Mercurio Tours

Mercurio Tours

Mercurio Tours provides very reasonably-priced guided-tours in Germany and Austria, traveling along rivers such the Danube, the Rhine and the Moselle. These regions provide excellent cycle paths (we are fans of any tour that has minimal traffic!) and numerous possibilities to soak up local culture and traditions. Each group is limited to about 12 cyclists, and is accompanied by two experienced and bilingual guides. Accommodations are mostly family run hotels or guesthouses, and meals are included. The prices are truly amazing ... much lower than comparable tours from U.S. based operators. A couple things that differentiates them from other Germany-based tour groups: Airport transfers included (this is HUGE ... if you have ever had to pay major $ getting to a small town to start a tour you know how important this is), guarantee of English-speaking guides, and flexibility in meal choices at restaurants along the way (another big plus ... group prix-fixe is often less than appetizing). Daily mileage tends to be quite low (20-25 miles) as the tour also focuses on the cultural aspects of each region.

Regional Notes:

Leave A Review

*

23 Reviews

  1. Alan & Lynette, Georgia, USA-Reply
    May 7, 2020 at 4:15 pm

    My husband, Alan, and I have done two bike tours with Mercurio Bike Travel. Our first tour was the Moselle Valley in 2013, and our second tour was the Bavarian Lakes in 2018. Andre is the best! His tours are very well planned. The bike routes, lodging, restaurants, and picnics are very pleasing. Andre is extremely helpful in helping his guests with their needs, such as transportation. He is courteous, professional, attentive, and has a great personality. A tour with Mercurio is well worth traveling from the USA, and we hope to do another tour soon.

  2. Mark Thompson , Tamahere, Waikato , New Zealand-Reply
    April 21, 2020 at 2:08 am

    A great cycling tour through the Danube 1 section ( Ulm to Regensburg). The distance covered each day ( 30-60km ) is a perfect balance between seeing new country but having enough time to experience local culture and cuisine . The support arrangements and accommodation provided were superb and the whole experience was enjoyable and memorable .
    The best recommendation is repeat business and i have booked a tour for late 2020 ( Covid-19 permitting)

  3. Mary Furey (UK)-Reply
    October 27, 2018 at 10:13 am

    Bavarian Lakes Bike Tour

    This was my third bike tour with Mercurio. What makes this bike tour special is the attention to detail: the efficient organisation of airport transfers, accommodation, luggage transfer, and the daily scheduling of events. The cycling route was well researched, planned and executed with an excellent tour leader. A particular highlight was the opportunity to visit local attractions and learn about Bavarian culture and customs. Highly recommend Mercurio for your next cycling holiday.

  4. Liz Burgess UK-Reply
    October 21, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    What a great holiday. Such fun (though physically challenging for an oldie who is not a regular cyclist). Everything was so well organised from start to finish. This included the bikes, the hotels, the dinners, the wonderful picnic lunches in spectacular locations and the visits that were slotted in between the cycling. Andre knew each route like the back of his hand. We thoroughly recommend Mercurio.

  5. Tom and Carol, Buderim, Qld. Australia-Reply
    October 21, 2018 at 1:09 am

    We chose the Landsberg am Lech to Bal Tolz bike ride. It was absolutely picturesque and so well organised. Nothing was too much trouble. We felt that we were all one big happy family. The accommodation and food was fantastic. We will probably join Andre for another ride in 2020. We have no hesitations in recommending Mercurio Bike Travel. Thank you so much Andre and Philipp.

  6. Chris Shepherd, Worcestershire-Reply
    September 17, 2018 at 8:17 pm

    I really can’t recommend this bike tour warmly enough: we had a truly fantastic time. The above review is totally right – wonderful value for money, attention to detail, and scrupulous care of all the bikers. I honestly don’t quite know how they do it for the money, especially since you don’t pay half of the cost until well after you’ve come back! The hotels were all really top quality, and the meals very very good. The only extras are drinks. We were kept well supplied with water and snacks on the way, and the bike riding was perfectly manageable for all. Very fast riders could always ride ahead and take photos – and there was a lot of culture added. An amazing holiday.

  7. Nan C, Houston-Reply
    September 19, 2017 at 5:34 pm

    This was an amazingly enjoyable trip! Andre saw to every detail. The equipment was top notch. The itinerary, accommodations, food and sights are unsurpassed. Do yourself a huge favor and book your next bike tour with Mercurial!

  8. S Norris, Houston, TX-Reply
    September 19, 2017 at 5:33 pm

    5 stars for Mercurio Bike Travel! We rode from Passau to Vienna; the equipment was high quality, accommodations and food outstanding. Everyday a special tour or activity was planned, (even Plan B was well planned and executed). The owner/guide spoke English very well and was fun to travel with. I plan on touring with Mercurio in the future.

  9. David O, Houston, TX-Reply
    September 19, 2017 at 5:31 pm

    Utterly fantastic trip down the Danube that exceeded the expectations of every single member of our tour group. Andre provides impeccable service (from meeting us on the train platform in Passau to our final breakfast together in Vienna,) and attention to detail. The bicycles, hotels, meals, and cultural activities were all first rate. This was our first cycling tour and the experience was so great that we’ll definitely be back for another adventure. If you’ve never toured before I can’t think of a better guide for first-timers than Andre. The route was along dedicated cycle paths for about 95% of the time and when you did ride public streets the traffic was very light. The greatest one day distance on our tour was 38 miles, there are minimal elevation changes (only two really, really short climbs of note)so don’t be intimidated by the physical aspect of riding a bicycle for five straight days. Andre will adjust the pace up or down according to the desires of th e group and there are frequent breaks.

  10. Kathy Smith, Houston, TX-Reply
    September 19, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    I recently returned from the Passau to Vienna trip led by Andre, & am basking in the glow of great memories. Andre is a wonderful tour leader- knowledgeable, patient, informative, & thorough. He planned fun things for us each day: trailside picnic of freshly-cooked fish, visits to an abbey, a castle, a winery, & a dinner cruise. He provided us with an info sheet for each day’s destination, & booked us into very nice hotels. I highly recommend this tour company, & wouldn’t hesitate to travel with him again.

  11. D. Wild, Scarborough-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    Excellent cycle tour. Well organised. It does ‘what it says on the tin’ and more.

  12. Erin Hodgess, Houston, TX-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    This was the best vacation ever! Andre and Clemens had everything set up perfectly. The accommodations were wonderful and the historical tours were great. I would definitely go with them again! Mercurio rocks!

  13. Pauline Guppy, West Sussex, UK-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    An extremely well organised holiday. As non-cyclists for most of the year we chose a holiday suitable for beginners and the pace was just right. There was plenty of time to relax and visit each town on our route at the end of a days cycling. Regular ‘healthy snacks’ during the day and wonderful picnics in the countryside were very welcome. The attention to detail given by Mercurio enabled us to have a fabulous relaxing and stressfree holiday. Our guide was attentive, friendly and supportive throughout the week. No hesitatation in recommending to others.

  14. Chris & Neil Clark, Barrow, UK-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    This is a well organised holiday Andre is a good guide & I would recommend this holiday to anyone, as I have done already.

  15. Peter Catterall, Colne Lancashire-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    If you like the idea of gentle cycling on traffic free routes in wonderful countryside in good company then this is the tour for you. Excellent hotels, great dinners and picnics and dedicated organisation are a bonus!!

  16. S. Dunning, Troon, Scotland-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    What makes Mercurio different from cycling tours? – Deal directly with the owner, Andre, from first contact via internet search he replied immediately and comprehensively. Every hotel was perfect in quality/location/cleanliness. Safety and comfort was high on priority – bikes were excellent, and the route as well as cycling/comfort break ratio was perfect. Each evening meal- excellent quality restaurants – full a la carte menu choice (always translated in English – another attention to detail). Daily picnic lunches were ‘feasts’! Each day included a ‘cultural’ input Daily prepared infomation sheet of our overnight destination and suggestions of what to do/see. Timings/distances were always accurate and dependable but also negotiable within the group. Andre cycled with us for the full holiday and his back up team ready to assist at anytime. There is nothing that they had not thought of/or prepared to deal with.

  17. A. Baxter, Blandford Forum, UK-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    Mercurio is a small but overwhelmingly friendly and well organised company, providing English speaking cycling tours in Germany. The tours are competitively priced and I doubt whether you would get such attention to detail anywhere else. All hotels, guesthouses and eateries were carefully chosen and did not disappoint, the cycle routes were easy and enabled all participants to enjoy the ride. There is absolutely nothing negative to say about Mercurio, we are already planning our next trip with them. Highly recommended!

  18. Jim Sontag, Bethesda, MD-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    My wife and I enjoyed a cycle tour along the Danube with Mercurio Bike Travel. We couldn’t have been more satisfied with this company. Mercurio’s owner was our on-the-trail guide, and provided outstanding personal attention to every detail of the tour, from lodging and restaurants to individual cyclist’s needs. Mercurio is well suited for cyclists wanting an invigorating and congenial holiday without the challenges of long daily mileage and strenuous hill climbs. The cost of a Mercurio tour is more than reasonable, given that it includes a full-time guide, high quality lodging, meals, and guided tours of towns along the cycle route.

  19. Lis Cole, Hove Sussex-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    Andre’s attention to detail was superb and the whole trip went smoothly. Food and accommodation excellent and I would do the tour again tomorrow. I have no hesitation in recommending Mercurio Tours to anyone, last but not least they are truly value for money.

  20. Dr. D. Maxton, Shropshire, UK-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    I was extremely apprehensive booking my first cycling tour alone and with people I had never met. However the holiday was very enjoyable, the cycling relatively easy, the food, accomodation and company excellent. The outstanding feature was the guides who could not have done more for you. I thoroughly recommend it.

  21. Sue C., Palmerston North, New Zealand-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    Passau – Vienna August 2012. A fantastic bike tour that was organised by Mercurio. Food, accommodation and support could not be faulted. Bikes were in excellent condition. Andre ensured that everyone had a memorable time. Our daily picnics, escorted guided tours in certain locations were most enjoyable. Would definitely do another tour with Mercurio and would happily recommend it to others.

  22. J. Lucas, Pinckney, MI-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    I was impressed by the careful planning that led to an easy flow and complete enjoyment of the trip. Equally as impressive, was the exceptional value provided for the modest cost of the trip. The pace was just right to absorb our surroundings. The emphasis on small group size contributed to a better immersion into the local culture. Food and lodging arrangements were perfect for this trip, placing us within towns or areas of significance. We were giving access to all items on the menu at very nice restaurants at our overnight stops. Certainly a positive feature. The equipment was of high quality, and of well known brands. The final leg to Vienna was aboard a dinner cruise boat, which provided a wonderful conclusion to our trip. All travel, both to and from and during, were provided which complimented an easy going trip. Mercurio will be my first choice for my next bicycle trip.

  23. George F., Pinckney, MI-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    After corresponding with the owner, Andre, we decided his tour was the best fit. Although we were the only Americans in a group made up of folks from the U.K, Germany, and Australia, we hit it off with everyone. Andre, who led our trip, delivered a flawless experience from Passau to Vienna–with wonderful food, accommodations, and attention to detail while cycling. Even when he had to make adjustments on-the-fly as a result of the record flooding, the journey went seamlessly. Andre’s assistant, Michael, also made sure we were comfortable and well-fed. We would recommend Mercurio to all our friends–and hope to take another trip.

  24. Elsie Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    All aspects of the tour were beautifully organised – including hotels, sensible start times, ideal pace, clear instructions, breaks at particular points along the way, great picnic lunches and appropriate attention to individual concerns throughout the trip.

  25. Susan Fisher, Mold, N. Wales-Reply
    November 1, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Have holidayed with Mercurio 3 times – can’t wait to go again! Every t is crossed, every i is dotted. Andre is kind, calm, cheerful. Airport pickup/dropoff is welcome. Company is varied and always fun and interesting. Bikes, panniers, hotels, meals, snacks – all top quality. Value for money: second to none. I holiday on my own with them, and instantly feel part of the group.