September 9, 2011 - September 15, 2011
We will be spending 8-days biking from village to village through the Czech Republic and Austria. We are doing a self-guided tour through a Czech company called Ave Bicycle Tours. Most days we will be riding between 25 and 35 miles, the total mileage for the 8 days will be about 225 miles (that is if we don't get lost). Below is a map and the general itinerary.
We will be spending 8-days biking from village to village through the Czech Republic and Austria. We are doing a self-guided tour through a Czech company called Ave Bicycle Tours. Most days we will be riding between 25 and 35 miles, the total mileage for the 8 days will be about 225 miles (that is if we don't get lost). Below is a map and the general itinerary.
- Day 1
- Guided Group tours usually start on the scheduled day at 9 a.m. Self-Guided tours and non-schedule tours start at the clients’ request on any day from the beginning of April to the end of October.
- Welcome briefing, transfer from Prague to Ceske Budejovice (150 km = 98 miles by minibus or car), cycling from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov (27 km = 16 miles), checking in at the hotel, sightseeing in Cesky Krumlov, dinner at town, adaptation of bicycles to match to bikers' body dimensions, practical training in safe cycling (guided group tours only).
- Day 2
- Cesky Krumlov - Trebon (61 km = 38 miles by bicycle - can be shortened for guided group tours). Optional visit of the castle and garden in the morning. Route leads through the beautiful hilly landscape surrounding Cesky Krumlov. However, the closer you get to Trebon area, the flatter the landscape becomes. A scenic ride through a picturesque landscape ends in Trebon, also well-known as a major spa resort. In Trebon, you will check in to your hotel and you can visit the Schwarzenberg Tomb. In case you would like to relax in a spa, we can arrange a massage, whirlpool or other services at Trebon's wellness centre.
- We also recommend an evening walk around the Renaissance town.
- Day 3
- Trebon - Telc (78 km = 48 miles by bicycle - can be shortened for Guided group tours) Optional tour of Trebon chateau in the morning. The trail winds along many ponds and man-made lakes, so typical of this region, to Perslak, the most northern point of Austria. You will follow the border with Austria on the Greenways trail passing through Nova Bystrice, where you will have lunch. From Nova Bystrice the trail will take you through the forests of the National Park called Czech Canada. The day ends in Telc, a Renaissance town registered on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. Houses on the main square in Telc, with facades decorated with typically renaissance sgraffiti, form the best-preserved Renaissance square in the Czech Republic. It is extremely interesting to compare the differences between the towns of Trebon, Cesky Krumlov and Telc.
- Day 4
- Telc - Vranov (54 km = 35 miles by bike - can be shortened for Guided group tours)
- Optional tour of Telc chateau in the morning. You will ride through several charming villages typical for this area of the country. We will cycle gently through the region of South Moravia. We will stay overnight in Vranov which is situated near a dam.
- Day 5
- Vranov - Znojmo (38 km = 23 miles by bike)
- You will cycle on the Greenways trail following the river Dyje and the southern Czech border with Austria. This very beautiful trail leads through the national park of Dyje.
- Znojmo is the gateway to the region of South Moravia, a region of wine production.
- Check-in to Znojmo hotel, followed by a walk round the historical centre of Znojmo in the evening.
- Day 6
- Znojmo - Mikulov (70 km = 43 miles)
- This flatland region is a traditional vine-growing area and there are many wine cellars. Dinner is usually arranged in a restaurant and includes a wine tasting. Mikulov is a town with a rich history, a beautiful castle and an historical square. Check-in to Mikulov hotel in late afternoon, leisure time in the evening.
- Day 7
- Mikulov - Vienna (50 km = 30 miles by bike and 50 km = 30 miles by car). You cross the border at the Mikulov border checkpoint, we spend the rest of the day in Austria. The ride in Austria is, to begin, very similar to the Czech section. There are vineyards, fields and small villages along the trail. Experienced bikers can reach the Vienna hotel by bike. We recommend finishing the cycling part of the trail in Poysdorf (25 km) or in Mistelbach (48 km) and travelling by car or minibus to Vienna. For Self Guided Tours you should agree in advance with the AVE representative if you want to cycle all the way to Vienna or where you want to meet the driver taking you to Vienna, skipping the last cycling part of the tour.
- The official tour programme ends with a check-in to your Vienna hotel.
- Important notice: For guided group tours the support vehicle with bikes and the tour leader leave Vienna on Day 7 in the early afternoon. All participants with flight tickets from Prague can travel by supporting vehicle to Prague for free. These bikers spend their last night in Prague. They may also decide for a self guided trip in Moravia instead of going to Vienna and back to Moravia. These participants can either take their flight home from Prague or we will happily offer them other additional services in Prague, such as additional accommodation, a guided tour of Prague and other services. However, these are not included in the price of the cycling tour.
- Day 8
- The tour ends with a breakfast either in Prague or in Vienna.
