Wachau Valley Wine Tour: Kayaking & wine in gorgeous nature

€599/group

May-Sept Full day Private

No better way to experience the region

Running for 33 kms between Melk and Krems, the Wachau is the most beautiful stretch of the entire Danube River. Home to rolling hills, ancient castles, picture postcard villages and steeply terraced vineyards, not to mention the many Wachau Valley wineries that produce some of Austria’s finest wines. Your private Wachau Valley wine tour from Vienna, with our kayaking guide and Austrian wine expert, showcases this amazing natural region like no other.

Guided by an open-water lifesaver & Wachau expert

Your safety and comfort on the water is our priority. So, in addition to your own previous experience of kayaking, you'll be guided by an experienced guide to ensure each of the Danube's twists and turns are navigated safely.

Wachau Wine Tasting at a local producer

A Wachau Valley wine tasting is an absolute must while in this part of the world. Wachau wineries produce some of the world's best white wines after all. From delicately aromatic dry Rieslings to peppery Gruner Veltliner with a signature vein of acidity - the region has some of Austria's finest wines to sample.

Breathtaking scenery & photo opportunities

There's no better vantage point for stunning photos of the valley than from the Danube itself. With the sun at our backs all day, choose from cliffs, medieval ruins, terraced vineyards, or pretty villages. The Wachau Valley is natural beauty enhanced by the ingenuity of man.

Private Wachau Valley Kayak & Wine Tour

max 2 people per group

€599/tour

27km tours available through the UNESCO world heritage Wachau
Double touring kayaks, dry storage equipment & PFD/lifevests provided
Extensive Wachau wine tasting of several regional specialties (e.g. Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Neuburger)
Spectacular photo opportunities throughout the entire day
Free time to wander through the gorgeous medieval village of Durnstein & to explore the ruins of Durnstein Castle
Escape the tourist hoards on the usual Wachau Valley boat tours and do something truly memorable!
Tours taken entirely at your pace alongside your dedicated kayak guide & Wachau wine expert
For different start/end times please get in touch via email to discuss options

WACHAU TOUR CALENDAR

8:00am - Meet & greet

We reach the Wachau Valley from Vienna by train, after first meeting at the main entrance of Vienna’s ‘Westbahnhof’ railway station (see map below for directions). We arrive to Melk, home of the world famous baroque abbey, at the western edge of the Wachau. Once there, we’ll prepare the kayaks prior to launch. Alternatively, you may meet us at 09:30 in Melk directly.

Western Wachau - Apricot orchards, medieval castles and mother nature

The first part of the tour takes us 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!

Wachau Wine Tasting in Spitz an der Donau

The charming village of Spitz, located approximately half way through the valley, marks the beginning of the wine growing region. Noted for its classic expressions of dry Riesling, Austria’s signature wine Gruner Veltliner, and the wonderfully unique and earthy Neuburger, we’ll be visiting one of the best Wachau Valley wineries for an extensive wine tasting.

Lunch

After continuing downstream briefly, we’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 we 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 in 1192 at the top of Durnstein castle, overlooking the Danube. 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.

Return train to Vienna

After a full day of activity we should arrive back to Vienna around 7pm, although the precise time of arrival will depend on our progress over the course of the day – there’s no rush!

To experience the majesty of the Danube, the medieval history of the valley, and an extensive Wachau wine tasting at one of its best wineries, just choose a day for your private wine tour using our booking calendar below. Please get in touch via our contact page if you can’t find any availability on the day you’re after – we’ll try our best to accommodate requests outside of our published availability. Unfortunately this activity is only suitable for groups of up to two people, so if you have a larger group then please refer to our Vienna Kayak Tour instead.