Cycling Along the Holt-Körös – Five Routes from Easy to Adventurous
The Körös-Maros National Park has mapped out five official cycling routes through the Körös floodplain, all starting and finishing at the Körösvölgyi Állatpark (Körös Valley Animal Park) in Szarvas. The routes range from a short 16 km family loop to a 36 km full-day expedition, and they're rideable from April through October.
The terrain is flat throughout — paved cycle paths, asphalt levee roads and short stretches of packed earth. No hills, no technical sections. If you can ride a bike, you can do these routes.
Below is a breakdown of each route: what you'll see, how long it takes, and who it's best suited for.
Route 1 — The Békésszentandrás Loop (16 km)
Best for: families with children, first-timers, a relaxed half-day outing
This is the shortest route and follows a satisfying loop. From the Animal Park, you pass the Szarvas Arboretum and climb onto the Hármas-Körös flood-protection levee, where you can spot the Szarvas–Mezőtúr ferry crossing the river below. Turning left along the levee, the route offers views into the floodplain habitat and the fish ponds on the left-hand side before arriving at the Békésszentandrás Dam — a striking piece of 1940s river engineering.
Continuing along the levee, you pass the heritage-listed steam pump station, then descend into Békésszentandrás itself, riding past the holiday houses that line the Holt-Körös bank. The return leg follows the Körösvölgyi Cycle Path alongside the Route 44 main road back to Szarvas.
🧒 Especially good for children: yes — the shortest route, mostly paved, with the dam as a rewarding midpoint landmark.
Route 2 — Szivornyák, Halásztelki Nature Trail & the Sanctuary Oxbows (23 km)
Best for: nature lovers, birdwatchers, anyone interested in floodplain ecology
From the Arboretum, you head right along the levee and soon reach a dyke-keeper's house where the szivornyák (siphon water-intake structures) are located — these use the water-level difference to feed river water into the oxbow. Continuing along the levee, you arrive at the Halásztelki Nature Trail, a 3.5 km path with ten information panels explaining the floodplain's wildlife and cultural history. The trail can be walked independently or with a guided tour booked through the Animal Park.
Beyond the nature trail, the route passes through Halászlak (historically known as Halásztelek), near the railway stop connecting Szarvas and Mezőtúr. Two kilometres further, in the left-bank floodplain, you reach two of the Hármas-Körös's most beautiful "sanctuary-type" oxbow lakes — the Aranyosi and Borza oxbows. From the levee, you can admire the wild vine canopy draped over the floodplain trees. The return takes you past the Nagyfoki oxbow on a dirt track behind the holiday houses, leading back to the paved road into Szarvas.
Route 3 — Bikazug, Historical Memorial Way & the Sanctuary Oxbows (31 km)
Best for: history buffs, those wanting a longer ride with varied scenery
This route heads left from the Animal Park along the Holt-Körös bank for about 3 km to the Bikazug Farm — a 1927-era agricultural estate with architecturally significant buildings. From here, it's 1.5 km to the Kákafoki Bridge, where you turn left along a section of the ring levee, passing the former ribbon-settlement of Mótyó on the left and an old bell-towered farmstead school on the right.
The route re-enters Szarvas via Petőfi utca, passing the Vízi Színház (Water Theatre) and the Evangélikus Ótemplom (Old Lutheran Church), before joining the Történelmi Emlékút (Historical Memorial Way) — an 1,100-metre path marked with wooden memorial columns commemorating key turning points in Hungarian history. The cycle-friendly paved path alongside it leads to the monument marking the geographical centre of historical Hungary.
From the monument, you continue on the Holt-Körös levee to the Hármas-Körös flood-protection dyke. The final section follows the same route as Route 2, including the Halásztelki Nature Trail and the Aranyosi and Borza sanctuary oxbows.
Route 4 — Bikazug & Furugy via Békésszentandrás (18 km)
Best for: cultural explorers, those wanting a short but unique route
The first section matches Route 3 as far as the Kákafoki Bridge. Here you turn right onto the Szentes road and soon reach a junction where you head right again onto a paved side road. After 2 km, you arrive at Furugy — an ancient fishing settlement built on a sediment ridge along the former riverbank.
Furugy has an unusual layout: three parallel streets lie several hundred metres apart, with cultivated farmland between them. Nearby stands the Furugy mound (a prehistoric burial mound), and the Historical Memorial Park inaugurated in 2008, commemorating the thirteen Martyrs of Arad. From Furugy, the route follows the edge of the Ice Age sediment ridge along the former floodplain boundary, with the Holt-Körös oxbow visible on the right-hand side all the way to Békésszentandrás. The return follows the Körösvölgyi Cycle Path along Route 44.
🧒 Suitable for older children: at 18 km and mostly paved, this is manageable for confident young riders — and the unusual village layout and memorial park provide interesting stops.
Route 5 — Mezőtúr Ferry, Peres Landscape House & the Flood Gate (36 km)
Best for: experienced riders, full-day adventurers
The longest route crosses the Hármas-Körös by the Szarvas–Mezőtúr ferry (check the timetable in advance). On the far bank, you turn right along the levee and after 3 km cross the Szarvas–Mezőtúr railway line. Beyond the level crossing, the route passes the Halásztelki excavation-pond system in the floodplain, with a succession of oxbow lakes visible on the protected side.
The ride reaches the confluence of the Hortobágy-Berettyó river, where you'll find the árvízkapu (flood gate) with enormous timber water-barrier doors. After crossing the Hortobágy-Berettyó, you arrive at the Peresi Tájház (Peres Landscape House), where an exhibition showcases the Körös region's wildlife, and the original 1902 engine house displays period steam engines and pumps. The exhibition is shown by the dyke keeper — it's advisable to call ahead on +36-66-526-400. After the exhibition, the grassland remnants of the Peres-puszta at the foot of the levee are worth exploring.
The return follows the same outward route back to Szarvas.
Where to Rent a Bike
The Csendzug Guesthouse does not provide bicycles, but several rental options are available nearby.
Körösvölgyi Állatpark (Körös Valley Animal Park)
All five routes start and finish here, and bikes can be rented at the Visitor Centre. Canoes, e-bikes and audioguides are also available.
📍 Szarvas, Anna-liget 1. | 📞 +36 30 475 1789
👉 kmnp.hu
Szarvas Tourinform Office
Adult bikes (men's and women's), children's bikes and e-bikes available for hourly or daily rental.
📍 Szarvas, Szabadság út 32. | 📞 +36 70 312 7903
👉 visitszarvas.com/kerekpar-kolcsonzes
Köröshajó – Bike Delivery to Your Accommodation
A fleet of 50 bikes including city, mountain, children's, tandem and child-trailer options. They deliver to your accommodation in the Szarvas area by prior arrangement.
📍 Based in Szarvas | 📞 +36 20 939 4604
👉 koroshajo.hu/szolgaltatas/kerekparkolcsonzes
Körös-Maros National Park – Guided E-Bike Tours
Seasonal guided e-bike tours on several of these routes with expert commentary on wildlife and local history. Check for current dates.
👉 kmnp.hu/hu/e-bike-turak
For current rental prices, check the links above — rates may change between seasons.
Practical Tips
🗺️ Route maps — Downloadable PDF maps from the Körös-Maros National Park: Map 1 | Map 2
📅 Season — The routes are recommended from April to October. The Mezőtúr ferry (Route 5) operates seasonally — check before you go.
☀️ Sun and water — Levee sections are fully exposed with no shade. Bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
🔧 Bike check — If renting, test brakes and tyre pressure before setting off. Most rental providers include a lock and lights.
📍 Starting from Csendzug — The guesthouse sits on the Békésszentandrás stretch of the Holt-Körös. You can join Routes 1 and 4 directly from this side without needing to drive to Szarvas first.
More information on cycling and ecotourism in the Körös floodplain: kmnp.hu/hu/ajanlott-kerekpartura-utvonalak-a-koros-arteren