Danube Bicycle Trip
Cycling along the Danube to spectacular Golubac and Ram fortresses.
Bike small quiet country roads with very little traffic.
Enjoy our quality hybrid bicycles (or E-bikes) and do not think about flat tires or mechanical problems. We take care of everything.
Discover the medieval Golubac fortress, a proud guardian at the entrance of the Iron Gate gorge.
Enjoy the benefits of being with our expert bilingual guides with extensive local knowledge.
Travel in a small group. The maximum group size is 15 persons.
Have a safe and risk-free booking. We have adopted all our procedures to WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council), UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation), and local protocols and standards. Our booking and cancellation policy is adapted to new conditions and maximally flexible so you can not lose your money.
Duration
2 nights / 2 days
Cycling grade:
Easy to Moderate
Two days of cycling with daily distances up to 53km (flat terrain)
Please read and respect ACE Responsible Tourism Policy.
Before you come on this trip please carefully read Rules of Bicycling Safety.
Book with confidence and risk-free. Please read our new booking and cancellation policy.
Itinerary
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Meeting late afternoon in Srebrno Jezero near Veliko Gradiste town. Check-in accommodation. After introductory briefing free time and dinner.
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Accommodation Night in 3 star Hotel Danubia Park in Srebrno Jezero
Meals Included: Dinner
Activity Free time
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Following the Danube, we bike from Srebrno Jezero to the 15th century Ram fortress. It was built by the Ottomans during the rule of Sultan Bayezid II. The fortress, which is rising from the right bank of the river, was constructed as a cornerstone of the Ottoman defensive line from Hungary. After visiting the castle, we take a local ferry to cross the river and continue to ride to small Bela Crkva town and its lakes. After the picnic lunch, we ride back to the Srebrno Jezero.
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Accomodation Night in 3 star Hotel Danubia Park in Srebrno Jezero
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity Cycling distance 52km on flat terrain and asphalt roads, cumulative ascent 150m / descent 150m
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Getting off by bicycles from Srebrno Jezero we follow the small country road and ride to a tiny Golubac town and the same name fortress. The Golubac fortress is built in the 14th century to protect the entry into the Iron Gate- the gate of the Eastern and Western empire through the centuries of Ottoman- European history. It is one of the most famous fortresses on the Danube river. After visiting the Golubac fortress we ride back to Srebrno Jezero.
We return to Srebrno Jezero around 16h00 when you can start your trip back home. -
Accommodation /
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Activity Cycling distance 53km on flat terrain and asphalt roads, cumulative ascent 250m / descent 250m
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Tour Information
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Srebrno Jezero
Srebrno jezero (Silver Lake) is located 3km from Veliko Gradiste town. Due to its vicinity to other cities in the region, it has become a very popular destination for tourists and fishermen. Srebrno jezero was made by closing one of Danube’s backwaters. Its popularity owes to well-arranged beaches and clear water filtrated through sandy dunes.
It belongs to a group of lakes that positions Serbia among inevitable destinations of travellers who can recognize a genuine, warm and live tradition. The lake is 14 km long, the average width is about 300 m.
It is rich with fish and usually called “paradise for fishermen”, and it also offers good opportunities for numerous water sports. It is rich in catfish, pike-perch, carp and amur and it is mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records since the biggest carp was caught in this lake weighing about 44 kg.Ram fortress
The fort of Ram is on a right bank of the Danube. Turkish sultan Bayezid II built it in 15th century, on the remains of an older Byzantine fort. The fortress offers a fantastic view of the Danube at the widest point of its whole course.
Golubac Fortress
Most likely built in the 14th century, the Golubac Fortress sits high on cliffs overlooking the Danube at an area known as the Iron Gate. This fortress was a key in the defense of the medieval Serbian state and later passed into the hands of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. The fortress has irregularly shaped foundation and is surrounded by walls which follow the configuration of the terrain. Within these walls, the city is divided into a few units, and nine massive towers are all connected and situated in such a way so the city can be defended from the land as well as from the river.
The Iron Gate- National Park Djerdap
The National Park Djerdap (Iron Gate) stretches along the right bank of Danube, for about 100 km, from Golubac fortress to Karatas near Kladovo, thus being one of the longest gorges in Europe. The part of the river Danube which belongs to Serbia accounts for about 9% of surface of the National Park. Therefore the National park Djerdap is also a river national park. The Park is typical river valley park, with Djerdap gorge, the principal natural phenomenon, with cultural and historical monuments, natural scenery, preserved original ecosystems and age-old plant and animal life of remarkable value and rarity. The most beautiful gorge of the Djerdap is Veliki Kazan. In this part of its course, the mighty Danube is seized between steep, often vertical cliffs that rise even up to several hundred meters above the river, which is not wider than 170 m. Exactly at this point the Danube is the deepest. The depth of 90 m, measured in one of the huge hollows that are present in the Danube riverbed, represents one of the greatest river depth on Earth. It is only here where it can be seen in a striking manner how Djerdap (Iron Gate) got its name. The area of Derdap gorge was declared a national park in 1974.
The National Park Djerdap is distinguished from other parks for its unique and exceptionally significant monumental heritage. This primarily refers to the archaeological find Lepenski Vir. During the systematic archaeological activities that preceded the construction of the first Iron Gate dam and formation of the reservoir, remains of a previously unknown prehistoric culture were found on the Danube terrace Lepenski Vir on the right riverbank. This finding was a true sensation in archaeological circles.The settlement with sacral buildings of specific construction and shape and sculptures made of huge round pebbles, representing fantastic fish-like creatures, belong to the one of the most complex prehistoric cultures from the period between 7,000 and 6,000 B.C. In the narrow valley in the form of an amphitheatre, complex social and economic relationships were developed, with the most ancient urban structure, sacral architecture, and monumental sculptures on the European continent to date. -
Two nights in 3-star Danubia Park Hotel.
The hotel is situated in the quiet corner of Srebrno jezero. It is a part of the Silver Lake Resort company which also has a nice lakefront restaurant and an open-air swimming pool complex. All rooms are with great comfort.
We pay special attention to the choice of food. Very rich breakfasts will be served in the hotel's restaurant. We will have our dinners in the hotel's restaurant at the lakeshore. A day meal is a picnic lunch. If you have some dietary restrictions we will be happy to adapt our menu to you. -
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two overnights in 3-star Danubia Park Hotel
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two breakfasts, two picnic lunches, two dinners
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vehicle support during the cycling tour- from the morning on day 2 to return to accommodation on day 3
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Entree tickets to Ram and Golubac fortresses.
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snacks and refreshing drinks during cycling
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use of 24 speed hybrid bicycles
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Guiding service throughout the trip with English speaking tour leader
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Arrival / departure transfer: from / to your home to / from Srebrno jezero. Please contact us if you wish us to organize you a private transfer
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Beverages during meals
Bicycles
We provide 24 speed hybrid bicycles. They are designed for riding both on paved and not paved roads with 27.5×1.25 tires. Every bicycle has handlebar bag with map case as well as water bottle. Bicycle bag can carry max 5kg-11lb weight. If you prefer you can bring your own saddle and have us install it on our bikes. All our bicycles are provided with platform pedals. If you are used to ride a bicycle with clipless pedals they are welcome to bring them and we will install them on our bicycle.
E-bikes are also available for this trip. Our E-bikes are Scott E-Sub Cross or similar.
Price: 270€ per person (based on a double / twin room occupancy). A single room supplement - 40€
E-bike rental: 60 EurosMinimum group size - 3 persons
What is included:
What is not included:
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Travel Information
All distances in Serbia are given in kilometers. 1 mi=1,61 km, 1km =0.62mi, 1ft=0.3m/ 1inch=2.54cm
Weather Information
Weather is difficult to forecast but, normally, Serbia has a continental climate. Autumn is often with extended periods of warm , sunny weather. The coldest month of the year is January with average temperature a little bit over 0˚C. Spring is usually very pleasant with daily temperature between 15˚C and 20˚C and occasional rain and showers. The hottest months are July and August with average temperature about 23˚C and daily temperature above 30˚C. The country as a whole receives an average precipitation of between 600mm and 800 mm annually in the plains- about the same as that of southeast England – and about 800mm and 1200mm in highland regions. In July and August we usually have some days with daily max temperature about 35C.
Packing suggestions
Casual seasonal clothing is recommended for most occasions. You may wish to bring a light sweater and a light jacket. Padded bicycle shorts and bicycle gloves are useful. Sport shoes/ sneakers would be fine for cycling tours as all our bicycles are provided with platform pedals (if you bringing with you clip-less pedals you should bring also adequate shoes). We strongly recommend that you wear a bicycle helmet whilst cycling. We believe that there is no helmet like your own and we do not provide helmets locally. Like a well-fitting pair of walking boots, helmets are a very personal item of equipment. It is also more hygienic to wear your own rather than one which has been used by someone else previously. We recommend bringing a bicycle helmet, cycling sunglasses and some bicycle or walking rain gear. You should also bring some SP and anti-mosquitoes cream. Also, bring a swimsuit for swimming opportunities as the hotel has an open-air swimming pool.
NOTE: A cycling helmet could be bought locally for the price of 30EUR. Please order it in advance.General Information
Currency and Exchange
Serbian Dinar is monetary unit in Serbia. For 1 Euro you can get 117,00 dinars (current exchange rate). In all cities and towns you can find change offices. ATM machines are available in Veliko Gradište and Bela Crkva and they require a PIN number. For arriving by plane, there is an ATM at the arrivals hall (downstairs) of Belgrade’s Surcin Airport, which will accept VISA, VISA Electron, VISA Plus, MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus cards. Some of the restaurants and shops accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners). The most widely excepted credit cards are VISA, closely followed by MasterCard. Traveller’s cheques are a little harder to change: Branches of Raiffeisen Bank or Komercijalna Banka are probably the best bet but beware of high commission charges. For Eurocheques, branches of ProCredit Bank are probably the best bet. Neither personal nor travellers’ cheques can normally be exchanged for goods in shops, so credit cards make far more sense.
Banks are generally open from 08:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays.
In smaller towns it is useful to have enough cash. Foreign nationals may take a maximum of 120.000 dinars in or out of the country.
Most of the shops are open from 9am to 9 pm and remain open through lunch.
Restaurants: The main meal is taken at lunch from 1pm to 3pm. Restaurants serve dinner in the evening from 8pm till 11pm.Electric Current
In Serbia electric current is 220 volts, 50 HZ. To use American or British electrical appliances a plug adapter is necessary. Electric plug used in Serbia is type C (the same one is in use in Croatia, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, Hungary, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Bulgaria, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey, Vietnam, etc.
Telephone
Telephone plug used in Montenegro, Croatia, is US RJ-11 phone plug
Telephoning Home
Most of the telephone cards (AT&T…) do not work here. The most convenient way for telephoning home is to use your mobile phone. Note that telephoning from Serbia will involve roaming charges, so please double-check with your mobile provider at home about the rates and conditions.
To make a direct international call, first dial 00 (code to access international line) then the country code, the area code and local number. The country code for Australia is 61, Norway 47, Great Britain is 44, USA and Canada 1, France 33, Germany 49. To make a national call just dial area code and local telephone number. City codes Belgrade 011, Nis 018, Novi Sad 021. Important phone numbers: Police 192, Fire department 193, Ambulance 194.
ACE Emergency phone (24h available) +381 (0)64 24 76 311.
Language
Official language is Serbian but English is widely spoken specially in a bigger towns. Both Cyrillic and Latin Alphabet is in used.
INSURANCE
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all clients whilst on a tour organized by ACE. Clients together with their personal property including baggage are at all times solely at their own risk. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel Insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover. Clients making their own arrangements should ensure that there is no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in their tour. Clients should satisfy themselves that any travel insurance is what they require and should arrange supplementary insurance if need be.
Responsible Travel
Before you come on the tour please read and respect ACE Responsible Tourism Policy
Personal Expenses
MEAL PLAN
Meals other than those included in the itinerary are paid for separately by traveler. Examples of some costs are provided below:
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Coffee/ Tea - 0.8-1.5 Euro
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Soft drink - 1.5 Euro
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Bottle of beer - 1.5-2.5 Euro
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Bottle of wine - 5-15 Euro
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Two course meal - 8-10 Euro
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Three course meal - 12-15 Euro
Local fares in small towns
Tipping
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this part of the world. Gratuities for the staff of the ACE Adventure is discretionally but always appreciated by the staff and we will be happy to provide guidelines.
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Photos
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Ferry
Ferry Ram - Banatska Palanka
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Ram fortress
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Danube cycling
From Ram to Srebrno Jezero
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Danube cycling
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Danube cycling
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Srebrno Jezero
Silver Lake
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Srebrno Jezero
Silver Lake
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Danube cycling
Cycling through sunflower fields
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Danube cycling
Golubac cycling
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Danube cycling
Golubac cycling
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Gray heron
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Ferry
Ferry Ram - Banatska Palanka
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Fishing boats
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Fisherman
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Golubac fortress
Panoramic view of Golubac Fortress and Romania
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Golubac fortress
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Lunch break
Dates & Prices
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