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This is a six day / seven night walking tour.
As he name suggests, the route mainly runs high above the river,
but the river should almost always be in sight. This means a fairly steep
climb at the start of your day, but distances are quite short, never
more than 11 miles. |
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Day 1. Arrival in Passau. This is a beautiful city, with many impressive sights. We strongly recommend that you book an extra night here at the start in order to appreciate the city to the full. |
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Day 2. Leave Passau by ship and cruise downriver to Kasten. Climb up from the river and walk through unspoiled woodland to Engelhartszell, home of the only Trappist monastery in Austria. The church is famous for its rococo interior. Enjoy tasting the liqueurs produced by the monks - the cost is included in your tour price (about 10 miles with about 2300 feet of ascent). |
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Day 3. A gentle day, remaining close to the river all day and ending
in Wesenufer (about 6½ miles with about 550 feet
of ascent). |
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Day 4. Today you start with a walk across the Kösselbach Valley
Nature Reserve before continuing to the famous Vierviertelblick above Waldkirchen.
On a clear day this offers fantastic views over the country along the river
Inn south of Passau and the River Traun in the northern Salzkammergut, as well
over the Mühlviertel to the north of the river and over the Hausrück.
At the end of the day you descend through forest to the river at
Schlögern (about 10 miles with about 2600 feet
of ascent). |
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Day 5. First climb up to the Schlögerner Blick, the viewpoint
over the dramatic Danube bend. The scenery is impressive from the banks
of the river - from high above it is simply amazing. The route then
continues past some rock outcrops with further views, before descending to
the river at Aschach (about 10½ miles with
about 1900 feet of ascent). |
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Day 6. Now the valley starts to open out. The day's highlight is Schaunburg
Castle, the largest in Austria. The day's walk ends in the pretty town of Eferding
(about 9 miles with about 650 feet of ascent). |
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Day 7. From Eferding a dedicated walker's taxi service takes you to
Ottenheim on the north bank of the river. There is a fine castle here, which
you should visit before setting out on the final leg of the walk.
This takes you away from the river, along the Kneipp Way to the
top of the Pöstlingberg, the hill that dominates
the city of Linz. You can either walk down the hill into the city, or
(recommended), take the preserved railway, the steepest non-rack mountain
tramway in Europe (about 10½ miles with
about 1800 feet of ascent). |
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Linz was the European capital of Culture in 2009, so you may well want to spend
an extra night or two here. In any case, the price includes a short tour of the
city. |
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| We can usually arrange for you to travel home as far as Passau by river ship if you want. Please ask for details. | ||