A moderate leisurely ride with the occasional challenging hill. 30-55km/day (18-34 miles/day). The route follows paved roads, gravel roads, and “greenways” with no traffic. A portion of the cost is donated to community projects.

HIGHLIGHTS:                

The breathtaking descent into Vranov; catching the train in Slavonice; the quiet roads and bike paths; castles and palaces; delicious beer.

Eight days; seven nights. Moderate cycling on quiet roads and forest trails. From the historic Liechtenstein estates of Valtice and Lednice, follow the Austria-Czech border through the vineyards of southern Moravia to the castles and cobblestones of Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia.

During nearly 50 years of communist rule, this area was closed to travelers. The villages were charming but neglected. Now cafés are popping up and you can visit places like the Bohemian crystal glass factories, where old crafts are being revived. This trip follows a corridor of countryside laced with castles and beautiful biking trails that pass through several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Telc, and medieval Český Krumlov. Freewheeling Adventures has organized a partnership with Czech planners, so you will have the benefit of vast local knowledge and years of experience, as well as the service and attention you’ve come to expect from your Freewheeling guides. The people-to-people part is what makes the experience especially memorable, and a percentage of the trip fee goes toward restoration projects along the way. The rides are shorter, making this trip accessible to most and allowing plenty of time to explore the many sights along the way.  This adventure also works well as a family trip.

Day 1:  5 - 10km (3–6 miles) walking tour
Meet at the Breclav train terminal at 14:00. Visit the first of two Liechtenstein Palaces. Learn about Valtice, its vineyards and wine cellars on a relaxed afternoon walking tour. D (Meal inclusions provided for guided trips. Self-guided trips include breakfast only).
Penzion Prinz, Valtice, www.penzion-valtice.cz   

Day 2: 30km (19 miles)  
A pleasant ride along quiet pathways through forests and fields. Visit two extravagant châteaux and several ‘follies’ scattered over what was once the expansive Liechtenstein Estate, reaching from their winter home in Valtice to their newer summer palace in Lednice. The estate is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ride on quiet roads into small town of Mikulov for the night, where you can visit the historic square and castle, and the synagogue and Jewish Cemetery, over 400 years old. BLD   
Hotel Templ, www.templ.cz; or
Hotel Reva Lux, www.accommodation.czechatlas.com; or
Hotel Eliska, Mikulov, www.hoteleliska.cz

Day 3: 45km (28 miles)
Explore Mikulov, then transfer to the historical center of Znojmo. Ride along the border, through Podyji National Park, visting villages like Cizov where you will hear stories of people slipping past the Iron Curtain during communist rule. Today’s ride offers some climbing, and you may choose to descend into Austria to visit the tiny town and ruined castle of Novy Hradek. The descent into Vranov, with its castle perched above the river is an exhilarating finish. BD
Penzion Inspira, Vranov, www.penzioninspira.cz

Day 4: 46km (29 miles)
Start the day with an invigorating climb towards the château, where you can re-gain your breath overlooking the beautiful valley. Ride through fields of poppies and sunflowers, seeing remnants of the iron curtain. Following the Austrian border, you can stop to visit the Jewish Cemetery at Safov, and the pottery workshop and Renaissance château at Uhercice before boarding a train at Slavonice bound for Telc and your hotel for the night. Telc is a picturesque renaissance town painted in elegant pastels and recognized as a UNECSCO World Heritage site. B
Hotel Cerny Orel, www.hotel-cz.moonface.cz; or
Hotel Celerin, Telc, www.hotelcelerin.cz

Day 5: 45km (28 miles)
A very quiet ride through the forests and fields of the Czech Moravian Highlands. At Kosteini Myslova, you can stop to visit the simple yet poignant memorial to the Jewish painter Frantisek Moritz Nagl who died in the extermination camps at Auschwitz. The castle at Jindrichuv Hradec is the third largest in the Czech Republic (only Český Krumlov and Prague are larger).  In the spring, you may see storks nesting on the chimneys above the palace. BLD 
Hotel Concertino, www.concertino.cz; or
Hotel Bila Pani, Jindrichuv Hradec, www.hotelbilapani.cz

Day 6: 30km (19 miles)
Ride through the woods and meadows of the southern Bohemia Lake District. There are ponds filled with carp and other species we recommend you taste at this evening’s meal. You will cycle through the gate and across the moat into the medieval city of Trebon, home to yet another fascinating castle, the Regent Brewery, and the largest lake in the region. BL
Hotel Zlata Hvezda, www.hotelzlatahvezda.cz; or
Hotel Galerie, Trebon, www.hotel-trebon.cz

Day 7: 56km (35 miles)
There are a few hills on your ride towards the UNESCO Heritage site of Český Krumlov, the largest and best known of the ancient towns on your route.  Spend the afternoon exploring the narrow cobblestone streets, the looming castle, and its Baroque theatre, before gathering for dinner. BLD 
Hotel Arcadie, www.hotelarcadie.cz; or
Hotel Konvice, Český Krumlov, www.ohp.cz

Day 8: 
This morning allows for extra time to explore Český Krumlov. A complimentary 3 hours coach transfer to Prague departs Český Krumlov at 07:00, 11:00, 15:00 and 19:00. B

*GPS units and cell phones may be shared. ** Cell phones are intended for emergency use only; you will be invoiced for personal calls.  

All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.