This tour is also available as a leisurely cycling holiday, with shorter days of around 35 km, an optional afternoon of sailing and more time for wine and swimming.
Lake Balaton is Central Europe's largest freshwater lake, and most people only ever see it from the shore. On this tour we ride 350 km in six days, climbing into the Balaton Highlands, crossing the Káli Basin and circling the volcanic buttes around Badacsony and Tapolca. Expect around 60 km a day and enough climbing to earn your lunch, with time every day for a swim in the lake.
Between rides, we visit Tihany Abbey, Szigliget Castle, the Festetics Palace in Keszthely and the thermal lake at Hévíz. This is wine country too, so we stop for several tastings, including at Jásdi in Csopak and at Málik.
Price includes: accommodation for 5 nights in guesthouses and small hotels; meals (5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners); 2x wine tastings; boat ride on the Tapolca Cave Lake; bike rental and helmets; luggage transportation; transfers from and back to Budapest; English speaking local guide.
Doesn't include: optional sailing trip, your flight, airport transfer, insurance, personal expenses.
We start in Siófok, a short transfer from Budapest, and head east along the shore to the high cliffs of Balatonvilágos, where the views over the lake are some of the best on the south side. Then comes the easy part: losing track of time among the little harbors of Tobruk beach before we round the tip of the lake to Balatonfüred, our base for the next three nights.
The longest and hilliest day of the tour. We climb away from the lake into the Balaton Highlands, through quiet, quaint little villages with barely a car on the road. Then we wind back down through picturesque vineyard country towards the water and out onto the Tihany peninsula, where we finish at the hilltop Benedictine abbey, whose 1055 founding charter holds the oldest surviving written Hungarian words.
If you fancy a morning on the water, there's an optional sailing trip from Balatonfüred harbor. After that, we ride up to Veszprém, the "city of queens", and explore its castle district. On the way back, we stop at Jásdi in Csopak for a tasting of the local whites.
Our first stop is Hegyestű, a hill cut open to show its towering basalt columns. From there, we roll through the Káli Basin, one of the prettiest corners of the Balaton Highlands, and on to the volcanic hills of Badacsony, where we'll stay for the last two nights.
We start the day at the ruins of Szigliget Castle, then ride along the lake to Keszthely to see the Festetics Palace. Next is Hévíz and its thermal lake, one of the largest in the world. We ride back to Badacsony the same way and finish the day with a wine tasting at Málik.
Our last ride takes us through the land of volcanic giants, a row of flat-topped basalt hills rising straight out of the vineyards. In Tapolca, we take a boat ride on the Cave Lake beneath the town before heading back to Badacsony. For those with energy left, there's an optional hike up Tóti-hegy. We transfer back to Budapest in the evening.
We offer small-group, guided cycling adventures in Hungary. You ride at your own pace while we handle the logistics: vehicle backup and local tips. Expect family-run guesthouses and traditional meals.
Tours are guided in English by Peter, our founder and a local with deep knowledge of these regions.
This is an easy 6-day road tour averaging around 60 km and 430 m of climbing a day. The hardest day is 72 km with 760 m of climbing in the Balaton Highlands. If you regularly ride 50 to 70 km, you'll enjoy it. For shorter days, take a look at our leisurely Balaton tour.
Groups are between 4 and 12 people.
No worries! We're confident you'll make a new friend! Our guides and friendly guests will make you feel right at home.
Even our trips are designed to bring the group together with many community events, like grill-parties, wine tastings and even some ice-breakers on our first evening together.
100%!
Ask us about the makeup of each group, and we'll let you know the demographics.
Yes! Just because you don't ride doesn't mean you can't eat, drink, relax and discover the best our destination offers.
Since all our tours include the cost of bike and gear rental, these costs will be subtracted from the price. Please make an inquiry and ask for an exact price for non-riders.
Children under 12 are welcome as long as they're accompanied by one non-riding adult. Cycling children must be 14 or older. eBikes are available for riders aged 16 and over.
We've put together a full packing list covering cycling gear, clothing, toiletries, and travel essentials — including what to leave at home. Read the full packing list.
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. We strongly recommend purchasing a policy that covers adventure activities — the kind typically used for skiing, covering medical evacuation and cycling-related incidents.
Our tours run from April to October. The best months are May, June, and September — comfortable temperatures, quiet roads, and the landscape at its best. July and August are fine for most tours but can be hot. April and October offer dramatic scenery but colder mornings and occasional rain, so pack layers.
Wiredonkey tours are mostly all-inclusive:
Prices don't include the following:
This tour requires a minimum of 4 guests to guarantee departure. If your booking falls below 4, we will contact you before final payment with two options: pay the departure cost to secure your preferred date (refunded in full if the group reaches 4 before departure), or switch to a different trip or departure date.
Yes. Our listed prices are based on groups of 4–8 guests.
We guarantee the tour once 4 guests are booked. If you are a group of 2 or 3 and want to secure the dates regardless of whether others join, or if you'd prefer to keep the tour private, we can run it as a private tour at the 2- or 3-person rate, which covers the minimum group cost.
We recommend booking at least 90 days before departure. Based on availability, last-minute bookings can be accommodated up to two weeks before departure.
Airport transfers are not included in the tour price. Trip groups meet at a centrally located meeting point. Details are provided upon booking.
If needed, we can arrange a transfer from the airport or your accommodation to the meeting point (an extra charge may apply).
The deposit is 70% refundable up to 30 days before the tour start date.
Bookings are 100% transferable to another person up to 30 days before the tour.
If Wiredonkey Cycling Tours cancels the tour for any reason, 100% of all payments made will be refunded.
No refunds are provided for no-shows or late arrivals once the tour has started.
Yes. Any of our tours can be run as a private group — just get in touch to discuss dates and pricing. If you'd like a fully custom itinerary, we're happy to build something around your preferences, pace, and dates. Find out more about custom cycling tours.
Most of our bike tours are designed in a 'slow ride' spirit, allowing our guests to truly immerse themselves in the local culture and landscape. However, a lot of tour days offer the possibility for multiple ride options to accommodate rides of different levels. Some may take a detour to include an additional site. Some might go over the mountain, while others might want to go around. Please ask your guide to recommend you the best option.
The support vehicle also offers up some additional options. You can hitch a ride over a major climb or head to the next town for extra exploration time.
If you feel you can't finish the whole distance because you're tired, we'll take a rest. No one is in a hurry.
If you're really feeling out of it and can't continue, you can hop in our support vehicle, which is always near.
If you'd like to pedal for a bit longer than planned for the day, contact your guide. Our guides are prepared with alternative routes and ideas for additional sights. Just make sure you have something left in the tank for the next day!
Yes. A support vehicle accompanies every multi-day tour. It carries your luggage between stops, keeps spare gear, tools, water, and snacks on hand, and is always nearby if you need a lift over a tough climb or a mechanical fix.
We ride road bikes, typically a Scott Speedster or Scott Addict, depending on availability. The route is 99% asphalt, with about 2 km of gravel and cobblestones over the whole tour.
All of our tours provide an eBike option; however, the type of eBike might not match the style of the tour. E.g. we might be able to only offer electric mountain bikes.
Absolutely!
And since all of our tours include the cost of bike and gear rental, these costs will of course be subtracted from the price. Please inquire and ask for an exact price if you plan to bring your bike.
When you sign up for your trip, we will work with you to determine your bike size and fit. On the first day of your trip, your guides will adjust your bike to your comfort and preferences to ensure an excellent fit. Your guides are always available to make small adjustments throughout the week.
All bikes come with a helmet and lights (front and rear).
All bikes come with a push pedal by default. If you plan to bring your own cycling shoe, let us know in advance so we can accommodate you with a suitable pedal.
Characterful family-run guesthouses and small hotels along the Balaton shoreline.
Yes. Our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Guests who wish to have their own room will be charged a Single Supplement fee provided a room is available on the desired trip.
If you wish to arrange a pre or post-night stay for your tour, please contact us, and we'll try to accommodate you. However, please understand that we might not be able to always accommodate you at the same guesthouse or hotel or in the same room.
All our tours include 3 meals per day. The exception is the first day when there is no breakfast and the last day when no dinner is provided.
We also provide one water bottle per person.
Meals are at pre-tested local restaurants or cafés.
Sometimes we organize a picnic or grill-party along the route.
We'll do our best to accommodate guests with dietary needs. Please specify your dietary requirements when talking to our representatives.
Ask us
