Velo-Touring

Highlights of this cycling holiday:

• Biking on beautiful stages between the oldest towns and at two Lakes of West-Hungary.
• Visit in the magnificent baroque palace of the prince family of Eszterházy.
• Sopron, the only Hungarian town where almost the entire city centre has survived from the middle ages. The town is the place of the first piano concert of Francis Liszt.
• You can visit the Spa of Sarvar, a member of the "Royal Spas of Europe".
• Cycling through the climatic health-resort Velem and the museum-cellar village of Cák.
• Biking on beautiful stages at the historical “Iron Curtain” and in unspoiled countryside.

Day 1 – ARRIVAL IN BUDAPEST -Your hotel is situated on the Buda side of the capital city, at the foot of Sashegy hill. It is easily accessible from all directions and is just a short drive away from both the city center and the historic castle district. Its modern environment and swimming pool, sauna, or massage possibilities will make you feel well and relaxed quickly. Tour briefing 6:30 PM with the guide and dinner.

Day 2 – BUDAPEST TO GYŐR (“Arrabona”) -After the breakfast coach transfer to Babolna, home of the Arabian National Stud in Hungary, a historical place of Equestrian culture and secret techniques of renowned Hungarian horse breeding. Bike ride to Győr, "the town of 4 rivers", home of more historical monuments in Hungary. We take a walk around the ancient town to view the Cathedral with reliquary of a 11th century Hungarian king, the Episcopal Castle, Baroque houses with lovely oriels. Győr has a brilliant thermal bath, which is right at the confluence of the River Danube, Rába and Rábca.
(Stage approx. 34 km / 22 miles cycling)

Day 3 – CYCLING AMONG MIRACLES OF “SZIGETKÖZ” –We start to the ancient fortress city Mosonmagyarovar, an enchanting world, embraced by the arms of the Danube, a peaceful region, a paradise for birds, anglers, and - as it is flat - for cyclists too. We will ride along idyllic landscapes, charming villages. Refreshing time surrounded by the special atmosphere in the park of the 400 year old Renaissance castle of Hedervar. Owing to the renovation in a authentic style, its beautiful park with ancient trees, it is called: "Pearl of Szigetköz". Swimming option in the lovely thermal bath in Lipót. Further to Mosonmagyarovár (”Ad Flexum”) situated at the western gate of Hungary.
(Stage approx. 54 km / 34 miles cycling)

Day 4 – THE MYSTERIOUS MARSHLAND AND SOPRON (“Scarbantia”) –Back to the 13th century will take a few minutes with bus to Lébény, where we stop to see the amazing sized Romanesque church. Cycling from here on the “Little Plain”, in the untouched nature through the Hanság, or as the locals call it: the Hany, a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. We take a wonderful ride through alder woods, along bog meadows, small lakes and rivers, with more stops regarding the exceptionally rich flora and fauna of this area from the like marsh orchid to the Hungarian gray cattle. We stop in Fertőd at the splendid Baroque palace, built by Nicholas Esterházy in the 18th century, with a park in Versailles style. Short busride to Sopron, today‘s destination, is the only Hungarian town where almost the entire city center has survived from the roman and the middle ages.
(Stage approx. 58 km / 36 miles cycling)

Day 5 – FROM SOPRON TO SPA BÜK –Sopron, the town that has won the Europa Prize for its well protected monuments. Walking through the Fire Tower (symbol of town), a wonderful antique world, listed buildings and cultural memories. After a short ride, and we get to Nagycenk, a village, where "the greatest Hungarian", Count Stephen Széchenyi, a prominent statesman of the 19th century lived. It is really worth seeing the museum in his former castle and the neat castle garden. Cycling along nice fields and woods we stop to see a nice manor house in the middle of a marvellous park, surrounded by ancient trees. Biking further to Bük Spa resort, is one of the Hungarian biggest baths name is well-known in Europe. From the 1900s oil-searchingdrillings were made around Bük, and medicinal water was found.
(Stage approx. 55 km / 34 miles cycling)

Day 6 - THE NATURAL PARK AT THE “IRON COURTAIN” -At first bike ride to Kőszeg. Every house in the town has its own story. Rich decorations like sgraffito, or fresco-coat of arms, and various styles make them individually remarkable. The central square, surrounded by the citywalls, takes us back to the Middle Ages. A great success was to defend the castle against the Turks by Captain Nicholas Jurisics in 1532. We cycle in the wonderful forests among the hills of the Írottkő Naturpark with smashing views of the area. We stop at the museum-cellars in Cák, passing by a small resort Bozsok, to look at the Roman aqueduct. Cycling along the former "Iron-Curtain”, parallel at the Austrian-Hungarian border. Overnight in Szombathely, the oldest city in Hungary, was the capital of the Pannonia Superior province of the Roman Empire. (“Colonia Claudia Savaria”)
(Stage approx. 60 km / 37 miles cycling)

Day 7 - CYCLE TO TOWN OF SPA & FORTRESS –We continue our tour in the nature along sleeping hamlets and softly undulating lands, through beautiful woods. We have two stops to see the Benedictine abbey church (a basilica) in Ják, and a small village church in Csempeszkopács. Both are significant memories of the Romanesque architecture. Biking further to Sárvár, with its gate tower and the vaulted bridgethat spans the fortress moat is a part of Hungarian national heritage. The centuries-old plane trees of the park of the Arboretum located next to the castle. In 2004 Sárvár became a memberof The Royal Spas of Europe and the Spa won the EUROPESPA-med quality award 2007.
(Stage approx. 64 km / 40 miles cycling)

Day 8 - PANNONIAN LANDSCAPES, THEN BUDAPEST –A wonderful cycling route leads us through lovely villages. Stork nests decorate the roofs and the masts. In this nice district was the romantic poet Dániel Berzsenyi born in 1776. At the through road is waiting the Transfer bus and transported us to the hotel in Budapest. In the end we have a goodbye dinner with a glass of wine. Overnight in hotel of Budapest.
(Stage approx. 60 km / 37 miles cycling)

Day 9 –After enjoying breakfast in your hotel homeward journey or additional nights in Budapest.

Included Services

• 6 nights accommodation with buffet breakfast in 3-and 4-star hotels and country inns, free Wi-Fi internet in 99% of the hotels, en-suite rooms with bath or shower/WC
• 6x buffet breakfast
• Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
• Service and luggage van with our driver for complete technical support
• Bicycle transportation in a special bike trailer
• Personal welcome with the tour info
• Options for discussion about the cycling stages on the spot
• Help in case of a breakdown or/and bicycle change on the spot quickly and for free
• Carefully selected routes
• Route maps and information brochure per booking on the spot
• The driver/guide is reachable via cell (mobile-) phone /Service Hotline/ for additional information and requests and in case of emergency as well. (= on-site tour hotline)
• Transportation of cyclists according to the program.