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May 1st - September 30th, 2023

Where thousands of cyclists have already journeyed along the Danube for the past 25 years, it is now the hiker’s turn to explore this impressive landscape. The Donausteig Trail leads the wanderer to the most beautiful sights of the Upper Austrian Danube region.

The Danube region is a unique natural landscape: Highlights include the distinctive narrow valley between Passau and Aschach, the natural wonder “Schloegener Schlinge” as well as many nature reserves with its distinctive broad lateral valleys (e.g. Rannatal or Koeßlbachtal).

Requirements and general information:

The tours have height differences up to max. 1000 m, the daily walking distance varies from 10 to 30 km, is without difficulty and easily manageable within 4 to 8 hours. The starting points and resting places are equipped with detailed information boards, which narrate illustrated Danube legends.

Arrangement

• 2 x overnight stay in **** hotels with breakfast buffet
• 4 x overnight stay in ***Donausteig inns/hotels with breakfast buffet
• 1 x welcome video with explanations and information that you need for the tour
• 1 x boat trip from Passau to Kasten
• 1 x taxi transfer from Engelhartszell to Schloegen
• 1 x ferry boat from Schloegen to Au
• 1 x bus from Aschach to Ottensheim
• 1 x Train ticket OR ferry ticket from Linz to Passau (ferry daily expect Mo + Fr)
• 1 x Donausteig Trail hiking book (1 x per room)
• 1 x map material (1 x per room)
• 5 x luggage transfer - max. 2 pcs./person and max. 25 kg/piece of luggage
• Daily service hotline from 8.00 - 18.00 o’clock (also on weekends)

Itinerary:

Day 1: Individual arrival in Passau.

Overnight stay in Passau.

Day 2: Passau - Engelhartszell
~15 km, 5 h, altitude difference á450 m / â630 m

With the ferry you leave Passau towards Kasten/Vichtenstein. From there you hike along the southern bank to Engelhartszell with the option of climbing the Haugstein. Particularly rewarding is a visit to the monastery Engelszell, Austria's only Trappist convent, known for its home-made liqueur production.

Overnight stay in Engelhartszell.

Day 3: Engelhartszell – Obermuehl
~9 km, 3 h, altitude difference á286 m / â286 m

Taxi transfer from Engelhartszell to Schloegen/Haibach. Before you start your hike to Obermuehl along the northern bank, we recommend exploring the CICONIA trail (10,5 km), featuring information and art sculptures describing the unique landscape. Then with the ferry boat from Schloegen to Au. On the nature trail to Obermuehl.

Overnight stay in Obermuehl.

Day 4: Obermuehl – Untermuehl
~9 km, 3-4 h, altitude difference á454 m / â458 m

You hike from Obermuehl towards Kirchberg. Passing the spectacular look-out tower “Burgstallblick” you reach Kirchberg and make your way through field and meadows to Untermuehl where you reach the Danube again.

Overnight stay in Untermuehl.

Day 5: Untermuehl – Aschach
~18 km, 6-7 h, altitude difference á684 m / â712 m

You hike from Untermuehl via St. Martin im Innkreis to Oberlandshaag where you cross a bridge to Aschach. We recommend taking some time to explore Aschach. Its town houses from the Middle Ages feature gothic, baroque and renaissance era facades and courtyards.

Overnight stay in Aschach.

Day 6: Aschach – Linz
~16 km, 6 h, altitude difference á693 m / â692 m

From Aschach take the bus to Ottensheim (13km, daily, hourly intervals). From Ottensheim you hike along the northern bank to Linz. You enter the city from the north-west climbing the “Poestlingsberg”, a famous landmark of the city. Your sightseeing tour starts directly at the main square (duration: approx. 25 minutes).

Overnight stay in Linz.

Day 7: Linz – Passau

Train ride incl. luggage from Linz to Passau
Individual departure or additional nights.

Rates per person for the arrangement in €:

Local tax is extra to pay on spot in each accommodation (from € 1,-- to € 3,-- per person/per night)

Prices are subject to change

Reductions for children sleeping in their parents’ room (2 fully paying guests):

0 - 5 years: 100%          6 - 15 years: 30%

Information for arrivals by car:

The parking place does not always situate next to the accommodation but on a public parking place. (Possible costs have to be paid on spot)

Accommodations:

For the major part the chosen inns and hotels are official Donausteig Trail-Accommodations.

This means: situated near the Donausteig Trail routes, individual service for hikers, mostly family-run businesses

We recommend travel cancellation insurance.

The standard terms and conditions of the Salzkammergut Touristik GmbH apply in the current version.

Due to environmental reasons we recommend to arrive and depart by public transportation.