelled with a luggage tag with the name of the ship + name of passenger + cabin number which you will receive on arrival. The crew will bring the luggage directly to your cabin as you are checking-in.