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Detailed program
1.day Sopron - Fertőrákos - Sarród
Distance: 50 km, Elevation up: 50 m, Elevation down: 50 m
2.day Sarród - Fertőd - Neusiedl am See - Purbach
Distance: 55 km, Elevation up: 50 m, Elevation down: 50 m
3.day Purbach - Mörbisch - Sopron
Distance: 50 km, Elevation up: 50 m, Elevation down: 50 m
After meeting at the railway station of Sopron, at 9.00 am, we hand out the bicycles and help to adjust the right saddle height. We put our luggages into the support car, and start our journey around the lake Fertő.
We visit the downtown of Sopron, check out the famous sights, like the Firetower, the City Hall and the Storno-house. We visit the old limestone mine in Fertőrákos, wich is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage, have a tour around the outdoor folklor museum of Fertőszéplak and the Esterhasy Castle in Fertőd. We stroll through quiet villages, past salty lakes and stached-roofed sheperd shelters, visit a windmill, check out the small town of Rust and stop for a few glasses of vine at some of the countless vine orchards. We finish the tour with a boat trip, crossing the border to Hungary on the lake and a swim at the destination.
  
About the area
Lake Fertő is the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe, straddling the Austrian–Hungarian border. The lake covers 315 km², of which 240 km² is on the Austrian side and 75 km² on the Hungarian side. The lake's drainage basin has an area of about 1,120 km². From north to south, the lake is about 36 km long, and it is between 6 km and 12 km wide from east to west. On average, the lake's surface is 115.45 m above the Adriatic Sea and the lake is no more than 1.8 m deep.
  
Nature and wildlife
Most of the lake is surrounded by reeds which serve as a habitat for wildlife (making the lake an important resting place for migratory birds) and are harvested in winter as soon as the ice is solid enough. This serves a double purpose, one ecological (removal of the bulk of organic matter that would otherwise decay in the lake) and one economic (the reed is sold for various purposes, mostly related to construction and housing). During the summer months, there are occasional reed fires, as dry reed is easily flammable, and fires spread quickly because of the almost constant wind. Water quality is determined by temperature, wind, and by the amount of salt and mud emanating with the ground water from the sediments.
Several plans for dams and other intrusive construction works which would have destroyed the lake and its biotopes were discussed during the first half of the 20th century but came to nothing. Detailed plans to divide the lake bed with earthworks so that certain parts with reasonably fertile soil could be permanently drained and claimed for agriculture while the remaining parts would be used for intense aquaculture had been finalized and approved in 1918 but were abandoned when most of the lake became Austrian territory after World War I. In 1971 plans for a bridge across the Austrian part of the lake were thwarted by environmentalists.
In 1993 the National Park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel gained international acceptance as an IUCN Category II preserve. In 2001 the national parks in Austria and Fertő-Hanság in Hungary were together accepted as a World Heritage Site. The Neusiedler See and its surrounding areas in Austria also enjoy protection through the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
  
Essential information
Transfere:
Travel to the meeting point and back home should be arranged individually. Further information on Hungarian train services available at: www.elvira.hu, or contact Annamaria Kis for help.
Group size:
20-30 persons.
Accomodation:
2-4 bed rooms in Kocsagvár, 2-4 bed rooms in hostel
Difficulty of the cycling etaps:
Easy level cycling awaits for us on both of the days, with the maximum of 50 meters of elevation. It requires general level of fitness, but also important, that every participant must be an experienced cyclist, who fully understands and accepts the rules of the highway code.
Weather:
According to the observation of many previous years, this time of the year is generally dry and sunny with a comfortable temperature. To be prepared for the worst, it is adviced to take a waterproof jacket either in a rucksack, or int he support car.
Gear:
Loose and comfortable summer hiking or biking clothes, comfortable hiking, cycling or running shoes, thin socks, swimming suits, hat or cap, sunglasses, suntan lotion, mosquito repellent. To be prepared for the worst weather, it is advised to bring a waterproof jacket, trousers, several layers of hiking clothing, a spared set of clothes and spared shoes.
Bikes:
You can rent from us the following bikes.
Rental costs: 3.000 HUF/day, wich includes the bike and the helmet and the transport of the bike.
If you want ot join the tour on your own bike, we kindly ask you to prepare your bike for the trip! If it’s possible, please visit your local bike shop a week before the tour, so the mechanics hev time to adjust and check whatever needs to be done. We also ask you to bring along your helmet, lights or high-viz belts, a spared inner tube and a puncture repair kit.
Higienics:
The higienical standards are good. It is adviced to bring along a few basic medicines, like fever and pain killers, carbo activatus, disinfectant and steril bandages, ankle or knee support. There can also be ticks in the area, so you must check yourself thoroughly after returning home!
Food:
The fee of the tour includes two breakfast. The rest is self catering, you can either bring along home made sandwiches or flapjack and chocolate bars and fruits, or use one of the shops along the route to supply your food. We will have several opportunities to stop and fill our bottles with fresh spring water.
Money-issue:
For food and drinks, according to personal needs.
Package:
Your big luggages will be transported by the support car, and you’ll only have acces to them at the end of the day. Therefore it is advised to bring along in a small rucksack some food, water, a waterproof jacket and your personal belongings.
For further information call or email Annamaria Kis!
Mobile: 00 36 20/247-8712
e-mail: info@pedalcyclingholidays.hu
Online application click here!
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Ugrás a lap tetejére!