Discover the wonders and hidden history of Southern Bohemia and Moravia on this eleven-day tour through the Czech Republic. We pedal past Riesling and Chardonnay vineyards, through forbidden forests along the Austrian/Czech border and into late Renaissance towns unchanged since the 17th century. You'll bicycle through one of the most popular bicycle destinations in Central Europe as we explore the "greenways" and rural roads of this fascinating region. Though our cycling ends in Česky Krumlov we'll include a shuttle to Prague.
***If this sounds great but you'd like a shorter tour, check out our Cycling the Czech Republic tour, which features the first 7 days of this itinerary.***
Day 1: Shuttle from Vienna to Mikulov, southern Moravia, the Czech Republic
Highlights: Fit bicycles, test ride through Riesling vineyards
We'll meet at noon in Vienna today and shuttle to our starting town of Mikulov, historically one of the most important frontier towns in Southern Moravia. Its central castle has helped guard the border with Austria since the 13th century. We'll fit bicycles and encourage a short test ride into the surrounding vineyard clad hills -- this region is famous for its different Riesling varieties as well as other white wine grapes such as Ruland White and Chardonnay. A welcome drink and wine tasting will start off our evening before dinner together.Lodging: Hotel Reva
Day 2: Pedal the vine-clad hills of Moravia to Valtice and Lednice
Highlights: UNESCO world heritage sites of Valtice and Lednice, the 17th century manor and gardens of Lednice, Baroque castle of Valtice
We take a loop ride today through vineyards into the wine growing region to the north and east to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Valtice and Lednice, each home to impressive manors (or castles, depending on your point of view!) Both residences were created by the Dukes of Liechtenstein, Valtice as the seat of their power, Lednice as their summer residence. Visit one or both of them but remember this afternoon we'll have a guided visit of Mikulov's 13th Century castle. Dinner is on your own tonight. Distance: Approximately 45 km (28 miles).Lodging: Hotel Reva.
Day 3: Ride from Mikulov to Znojmo
Highlights: Rolling hills and vineyards, medieval Znojmo
We pedal to Znojmo today, through the gently rolling hills of Moravia. You'll be impressed by the "bike culture" they've created in this area - cyclists come from all over Central Europe to pedal the vineyards and see the historic sites. After settling into our centrally located hotel, we'll enjoy a guided walk through town, which the impressive Gothic Town Hall Tower and Church of Saint Nicholas dominate. Dinner is together tonight. Distance: Approximately 55 km (34 miles).Lodging: Hotel Lahofer
Day 4: Pedal to Vranov nad Dyji
Highlights: 17th Century castle of Vranov, Iron Curtain
Leaving Znojmo we pedal on to Vranov on the Dyji River. We suggest visiting the Castle in Vranov (considered by some as the best castle visit of the entire tour!) before checking into our hotel as the castle closes at 5 pm. The present castle dates to the 17th century but is located on a site that has housed castles since 1200. We'll suggest an optional, short ride today to visit a part of the Iron Curtain that has been preserved for posterity. Dinner is on your own tonight. Daily Mileage: 32-38 km (20-24 miles).Lodging: Penzion Anita
Day 5: Bicycle Vranov nad Dyji to Telč
Highlights: Renaissance Slavonice, town of Telč
Our ride today takes us out of the lowland vineyards of southern Moravia and away from the Austrian borderlands. We cross the wheat fields and forests of the Bohemian-Moravian highlands, an ancient plateau incised by rivers creating excellent sites for fortified towns and villages. Telč (say "telch") is one of the best preserved of these fortress towns. Heavily influenced by architectural styles from Italy, the late 16th century town square is a wonder of town planning with multi-colored building facades. We spend two nights in Telč. Dinner is together. Distance: 77 km (48 miles).Lodging: Hotel U Cerneho Orla
Day 6: Loop ride from Telč or rest day
Highlights: Renaissance Telč (UNESCO World Heritage Site)and Medieval Trest
There are plenty of things to see and do in Telč today but we've planned on a loop ride to the north through beautiful areas of forest for those who need a little exercise. The highlands get higher here. Otherwise, you can enjoy lounging in the sidewalk cafes on the square of this perfect gem of 16th century town planning. Dinner is together. Distance: 40 km (25 miles; actually, you can make this ride as long as you'd like!)Lodging: Hotel U Cerneho Orla
Day 7: Cycle onto the greenways near Austria
Highlights: The greenways of Bohemia, rural Czech Republic, Jindřichův Hradec
Our route today takes us through forest and field and past a myriad of small towns and villages, each with its own "carp pond." The raising of carp in artificial ponds dates to medieval "fast days" when the monks needed fish on Fridays. But in the 15th and 16th centuries these ponds flourished with every town constructing one for purposes of self-sufficiency. Today Bohemia sports something over seven thousand of these ponds and supports a significant recreational and commercial freshwater fishery. We'll be in Jindřichův Hradec tonight, a delightful market center dating to the 12th century. Jindřichův Hradec sits on the banks of a large lake which is dominated by the town's two well-preserved castles. Distance: 41 km (26 miles)Lodging: Hotel Concertino
Day 8: Cycle Bohemian greenways near the Austrian border and Trebon
Highlights: Central Europe's most extensive bike path system, Renaissance Trebon, brewery visit and tasting
Our ride this morning is car-free AND care free, at least initially. We pedal a part of the forest lands that for two generations during the Cold War were completely off-limits to the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe. These forest paths are now part of a vast green belt in-the-making. Visionary planners in the region are creating a memorial to the Iron Curtain by developing the world's largest outdoor park that will eventually stretch from the Baltic to the Black Sea, following the historic no-man's land that separated eastern and western Europe from 1945 until the fall of the wall in 1989. We complete our ride by pedaling past man-made lakes in one of Central Europe's biggest wetland areas with some of the largest fish farms in Europe. Before a special fish dinner we'll enjoy a visit and tasting at the country's oldest brewery, founded in the 14th century. Distance: 59 km (37 miles).Lodging: Zlata Hvezda
Day 9: Hluboka Castle and into Česky Budejovice along the Vltava River
Highlights: The 19th century Hluboka Castle and Česky Budejovice, home to the original Budweiser beer
Today we leave the man-made lake district of Trebon and pedal northwest to Hluboka, the 19th Century "Windsor Castle" look-alike. Those who wish can double the length of their ride north along the Vltava River and back. Our route this afternoon takes us on a modern bike path right into the heart of Česky Budejovice. With a wide variety of late Renaissance and Baroque buildings on the central square - one of the largest in Central Europe - Česky Budejovice presents itself as a rich and proud regional center commanding as much respect in the 21st century as it did in the 17th. Dinner is together. Distance: 42-74 km (26-46 miles).Lodging: Hotel Dvorak
Day 10: Bicycle from Česke Budejovice to Česky Krumlov
Highlights: The historic and perfectly preserved 16th century town of Česky Krumlov
We complete our tour of southern Moravia and Bohemia by following the Vltava River south from Česke Budejovice to one of the most enchanting of Central European towns, Česky Krumlov. You'll find you've pedaled into the archetypal, quaint Central European village. Located on a meander of the river, Krumlov is almost completely surrounded by water. Towering above the village is a massive castle complex with a spectacular round tower. We'll take a short guided walk around town this evening before we celebrate our grand tour of the historic Czech Republic with a dinner together near the picture-perfect square and castle of Česky Krumlov. Daily Mileage: 50 km (32 miles).Lodging: Hotel Dvorak - Česky Krumlov
Day 11: We'll offer a shuttle today from Česky Krumlov to Prague
Highlights: Waking up in one of Central Europe's most delightful towns, Česky Krumlov
If you have the time you may want to stay an extra night just to wander the corners of this Medieval and Renaissance town. (You could travel Europe for two decades without finding another like it.) Otherwise, take in the last of the village this morning before taking our shuttle to Prague.-
HighlightsHluboka Castle, UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Valtice, Lednice, and Cesky Krumlov, Czech Greenways, Česky Budejovice, home to Budweiser beer, Renaissance towns of Mikulov, Krumlov, Telč, Slavonice, and Trebon
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Includes"The Usual" plus... Use of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle; 11 days, 10 nights' accommodation; 7 dinners with wine or beer, 2 lunches, 10 breakfasts; 1 wine tasting; guided castle visit; guided city walk; 1 brewery visit and tasting; Day 1 shuttle from Vienna to the tour start, shuttle to Prague Day 11
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CountriesCzech Republic
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Begin/EndMikulov (shuttle from Vienna) / Česky Krumlov (with shuttle to Prague)
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Arrive/DepartVienna Int'l Airport (VIE) / Prague Ruzyne Int'l Airport (PRG)
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Total Distance441-479 km (272 -296 miles)
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Daily Distance20 - 75 km (36 - 46 miles)
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What to ExpectMagnificent castles, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and wonderful bicycle rides.
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Rating201
Easy riding over flat and rolling terrain. A few days feature longer mileage of 70-75 km (43-46 miles). -
Notes
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Terms
| Dates | Price | Single Supplement* |
Notes | Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24 - Jul 04, 2013 | $4550 | $600 | Confirmed Departure | Book It |
| Aug 19 - 29, 2013 | $4550 | $600 | Book It | |
| *We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour. | ||||
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Here on ExperiencePlus.com
- Czech Republic Trip Planner
Read up on country customs, airport information, culinary specialites, and more! - Packing Tips
We've traveled enough and loaded enough luggage to have some useful suggestions to help you pack. - Pre-tour training
ExperiencePlus! has contracted with national fitness expert Joe Friel to create customized, day by day, training programs to ensure you are ready for your biking tour. - Recipe: Sachertorte
Many would argue that the Sachertorte is THE dessert of Vienna and we agree it is hard to go wrong when you combine chocolate, jam and whip cream. - We Are ExperiencePlus! Meet your Tour Leaders
We'd like to introduce you to your tour leaders. We believe we have the best bicycle tour leaders out there, click through to see a slideshow about them.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Fairy tale landscapes, vineyards and UNESCO sites
Fairy tale landscapes looking for a few bicyclist.
Click on the "pins" for details about each day's highlights.
Map Key
Start
City (on route)
End
City (not part of route, provided for reference)Incredible guides - on the bicycle and path, but most importantly, giving us so much history and insight into the Czech Republic and the current issues they are dealing with. It gave me what I was hoping for - a chance to get some in depth knowledge of this country. And, they chose wonderful wine for us every evening!
Mary Ann M., Denver, CO
Tom & I had a total blast on the Czech Republic trip. We had excellent tour leaders, and we can't wait to book something for 2009!
Amy H., Coon Rapids MN
Another trip that didn't disappoint and made memories that will last a lifetime and add to my sense of being a citizen of the world.
Jack I.
Boulder, CO
Boulder, CO
As usual, my wife and I enjoyed the tour very much. Excellent guides, chalk arrows, interesting people on the tour and well-chosen hotels and restaurants.
Lee C.
Arvada, CO
Arvada, CO
[My favorite part was] Seeing the "iron curtain" and the Hluboka Castle.
Jane V.
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland, WA
An excellent tour, in every respect. I will definitely be taking other biking tours with ExperiencePlus! One of the pluses on all the tours we have taken with ExperiencePlus! is the quality of the guides--all have been excellent.
Jody W.
Denver, CO
Denver, CO
Each destination was great and unique so that each experience in cities was so exciting and enjoyable.
David B.
Broomfield, CO
Broomfield, CO
