Hungary Wine and Bike Balaton Uplands B Cycle Tour 2018 Individual Self-Guided or Guided 8 days / 7 nights Flickr.com The Balaton Upland National Park is one of the youngest national parks in Hungary, but the Romans started to plant grapes on its hills and the ancient Hungarians founded the first villages. A thousand years of history, culture, and nature make a unique mixture of this land. The strong wines, sandy beaches, delicious Hungarian meals and the beauty of the nature make you wonder here. We use our own experience and local knowledge to put together the right places and sights for you. The saddle of your bicycle is the best way to experience this unique tour.
Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Veszprem Our first day starts in Veszprem in the City of Queens. The accommodation is in a relaxing place near the Castle and the Old Town. After a refreshing shower take your camera and discover the Saint Michael Chapel which is famous because the first queen Gisel and every subsequent queen was crowned there. Enjoy the historic places and the unique atmosphere of Veszprem and discover this lovely town before the first cycling day. Day 2: Veszprem Balatonfured 38 km After breakfast take the fully equipped bicycles and start the trip in the direction of the Lake Balaton. This day is a special one because this is the first meeting with the idyllic landscape, the charming villages and the lake. The ride to Balatonalmadi is on bicycle built roads, and afterwards you change to the old roman road which goes next to the coastline. Everywhere we will see grape fields which were planted in the Roman times. The wine and vital hotel still stands in Balatonfured, the capital of Lake Balaton. The most common words in connection of this city are history, culture, wine and hospitality. Commons.wikimedia.org Day 3: Balatonfured Badacsony 50 km We start cycling today in the western direction following the coastline on the cycle built road. We can stop for a swim everywhere. This day is about the nature, sunshine and the water. The accommodation will be in Badacsony, in a charming pension at the foot of the vitnessing mountain Badacsony. This wine area is the oldest in Hungary and the wines are excellent with the local meals. Day 4: Badacsony Szentantalfa 30 km Today we visit the Szegedy Roza House and Museum in Badacsony, where we can see how the people lived in the 19 th century in this area. After this we use the Roman way and the Balaton cycle road to reach Szigliget, where we visit the 250 year old Eszterhazy Wine Museum and climb up to the castle used in the Turkish war in the 16 th century. From here we roll across the land of inactive volcanoes, the so called vitnessing mountains which are in the heart of the Balaton Uplands National Park. We will cycle through the oldest Hungarian villages and our accommodation will be in an authentic village in Szentbekkalla. Foursquare.com
Day 5: Szentantalfa - Totvazsony 36 km We use the hidden roads which go through charming little villages like Koveskal, Szentantalfa and Obudavar. We discover the beauty of the Balaton Uplands National Park and the idyllic landscapes with grape fields. Today we go through Nivegy valley wine area which played an important role in wine export in the roman times. We finish the trip in a nice quiet hotel in Totvazsony at the foot of Bakony Mountain. Day 6: Totvazsony Balatonfüred 39 km We roll down to Pecsely and Aszofo to reach the city center of Tihany where we could spend the whole day without getting bored. We visit the 950 year old Benedict Abbey which was built to the top of the inactive volcano. From here we can take a look down to the middle of the peninsula to the old caldera and the Inner Lake. After the sights of Tihany, we head to Koczor Wine Cellar for a picnic lunch and wine tasting. After lunch the accommodation in Balatonfured is just 25 minutes away. Pinterest.com Day 7: Balatonfured Veszprem 34 km On the last cycling day we use the Balaton cycling road which follows the coastline. We will have the opportunity to stop for a refreshing swim or an ice cream as many times as we want. We ride from Balatonalmadi the embankment to take a last look at the lake and we turn in direction of Veszprem. This day is an ideal cool down after the whole bike tour. We arrive in Veszprem in the right time for a nice walk or shopping. The dinner will be the last moment to enjoy the holiday and Hungary because the next day is the end of the tour. Day 8: Individual departure Our journey unfortunately ends after breakfast Flickriver.com
Route Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Leisure relaxed cycling with occasional hills and distances up to 50 km per day. Average physical condition required. Hungary is a rather flat country with some hilly areas. The highest point is about 1000m. This route is mainly flat with some slightly undulating parts where longer downhills outnumber the short uphills. Travel on bicycle built roads (asphalt) and low traffic bicycle friendly roads (asphalt) as well as some good quality dirt roads. This tour is designed for anyone who can cycle 20 to 50 km per day at a leisurely pace. Distance: 227 km Travel Season: May 19; July 7 and September 22, 2018
Price per Person: Self-Guided Guided Category A Category B Category A Double Occupancy 789.00 689.00 1249.00 Half board (gourmet 3 course dinner/unlimited wine) 130.00 Included Bike Rental 24 Gear 70.00 Included E-Bike Rental 140.00 Single Supplement 219.00 199.00 219.00 Dinner and Cruise Budapest on River Danube Extra Nights Veszprem Double Occupancy Extra Nights Veszprem Single Occupancy Extra Nights Budapest Double Occupancy 4* Extra Nights Budapest Double Occupancy 4* Accommodation: Lovely and comfortable rooms with shower and toilet, with towels included. The surroundings are always nice (old town, close to the lake, in a quiet charming village, close to nature). We spend four nights in 4* hotels with wellness facilities and three nights in 4* hotels in small towns and tiny villages. All accommodations have familiar atmosphere and high quality Included: Guided Tour: 7 nights accommodation in 4* hotels, with familiar atmosphere and high quality and superb surroundings Full board 7 breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches, 7 gourmet dinners (3 course) with excellent wines (unlimited consumption) 6 Wine tasting events Full English speaking guides (2) Support vehicle Luggage transfer, full technical service, trailer for bikes Taxi transfer in Siófok train station - hotel train station Bike Rental high quality hybrid Merida, Giant, Altrix bikes with 24 gears, front suspension, light aluminum frame; helmets, water bottle, front bag, mudguards, rear rack, panniers, lights Detailed road book and maps (tips on sights, cultural highlights, scenic stops and recommended restaurants) All entrance fees and tickets to sights outlined within the program Free Wi-Fi internet in 90% of the hotels Bus transfer from/back to the airport
Self-Guided: 7 night s accommodation at 4-star hotels with familiar atmosphere, high quality and superb surroundings Half board: 7 breakfasts, 7 gourmet dinners (3 course), with excellent wines (unlimited wine consumption Luggage transfer Service hotline High quality hybrid Merida, Giant, Altrix bikes with 24 gears, front suspension, light aluminum frame Helmets, water bottle, front bag, mudguards, rear rack, panniers, lights Maps Detailed GPS navigation and road book (tips on sights, cultural highlights, scenic stops and recommended restaurants) Free Wi-Fi internet in 90% of the hotels
Bikes High quality hybrid Caprine, Neuzer, Hauser, Merida, Giant, Altrix bikes with 24 Shimano gears, front suspension and light aluminum frame. Bike rentals come with helmets, water bottle, front bag, mud guards, rear rack, panniers, lights, repair kit, pump and extra tube Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848