Cycle, Paddle, and Hike Through Europe on an Active River Cruise

16.12.2023 - 14:50 / matadornetwork.com / Cruises

Standing astride a bike on a sunny morning in Austria, I waved goodbye to the AmaSonata, the river cruise ship I’d been on for the last few days, as it continued sailing west on the Danube River.

“There’s no going back now, “ I thought to myself. I tightened the strap of my bike helmet, slung my daypack over both shoulders, and pushed off.

Following a local guide, our small group of passengers from AmaWaterways’ “Melodies of the Danube” river cruise began pedaling through the scenery of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Brimming with vineyards, castles, and gorgeous vistas and views, the valley is one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire Danube. Because of this, it’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

For the next few hours, we followed the river as it snaked through the countryside, riding on paved bike paths, cobblestone streets, and modern roads. Our group stopped periodically to snap pictures and catch our breath, but otherwise, we maintained a pretty quick pace.

Photo: starmaro/Shutterstock

After a roughly 15-mile ride, we met back up with the ship at the next port. Hungry and tired from the morning’s exercise, I didn’t even bother changing out of my shorts and t-shirt before joining the remaining passengers, who’d instead enjoyed a quiet morning of scenic sailing onboard the ship, for lunch.

This port-to-port cycling excursion is one example of the many ways travelers can stay active on a European river cruise. Though these trips have long had a reputation for being relatively sedentary, that’s changing. River cruise lines are increasingly attempting to convince travelers who like to keep moving to join them on board. On modern European river cruises, you might do yoga before breakfast, hike to a historic fortress before lunch, and play pickleball before dinner.

Here’s what to know about the trend toward activity-focused European river cruises.

Photo: rui vale sousa/Shutterstock

River cruising is an easy, stress-free way to travel. You only have to unpack once, you get to enjoy fine dining at every meal, and you can let someone else plan all the activities while you travel from city to city. You’ll awake in a new European city most mornings, and explore them on guided tours.

Those factors are what initially made European river cruises popular, and they’re still all true. However, these days, guests can add a wide range of adventurous activity options at every port, like bike rides through national parks, invigorating vineyard hikes, guided kayaking adventures, and everything in between. Guests are able to choose different activities each day, allowing for a fully active adventure or rest days alternated with exploration.

That’s also the premise of Avalon Waterways’ “Active & Discovery” cruises,