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Bike Tour No. 2. Hungarian Tuscany - Culture and Wine
From Lake Balaton to the European Capital of CultureVineyard Regions, Spa & Wildlife Reserve at the Danube. - Guided & “all-inclusive” cycle tour with luggage transport - |
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| Duration: | 9 days / 8 nights | |
| Cycling Distance: | Total 311kms / 188miles, approx. 39-61 km / 24-36 miles/day (Daily cycling about 5 - 6 hours - by moderated speed) |
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| Level of difficulty: | A bike tour starting from Lake Balaton through Trans-Danubian landscapes with mainly flat daily stages, but 3 stages have a few gentle rises. Calmly roads, mostly with low traffic, sometime between little villages and woods, a few times on nice cycle paths. (Level 2 - from easy to medium) | |
| Level of support: | 1st class service of 2 experienced & kind leaders: one cycling with you, and one driving the support bus/van to transport all the luggage. Continuous technical support and special trailer to transport every bicycle and spare bikes. The leaders on the way are always reachable by mobile phone. English speaking guiding during cycling and the programs of the whole tour. | |
| Start city: | Budapest (Hungary) | |
| End city: | Budapest (Hungary) | |
| Prices & Details: | see you below | |
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| The southern region of Hungary is a mixture of landscape and culture: hilly country, sun-gilt vineyards and a lot of historical sites and monuments. Southern Transdanubia – according to its geographical setting – has a unique Mediterranean climate in Hungary. First, you will experience panoramic views of the "Hungarian Sea" (Balaton lake), the untouched scenery of Danube-Dráva National Park. You cycle on the Red-Wine-Route of Villány, in the River Dráva region along the Croatian-Hungarian border as well as in the wildlife reserve at Gemenc in the end. (near the River Danube). Welcome on the second oldest tour of our product-range. |
Day 1 – ARRIVAL IN BUDAPEST – Individual arrival in the Hotel of Budapest latest until 6pm. Presentation of the tour by the guide and dinner. Day 2 – AT LAKE BALATON – Bus/Van transfer to the south shore of Lake Balaton. Handing over of the bikes. Cycling along the south shore, through Siófok. Panoramic view to the north shore, possible bathing stop. Passing the harbour of Balatonföldvár (the Tihany peninsula opposite), towards Balatonboglár/lelle.
(approx. 51 km / 31 miles cycling) Day 3 – LAND-INWARDS FROM LAKE BALATON – We cycle through sleepy villages and small roads in the Southern Transdanubia. The region is a mixture of undisturbed forests, meadows and sandy “puszta” (flatland) areas. Plains and valleys between gentle hills characterize this region, south from the Lake Balaton, until Kaposvár.
(approx. 61 km / 36 miles cycling) Day 4 – MANORS OF THE FESTETICH AND THE ESZTERHÁZY – We start southwards towards Pécs with our bikes on a forest cycle-path through the nature reserve of Zselicség. Deciduous- and conifer trees, reserved flora and fauna, “one-way-villages”. Pécs (in Latin: Sopiané) is located at the southern feet of the Mecsek hills. Pécs was an “European Capital of Culture” in 2010. / Hotel for 2 nights! /
(approx. 60 km / 36 miles cycling) Day 5 – REST-DAY IN PÉCS ("SOPIANAE") SIGHTSEEING – Sightseeing. Pécs (UNESCO World Heritage Site) has a series of impressive sights and it is the birthplace of the Hungarian Art Nouveau. Roman catacombs, wonderful Christian churches, Turkish monuments, artistic Zsolnay-ceramics in Art Nouveau, nice bars and sidewalk cafes – this is all Pécs. Overnight in the same hotel as the previous night. Day 6 – CYCLING, BATHING AND RELAXING – Short transfer to the region of Ormánság. We cycle along little forests, orchards and vineyards to the spa resort of Harkány. The beautifully situated open-air thermal bath of Harkány is beloved because of its healing water. You have time here to bathe, relax and wander around the bathing resort.
(approx. 47 km / 29 miles cycling) Day 7 – ALONG THE RED WINE ROUTE – First we cycle to Siklós and visit the castle (bearing the same name). We have a beautiful panorama from here. The soil and the Sub-Mediterranean climate help in growing the most delicious red wine grapes of the country. Finally we arrive to the heart of the wine region, Villánykövesd. We have a wine tasting of these first-class wines in a pretty wine cellar.
(approx. 53 km / 32 miles cycling) Day 8 – WILDLIFE RESERVE AND BUDAPEST – After a coach transfer we start cycling northwards on an embankment of the River Danube along the unique nature reserve. Hungary’s largest wildlife reserve, the Forest of Gemenc is a unique flood-area-forest, it is the feeding ground of many big games and birds. Finally a bus/van transfer to Budapest. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel in Budapest.
(approx. 39 km / 24 miles cycling) Day 9 – Individual departure after breakfast or exploring Budapest’s, additional night/s. What’s Included:
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| Included in the bike rental |
Optional (not included in the tour price, extras):
- Hire of our ladies and / or gents touring bikes with Shimano 21-speed gears and V-Breaks for the cycling days (more bicycle-info you can find here: http://www.velo-touring.hu/fahrrader_en.html).
- Lunch and drinks during the cycling tour. (to manage locally)
- Hire of our ladies and / or gents touring bikes with Shimano 21-speed gears and V-Breaks for the cycling days (more bicycle-info you can find here: http://www.velo-touring.hu/fahrrader_en.html).
- Lunch and drinks during the cycling tour. (to manage locally)
We gladly book additional night at our partner hotel in Budapest before or after your bicycle tour:
Prices of additional nights (Extra nights) in our partner Hotel in Budapest
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE (own organization): - Your arrival and departure between Budapest and your home, before and after the tour. - Travel insurance (accident and health), as well as your (Europeans) official for free European Health Insurance Card. |
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