Jewels of the Czech Republic

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Prague - Check-in and Sightseeing

   After you check-in (for those who are just arriving), you will regroup at the reception just before noon and set out for a three-hour introductory walking tour of Prague with a professional guide. In the evening, you will meet for a welcome dinner and orientation meeting.
   

   • Hotel in Prague
   • Dinner

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     Elegant Prague

     Start and end the tour in the timeless city of Prague

2. Day 2Prague - Ceske Budejovice - Cesky Krumlov

   After breakfast at your Pension, you will load the bikes and board a bus that will take you to Ceske Budejovice, the beautiful provincial capital of southern Bohemia and the home town of the original Budvar (Budweiser) beer. You will tour the brewery and make a short stop at the town's famous main square lined with Baroque and Renaissance buildings.
   
   Finally, you will set out on the road. You will bicycle through foothills with views of the Sumava Mountains in the distance and pass the most significant monastery in the country, Zlata Koruna. You will then ride on into Cesky Krumlov, a medieval town and UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. You will not find another town like this anywhere else. Cesky Krumlov was situated on the main trading route between Bavaria and Italy, which explains its splendor. You'll enjoy dinner, an evening stroll, and a night's stay in this unbelievably beautiful town.
   

   • 21.7 miles
   • Hotel in Cesky Krumlov
   • Breakfast and Dinner

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     Sumava Mountain views

     Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Czech Republic

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     Cesky Krumlov

     Spend some time in the fairytale setting of Cesky Krumlov

3. Day 3Cesky Krumlov - Trebon

   You will start today with a guided tour of the Cesky Krumlov Castle. After a short goodbye walk through town, you will head northeast on winding back roads through more beautiful hamlets and some of Europe's oldest nature reserves dating back to the 1800s. Gradually, the terrain becomes flat as you enter a wooded region abounding with sparkling lakes, artificially made for fish raising (mainly carp and trout) already in the 1500s. You will make your way to the center of this region, the town of Trebon, which dates back to the 11th century and was famous in the past for its fishing industry.
   
   In the afternoon, before meeting for today's dinner, you can either wander about this easy-to-navigate picturesque town and visit the beautiful Renaissance chateau gardens, then enjoy some beer at the town's 16th century Regent brewery, or you can take an optional afternoon ride with our tour guide.
   

   • 34.8 miles
   • Hotel in Trebon
   • Breakfast and Dinner

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     Cesky Krumlov

     Spend some time in the fairytale setting of Cesky Krumlov

4. Day 4Trebon - Jindrichuv Hradec - Nova Bystrice

   You will leave Trebon cycling on small, almost forgotten winding country roads, passing many of the region's ponds, crossing creeks and rivers, cruising through golden wheat fields and occasionally stopping to check out some of the quaint towns and villages, their churches of various architectural styles (from Gothic through Renaissance to Baroque) and unique folk architecture. You will then reach Jindrichuv Hradec, the beautifully preserved Renaissance cultural center of southern Bohemia complete with a Gothic castle and Renaissance chateau. You can enjoy lunch and some sightseeing here.
   
   After a visit to this lively historical town, you will set out once again on small country roads, this time through the slightly hilly, magnificently pristine countryside nicknamed "Czech Canada" for its beauty and sparse population. Cycling on the small roads, often lined with apple, birch or cherry trees, you will arrive in Nova Bystrice, a small, charming town where time has stood still and where you will spend the night. As it is only 3 kilometers (1.8mi) to Austria, you may wish to take a short afternoon ride.
   

   • 47.2 miles
   • Hotel in Nova Bystrice
   • Breakfast
5. Day 5Nova Bystrice - Slavonice - Dacice - Telc

   Today offers so much to see... There are some climbs on the way but the rewards are more than worth it. First of all, after a short bike ride from your hotel, you will visit the Gothic Landstejn Castle built in the 12th century as a fort. The spectacular views of "Czech Canada" from the top of the castle's watchtower are worth the climb. If you are lucky, you may even be able to shoot some medieval crossbows on the castle ground.
   
   Next, you will ride to Slavonice, one of the best preserved historical towns in Europe and nicknamed the Renaissance Pearl. You will visit the town's main Renaissance square and have a coffee in a café whose building dates back to the 1500s. Very famous pieces of local pottery can be seen (and purchased) in the café itself or in the gallery adjoining the café.
   
   Another Renaissance town on the way is the town of Dacice, with its beautifully renovated chateau in the Empire style. The tour operator suggests you take a lunch break here and enjoy a delicious meal in one of the restaurants on the town's lively square.
   
   Today's route ends at the remarkable 13th-century town of Telc. You will have a guided tour of the splendid local Chateau scheduled for the afternoon. In the evening, you can take a stroll around the magnificent main square and have a beer or glass of wine in one of the charming restaurants or cafes.
   

   • 34.2 miles
   • Hotel in Telc
   • Breakfast

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     Landstejn Castle

     Visit the gothic Landstejn Castle on day 5 with lovely views over Czech Canada

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     Slavonice

     The renaissance buildings of Slavonice

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     13th century town of Telc

     Visit the lovely town of Telc on day 5

6. Day 6Humpolec

   You will leave Telc today and travel along the small roads of the lovely Moravian Highland, passing the ruins of Rostejn Castle, visiting renowned Trest with its synagogue and rich Jewish history dating as far back as the 1200s. Franz Kafka used to live in Trest and there is an exhibition on Kafka and Jewish history in the synagogue.
   
   From Trest you will head north through the splendid countryside of the Highland, riding mostly on small, often almost traffic-free roads, enjoying the pristine nature, valleys, forests, and small towns and villages, as always with lots of local churches and other historical monuments to see. After a day of spectacular nature, you will arrive at the final stop for the day - Humpolec - for centuries the center of the surrounding silver mining and textile industries. Humpolec also has the last brewery in the Czech Republic where beer is made the old, traditional way - without pasteurization. The locals swear it's the best beer in the world. You can try it for yourself - it's called Bernard.
   

   • 37.3 miles
   • Hotel in Humpolec
   • Breakfast
7. Day 7Humpolec - Kutna Hora

   Heading north through the Vysocina region, you'll follow the Sazava River into charming Ledec, where you can enjoy lunch and explore its Baroque castle and town center. Ledec is also home to the oldest Jewish settlement in Bohemia.
   
   Passing many colorful villages and wide vistas of meadows and fields, you will finally arrive at fascinating Kutna Hora, yet another UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. This medieval town rivaled Prague in wealth during the 15th century due to its silver mines and coin minting industry. The dollar got its name from "tolars", which were minted here. You will have a guided tour of this amazing town scheduled for the afternoon. The tour includes a visit to the imposing Cathedral of St. Barbara located in the center of town.
   

   • 43.5 miles
   • Hotel in Kutna Hora
   • Breakfast
8. Day 8Kutna Hora - Prague

   In the morning you will visit the nearby Ossuary, a small chapel decorated with over 40,000 human bones dating back to the Plague in the 15th century. Your final day of cycling takes you back to Prague through the wheat fields of the Bohemian countryside. Along the way you can take a break to visit the very unique outdoor museum of folk architecture in Kourim.
   
   You will ride into Prague, and time permitting, enjoy some more sightseeing before a farewell dinner together.
   

   • 57.8 miles
   • Hotel in Prague
   • Breakfast and Dinner

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     Elegant Prague

     Start and end the tour in the timeless city of Prague

9. Day 9Prague

   After breakfast at your lodging, you will depart for home (except for people who have opted to stay longer in Prague). Shuttle service to the airport is available in the morning. Have a safe trip home!
   

   • Breakfast

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     Elegant Prague

     Start and end the tour in the timeless city of Prague