New 'Danube Family Bike Tour' Combines Kid-Friendly Cycling in Austria with Family-Oriented Attractions

Chattanooga, TN (PRWEB) January 26, 2007

A new "Danube Family Tour," one of many family-friendly bike tours offered by BikeToursDirect, mixes kid-friendly bicycling with plenty of attractions and activities to keep youngsters involved: boat rides, visits to zoos and an adventure park, hikes to castles and a ride on a giant Ferris wheel.

The seven-night adventure begins in Linz and ends in Vienna, and takes families downhill through Austria's scenic Wachau region, averaging 16 miles per day, nearly always on asphalt-covered, well-marked, dedicated bike paths. The self-guided packages, departing daily Apr. 1-Oct. 31, 2007, cost €343 ($439) for children age 11 and under sharing with two adults and €515 to €686 ($659 to $878) for older children and adults. A guided tour, offered July 23, is €466 ($596) and €743 to €931 ($951 to $1,192). A nine-night version, departing Passau, Germany, is also available.

The 210-mile Danube River Bike Path is one of Europe's most popular and bicyclist-friendly routes -- perfect for families and those doing self-guided cycling for the first time. Cycling past ancient castles, medieval villages, farms and sprawling vineyards that sweep down to the river is combined with rides on Europe's steepest mountain railway, on the famous "Grottenbahn" - a small train that traverses several grottoes populated by fairy-tale folk, and on Vienna's "Riesenrad" - the giant 110-year-old Ferris wheel in the Prater Park; visits to zoos in Linz and Vienna; and several river boat trips.

Not to be lost among the numerous attractions is the beauty and history of the Wachau region - the Augustine Abbey in St. Florian, one of Europe's finest baroque buildings; Krems, the wine-growing center of Austria for 10 centuries; Melk's Benedictine Abbey, first established in 1089; and the Old World towns of Grein and Enns.

Packages include lodging primarily in four-star hotels (many with pools); daily breakfasts and some lunches; admissions, activities, and train and boat transfers; T-shirt or cap and certificate of achievement for the kids; luggage transfers; detailed route information; and a service hotline. The guided tour adds dinners and a professional guide experienced working with children. Extra nights can be added in Vienna for €49 to €59 ($63-$76) per adult, with discounted rates for children.

BikeToursDirect is the one-stop resource for bicycle tours in Europe with more than 200 guided and self-guided cycling programs in 30 countries. Additional information and reservations are available at http://www.BikeToursDirect.com; tel. (877) 462-2423 or (423) 756-8907.

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