Lake Balaton and Uplands

Day 1: Arrival in Tihany

Arriving at Budapest airport before 15.00hrs and there is a transfer by train to Balatonfüred and then by taxi to your hotel in Tihany, on a peninsula in the lake, where you will have a welcome meeting and receive your bikes. If you are flying to Balaton Airport at Sármellék there is a taxi transfer to the hotel. The hotel is located directly on the shore of Lake Balaton with its own beach.

Day 2: Circular ride from Tihany to Balatonszőlős and Balatonfüred, 22 miles (35km)

The tour starts with a visit to the charming fishing village of Tihany. After a short ride you can visit the Abbey before leaving the village and riding to Balatonszőlős through Pécsely. The nearby hills are dotted with vineyards and small wine cellars. ’Szőlőhegy’, literally ’Wine Hill’ has a number of such protected cellars. After a short stop to taste this local wine the route continues to Balatonfüred, a town with a unique charm brought about by it’s 2000-year history and hot springs and baths for which it is famous. After a short walk around town you ride back to the hotel in Tihany.

Day 3: Circular ride from Tihany to Nagyvázsony and Mencshely, 27 miles (44km)

Leaving through Aszófő and Pécsely, the road winds its way through two little villages named ’Barnag’ and ’Vöröstó’ where you will enjoy the wonderful scenery and the characteristic houses of the region. The road passes the Chapel of the Calvary built on a small hill around 1820. Nagyvázsony greets us with the mighty 15 th century Kinizsi Castle, once part of a long defence line and then destroyed in 1702. After a short walk around the castle you could have some lunch in the local 'csarda' (inn). Then you ride on to Mencshely and, after a short stop at the ruins of the Roman temple in Dörgicse, continue through Vászoly to Aszófő and back to Tihany.

Day 4: Tihany via Balatonudvari to Badacsonytomaj, 28 miles (45km)

You ride along the shore towards Balatonudvari, where the main attraction is the 200-year old cemetery with its heart-shaped tombstones. This fascinating itinerary takes you by the lake and sometimes through small villages to Badacsonytomaj, located at the foot of the Badacsony Hill. The hill is a non-active volcano that has been formed out of basalt lava along with many other so-called ’witness-hills’. Its slopes are covered with the deposits of the former Pannon sea. Today the famous local Badacsony wines come from the region. Your hotel for the night is again located by the lake.

Day 5: Circular ride from Badacsonytomaj to Tapolca and Káptalantóti, 30 miles (49km)

Cycling through the Badacsony hills towards Tapolca, first mentioned in the 12th century, you will find the ruins of the former Roman road in various parts. ’Tavasbarlang’, literally ’Cave with a lake’ draws most tourists here, who can boat on the shallow and crystal-clear water. The other cave, known as ’Hospital Cave’, is used for medicinal purposes (cardio-, respiratory and allergy problems are treated here). After a short stop you reach Káptalantóti through Gyulakeszi, and then continue to Szigliget to visit the castle. On your way back to Badacsonytomaj you cross the peninsula following the old Roman road. Back at the hotel there is still time for a swim or a massage.

Day 6: Circular ride from Badacsonytomaj to Salföld, Szentbékkálla and Kékkút, 24 miles (38km)

Today we start out along the shore to Salföld, located at the entrance of the Káli Basin where the Upper – Balaton National Park has a nature reserve offering a quick insight into the local flora and fauna. To the north, riding by Mindszentkálla, we arrive at Szentbékkálla. The ’Kőtenger’ (Sea of Stones), lies on the outskirts of the village with huge sandstone blocks and rare flowers and other plants. Köveskál is the next stop with optional lunch at one of the local restaurants. After lunch you continue to Kékkút via Kővágóőrs. Kékkút, its name originally meant ’Stone Well’, is the smallest village in the country with approximately 70 residents. Today a mineral water factory bottles the famous water which you can also taste. Through Salföld and Ábrahámhegy you return to Badacsonytomaj for the night.

Day 7: Departure from Badacsonytomaj

After breakfast you leave for Budapest. Train transfer from Badacsonytomaj to Budapest.