The Orient Express: 3 Countries in 3 Weeks

Becky Timbers is the Assistant Tour Leader on the 2024 Orient Express Cycling Tour. She sends her first report from Vienna, Austria.

It’s been about three weeks since the riders of the Orient Express set off from Paris and made their way through the first three countries of the trip: France, Germany and Austria. Along the way, we’ve cycled through the bucolic countryside, passing in and out of quaint European villages and enjoying rest days in historic cities like Freiburg, Ulm, Regensburg and now Vienna.

The 3,840 kilometre route recreates the original Orient Express train journey that first traveled between Paris and Istanbul in 1889. But instead of railway tracks, the riders will cycle along bike paths, quiet roads, and gravel tracks, all the while enjoying the sights and experiences of daily European life.

Here are a few highlights of the first three weeks of the Orient Express 2024!

France

The Orient Express started in Paris, the City of Light. As we prepared to set off on our trip, the city was preparing to host the Olympics. There was a lot of construction and buzz happening, which added to the excitement of our departure. The first stage of the tour took us on a circuit around the city to see the iconic sights like the Eiffel Tower (displaying the Olympic rings), the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, and a cruise down one of Paris’s most famous streets, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

From Paris, the riders headed out through the patchwork countryside of France and into our first rest day in the charming city of Troyes. It has a rich medieval history and its layout still reflects the shape of a champagne cork, a nod to the Champagne region in which it is located. Troyes also boasts an impressive collection of timber-framed houses. Many of these buildings date back to the 16th century!

Germany

After saying au revoir to France, the next country we cycled into was Germany. One of the highlights was seeing the source of the Danube River in the historic town of Donaueschingen. The ornamental Donauquelle Spring marks the confluence of the Brigach and Breg rivers, which forms the Danube.  The river is one of Europe’s most significant rivers. It flows through 10 countries – Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine – before emptying into the Black Sea. On the Orient Express, we’ll be following the banks of the Danube for a significant portion of the trip!

Another highlight of Germany was cycling through the Black Forest, a region in southwest Germany known for its dense forests, picturesque villages and rich cultural heritage.

Austria

And now the riders are in Austria, enjoying a double rest day in Vienna! For the last few days, we’ve been cycling on the Danube bike path along with many other bicycle tourists enjoying their own summer bike trips. Vienna is the capital of Austria and a fantastic city to explore for its musical heritage, baroque architecture and UNESCO world-heritage sites. There’s something for every rider to enjoy!

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