Travel report: Cycle tour on the Danube and Altmühl
From our guests Frank and Claudia
We are Gabi and Daniel from near Berlin and Claudia and Frank from Lübeck. Friends for a long time, we wanted to spend a really nice week together this year. The offer from Radweg-Reisen promised us a beautiful route, comfortable hotels and an all-round carefree package that we had been looking forward to for almost a year. And then we finally set off...
Day 1: Arrival in Regensburg
On 19.06.2021, we arrived at the Ibis Styles Hotel in Regensburg almost at the same time. The location right on the waterfront, the beautiful weather, a warm welcome and excellent rooms put us in a great vacation mood. After a short bike ride into the city center, we study the travel documents in a beer garden and are guided through the beautiful city center.
Show more Show lessDay 2: Regensburg - Abensberg
A hot day and we set off early after breakfast on the hotel terrace. Our first impressions of the south bank of the Danube are really beautiful and we see lots of people in and on the water. We realize that we are missing a key. Luckily, a call to Radweg-Reisen is enough and the transportation of the key together with our luggage to the next accommodation is organized.
After arriving in Kehlheim and taking a boat trip, we can enjoy a lunch break at Weltenburg Abbey. Afterwards, a quick dip in the Danube waves and the tour continues to the first destination in Abensberg. The Hundertwasser Tower there can be seen from afar and the comfortable "Hotel Kneitinger" is located in the middle of the picturesque old town. A refreshing ice cream, a short break and then we enjoy the Bavarian cuisine. A successful first day on the bike.
Day 3: Abensberg - Neuburg on the Danube
This day takes us past hop fields back to the Danube and we cycle on the north side to Vohburg. The short detour through the Little Danube Gate into the old town is worthwhile. Continuing towards Ingolstadt, we experience a calm river behind the Danube barrage, which almost looks like a lake, and pass several biotopes. The cozy beer garden in Ingolstadt invites us to take a break and then we continue through the beautiful riparian forests.
Unfortunately, we get lost and suddenly find ourselves in front of a large fallen tree. Not easy - but we find a way past it and find ourselves in front of the enchanting Grünau hunting lodge, which we view from all sides. We find our way back onto the cycle path and continue to our stage destination of Neuburg an der Donau. The view of Neuburg Castle impresses us and we are happy to take the short detour there before we move into our next accommodation at the "Hotel Bergbauer". Of course, we are rewarded with another delicious ice cream. We ask the hotel staff for a recommendation for dinner. We get it promptly and she reserves a table for us right away - very nice.
Day 4: Neuburg on the Danube - Eichstätt
Today we leave Neuburg and, after a few kilometers, the Danube. The journey takes us through the Urdonau Valley with views of rocks worth seeing and interesting castle ruins. At the small village of Mauern, we pass caves, which we can see up close after a short walk.
In Dollnstein, we take a break at Gasthof Zur Post and decide to take a detour of five kilometers to the "Twelve Apostles" rock formation. It's worth it - also because we discover a Kneipp facility in the Gailach in Altendorf on the way back and try it out straight away. Back on the planned route, we soon reach our stage destination of Eichstätt, where we discover an Italian ice cream factory with a truly spectacular selection of delicious ice cream flavors.
Day 5: Break in Eichstätt
This day is planned for a short rest and we stay at the "Hotel Adler" for two nights. Good timing, because it rains in the morning. But the sun comes out again in the afternoon for the city tour and we are impressed by all the sights and monuments in the city. Of course, we have another delicious ice cream and end the day in a cozy courtyard beer garden.
Show more Show lessDay 6: Eichstätt - Beilngries
This day on the bike mostly takes us directly along the Altmühl. In Pfünz we visit the Roman fort, in Kinding the fortified church and on the way we take a refreshing swim in the Kratzmühle bathing lake near Pfraundorf - very varied.
We reach Beilngries and as this stage is shorter than the other stages so far, we extend it to Berching. This medieval town is really impressive and we enjoy today's ice cream right next to the fully preserved town wall. We return along the Main-Danube Canal to Beilngries and check into our rooms at the Romantik-Hotel "Milipp". This hotel has a butcher's shop, so we also stay there for dinner and improve our newly acquired Schafkopf skills.
Day 7: Beilngries - Regensburg
On the last stage, we first cycle along the Altmühl. However, this ends at Töging, where it flows into the Main-Danube Canal, which now dominates the Altmühltal valley as far as Kelheim. Shortly before Dietfurt, we stop at the prehistoric adventure village of Alcmona, the first stop of the Altmühltal Archaeology Park.
At the intermediate destination of Riedenburg, the 2nd boat trip to Kehlheim begins. On this stretch, we see the beautiful Prunn Castle and cross the barrage in the Kelheim lock before getting back on the bike. It starts to rain and we already know the last few kilometers from the start of our tour - so we pick up the pace and reach Regensburg and the Ibis Styles hotel quite quickly. Of course, we have an ice cream as a reward and celebrate the end of our beautiful cycle tour at a very good Italian restaurant away from the touristy city center.
The whole bike trip was really a pleasure - beautiful routes with interesting sights, great hotels in places worth seeing and smooth organization. The weather also played along and we have already planned the next tour in our minds - Lake Constance, Munich Lakes Tour or Lahn, let's see which one it will be.
