danube 2010

[mds101]

Dear all, I've managed to persuade the family that it would be a much more relaxing holiday to cycle a section of the danube trail next year for our holiday....i.e. more relaxing than spending days driving somewhere to have a few days in the sun and then drive back.

There are three of us and I'm thinking that it would be good to go Passau through to Vienna. Finishing with a couple of day in Vienna.

I've not organised a tour like this before...i.e. oversees so I want to put some effort into getting it right for everybody. I've bought the book (cicerone) which is good. But I'd appreciate some help with a couple of bits....

- How do I go about planning trains to get us there and back. Are there particular websties that are good...we want to go by train. Anything I should know about, any route suggesitons...I was thinking a train to Paris and then on from there, maybe overnight as it might add a bit more of a sense fo adventure for the boy.

- Are there any sights along the route that people would recommend. We aren't going to be covering many miles (30 max) a day because I want to take it easy on the 10 year old and not put him off another cycling holiday in the future, so we shold have plenty of time to go a little of piste and uncover some local sights.

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[snorri]

The Bikeline guides are good, and they have one for the Danube in English language.
Google 'Bikeline Danube' and lots of info comes up.
Might see you there next summer.

 

[BalkanExpress]

The Bikeline guides are good, and they have one for the Danube in English language.
Google 'Bikeline Danube' and lots of info comes up.
Might see you there next summer.

+1 for the Bikeline guide. Also try the Eurovelo 6 website. It is not great but is getting better.

http://www.eurovelo6.org/folder_listing?set_language=en


For accomodation etc I would say the best bet is to identify the relevent local tourism offices

 

[Tony]

See my links below for my trip. Passau to Vienna is a really short ride. You may find it easier to get a train to Munich and then take the Isar route up to the Danube.I am happy to give you any specific info I can.
Sights.....
Passau has the meeting of three rivers, each of a different colour, plus lots of old buildings.
The Schlogen Schling bends and ferries.
Linz is a mixture of really nce centre and industrial crap.
Ybbs is sweet, with a cycle museum.
Tulln is an oddity,with lots of statues and a lot of run-down places.
Krems seems to have two old towns, each walled off.
Melk has an amazing orange abbey
Mauthausen concentration camp.
The Wachau wine area and Durnstein castle,where Richard Lionheart was imprisoned.
Vienna itself (campsite in SE corner,easy access to town)

 

[Tony]

PS: you have ONE hill on the route, at Schonbuhel.

 

[TheDoctor]

If you're planning a trip by train, seat61.com is your first place to look.
You say 'the family' and mention three of you - I assume there's a child involved? Consider how much mileage is feasible - it may be that Passau to Vienna is the right length, but only you can make that decision.

 

[Haitch]

PS: you have ONE hill on the route, at Schonbuhel.

You're forgetting the hill up to Mauthausen!

If you're camping you should not have any trouble finding a campsite, especially at the western end. If you want to stay in hostels/hotels, it might be advisable to book in advance as it is a very popular region; the Bikeline book has lots of addreses in it.

 

[Andy in Sig]

The Bikeline guides are indeed all you need in terms of mapping.

However if it is sights worth seeing that you are after then IMO you really must do the first 100 km from the source at Donaueschingen.

 

[Tony]

You're forgetting the hill up to Mauthausen!

If you're camping you should not have any trouble finding a campsite, especially at the western end. If you want to stay in hostels/hotels, it might be advisable to book in advance as it is a very popular region; the Bikeline book has lots of addreses in it.

Yebbut, that hill isn't actually on the route......

Be aware that the stretch is filled with hotels, guesthouses, cafes and campsites that cater specifically for cyclists, with e.g. secure storage.

 

[Lone Rider]

... the boy. ...

We aren't going to be covering many miles (30 max) a day because I want to take it easy on the 10 year old and not put him off another cycling holiday in the future,

If this is going to be your first tour, and more especially HIS first, I think that 30 miles a day is going to be a lot. If you don't want to put him off touring you should really try a few shorter tours first.

As far as planning is concerned - don't worry - just do it - plans can go wrong, so if your planning is minimal, less things can go wrong.

I can remember taking my twelve year old on a five day tour of the Canal de Midi in Southern France, the best night for him was when we spent the night on the platform of a train station waiting for the first train home first thing in the morning.

There are lots of villages on the Danube route, and lots of people cycling, often families. Go and enjoy.

 

[mds101]

THanks all. A lot of information to look through. This isn't my first tour, but I tend to just go away for a few days here and there with little or no planning or plan a couple of days and then a bit more on the road.

Because it is first bike tour for my wife and son I want to keep the mileage low hence passua to vienna - I don't think we will need to cover anything like 30 miles a day but this is proabbly the max that I could expect them to do. I probably need to look a bit more at distances though.

My son is 10 (just) but I'd rather it was more fun than endurance so I don't want to push it too much. I also think a bit more structure is proably a good thing with kids hence a bit more planning than normal.

The good news is, they both keep picking up books and are both more excited than I could have expected.

Does the route from Donaueschingen add a lot in terms of sights?

Lone Rider - what happened at Canal De Midi that he didn't like?

 

[Tony]

Indeed,a few days away beforehand with the bikes, and a tent.....shakedown can be fun.
Don't forget that the route runs on both sides of the river (with a few gaps) and you can break up the day with ferry rides.

 

[HJ]

Yup get the Bike Line guides 1&2 for the Danube Trail, also note that it is a very popular route so book you accommodation early. I don't know about the English version of the Bike line guides, but in German they have lots of contact information about accommodation, tourist info, etc, I assume it is the English versions. Either way it is the maps that make it worth getting them.

 

[Lone Rider]

Lone Rider - what happened at Canal De Midi that he didn't like?

Maybe he wasn't as enthusiastic as me, I tried to find things/activities that would distract/amuse him. He had a good time but ...

 

[Tony]

Remember to go Nixie spotting after Passau.....