Country Information

The tour takes place in Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. These countries are all safe and welcoming destinations for travellers. As members of the European Union and the Schengen Area (Hungary and Slovenia), they can be entered with a valid national ID card or passport.The route follows the historic EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail, passing rural landscapes, national parks, and river regions such as the Mura and Drava, which are part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Weather

The cycling season along this section of the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail runs from May to October. During this period you can generally expect pleasant cycling conditions.

Typical daytime temperatures range between 20–30°C, depending on the month. Spring and early autumn usually offer the most comfortable temperatures for cycling. Summers can be warm, especially in the Pannonian Plain, but the route often follows rivers and shaded countryside roads.

Rain showers are possible at any time of the year, so bringing a lightweight rain jacket is recommended.

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Difficulty Level

The tour has a moderate difficulty level with five cycling stages through plains and gentle hills. Daily distances are about 45–68 km, with mixed terrain including cycle paths, some gravel sections, and occasional public roads.

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Recommended Equipment

Clothing

• Reflective vest (recommended)
• Cycling helmet
• Comfortable and durable cycling clothing
• Comfortable sports shoes
• Rain jacket
• Rain trousers (recommended)
• Warmer clothing for cooler mornings or unexpected weather changes

Equipment

• Bicycle lights (recommended)
• Water bottle
• Own bicycle or rental bike
• Sunglasses
• Small backpack or pannier for daily essentials
• Valid passport or national ID card
• Sunscreen

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Accommodation

Participants stay 6 nights in selected partner accommodations along the route. Travelers can choose between Basic, Classic, or Comfort categories depending on their preferred level of comfort.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended for the entire duration of the trip. Participants are responsible for arranging their own valid travel insurance before departure.

The insurance should cover medical expenses, accidents and possible travel disruptions. In some cases, the tour guide may ask participants to confirm that they have valid insurance before the tour begins.

If you need assistance arranging travel insurance, we will be happy to help.

EuroVelo 13

The EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail is more than a long-distance cycle route: stretching over 10,000 kilometres, it connects the Arctic with the Black Sea and tells a story of history, nature and freedom on two wheels. Its development is a major undertaking, supported by many dedicated pioneers. With the newly bookable “Good Impact Cycling” offers, you can now experience selected sections of this unique cycle route individually, safely and comfortably. Enjoy maximum freedom while cycling – combined with reliable service, sustainable travel and the good feeling of travelling consciously. This practical weekly package opens up a very special section of the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail. It allows you to immerse yourself in the river wilderness of the Amazon of Europe, protected by the world’s first five-country UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. While during the Cold War the great rivers Drava and Danube marked the course of the “Iron Curtain”, today they offer a unique nature experience. Let yourself be enchanted by this cycling week – starting in Szombathely (Hungary) and ending in the Croatian town of Koprivnica on the banks of the river Drava – with all the impressions along these great rivers.

And the best part: you travel with the good feeling of doing something positive! With “Good Impact Cycling” tours, you not only travel sustainably, but also give something back to the regions along the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail as a thank-you for your experiences, providing valuable impulses for their sustainable development.

The Route

For this EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail cycling week, you start in the western Hungarian city of Szombathely and cycle five mostly moderate stages – initially along the HungarianAustrian border in a southwesterly direction towards Slovenia. In the picturesque town of Lendava, the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail changes direction, turning southeast to follow the great rivers Mura and Drava. Along the untouched river landscapes on the Hungarian Slovenian and later Hungarian-Croatian border, the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail – which here coincides with the new long-distance route Amazon of Europe Bike Trail – leads you to the destination of your cycling week, the tranquil town of Koprivnica on the banks of the Drava. Although continuous efforts are being made to improve the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail and its infrastructure, you should expect a mix of beautiful cycle paths, occasional gravel sections, and some public roads. Nevertheless, you will be rewarded with breathtakingly diverse landscapes and the warm hospitality typical of slow-travel destinations. Suggestion: If you get a taste for it after your cycling week on the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail, we recommend continuing your next cycling holiday on the same trail. The Good Impact Cycling offer "Entlang des Amazon of Europe" opens up the enchanting section along the great rivers Drava and Danube, from Koprivnica, Croatia, to Mohács in southern Hungary.

The Highlights

This cycling week along the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail captivates with its incredible landscape diversity. Starting from the historic city of Szombathely in western Hungary, the first days are dominated by the wide plains and gentle hills at the western edge of the Pannonian Basin. The cycling experience is enriched by the many cultural sights scattered across the landscape, such as the magnificent Batthyány Palace in Körmend. Just before the border with Slovenia, Őrség National Park – an EDEN Award-winning landscape harmonising diverse nature and authentic rural traditions – forms a particularly special natural gem. In Lendava, Slovenia, dominated by an impressive castle complex, the character of your cycling journey changes: from here, you follow the great rivers Mura and Drava and enter the realm of the “Amazon of Europe”. This is the world’s first five-country UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, protecting this untouched river wilderness. Here, the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail also coincides with the new long-distance route Amazon of Europe Bike Trail, creating an impressive nature experience as you cycle along the “Amazon of Europe”, before reaching the destination, the peaceful Koprivnica on the Drava in Croatia. Of course, this cycling experience is also enriched by the history of Europe’s division. Whether preserved sections of the Iron Curtain, museums, or beautiful symbols of overcoming division, such as the Friendship Park near Žitkovci.

Good Impact Cycling

With “Good Impact Cycling,” our goal is to make your fascinating cycling journey along the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail climate-friendly and sustainable. To achieve this, we are committed to fully implementing the European Commission’s new “Directive on Green Claims” with the highest possible transparency: for “Good Impact Cycling,” both your personal CO₂ footprint and, for the first time, the Sustainability Score of your cycling trip are calculated. In this way, your cycling journey gains an additional value alongside all the unforgettable experiences! Our vision is that regenerative cycling tours on the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail do not just avoid harmful impacts on the environment, culture, and society, but actively generate positive effects. This ensures that the regions along the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail benefit from regenerative tourism and experience a positive, sustainable impact. To this purpose, the scores from your cycling journey will be converted into a ‘Good Impact Cycling Contribution’. This is included in the travel price and will benefit the specially established ‘Good Impact Programme’. From 2027 onwards, the ‘Good Impact Cycling Contribution’ will be used to support carefully selected ecological or social projects along the EuroVelo 13 - Iron Curtain Trail. Until then, the project management, the Hungarian non-profit organisation (NPO) Westpannon for the Pilot Region Hungary – Slovenia – Croatia and the Czech non-profit organisation (NPO) Partnerství, o.p.s for the Pilot Region Austria – Czech Republic – Slovakia, will manage your contribution in trust.

To calculate this offer, we used the leading carbon footprint calculator CARMACALand the six commonly used global indicators of the Impact Measurement System (IMS). You can find out more about this here. (Link to article on the EuroVelo landing page)

EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail – Official Info- & Booking Centre

If you are now ready to embark on the great adventure along the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail, this offer is simply the perfect choice. It combines your personal freedom with service, safety and balanced sustainability. In addition, the experienced team at the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail – Official Info & Booking Centre supports you with travel planning and assistance during your journey, helping you avoid unpleasant surprises along the way. With the “Good Impact Cycling” offers, they invite you to become a pioneer and co-creator of regenerative cycling tourism in Europe.