This is probably the least demanding of the eight-day trips we offer in 2008, both in the terrain and navigation. Since the most part the route follows the Labe River, you can be assured that you will not need to climb any hills! No up-hills and the average daily distance of 42 km (27 miles) make this a very pleasant and relaxing trip suitable for families with children as well as for people who are only moderately confident about their physical fitness. The tour starts at the Prague airport or at your Prague hotel reception. After welcome briefing AVE shuttle bus will take you with all your luggage and bikes to Dresden. You can also plan your holiday going directly to Dresden and meet the rest of the group at the hotel. In the following five biking days you will be riding up the stream of Labe and Vltava Rivers to Prague. You will have the opportunity to marvel at the steep rocks on the Labe riverbanks in the border area. You will visit towns like Decin, Usti nad Labem, Litomerice, or Melnik and many others. You can also visit the concentration camp in Terezin, chateau in Melniku, rowing channel in Racice and other places of interest. The last two days of the trip are intended for you to collect the reward you surely deserve after having biked for 5 days - you will spend the two days in Prague! Prague is certainly one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe. There are innumerable cultural events, cafes, pubs and restaurants and vivid night life waiting for you! It is the perfect closure to a splendid holiday! You will receive a brochure with detailed information about all sights on your journey at the welcome briefing. Tour Itinerary: Day 1 - Prague - Melnik Distance: 48 km / 29,5 miles Pick up at the airport or at hotel. We strongly recommend extending your stay in the Czech Republic in order to be able to visit Prague and all its beauties. We can arrange accommodation and tour guiding services for you (for more see town tours). Despite the first small ascent, today's stage follows a nice trail to the heart of the Czech wine region - the town of Melnik. It is a good warm-up for our further bike stages. Just before we leave Prague, we pass the Troja Baroque Castle and we continue to the North following the bank of the Vltava River. The river cuts into the ground here, which creates very interesting rock formations and deep valleys. Visits of castles in Nelahozeves or Veltrusy are the biggest highlights of this day. We will end this stage in an old wine town at the confluence of the Vltava and Elbe Rivers with a glass of a good wine. Day 2 - Melnik - Litomerice Distance: 44 km / 27 miles Today's stage leads us through a calm Elbe region and is without significant altitude changes. This region is one of the most fertile regions in the Czech Republic. Due to the confluence of the Vltava and Elbe Rivers, the river gains on its mightiness and strength and slowly becomes a European major waterway. After passing the Libechov Castle, we will get to the town of Roudnice nad Labem and we will have a chance to admire an old church and a castle. The most impressive stop on today's stage is the massive Terezin Fortrees from the turn of the 18th century, which illustrates the military architecture of that time. The seamy side of its history is the World War II period. This era was filled with hatred and cruelty and dramatically spotted the history of Terezin. A place which the Nazis used as a Jewish concentration camp. We will conclude the day in an old town and spiritual center of this region - in the town of Litomerice, which is an antipole to the horrific Terezin Fortress. Day 3 - Litomerice - Decin Distance: 44 km / 27 miles This day is designed for exploration of the romantic countryside of the Czech Middle Mountains. Even though, this region is very hilly, we will follow the banks of the Elbe River most of the time and hills with several old-time ruins will surround us. This former volcanic region had always been an ideal terrain for building of castles and fortresses, many of which have unfortunately not been preserved till up to date. The Strekov Castle, which was built on top of a steep rock cliff, belongs among one of the most romantic castles in the Czech Republic. After a more strenuous climb, we will be rewarded by a magnificent view from its walls. The final point of this stage will be the Northern Gate of the Czech Republic and the town of Decin - town with the lowest altitude in the Czech Republic. Day 4 - Decin - Czech Saxon Switzerland - Hrensko Distance: 15 km / 10 miles This day will be almost fully optional but always special! In the morning you can decide, whether you prefer biking or sailing for our overnight stay in Hrensko. This border town is situated in the heart of the Czech-Saxon Switzerland NP and offers many attractive activities. It is very good especially for hiking lovers. It offers many touristic trails leading through the scenery of the rocky towns, the mesas, the passes, deep gorges and hillsides. Special bonus to admire is the wonder of the Pravcicka Gate, no doubt, the biggest natural rock bridge in Europe. You can also try sailing on the boats through the passes of Kamenice river, continue your bike trip on one of many marked bike trails through this wonderful country, or combine a boat trip with ride through a romantic valley on a historical tram in Bad Schandau! Although it´s the lowest place in the Czech republic, you will feel like being in the mountains all the time! Day 5 - Hrensko - Dresden Distance:50 km / 27 miles This day is packed with historical sights! After crossing the boarder and passing Bad Schandau, we will see a scary looking Königstein Fortress and just past the curve a beautiful rock formation with a romantic rock bridge and Bastei Ruin. Optional is a sightseeing tour of the town with magnificent views and expositions. We recommend it, it is definitely worth it. Moreover, the effort needed for getting up to these high altitudes will be awarded by unforgettable view of surrounding panorama! Couple of kilometers down the road, by the town of Pirna, we will enter the region of the Dresden Valley. There are several beautiful castles and museums of music masters, such as Karl Maria Weber or Richard Wagner, which used to compose in this area. The final destination of today's stage, as well as of this tour, is the city of Dresden. For guided group tours the support vehicle with bikes and the tour leader leave Dressden on Day 5 in the afternoon. Day 6 - Dresden In case you are interested, we can arrange tour guiding services for you or help you to extend your stay. There is probably no other town in Germany which better symbolizes the turbulent history of this country and shows many centuries of cultural and architectural boom combined with religious freedom and economic prosperity. A short admiration of Nazism was followed by a cruel punishment in the form of the biggest bombing during World War II, which turned almost the entire city into ruins overnight. After-the-war resurrection into forty years of communistic unimportance is followed by twenty years of renewal and reconstructions. Thanks to this renovation of the entire city, today we can admire the beauties of this place, which earned the nickname of "Florence upon Elbe". Member discount: Notes: InfoHub discount coupon is valid only for Self Guided Tours on this route. 
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