Page Text Content
>>>TOUR REF >>>FACTFILE
CVS
>>> AUSTRIA " SLOVENIA " HUNGARY
Vineyards & Steppes
10 days Hotels Cycling from Graz to Lake Balaton
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Graz (Austria). 2 Cycle tour of Graz; continue Leibnitz along Mur river. 3 Along the Mur to Mureck; cross into Slovenia; cycle backroads to Ptuj. 4 Cycle Ljutomer via Ptuksko lake. 5 Rest day at Ljutomer; optional rides to Jeruzalem and Banovci thermal baths. 6 Rural riding through Mur river valley; cross into Hungary and continue Lenti. 7 Short bus transfer to Kis-Balaton Nature Reserve; cycle to Keszthely on Lake Balaton. 8 Cycle Tihany Nature Reserve via Lake Balaton then on to Balatonfüred. 9 Cycle Tihany village; ferry across Lake Balaton; drive Budapest; orientation walk of Buda. 10 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 9nts hotel; 9 breakfasts included. See p45. Bicycles: 21-gear touring bikes with rear pannier bag for carrying day things. Daily distances day 01 day 02 day 03 day 04 day 05 day 06 day 07 day 08 day 09 day 10 Rest days or optional rides Grade & Terrain: Grade B 305km/7 days (average 43km/cycling day). 1 day free for optional ride. Although the majority of cycling is on the flat, following a combination of cycle paths and country backroads, there are several ascents on day 3 including one of around about 150m followed by downhill stretches. 90% asphalt, 10% well-maintained gravel roads. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader/guide cycles with the group each day. Whilst cycling a back-up vehicle follows behind the group although this is for emergency bike maintenance only and should not be viewed as an alternative to cycling. Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16.
35km 70km 50km 35km 45km 30km 60km 15km
Old town, Slovenia/Chris Bradley CYCLE GRADE B
DATES & PRICES in £s per adult 10 days from London (Fri-Sun) 2008 deps 27 Jun-06 Jul 25 Jul-03 Aug 22 Aug-31 Aug 19 Sep-28 Sep 2009 deps 26 Jun-05 Jul 24 Jul-02 Aug 21 Aug-30 Aug 18 Sep-27 Sep Flight Incl 949 915 915 915 Flight Incl 975 945 945 945 Land Only 685 685 685 685 Land Only 705 705 705 705
This fascinating tour links the latter part of the acclaimed Mur River Cycle Path with some of Central Europes finest wine and spa country, and Balaton the regions largest lake. Cycling through three contrasting nations we have plenty of time to savour the differing cuisines, landscapes, heritage and, of course, fine wines, as we go. Theres also time to appreciate the cultural and architectural delights of two of Europes most splendid cities Graz and Budapest.
Along the Mur Cycle Path Our first taste of cycling is on a tour of Graz, Austrias second city, dominated by its impressive Schlossberg (castle hill). The medieval old town below the hill is a World Heritage Site, and is well-suited for exploring by bike. It is here that we join the excellent Mur Cycle Path, following the river on its
journey towards the Slovenian border. Our first night out of Graz is spent in Leibnitz, in the heart of the south Styrian winelands. We pedal on to reach Mureck and cross the Mur into Slovenia. Through Slovenian Winelands One of several ascents on this tour takes us up from the banks of the Mur to join quiet Slovene backroads. The countryside here is simply delightful as we cycle past beech forest, meadows and farmland to reach our hotel in Ptuj. More vineyards await us as we move on to Ljutomer, our base for two nights allowing the option of a rest day. From here, optional rides lead to the vineyard village of Jeruzalem and the thermal baths at Banovci. We continue through the Mur river valley and the village of Velika Polana with its population of nesting white storks to Lendava, close to our next border crossing. Lake Balaton & Budapest Once in Hungary, we follow a cycle path to Lenti then head to the shores of Lake Balaton. Theres an option to visit Europes largest thermal lake at Heviz before our
Stopping to visit sites/Chris Bradley
final day of cycling along the northern lakeshore. We pass by small spa towns and vineyards, set against a backdrop of ancient volcanoes, to reach the nature reserve and lake peninsula of Tihany. Finally, we drive to Budapest, on the Danube, for an orientation tour of Budas remarkable old town and castle.
BUDAPEST
City tour Old town Castle
Vineyards & Steppes Ref CVS
AUSTRIA
GRAZ
Da
nu
b
HUNGARY
D
Land Only tour: 10 days - start Graz day 1 (Fri), end Budapest day 10 (Sun) Plus Local Payment: ¬100 (approx £70) payable Graz Single Room Option: £140* These are guide prices, see p46 for full details
e
an
SLOVENI
PTUJ
Mur
LEIBNITZ
Mureck White Storks LENTI Nesting site Kis-Balaton A LJUTOMER Nature Reserve Optional rides CROATIA
KESZTHELY
BALATONFÜRED Tihany Nature Reserve Ferry Lake Balaton
Bus to Budapest
ube
km 0 60
Spotting storks/Geoff Vaughan
28
Request a tour dossier for comprehensive tour information
|
inbro