Nature Bike Tour

We start our bike tour in the picturesque old town of Bad Radkersburg. Those who want to borrow a bike should meet at 9 am; for everyone else, the departure is at 10 am. On the first stage, we explore the Austrian part of the Mura before crossing over to Slovenia via the renowned small city Radenci, known for its mineral water sources. We traverse beautiful old floodplain forests and the Mura using a roll ferry, also visiting an old operational ship mill. We spend the night amidst a lovely wine landscape in the northern part of Croatia and casually discuss the upcoming tour over a glass of local “grape juice”.

Accommodation: Apartment near Sveti Martin

Early in the morning, we saddle up again to witness a special natural spectacle: the awakening of nature at the picturesque oxbow near Sveti Martin na Muri. On a guided birdwatching safari, we focus on the native birds and their enchanting songs. Then, we cycle directly along the Mura downstream to experience another natural highlight in Hungary: exploring the Mura and its tributaries from the water! We leisurely paddle down the streams and rivers in canoes, enjoying the silent gliding amidst the floodplain jungle (no canoe experience necessary). Later, we take a detour into the Hungarian hinterland and spend the night by a charming bathing lake surrounded by hilly woodland.

Accommodation: Simple private pension in Kistolmacs

After a longer bike stretch, mostly along the Mura dike with great views of the river and its wild floodplain, we reach one of the major highlights of this tour: the confluence of the Mura and Drava rivers. Wild and untamed, the two rivers meet, creating a chaotic mosaic of gravel areas, sandbanks with uprooted trees, small and larger islands, tributaries, and old river arms. This area is called the Amazon of Europe for these reasons, among others. We take ample time to explore this natural gem on foot. From here on, we follow the Drava and cycle initially through small Croatian villages in the hinterland. We stay in a simple apartment nestled in a small “cowboy village”.

Our overnight location, the small Croatian village of Hlebine, is also the central place of the famous Naive Art School. Numerous paintings are scattered throughout the village. Those interested can visit the local gallery in the morning. We cycle through the Croatian cultural landscape and an impressive oak forest to the Drava bridge, offering breathtaking views of the majestic wide Drava and its side channels. We observe numerous gravel and sandbanks constantly reshaped by the water, visited by terns, sandpipers, and occasionally cormorants and herons. Later, we continue cycling to the secluded Cambina landscape reserve, where we walk along a species-rich old Drava meander. As another highlight, we explore the small Croatian Sahara, an extremely rare sand dune area inhabited by highly specialized animals and plants.

Accommodation: Private pension

The Drava, now again a border river between Hungary and Croatia, impresses within the 5-country biosphere park with its wild and untamed nature. Although flood protection dams have been built on both sides, they leave plenty of space for the lowland river to meander freely and unfold its natural dynamics. Nowhere else in Central Europe can you find something comparable. During our bike tour downstream, we frequently detour through the floodplain forest to reach the river, allowing us to absorb the unstoppable force of the water. The landscape reserve around the remote village of Kriznica is particularly fascinating, being a Croatian exclave north of the Drava surrounded by numerous old meanders. We allocate sufficient time to explore this unique natural highlight and spend the night in a small hotel known for its local fish specialties.

Accommodation: Simple hotel in the landscape reserve Križnica

Today, we have a long but beautiful bike day ahead. We ride through one of the loneliest regions of Hungary, always along the Drava. Sometimes, we pass through the enchanting villages of the Ormansag region, mostly on the flood protection dike, offering fantastic views of species-rich dry grasslands and wild floodplain forests. Occasionally, we take breaks by the river and leisurely picnic on the banks of the Drava. Eventually, we stay overnight at the new visitor center of the Danube-Drava National Park, where old domestic animal breeds like the Hungarian Gray Cattle graze.

Accommodation: Hostel of the Danube-Drava National Park

In the morning, we trade our bikes for canoes and silently glide between water lilies and herons on a beautiful, natural old river arm. Is there anything more beautiful and calming than enjoying nature from the water? Perhaps, we might even spot the European pond turtle sunbathing on a tree trunk. Afterward, we paddle out into the main flow of the Drava, experiencing the untamed power of the river (no canoe experience necessary). Around noon, we refuel with a local fish picnic in a typical Charda before continuing downstream along the dam. We ride along wild floodplain forests and take breaks on beautiful, solitary sandbanks inviting us for a refreshing swim in the cool Drava.

Throughout the morning, we bike through completely uninhabited areas, gazing at the wild old arms and floodplain forests of the Drava. With some luck, we might observe white storks, colorful European bee-eaters, or perhaps even the hoopoe with its impressive crest. By midday, we reach the capital of Slavonia, Osijek, and bike along the attractive and lively Drava promenade downstream. We briefly cycle along a more heavily trafficked road before descending back to the river. Shortly afterward, we arrive at the confluence of the Drava into the mighty Danube. We conclude our bike day in the village of Erdut, a renowned wine-growing area with stunning views of the Danube flowing far below. There, we partake in a wine tasting, visit one of the largest wine barrels in Europe, and enjoy an excellent regional dinner in our simple but pleasant private pension.

We cross the Danube and cycle upstream on the Serbian side. From the dike, we relish impressive views of incredibly beautiful willow tree meadows and deadwood mosaics. This must be what the completely untouched floodplain forests looked like in ancient times. It’s quite possible that wild boars and deer cross our path in this secluded area. In the charming town of Apatin, we switch to a motorboat with locals and explore the beautiful, protected branches of the Danube. Later, we savor Apatin’s famous fish stew, cycling on field paths through lonely forest and meadow landscapes toward the north and take a break in one of the typical, secluded Chardas.

Accommodation: Simple private pension in Backi Monostor.

Today, we first cycle through the natural cultural landscape of the Serbian Vojvodina and explore the highly valuable nature reserve ‘Gornje Podunavlje’ with an excursion boat. On sunny days, the beautiful, clear side arm invites you for a swim. Back in Croatia, we have lunch in a lovely wine tavern before heading to the famous Kopacki Rit Nature Park, a significant area of extraordinary landscape beauty and vast biological diversity. Situated at the confluence of the Drau and Danube, it ranks among the largest preserved, natural wetlands in Europe. We reach our accommodation, a lovely old building on the edge of the nature park, early in the afternoon, allowing plenty of time to explore the unique surroundings independently.

Accommodation: Hostel on the edge of Kopacki rit

We dedicate the entire day to thoroughly exploring the largest inland delta of the Danube. In the morning, guided by a local biologist, we explore the northern part of Kopacki rit by canoe and on foot, visiting a large heron colony harboring up to 6 different species. Later, we cycle to the south, using a small motorboat to reach the center of the nature park. During high water, the area regularly floods entirely, forming new side arms afterward. Thanks to this dynamic, it has preserved its natural state since ancient times and is a true paradise in the heart of Europe. Nowhere else in Central Europe, for example, do more majestic white-tailed eagles live, and the elusive black stork also nests here in exceptionally high densities. Finally, we conclude our unique bike tour through the Amazon of Europe with an overnight stay in the beautiful old town of Osijek.

Accommodation: Private pension in Osijek

Over a leisurely breakfast, we reminisce about the great adventure. Those who wish can commence their journey back from Osijek (or optionally extend their stay here) or take the chartered minibus back to Bad Radkersburg (pure travel time approx. 5 hours), where we’ll return our rental bikes. Arrival in Bad Radkersburg around 4:30 pm.