Wachau Valley Kayak & Wine Tour: Explore Austria's Finest Vineyards in Danube River

Experience the beauty of Austria’s Wachau Valley on a kayak and wine tour. Explore vineyards, charming villages, and the Danube River while sampling local specialties.

Duration: 10 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Melk - We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Vienna at around 8am, or if you’re already staying in the Wachau, we’ll pick you up there at 9am. After a safety briefing & equipment check, we launch close to Melk, home of the world famous baroque abbey.

The first part of the tour takes us downstream through west Wachau where the hills are covered in carpets of trees with castles & palaces sitting proudly on the edge of the Danube. We’ll then stop in the picture postcard village of Spitz for an extensive wine tasting.

After continuing downstream briefly, we’ll take another break, this time for lunch in a small yet historically fascinating local hamlet (lunch not included).

After lunch, we’ll continue downstream to the picturesque Durnstein - the undisputed gem of the Wachau. During your free time here you’ll be able to climb the ruins of Durnstein Castle (if you wish!) to get some breath-taking views and photos over the river and the vineyard landscapes below.

Hotel drop-off in either Vienna or the Wachau, depending on where you are staying.

What's Included
  • Dedicated native English-speaking kayak guide & Wachau wine expert
  • Photo service provided by your guide
  • Spectacular photo opportunities throughout the day
  • Wine tasting of several Wachau specialties (Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Neuburger)
  • Double touring kayaks, dry storage equipment & PFD/lifevest provided
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Spanning 33 kilometers from Melk to Krems, the Wachau valley is the most picturesque part of the entire Danube River. It’s home to rolling landscapes, age-old castles, quaint villages, and steep vineyard terraces. Additionally, the Wachau valley is known for producing some of Austria’s top-quality wines. Indulge in a private kayaking trip, guided by our expert kayaking instructor and Austrian wine connoisseur, to explore the beauty of this exceptional natural region in a uniquely spectacular way…

Even if you’re not well-versed with wine, it’s absolutely fine! This experience is more about appreciating a wonderful day on the water, visiting charming villages, and trying some unique specialties of the valley. The main highlight and centerpiece of the day is unquestionably the kayaking adventure.

  • Participants must have prior kayaking experience and be very comfortable swimmers in order to join this tour.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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Jonathansz6210nf
May 13, 2024
100000% worth it! A must for anyone in Vienna!!! - I surprised my girlfriend with this kayaking and wine tasting tour and what an unbelievable way to end our trip. This was her review: I personally saw a side to Austria that I had never experienced or seen and the views while kayaking were just unreal. The wines were exceptional and the tour would be fantastic for anyone from a wine expert to a complete novice. Great historical knowledge of the area and overall an exceptional guided tour. Massive big shout out to James for putting in so much effort in making this an unforgettable experience for us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oggigi
Jun 16, 2023
Highlight of our trip! - Wow what a day! This is the ultimate best way to see Wachau and was the highlight of our trip to Austria. The views from the river are incredible, and you can see the entire wine region in a day. We spent ~4hours actually kayaking on the water with three stops— for a private wine tasting at a family vineyard with a lovely tasting area in Spitz, lunch at a charming restaurant by the water in St Michael’s, and ended the tour with an hour or two free time to explore Durnstein and hike up to the castle. We could not have asked for a better guide than James. Super knowledgeable, and really easy to chat with—he founded the company and clearly put a lot of thought into making every trip the best possible experience. Not for total beginners (you need to know what to do if there’s a boat with a wake) but the paddling can be as leisurely as you like, since the current will take you downstream anyways. If you’re considering it, book it and you will not regret it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Geofrobins
Jun 7, 2022
Brilliant day out on the beautiful Danube. - What a great day out! This is a tour with a difference. James, the tour guide, is very personable, knowledgeable about wines and is clearly passionate about his work. I felt like an old friend rather than a customer - he went out of his way to make everyone on the tour feel comfortable and at home. The scenery is breathtaking, the kayaking was fun, though some previous experience is recommended. I am retired but did some kayaking in earlier years and I managed quite comfortably. All in all, a geat day out and very different from the usual group tours on offer. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sonny519
Jun 6, 2022
Stunning experience in the Wachau Valley! - This was without doubt the highlight of our trip to Austria. My girlfriend and I were looking for something truly unique. We found this private tour and it matched all of our expectations: active (but not too much!), beautiful scenery and wine. Our guide James was excellent - really attentive, personable and fun. He has thorough knowledge of the the Wachau Valley and its wines and he made the tour seem like hanging out with a friend with his informative style. We are so glad we did this and we can recommend James and this tour to anyone who wants to see the Wachau directly from the Danube!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linde_dec
Nov 1, 2021
Must do when in Vienna - James was very reactive on Instagram when we wanted to book a trip, he is a GREAT guide. We had so much fun. He has so many tips to do in Vienna. He’s both a guide and a photographer on the water and knows his way around the best spots on the old Danube. Would 100% recommend and book again when we’re back in town! Don’t miss out on the fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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