This tremendously successful trip follows a corridor of countryside laced with castles and beautiful biking trails that pass through World Heritage Site towns, including medieval Cesky Krumlov.
During nearly 50 years of communist rule, the area was closed to travelers. The villages were charming but neglected. Now cafes are popping up and you can visit places like the Bohemian crystal glass factories, where old crafts are being revived. This adventure is organized in partnership with Czech planners, so you will have the benefit of their vast local knowledge and years of experience, as well as the service and attention you can expect from your Freewheeling guides.
The people-to-people part is what makes the experience especially memorable, and part of the trip fee goes toward restoration projects along the way. The rides are shorter than many Freewheeling adventures, making this trip accessible to most and allowing plenty of time to explore the sights along the way. This adventure also works well as a family trip.
2008 Groups: May 11-17; Jun 14-21; Jul 19-26; Aug 23-30; Sep 21-28. Custom groups any time.
Tour starts: 1pm Breclav train station, accessible from Vienna or Prague. Tour finish: Cesky Krumlov. Free transfer to train station in Ceske Budujovice, morning day 8. Route Notes: A fairly leisurely ride with some challenging hills. 30 – 55 km/day with options.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: 5 to 10 km walking tour. Arrive in Breclav by train from Vienna or Prague. Meet at 1:00pm at the train station. Learn about Valtice, its vineyards and wine cellars on a relaxed afternoon walking tour. Visit the first of two Liechenstein palaces. Lodging: Penzion Prinz, Valtice.
Day 2: 30 km, plus options. A pleasant ride along pathways through a forest discovering extravagant follies scattered over what was once the expansive Liechenstein estate reaching from their winter home in Valtice to their newer summer palace in Lednice. Lodging: Hotel Eliska, Mikulov or Hotel Rohaty Krokodyl, Mikulov.
Day 3: 45 km. Mikulov is home to a beautiful castle, and a Jewish cemetery with tombstones over five hundred years old. Explore Mikulov before riding on. You may ride down into Austria to visit the tiny town and ruined castle of Novy Hradek. The ride into Vranov is unforgettable. Lodging: Hotel Zamecky, Vranov.
Day 4: 50 km. The Chateau in Vranov is perched high in the cliffs overlooking the valley where you spent the night. Start the day with an invigorating climb out of the valley. You will ride through fields of poppies and sunflower occasionally punctuated with remnants of the iron curtain. Telc is picturesque renaissance town painted in elegant pastels. Lodging: Hotel Celerin, Telc or Hotel Cerny Orel, Telc.
Day 5: 45 km. A very quiet ride through the forest and fields. The castle at Jindrichuv Hradec is immense (In Bohemia only Cesky Krumlov and Prague are larger) and here is a shop in town for every taste. If you choose to tour in the spring you may catch storks nesting on the chimneys above the palace. Lodging: Hotel Concertino, Jindrichuv Hradec or Hotel Bila Pani, Jindrichuv Hradec.
Day 6: 30 km. A ride through the carp ponds and cottages of southern Bohemia. Trebon is home to yet another great castle and the largest lake in the region. Home to the Regent brewery. (Czech beer is legendary). Lodging: Hotel Zlata Hvezda, Trebon.
Day 7: 55km. Cesky Krumlov, the largest and best known of the ancient towns on our route. The narrow cobble stone streets and looming castle towers are fit for a fairy tail. You might want to stay on for a few days after your tour to see what you might discover on your own. Lodging: Hotel Ruze, Cesky Krumlov or Hotel Konvice, Cesky Krumlov.
Day 8: Cesky Krumlov Explore this world famous town and its imposing castle before taking a late morning transfer to Cesky Budejovice to catch a train into Prague.
Testimonials:
"Lada was a huge part of the trip – knowledgeable, interesting, funny… It is as much about sightseeing and learning as it is about biking."
(L. Milkman, DC)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Guided Cost: $3045 pp. dbl. (includes 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners, luggage handling, van & guide support, maps, route notes & GPS*, and value added tax)
Self-Guided Cost: $2395 pp. dbl. (includes 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, luggage handling, maps, route notes, GPS*, cell phone, value added tax)
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Czech Republic
Austria
Bicycle Touring
Walking Tours
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