Activity Snapshot
Activity description
Escape the tourist hoards on the usual Wachau Valley boat tours and do something truly memorable! Let yourself be guided on the most beautiful part of the Danube in Austria on a Private Wachau Valley Kayak & Wine Tour.
You will feel like you have gone back in time, passing by gorgeous valley scenes and incredible steep terraced vineyards on either side of the river, stunning scenery with medieval castles from your privileged position, right at the heart of it all on the Danube River. You will have a dedicated kayak guide & Wachau wine expert to guide you on this Private Wachau Valley Kayak & Wine Tour running 27 km through UNESCO world heritage sites such as Melk, famous for its baroque abbey, Spitz where you will be able to taste some of Austria’s most emblematic wines such as the Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, and the wonderfully unique and earthy Neuburger and last but not least, Durnstein, the undisputed gem of the Wachau, where legend has it, Richard the Lionheart King of England was imprisoned back in 1192 atop the castle overlooking the Danube.
The tour is taken entirely at your pace so you will have ample time to be in awe of the Wachau’s natural beauty, far from the valley's busy tourist spots.
If you want to experience what this beautiful stretch of the Danube has to offer, don’t hesitate to book your slot for the Private Wachau Valley Kayak & Wine Tour.
08:00 am - Meet & Greet
You will reach the Wachau Valley from Vienna by train, after first meeting at the main entrance of Vienna’s ‘Westbahnhof’ railway station. The tour starts in Melk, home of the world-famous baroque abbey, at the western edge of the Wachau. Once there, your guide will prepare the kayaks before launch.
Western Wachau - Apricot orchards, medieval castles and mother nature
The first part of the tour takes you through West Wachau. Here it is a little too cool for wine production, so the hills are covered in carpets of trees with castles and palaces sitting proudly atop many of the valley’s highest peaks. You’ll be in awe of the Wachau’s natural beauty from your privileged position, right at the heart of it on the Danube River!
Wine Tasting
Noted for its classic expressions of dry Riesling, Austria’s signature wine Gruner Veltliner, and the elegant Neuburger, you’ll be visiting one of the valley's finest local producers for an extensive wine tasting.
Lunch
After continuing downstream briefly, you’ll take another break, this time for lunch in a small yet historically fascinating local hamlet (lunch not included).
Eastern Wachau - Dry stone walls, vine rows and wonderful wines
The further east you paddle, the more the steep valley landscape transforms into visually stunning rows of medieval dry stone walls and vines, separated into hundreds of individual vineyard plots.
Durnstein - climb the castle ruins or meander through the village
Picturesque Durnstein is the undisputed gem of the Wachau. The natural beauty and old-world charm of this gorgeous hamlet is further enhanced by the legend of Richard the Lionheart King of England, imprisoned here back in 1192 atop the castle overlooking the Danube.
Return train to Vienna
After a full day of activity, you should arrive back in Vienna around 7 pm, although the precise time of arrival will depend on your progress over the day – there is no rush!
All participants must have good physical fitness, be able to swim confidently in open-water situations and have previous kayaking experience.
It is important not to have any serious medical conditions in order to participate in this activity.
Special terms
This activity is a private tour available for 2 people at the same time.
- Photos
- Kayak
- Lifejackets
- Return transportation
- Wine tasting
- Lunch
- Water
- Snacks
- Sunscreen
- Swimming costume
- Hat
- Camera (water resistant if possible)
- Spare dry layers
- Appropriate footwear (watershoes or light trainers)
