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Wine and Bike in Hungary’s Balaton

Wine and Bike in Hungary’s Balaton

Wine and Bike in Hungary’s Balaton Uplands – 8 Days

Type of tour: Guided
Level: 2
Duration: 7 Nights
Distance: 25 Miles/day average
Dates: Jun 15, Jul 18, Sep 19, 2015 (minimum 8 participants)
Tour price: €1020
Start city: Veszprem, Hungary
End city: Veszprem, Hungary

Tour Description

Riding on a bicycle through Hungary will give you a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the land than simply being a tourist. You will immerse yourself in the Hungarian culture and landscape, and that will make you more like a native than a tourist. Trade the traditional beach umbrella with a shaded forest pathway in the beautiful Hungarian land, where both romanticism of the countryside and relics from the past are combined. Hide from the hot sunshine in the shadows of the trees because nothing is better than riding on your bike along the picturesque landscapes, feeling the cool breeze on your face.

On this tour of Hungary’s Balaton Uplands, you will travel through the county under the guidance of locals, who will show you the hidden treasures and of the country’s culture and the cheerfulness of it’s people. The tour is a combination of bike, wine, culture, rural and eco tourism. You will enjoy every moment of the holiday with your family and friends and want to share these experiences with everyone you meet.

On our bike tours something you can’t miss is the Hungarian goulash and the home strudel. Taste the full bodied wines grown from the sunny hillsides. The hospitality and the quality of the wines will never disappoint you even in old wine cellars or at small family vinyards.

Take a rest in the shadows of the historic walls and listen to stories about historic battles, local heroes and legends. Listen to Hungarian history and discover the extinct volcanoes. Let yourself be lead by the small winding paths trough hidden villages, forest, grape fields. Don’t be shy to stop to take photos! Take a look at the landscape from the hillside and find pleasure in the unique sights. Give yourselves up to nature and don’t worry, nobody will disturb you!

Highlights

Highlights: Guided

  1. Cycle in the most beautiful parts of Balaton Uplands National Park
  2. Enjoy lunch and winetasting at family winecellars
  3. Feast on home made traditional hungarian dishes in stew-pot and grilled meats
  4. Bathe in the refreshing lake
  5. Enjoy picnics in the beautiful natural scenary of the Balaton Uplands
  6. Visit old ruins and cultural sights
  7. Experience Hungary like a native

Itinerary

Daily Program: Guided

NOTE:
Please note that this itinerary reflects the daily plans for the Basic Hotel category. The itinerary is essentially the same for the 4-Star Hotel category, with a few small differences that are noted below.

Day 1: Arrival to Veszprém
The first day of cycling starts in Veszprém, the City of Queens. The accommodation is in a relaxing place nearby the Castle and the Old Town. After a refreshing shower take your camera and discover the Saint Michael Chapel, which is famous because it is where the first Hungarian queen, Gisel, and every Hungarian queen after her were crowned. Enjoy the historic places and the unique atmosphere of Veszprém before the first cycling day.
Overnight in Veszprem.

Day 2: Veszprém – Balatonfured (24 miles/38 km)
Following breakfast you head out on the bikes in the direction of Lake Balaton. This day is the first meeting with the idyllic landscape, charming villages and lake. Until you reach Balatonalmádi, you use a dedicated bicycle road. From there you use the old Roman road that goes to the coastline, passing grape fields planted in Roman times. The day’s final stop is Balatonfüred, capital of Lake Balaton. The most common words in connection with this city are history, culture, wine and hospitality.
Overnight in Balatonfured.

Day 3: Balatonfured– Badacsony (28 miles/50 km)
Today you start cycling in the western direction following the coastline on the built cycle road. You can stop for a bath almost everywhere. This day is about the nature, sunshine and the water. The accomodation will be in Badacsony in a charming pension at the foot of mountain Badacsony. This wine area is the oldest in Hungary and the wines are excellent with the local meals.
Overnight in Badacsony.
*The 4-Star tour goes from Balatonfured to Totvazsony (20 miles/32 km)

Day 4: Badacsony – Szentbékkálla (19 miles/30 km)
A highlight of today is Badacsony, featuring the Szegedy Róza House and Museum. After this you follow the Roman way and Balaton cycle road to reach Szigliget. In Szigliget you visit the 250 year-old Eszterházy Wine Museum and climb up to the Castle, which was used in the Turkish war in 16th century. From here you cycle across a land of extinct volcanoes, the so called ‘Witnessing Mountains’ that are in the heart of the Balaton Uplands National Park. Cycling through the oldest Hungarian village, you will spend the evening in the authentic village of Szentbékálla.
Overnight in Szentbékálla.
*The 4-Star tour goes from Totvaszony to Badacsony (30 miles/49 km)

Day 5: Szentbékkálla – Tótvázsony (22 miles/36 km)
Today you use hidden roads that go through charming little villages like Köveskál, Szentantalfa, Óbudavár. Discover the beauty of Balaton Uplands National Park and the idyllic landscapes filled with grape fields. Make sure to stop in Kékkút and drink from the fountain, which was the favorite of Theodora the Roman queen. From there, you go through the Nivegy Valley wine area that played important role in wine export soon in the roman times. Finish the day in a nice quiet hotel in Tótvázsony at the foot of Bakony Mountain.
Overnight in Tótvázsony.
*The 4-Star tour rides a loop today from Badacscony to Szigliget to Badacsony (17-27 miles/27-43 km)

Day 6: Tótvázsony – Balatonfured (24 miles/39 km)
Today you cycle down to Pécsely and Aszóf on the way to the city center of Tihany. Visit the 950 year-old Benedict Abbey, built on the top of the extinct volcano. From there you have great views of peninsula, old caldera and Inner lake. After the sights of Tihany, you head to Koczor Winecellar for picnic lunch and wine tasting. You spend the evening in Balatonfüred.
Overnight in Balatonfüred.
*The 4-Star tour rides from Badacscony to Balatonfured (31 miles/50 km) and rejoins the Basic tour.

Day 7: Balatonfured– Veszprém (22 miles/34 km)
On the last cycling day you use the Balaton cycling road, which leads you towards the coastline. You will have the opportunity to stop for a refreshing bath or an ice cream as many times as you want. From Balatonalmádi, you follow the embankment before you turn in direction of Veszprém. This day is an ideal lighter day of cycling, arriving in Veszprém with time for a nice walk or shopping.
Overnight in Veszprem.

Day 8: Veszprém
Depart after breakfast

Included Services

Included Services: Guided

  • 7 nights accommodation at 3- and 4-star hotels and charming country inns
  • Full board: 7 breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches, 7 gourmet dinners (3-course) with excellent wines (unlimited wine consumption)
  • 6 local wine tastings
  • 2 English speaking guides who cycle with you
  • One attendant driving the support car/van
  • Luggage transfer, full technical service and a trailer for the bicycles
  • Hybrid bikes with 24-gears, front suspension, light aluminum frame
  • Helmets, water bottle, front bag, mudguards, rear rack, saddle bags and lights
  • Maps
  • Detailed roadbook in English (tips on sights, cultural highlights, scenic stops and recommended restaurants)
  • All the entrance fees and tickets of the sights written in the program
  • Bus transfer from and to the airport
  • Free wi-fi internet in 90% of the hotels

Bike Rental

Bike Rentals: Guided
Bikes available on this tour, and included in the tour cost (reserved in advance at the time of booking):
Hybrid bikes, 24-speed, with front suspension and light aluminum frame: Caprine, Neuzer, Merida, Giant, and Altrix
Child trailers available and included in tour cost

Bikes come equipped with:

  • Water bottle
  • Front handlebar bag
  • Mudguards
  • Rear rack with panniers
  • Lights
  • Repair kit with pump and extra tubes
  • GPS navigation system is available

Pedals:
The bikes are equipped with flat pedals. You may bring your own pedals if desired.

Seats:
Tour saddles are included, but you may bring your own seat. Please let us know if you intend to bring your own seat, so we can ensure the post will fit the bike.

Helmets:
Helmets are provided as part of the tour package, but we recommend that you plan to bring your own helmet for safety and hygeine purposes.

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