TradNatura Sport: Bicycle tours in Hungary

:· BICYCLE TOUR DETAILS

Our other bicycle tours:

• Best selection of the Danube
• Castles and wines in northern Hungary
• Legendary Tokaj wines and the enchanting River&Lake Tisza with Hortobágy Puszta
• Nature and culture in South Hungary

CASTLES AND SPAS AROUND WEST HUNGARY

Taking this fabulous cycling tour, you will ride through untouched nature and woods, charming villages, picturesque landscapes and historical wine regions of Hungary, along the River Danube, Lake Fertő, and Lake Balaton. You will visit most famous castles and Romanesque churches, nicest medieval towns, thermal baths, and interesting museums of Western Transdanubia, stay in wonderfully located castles and historic houses, and taste excellent Hungarian wine and gourmet local food in small but outstanding restaurants and wine-cellars.

ITINERARY:

Bicycle tour map

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BUDAPEST.

Your hotel is situated right at the woods on the top of the Buda Hills. Its lovely environment and swimming pool, sauna, or massage possibilities will make you feel well and relaxed quickly.
You will meet with your tourguide at the reception, and have a welcome drink, information about the tour, and dinner in the cosy restaurant of the hotel.

View of Budapest

Hotel in Budapest

Buda-Castle District

Royal Palace

DAY 2: BUDAPEST TO GYŐR.

Guided sightseeing tour with our bus around the most famous sights and best viewpoints of Budapest, the capital of Hungary, the "Pearl of the Danube". After a short break, bustransfer to Győr, "the town of rivers", third richest home of historical monuments in Hungary. Then first to our hotel, which is situated in the heart of the antique part of the city, with a unique atmosphere. A place where it is worth taking a rest and a few steps to a brilliant thermal bath, which is right at the confluence of the River Danube, Rába and Rábca. Later we take a walk around the ancient town to view the Cathedral on Chapter Hill with a famous reliquary of a 11th century Hungarian king, the Episcopal Castle, Baroque houses with lovely oriels, and the Carmelite cloister dating back to the 18th century, where we stay.

Győr-Chapter Hill

Győr-Thermal bath

Győr-signboard

Győr-Baroque houses

DAY 3: CYCLING AMONG MIRACLES OF SZIGETKÖZ,

an enchanting watery world, embraced by the arms of the Danube, a peaceful region, where the wind of modern times hasn't swept through yet, a paradise for birds, anglers, and - as it is flat - for cyclists too. So, it's time to swing into the saddle! We will ride along idyllic landscapes, charming villages off the beaten track, and if our guide doesn't get lost among the labyrinth of deadarms, oxbow lakes with water-lilies, willow woods, dams, paths and byways, we will end up at a lovely thermal bath in Lipót. After a refreshing bathe, we will get to Hédervár. There we can enjoy our stay in real luxury, surrounded by the special atmosphere of a 400 year old Renaissance castle. Owing to the renovation in a wonderful, authentic style, its friendly size and beautiful park with ancient trees, it is called: "Pearl of Szigetköz".
(approx. 48km/30m cycling)

Cycling in Szigetköz

The picturesque Danube

Sunflowers

At the River Danube

DAY 4: CYCLE THROUGH HANSÁG - A MYSTERIOUS MARSHLAND.

Flying back from the 16th to the 13th century will take a few minutes with our bus to Lébény, where we stop to see the amazing sized Romanesque church, one of Hungary's most important monuments from that era. Cycling from here on the Little Plain, in the untouched nature through the Hanság, or as the locals call it: the Hany. The large wetland world, which preserved its original look, and belongs to the Fertő-Hanság National Park, a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. We take a wonderful ride through alder woods, along bog meadows, small lakes and rivers, with a stop at a little museum to look at the characteristic species of the exeptionally rich flora and fauna of this area, which is the home of rare and protected flowers, and animals, like marsh orchid and harriers, owls, egrets, grey herons, black storks, eagles, some great bustards and Hungarian gray cattle. After reaching Lake Fertő (Neusiedl), we stop in Fertőd at the splendid Baroque palace, built by Miklós Esterházy in the 18th century, with a park in Versailles style. Busride, to Balf, a small village near the lake. The Castle Hotel where we stay for two nights, is connected with a small thermal bath, and a medical center, which was founded in the 18th century. Dinner we have in the most special restaurant of the area.
(appr. 55km/34m cycling)

Lébény-Romanesque church

Hanság-path

Cycling along Plane trees

Fertőd-Esterházy Palace

DAY 5: SOPRON, CYCLING AT LAKE FERTŐ.

Short transfer to 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, surrounded by the original city walls will open out, offering abundance of sights, listed buildings and cultural memories. We cycle from here through a lovely wood to Lake Fertő, one of the most interesting wild water areas of Central Europe, a steppe lake. Its rather shallow water, covered by a lot of reeds, gets easily warm in summer. Observing almost 300 bird species, or fishing more than 30 kind of fish, sailing, boating, swimming are popular activities here. We take a boat trip, and then rolling along the lake, we arrive back to Balf. After having a short rest, we visit the quarry of Fertőrákos with enormous halls, and a beautiful view of Lake Fertő. After this, we taste some of the finest wines of the historic Sopron region, and have dinner in the excellent restaurant again.
(appr. 23km/14m cycling)

Lake Fertő

Fertőrákos-Quarry

Dinner in a special restaurant

Sopron-Goat Church

DAY 6: CYCLING FROM BALF TO BOZSOK.

Just a short ride, and we get to Nagycenk, a village, where "the greatest Hungarian", Count István Széchenyi, a prominent statesman of the 19th century lived. It is really worth seeing the museum in his former castle, which gives us a good insight into his life and shows his outstanding work promoting Hungary's transport, industry and agriculture, not to mention some of the world-famous Hungarian inventions. Cycling along nice fields we stop to see a 300 year old watermill. We take the bus for a shortwhile, and then we push the pedals further through beautiful woods and quiet villages towards the foothills of the Alps, and arrive at the romantic and familiar 17th century "Sibrik" castle in Bozsok, in the middle of a marvellous park in the wood, surrounded by ancient trees. It is the island of peacefulness, where time stops, and silence finds home, so we stay here for two nights.
(cycling appr. 44km/27m)

Steam loc

Széchenyi Castle

Cycling in nice wood

Cycling from Castle Hotel

DAY 7: KŐSZEG - CYCLING IN THE "IROTTKŐ" NATURAL PARK.

Short bus ride to Kőszeg. It's hard to find any prettier town in Hungary than this little one. Let's take a walk around "the Sub-Alpine jewel-box", as they call it. 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 Miklós Jurisics in 1532. After seeing the sights, we cycle in the wonderful forests among the hills of the Írottkő Naturpark with smashing views of the area. Passing by a small resort Velem, we stop at the museum-cellars in Cák, and ride back to our hotel. Tonight we have wine tasting and dinner in an old cellar with an "iron-curtain museum" among picturesque vineyards at the Austrian border.
(cycling about24km/15m)

Kőszeg-jewel boxes

Cityhall

Old wine-cellars-Cák

Picnic in a lovely place

DAY 8: CYCLE FROM CASTLE TO CASTLE.

Today we continue our tour in the nature along sleeping hamlets and softly undulating lands, through beautiful woods with a botanical garden. 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. Riding further to South by some small lakes, we arrive at Misefa, a quiet place near Héviz, and stay at a charming little Castle Hotel for two nights.
(cycling appr. 56km/35m)

Old wine-cellar

Ják-Romanesque basilica

Romanesque church - Csempeszkopács

Through lovely woods

DAY 9: KESZTHELY AND HÉVÍZ

A day of leisure. We take our bus to Keszthely, an old town at the Lake Balaton, where we visit the castle of the Festetics family. It's one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces of Hungary with a scenic English Garden, rich furniture, and its biggest treasure, the Helikon Library, which has wonderfully preserved its original shape. By founding the first agricultural college of Europe, and organizing the Helikon festivals, the Festetics developed Keszthely into a cultural center. After some walk or rest in the town, we go to Hévíz, and dip into the 33-34°c water of the second biggest (~ 4.4ha.) thermal lake of the world.
It is the most famous health resort of Hungary, wellknown in Europe as well. The wooden buildings and plenty of water-lilies on the lake make the sight even more beautiful. After getting cured in the healing water, we go back to our hotel.

Festetics Castle-Keszthely

Hévíz-Thermal bath

Hévíz-Thermal Lake

Water lily on lake

DAY 10: CYCLING ALONG LAKE BALATON.

The biggest lake in Middle Europe, and the most visited resort area of the country, the "Hungarian Sea". It is very pleasant to swim in the 20-25°c warm water, and sailing, windsurfing, fishing is also much liked here. Cycling along the Northern Side we can enjoy one of Hungary's most beautiful landscapes. The breathtaking panorama of the lake and the volcanic hills at Badacsony-historic wine region cannot be compared with anything else. A great number of beautifully renovated old thatched village houses make the area even more picturesque at Szigliget, and in the Káli Basin, which is a peaceful nature reserve, decorated with unique formations, like "stone seas" and "basalt organs" of the surrounding hills. Riding among vineyards all around, we reach Tihany, where we stay at a pleasant hotel right at the shore, where we have a great opportunity to swim.
(appr. 63km/39m cycling)

Lake Balaton+volcanic hills

Thatched house-Szigliget

Taking pictures

In the Káli Basin

DAY 11: FROM TIHANY TO BUDAPEST - END OF CYCLING.

Tihany Peninsula is another most attractive point of Balaton, with hidden natural beauties, like geyser-cones, and an Inner Lake. Arriving at the top, we visit the Benedictine monastery. Its foundation document, the oldest written memory we have (from 1055.) containing some Hungarian words, and the grave of the king who founded the abbey, can be seen in the crypt, and makes it famous. After enjoying another wonderful view, walking among the old thatch-roofed village houses, and souvenir shops, we cycle through Balatonfüred, an old health resort town, towards the end of the lake, and a sad moment, when we finish riding. We take a bustransfer to Budapest, to our hotel, and a farewell dinner there.
(cycling appr. 15km/9m)

Tihany-Benedictine Abbey

King 1st Andrew

View from Tihany

Pottery

DAY 12:

After enjoying breakfast in the friendly atmosphere of your hotel, we hope that you will leave with nice memories of cycling in Hungary, for a lifetime.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

• 11 nights accommodation mainly in 3 or 4 star castles, mansions or historic houses, (2nights in a 2 star castle, in a superb surroundings), in quiet areas with familiar and antique atmosphere, and rather high quality, always with private facilities.
• 11 times breakfast, and 3 course gourmet dinners, always with some drinks and excellent wines,
• Excellent picnics in beautiful spots in the nature, and drinks during cycling.
• 2x wine tasting in lovely wine cellars.
• Full English speaking guiding during cycling and the programmes of the whole tour, with 1st class service of 2 professional and friendly guides, one cycling with you, and one driving the back-up bus.
• Full technical support, and special trailer for all the bikes, and to transport all the luggage.
• Air conditioned support bus, available for the whole group, during the whole tour, making possible to cycle along the most beautiful and quiet parts of the route, and providing a flexible alternative for those who want to rest at any time.
• All the bustransfers, private guided sightseeing tours, and visits mentioned in the itinerary.
• Boat trip on Lake Fertő.
• All the 11 museum, castle, church, and 5 bath tickets, written in the programme.
• Very good quality hybrid bikes with 24 gears, front suspension, handbrakes, and panniers.
• Souvenir water-bottle and TNS T-shirt.
• Sights - Most beautiful routes mainly in nature reserves, or woods, mostly with low or no car traffic.
• Transfers in Budapest between your hotel and the airport or stations.

OPTIONAL (not included):

• Extra nights in Budapest.
• Relaxing massage possibilities.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Your travel between Budapest and your home, before and after the tour.
• Travel and health insurance.

TOUR PRICE: