Mike Pero Cycling Tour

European Road Cycling TourOberstdorf (Germany) to Budapest (Hungary)24th June – 6th July 2016 (13 days) with Mike Pero

Join Mike Pero (& wife Rachel) on a fully supported road cycling tour through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Visit some of Europe’s grandest cities including Vienna and Budapest, while travelling via scenic cycle-ways and by-ways.

The landscapes will be constantly changing as you cycle from the lower slopes of the Bavarian Alps, past historic castles, around lakes and alongside the mighty Danube river.

Each day there will also be enough time to

stop at some of the cultural highlights in

each region. You’ll stay in carefully selected

hotels and great local cuisine will be on offer

throughout the tour.

Some of you will cycle door-to-door (around

100km per day), but others may prefer a

40km-60km ride in the morning with a

transfer to the hotel in the early afternoon. The

terrain is mainly flattish (with some rolling hills)

and you will ride on sealed roads or bike paths,

usually away from busy traffic. The support

vehicle is always available for those preferring

less time in the saddle. Non-cycling partners

are also welcome.

EUROPEAN ROAD CYCLING TOUR

Day 1:24th June Arrival Day: Oberstdorf (Germany)

Welcome to Germany! Please make your

own way to Oberstdorf which is just 2.5 hours

by train from Munich, the capital of Bavaria.

Located in the Bavarian Alps, Oberstdorf is a

hiking and skiing village, making it a traditional

and popular holiday destination for Europeans.

If required, transfers can be arranged from

Oberstdorf train station to your hotel. Later

this afternoon there will be a pre tour briefing

where you will be introduced to your tour-

guide(s) and support driver.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Bavarian Alps: a stunning natural divide along

the border with Austria, these Alps stretch

from Germany’s remote southeastern corner

to the Allgäu region near Lake Constance. This

area is dotted with quaint villages, spas and

health retreats, plus there are many options for

outdoor activities, making it an all-year-round

destination.

Oberstdorf: located in a picturesque valley

and also known as the ‘hiking village’ due to

over 200km of hiking trails of varying difficulty

within easy access. Its also home to Hei-

ni-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze, the world’s second

largest ski jump.

Meals: Dinner

Cycling: None

Bavarian Alps

Day 2:25th June Oberstdorf to Füssen (Germany)

We continue our ride through the beau-

tiful lower Bavarian Alps to Schloss Neus-

chwanstein castle, where we’ll have lunch and

spend the afternoon. This iconic castle, built by

enigmatic King Ludwig II, is perched on steep

rock faces. It is the model for Sleeping Beauty’s

castle in Disneyland, and has inspired many

artists, including Andy Warhol. We’ll spend the

night in the town of Füssen (at 800m asl).

POINTS OF INTEREST: Füssen: this town (population ~14,700) has a

beautiful setting on the edge of Lake Forg-

gensee with the Lech River flowing through

the centre and the spectacular Alps in the

background. It has a wealth of historical inter-

est and is close to some of the most popular

castles in southern Germany. Its also known

for its violin-making industry.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling: approx. 70 km (hilly)

Lifestylers: 30 km to 60 km

Day 3:26th June Füssen to Schliersee or Tegernsee (Germany)

Today as we gently descend to 500m, then

climb to 900m we will pass idyllic Bavarian

lakes including Staffelsee, Kochelsee and Te-

gernsee to name a few. The area is a popular

summer and winter holiday destination, espe-

cially for people from Munich. We may want to

take a break to look around Benediktbeuern

Monastery (founded in 739AD).

POINTS OF INTEREST: Benediktbeuern Monastery is the oldest and

one of the most beautiful in Upper Bavaria.

With so much history it is worth a visit.

Schliersee (at 800m asl) has a beautiful

setting on the edge of Lake Schliersee with its

crystal clear water. Being only 50km south of

Munich on the edge of the Bavarian Alps, its a

popular holiday and ski resort with a pleasant

climate and many outdoor activities on offer.


Cycling: approx. 105 km (hilly terrain)


Füssen

Day 4:27th June Schliersee or Tegernsee to Burghausen (Germany)

After a short sharp climb, we will descend from

1100m to 300m, cycling around the well-

known Chiemsee, a freshwater lake bordering

Austria. Our destination today: the scenic

old town in the Bavarian city of Burghausen,

located on the banks of the river Salzach.

Burghausen Castle sits along a ridgeline and is

the longest castle in Europe (at 1,043m).

POINTS OF INTEREST: Burghausen Castle with almost all of its me-

dieval fortifications intact and extending over

1000m in length, is one of the largest castle

complexes in the world. It has a rich history,

having been a residence of Dukes and also a

strong fortress. Due to its ridgetop location, the

viewing platform offers a magnificent panora-

ma over the surrounding landscapes.


Cycling: approx. 110 km (mainly flat)


Day 5:28th June Burghausen to Passau (Germany)

We will be riding along the German–Austrian

border, crossing the Inn River, then cycling to

the beautiful Danube River. Today’s route is flat

except for a small climb right at the end. We’ll

spend the night in Passau, the ‘City of 3 Rivers’

(the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz). Our hotel is

in the heart of the picturesque Old Town near

Passau’s famous Cathedral, which boasts the

largest cathedral organ in the world.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Passau is a small German town on the Austri-

an border, known for its baroque architecture.

With its unique charm and atmosphere its one

of the most beautiful towns on the Danube.


Cycling: approx. 100 km (one small hill, flat)


Burghausen Castle

Day 6:29th June Passau to Linz (Austria)

This morning we’ll leave the charming city of

Passau and cycle through beautiful land-

scapes along the Danube. Both riverbanks

are covered in dense forest, and you will see

ruins of castles and monasteries scattered

high up along the way. We’ll cycle peacefully

into Austria (there’s no official border crossing)

to its third largest city of Linz. It has a young,

vibrant atmosphere despite its many historic

buildings and is a great place to spend an

afternoon. Linz is also known for its evening

shopping.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Danube River: at 2,860 km this is Europe’s

second longest river after the Volga. It orig-

inates in Germany’s Black Forest and flows

in a southeasterly direction through central

and eastern Europe to the Black Sea. All

through history and still today, its an important

transport route for the whole of Europe. Many

world class wines have been produced from

vineyards alongside the Danube, with the

Wachau region (that you pass through in the

next 2 days) being one of them.


Cycling: approx. 90 km


Day 7:30th June Linz to Melk (Austria)

We’ll leave Linz (2009 European Capital of

Culture), and cycle through rural countryside

and riverside villages. On the way there is

the opportunity for a short detour to visit the

Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp. Then

we’ll follow quiet side-roads and cycleways

until we see Melk Abbey, a stunning baroque

Benedictine monastery which is one of the

highlights of the Wachau Valley. The Wachau

Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heri-

tage Site.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp:

located on the top of a small hill just 20 km

east of Linz, this camp was the hub of a large

group of Nazi concentration camps that were

built around the villages of Mauthausen and

Sankt Georgen an der Gusen. It operated from

early 1938 to the beginning of May 1945. These

days the large complex is open to the public.

Melk: located next to the Wachau valley, this

small and picturesque town is best known for

its massive Benedictine Abbey (built between

1702 and 1738). Melk has preserved many of its

historic buildings so the old town in particular

remains a delightful place to explore.




Danube River

Day 8:1st July: Melk to Vienna (Austria)

A beautiful ride awaits as we set off through

the Wachau’s historic vineyards and villages,

taking in views of the steep terraces on the

south-facing river banks. We’ll cycle through

Austria’s oldest city, Krems, then follow the

Danube towards the ‘City of Music’: Europe’s

cultural capital — Vienna. At Klosterneu-

burg we’ll take the train for the last few kms

(~30mins) into the city to avoid the traffic.

Our hotel may be near Schönbrunn Palace,

Austria’s top attraction, and a UNESCO World

Heritage Site.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Wachau region: a 33 km stretch of the Dan-

ube Valley between Melk and Krems which

is a region of natural beauty. There are many

vineyards and orchards on the terraces above

the river, plus the region has stunning baroque

architecture and quaint old towns.




Day 9:2nd July Vienna (Rest Day)

You have a full day to explore one of the

world’s most liveable cities. Perhaps visit

Schönbrunn Palace and its remarkable

gardens. Also, the Vienna State Opera and

other sites on the Ringstrasse, the beautiful

boulevard circling the inner city. Other attrac-

tions include the Naschmarkt, a food/goods

market that’s run for more than 500 years; the

eccentric Hundertwasser house and museum;

the Prater amusement park, and many other

places of interest.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Vienna. Austria’s capital and largest city is

packed with history, but at the same time

has contemporary museums, lively cafes and

nightlife plus many quiet corners to explore.

Once the centre of the powerful Habsburg

monarchy, Vienna has imperial grandeur with

opulent palaces and many famous sites to

visit. It has an efficient transport system and

lots of cycling paths so is easy and safe to get

around. If you only have 1 day to explore, then

start early!!

Meals: Breakfast

Cycling: none

Vienna

Day 10:3rd July Vienna to Mosonmagyaróvár (Hungary)

This morning we depart the beautiful city of

Vienna by taking the train to Himberg (~30

mins). Then on our bikes we cross the border

into Hungary where we may want to stop at

the castle of Halbturn. From here you’ll notice

the road has a different surface, and is an

adventure to ride on! We’ll have a unique drink

stop at a friendly Hungarian garden restaurant,

before continuing to our destination: charm-

ing Mosonmagyaróvár, the ‘city of 17 bridges’.

There’ll be time to visit the local thermal spa

bath.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Halbturn Castle near the Hungarian border

was built between 1701 and 1711 as a hunting

lodge and summer residence for the Imperial

family. Today it houses numerous exhibitions

which are open to the public as are the beauti-

fully preserved gardens.




Day 11:4th July Mosonmagyaróvár to Komárno (Slovakia)

We’ll cycle through rural villages and back

alongside the Danube river to the pretty his-

toric town of Komárno, just over the Slovakian

border. This port city is connected by bridge

to the Hungarian town of Komaŕom, once part

of Komárno. There’ll be time to visit Komárno’s

fortress.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Komárno lies at the confluence of the Váh

and Dunaj rivers and is one of the oldest

towns of Slovakia. It enjoyed its greatest pros-

perity during the 15th century when rulers and

court of the Kingdom of Hungary frequently

stayed here. Today the population is around

37,000 and sights to see include the Komárno

Castle, Zichy Palace, the Town Hall and Muse-

um of Danubeland.




Komárno

Day 12:5th July Kormáno to Budapest (Hungary)

Our second-to-last day is one to remember.

We’ll cycle to the beginnings of the famous

Danube Bend at historic Esztergom, the

so-called “Rome of Hungary”, and one of the

country’s oldest towns. Esztergom’s huge

basilica, the tallest building in Hungary, can be

seen from a great distance. It also has a restau-

rant/cultural centre in its cellar which is worth

a visit (for lunch or to sample local wines).

Next: one of the world’s most beautiful cities,

Budapest, “the Paris of the East”. We’ll arrive via

the river on a boat from Szentendre, past the

impressive parliament building, and into the

city’s hustle and bustle. We’ll hold our farewell

dinner tonight.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Danube Bend: is a curve of the Danube in

Hungary, close to the town of Visegrád and is

considered to be the most beautiful stretch of

the river with its peaks and picturesque towns.

Szentendre: a pleasant town beside the

Danube about 20 km upstream from Buda-

pest, its well known for its museums, galleries

and artists. Szentendre has plenty of shops

and restaurants, plus its easily accessed by rail

and boat, so is popular with day trippers from

Budapest.

Budapest: Hungary’s capital which is bisected

by the Danube River. With so much to see and

do in this fantastic city, you may like to stay a

few more days.




Day 136th July Departure Day: Budapest

This unforgettable cycling tour comes to an

end today! It’s time to say goodbye to your

guides and fellow travellers, and head off to

your next adventure — or perhaps, stay and

enjoy beautiful Budapest.

Meals: Breakfast

Cycling: No cycling

Alterations:We reserve the right to make alterations to

this itinerary, which will normally be due to

weather conditions and/or organizational

requirements.

Minimum Group size: 10

Maximum Group size: 24

PRICES (EURO):

Tour EUR 3675 pp (double or share twin)

Single room surcharge: EUR 650 pp

Road bike hire (carbon): EUR 280 pp

E-bike hire: EUR 280 pp

Touring/hybrid bike hire: on request

Tour Information

Included in 13 day tour:

Accommodation in 4* hotels

Meals as listed in the itinerary

Breakfast: at hotels

Lunches (on cycling days): normally a picnic

en route

Tour InformationIncluded in 13 day tour:

• Accommodation in 4* hotels

• Meals as listed in the itinerary

Breakfast: at hotels

Lunches (on cycling days): normally

a picnic en route

Dinners (arrival day & on cycling

days): either at the hotel or local

restaurant

• Arrival transfer (day 1) from Oberstdorf

train station to the tour hotel

• Support vehicle and driver

• Cycling guide(s) – numbers depending on

group size

• Drinking water while cycling

• Danube boat trip day 12 (Szentendre to

Budapest)

• Entry to Castle “Schloss” Neuschwanstein

in Fuessen

• Route maps and profiles

NOT INCLUDED IN 13 DAY TOUR:

• International and domestic flights or

trains

• Departure transfers from Budapest

• Bike hire (available on request at extra

cost)

• Meals not listed in the daily itinerary

• Travel insurance (compulsory)

• Optional trips and sightseeing tours

• Pre and post tour nights

• Drinks (except water while cycling), per-

sonal expenses

• Entrance fees for sights unless specified

• Tips for guides and driver

Tour Grade 2 to 3 = moderate to challenging Grade 1: Easy: 20–40 km/day. No hills or

technical difficulty

Grade 2: Moderate: 40–60 km/day. Some hills

but no technical difficulty

Grade 3: Challenging: 50–100 km/day. Hills

and some technical difficulty

Grade 4: Hard: 100 km+/day. Hilly terrain and

technical trails

Grade 5: HIGH ALTITUDE (4000 M +)

Please note: There are options for participants

with a range of fitness levels & technical ability.

For door-to-door cycling this tour is a grade 3,

but an easier tour (grade 2) is easily achievable

by utilizing the support vehicle on longer days

and/or for hillier sections.

Booking Information:Tour Confirmation A deposit of 25% of the tour price is required to

secure your place, with the balance being due no

later than 60 days prior to the start of the tour.

Terms and Conditions• Cancellations received 90 days or longer prior to tour

departure will incur a fee of 50% of the tour deposit.

• Cancellations received between 60–90 days prior

to tour departure will incur a fee of 100% of the tour

deposit.

• Cancellations received between 30–60 days prior to

tour departure will incur a fee of 50% of the full tour

price.

• Cancellations received within 30 days of tour

departure will incur a fee of 100% of the full tour cost.

Booking Forms

Participants will be asked to complete a

booking form after confirmation of their

booking.

Linz to Budapest

Cycling RouteOberstdorf to Linz

Budapest

Tour operated in association with

Global Cycling Adventures Christchurch - New Zealand

[email protected]

Global Cycling Adventures

Unit 3, 14 Kennaway Road

Woolston

Christchurch 8023

Documents

Mike Pero Cycling Tour