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TRAIN, COACH or BOAT

3. DANUBE CRUISES

Between Passau and Budapest lies the most beautiful part of the Danube. See the mighty river wind through spectacular scenery, past vineyards and orchards, abbeys and fortresses, and encounter Vienna and Budapest, the imposing cities of the Hapsburg Empire.

3.1 TWO DAY BOAT CRUISE ON THE DANUBE
Ref: DonT.

Between Passau and Budapest lies the most beautiful part of the Danube. See the mighty river flowing through spectacular scenery, past vineyards and orchards, abbeys and fortresses.

Day 1 [Thursdays]:
08h15 by train from Vienna to Passau, arriving 10h30
13h45 depart Passau by boat
15h15 arrive Engelhartszell, visit Engelhartszell Monastery
16h00 depart Engelhartszell
17h15 arrive Untermühl - "Boatsmen Reception" (dinner on board)
17h40 depart Untermühl
20h30 arrive Linz -city sightseeing tour, overnight in 4 star hotel

Day 2 [Fridays]:
08h45 depart Linz
11h50 arrive Grein - operetta concert
13h20 depart Grein, where the ship takes you past the legendary Island Wörth.
16h10 arrive Melk
17h15 arrive Dürnstein
18h30 depart Dürnstein - Captain's Buffet
22h40 arrive Vienna

Day 3 [Saturdays]:
Shopping in the magnificent inner city of Vienna. Sightseeing tour, as well as Schönbrunn Palace

(Times are subject to change)

INCLUDED:

* Train and boat tickets
* Operetta ticket in Grein
* Transfers in Linz and Vienna
* Luggage transfer from Passau - Main station; Linz - hotel; Vienna - hotel;
* 1 night accommodation in Linz with breakfast
* 2 night accommodation in Vienna (4*) with breakfast
* 4-course lunch and captain's buffet on board
* sightseeing in Linz and Vienna
* 3-course lunch in a typical Viennese restaurant
* Entrance ticket to Schönbrunn

Departures:
Every Sunday and Thursday, 26 May - 11 Sept; and every Wednesday for remaining dates

Children under 15 years qualify for discount

3.2 ALONG THE DANUBE

Ref: Ddsg

Between Vienna and Budapest lies the most beautiful part of the Danube. Join one of the following excursions, starting in Vienna or Budapest, and see the mighty river wind through spectacular scenery, past vineyards and orchards, abbeys and fortresses.

3.2.1 HYDROFOIL:
From Vienna to Budapest / Budapest to Vienna by hydrofoil

3.2.2 HYDROFOIL and TRAIN:
From Vienna to Budapest by hydrofoil and return by train on the same day.

3.2.3 HYDROFOIL - HOTEL - HYDROFOIL
Depart Vienna, stay one night in Budapest and return next day to Vienna

Please phone (012) 460 8382 for newest rates, or e-mail: info3@duto.co.za

3.2.4 VIENNA to BRATISLAVA
Day trip: Historical Bratislava"

Hydrofoil tour: Vienna - Bratislava - Vienna
Guided sightseeing walk through the old town
4-course luncheon in the city centre

Rates per person:
Round trip: EUR 61
Children 10 - 15yrs: EUR 33

3.3 ALONG THE DANUBE: PASSAU - VIENNA-BRATISLAVA - PASSAU
Ref: R&R

Enjoy the Danube on the MS DUNAJ, a nostalgic river cruise ship with a cosy interior. Energetic passengers can cycle by day on the Danube Cycle Paths and board the ship again in the afternoons. You spend the evenings on board, listening to live music, or you explore the harbours and villages.

DAY 1 PASSAU
Individual arrival to Passau. Embarkation starts at 16:30. Welcome meeting, dinner and overnight.

DAY 2 PASSAU -SCHÖGEN - LINZ (approx. 44 km / 28 miles by bike)
You bike on the Danube cycle path along the river passing the monastery of Engelhartszell through the famous "Schlögener Schlinge" (Great Loop) to Schlögen, where the ship is waiting for you. By ship you continue to Linz, the capital of upper Austria.

DAY 3 LINZ - GREIN (approx. 65 km / 41 km by bike)
Today's cruise takes you to the quaint village of Grein with its impressive castle. In the afternoon you can visit the oldest theatre in Austria.

DAY 4 GREIN - MELK (approx. 51 km / 32 miles by bike)
Today's destination is Melk with its gorgeous baroque Benedictine monastery.

DAY 5 MELK - KREMS - VIENNA (approx. 40 km / 25 miles by bike)
The most beautiful stretch of your cruise tour is the "Wachau", one of the most charming areas of Austria with the castle of Schönbühel, the ruins of Aggstein, Hinterhaus and Dürnstein. Your ship will continue from Krems to the metropolis Vienna where your ship will dock. Close by you will find many of the famous "Heurigen" (wine taverns).

DAY 6 VIENNA - HAINBURG - BRATISLAVA - VIENNA (approx. 54/78 km)
You can begin your last bike stretch on the Danube cycle path, passing the castles fo Eckartsau and Orth till the border city of hainburg, where you can continue by taking a ferry to Devin in Slovakia and cycle on to the Capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Late in the evening the ship will leave Bratislava for Vienna.

DAY 7 VIENNA - PASSAU
Morning at leisure for sightseeing or shopping - there are many ways to discover Vienna. At 14h00 the MV DUNAJ departs for Passau. You enjoy a relaxed afternoon on board while the beauty of the Danube landscape pass you by. Fun and entertainment await you in the evening with a Gala Farewell Dinner and Crew party.

DAY 8 PASSAU (Disembarkation)
After lunch on board, you will disembark in Passau at approx. 15:00.

Included:

* 7 nights accommodation in cabins
* 7 buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 lunch boxes, 6 dinners (3 course) and 1 gala dinner
* Welcome and farewell drink
* Folklore show and board orchestra
* Bike rental (7 gears touring bike with panniers for those who would like to cycle)
* Detailed maps, route description and tour information material per cabin

Departures: Saturdays

Visit www.bikeandhike.co.za for more info, or contact us on (012) 460 8382

3.4 WITH BUS AND BOAT ALONG THE ROMANTIC DANUBE VALLEY Ref. Vie no 8
Depart daily from Vienna
Duration: 8 hours

A full-day excursion which will show you the beauty of the Wachau. Through this romantic scenery full of history and legends the Danube winds its way past charming old villages and steep vineyards. One of the old castles, Dürnstein, is famous because King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned here while waiting for his ransom to arrive from England. During a romantic boat cruise this history comes alive. The heart of the Wachau is the old wine-merchants' town Krems. To complete this day of highlights you will visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey at Melk, the "Cradle of Austria". Optional lunch at the Abbey Restaurant.
The boat cruise takes place from 15 April to 20 October. In the winter season we invite you for lunch at Luberegg Castle.

Included:

* Entrance fees
* guide
* boat ride [in winter lunch]
* pick-up from your hotel in Vienna

Price per person: T.b.c.

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