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One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours Worldwide
Representing Local Bike Tour Companies
More than 400 Tours in 70 Countries
Get our newsletter | Contact Us
Call (877) 462-2423 or (423) 756-8907
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| Type of tour: | Self-guided/Guided |
| Level: | Moderate |
| Duration: | 8 Nights |
| Distance: | 8 Miles/day average |
| Dates: | Self-guided:
Upon request: Apr 1- Oct 31, 2013
Guided: Upon request: Apr 1- Oct 31, 2013 |
| Tour price: | €1730 (self-guided) €2490 (guided) |
| Start city: | Vienna, Austria |
| End city: | Prague, Czech Republic |
This multi-activity program takes you along the entire Czech Greenway. It is designed to be flexible, allowing you to rediscover the most interesting, off-the-beaten-track places closed off for forty years behind the Iron Curtain, while giving you a maximum degree of freedom and independent choice. The program is founded on the principle of the self-guided tour, letting you enjoy yourself as the tour company takes care of the details.
The main idea is versatility:
Hiking: For each day there is a different selected route (no more than 14 miles), taking you over the best parts of each Greenway area. You will be given maps, detailed trail guide and itinerary.
Cycling: If you choose to go bike riding on a given day, you will be provided with cycling maps with route highlighted, itinerary, panniers, and a bicycle to ride over a selected route of up to 36 miles.
Horseback: On a given day you may choose to look over a section of the Greenways from the saddle, maximum length of 4 hours. This is the only one of the four options that returns you to your starting point at the end of the day.
Car: You can also travel by car with our driver or a rental car. You will be taken to see the most interesting towns or points of interest, and be offered the option of a short hiking route (6 miles maximum).
Canoe: In three places along the Greenway it is possible to go by canoe. The longest route is 10 miles. The easier ones you may travel by yourself, while on the harder ones you are accompanied by a trained guide.
Schedule a day for relaxation, as the program also offers a day of rest and recreation, to give you a break from your hiking, biking, canoeing, horse riding and driving activities. One day you can spend your time in a historic spa. Another day can be set aside for arts and history. The combination is up to you. On each given day the means of travel you pick can be different, or you can choose to go for example by bicycle or on horseback the entire trip.
Each day's program, whatever the activity, is organized to give you ample time to explore the destination town of the day. Since the Prague / Vienna Greenway is about 250 miles long, you will be transferred over some sections. Longer parts, such as Vienna - Breclav, will be covered by train, while shorter sections will be covered by car.
This multi-activity program takes you along the entire Czech Greenway. It is designed to be flexible, allowing you to rediscover the most interesting, off-the-beaten-track places closed off for forty years behind the Iron Curtain, while giving you a maximum degree of freedom and independent choice. The program is founded on the principle of the self-guided tour, letting you enjoy yourself as the tour company takes care of the details.
The main idea is versatility:
Hiking: For each day there is a different selected route (no more than 14 miles), taking you over the best parts of each Greenway area. You will be given maps, detailed trail guide and itinerary.
Cycling: If you choose to go bike riding on a given day, you will be provided with cycling maps with route highlighted, itinerary, panniers, and a bicycle to ride over a selected route of up to 36 miles.
Horseback: On a given day you may choose to look over a section of the Greenways from the saddle, maximum length of 4 hours. This is the only one of the four options that returns you to your starting point at the end of the day.
Car: You can also travel by car with our driver or a rental car. You will be taken to see the most interesting towns or points of interest, and be offered the option of a short hiking route (6 miles maximum).
Canoe: In three places along the Greenway it is possible to go by canoe. The longest route is 10 miles. The easier ones you may travel by yourself, while on the harder ones you are accompanied by a trained guide.
Schedule a day for relaxation, as the program also offers a day of rest and recreation, to give you a break from your hiking, biking, canoeing, horse riding and driving activities. One day you can spend your time in a historic spa. Another day can be set aside for arts and history. The combination is up to you. On each given day the means of travel you pick can be different, or you can choose to go for example by bicycle or on horseback the entire trip.
Each day's program, whatever the activity, is organized to give you ample time to explore the destination town of the day. Since the Prague / Vienna Greenway is about 250 miles long, you will be transferred over some sections. Longer parts, such as Vienna - Breclav, will be covered by train, while shorter sections will be covered by car.
This program is designed to present the highlights of the Czech Greenway. The main point of the program is versatility. Within the limitations of time and space, you may freely alter the number and order of days and activities, and the distances to be traveled. You may add, subtract, or omit at will. The following 9-day schedule which we present here is the favorite, recommended program. The recommended choice for the day is marked with an asterisk (*).
Day 1: Vienna - Valtice
After arrival in Vienna you will take the one-hour train ride to Breclav, where you will be picked up by your GTC representative and be driven to Valtice area, where you will stay overnight at a local hotel. You will meet with your tour coordinator, who will introduce you to the program, give you all necessary materials, and who will also be your contact person for the whole trip. If you wish to spend more time in Vienna first, it will be our pleasure to arrange accommodation there.
Overnight in Valtice.
Day 2: Valtice - Mikulov
After morning sightseeing in Valtice, the program concentrates on the unique Valtice-Lednice area, the former estate of the Liechtenstein family, who resided there from early 13th century until 1945. The area is graced by two magnificent chateaux and numerous follies, or romantic structures set in a harmonious way into the surrounding landscape. Vineyards on the slopes of mellow hills, mirror-smooth ponds, nature reserves, bird sanctuaries, storks' nests perched up on high trees and telephone poles plus excellent cooking and wine are among the simple pleasures of life in South Moravia. Finish in Mikulov with its centuries of Jewish Heritage, synagogue and cemetery.
Overnight in Mikulov.
Your options:
Hiking Valtice - Lednice (9.5 miles/15 km)
Start by touring the Baroque Valtice Chateau, then follow the path through fields, vineyards and forest. Stop for lunch at the romantic Border Chateau, before passing the follies on the way to Lednice. Wrap up your day in the Gothic Revival Chateau of Lednice, one of the most ornate examples of this historical architectural style.
*Cycling Lednice - Valtice - Mikulov (19 miles/31 km)
This is the recommended option for the day. It will offer some mild challenges and rewards with a beautiful view of Mikulov and its famous Holy Hill Chapel. In the afternoon you will encounter the architectural masterpieces of the area, as you cycle on comfortable biking trails through flat, shady forests.
Horseback Experiencing this romantic backdrop from the saddle will give the feeling of going back in time to the end of 18th century, as you make a round trip in the Lednice/Valtice area.
Car Along with a round trip of the Valtice-Lednice area, you will also have the opportunity to drive through the beautiful limestone Palava Hills and visit the historic village of Pavlov. For exercise you can take a stroll in the romantic chateau park in Lednice and climb up the Minaret to watch, from above, the herons and storks in their treetop nests.
Day 3: Mikulov - Vranov nad Dyji
Start the day with a transfer from Mikulov to the Podyji National Park, located along the border with Austria around the deep, meandering canyon formed by the Dyje River. Podyji National Park is a unique ecological system unrivaled in the Czech Republic, featuring extraordinary natural scenery. The deep, forested canyon of the Dyje and its towering cliffs are natural geologic formulations of great interest. The park itself spreads over 23 square miles (62 square kilometers). Finish your day with a tour of the magnificent Baroque chateau in Vranov, perched atop a cliff over the Dyje River. Your day's program concludes with a transfer to Telc, a jewel of the Czech Renaissance.
Overnight in Telc.
Your options:
Hiking Cizov - Vranov nad Dyji (9 miles/14.5 km)
The trail starts in the village of Cizov, where you can see the last remnant of the Iron Curtain. It continues to the Austrian village of Hardegg with its ancient castle and a sweeping view of the Dyje valley, before heading back to Vranov.
Cycling Znojmo - Vranov (26 miles/42 km)
The bike trail begins in Znojmo and leads through the entire National Park to Vranov on challenging, hilly terrain.
*Horseback The ride begins in the town of Znojmo and takes you along the Dyje River inside the National Park (maximum 4 hour ride).
Car After a tour of Vranov nad Dyji chateau, drive a short distance to the nearby Bitov castle, reflected in the waters of Vranov reservoir. Then drive over to Cizov to set out for a short hike to the Austrian town of Hardegg.
Day 4: Telc - Jindrichuv Hradec
Enjoy your morning coffee on the spacious square of Telc encircled with Renaissance gables and arcades, a UNESCO World Herritage site. Don't miss the Renaissance chateau and the ponds surrounding the old town. The atmosphere is even more suggestive in the border town of Slavonice, set amid rustic natural surroundings untouched by development.
Overnight in Jindrichuv Hradec.
Your options:
Hiking Slavonvice - Nova Bystrice (14 miles/22 km)
The trail begins in Slavonice, with its sgrafitto facades and town square, then leads past the castle of Landstejn, the site of Schiller's Highwaymen, to Nova Bystrice. To get to Jindrichuv Hradec, take the quaint narrow-gauge railway dating from 1897, which leads through the sparsely inhabited, forested area of ”Czech Canada”.
Cycling Telc - Jindrichuv Hradec (26 miles/42 km)
The route begins in Telc and leads you through rolling countryside through Kunzak and on to Jindrichuv Hradec.
Horseback We will take you to the village of Studnice, where you will begin a 4-hour ride. The destination is Cervena Lhota, a magnificent chateau located on an island in the middle of a pond. This ride is not suitable for beginners (for the less experienced riders, there is a shorter route available).
*Car After looking around Telc you will visit nearby Dacice, a quiet town with its Classicist chateau, before continuing on to the beautiful Slavonice. The next stop is the nearby village of Mariz, located in the former no-man's land on the Austrian border. Stare Mesto will be the starting point for a hike up to nearby Landstejn Castle (4 miles). Your day's travels will be crowned by a train ride on the curious narrow-gauge railway to Jindrichuv Hradec, where the superb Renaissance chateau of the Rozemberk family and the famous Bohemian tapestry workshop are the principal points of interest.
Day 5: Jindrichuv Hradec - Trebon
First, take in the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec, then continue through the mosaic of ponds, woods, and meadows of the Bohemia Lake District and its capital, Trebon, a medieval city whose walls are still largely intact. The only way to enter the historical core is through a gate in the old fortifications, crossing a moat which is a part of a unique water regulation system dating back to the 16th century.
Overnight in Trebon.
Your options:
*Hiking Trebon - Kojakovice (9 miles/13 km)
After arriving in Trebon, you hike the trail around a great fishpond called Svet, an engineering wonder of the 16th century. The trail leads you through some of the most idyllic, pastoral countryside you'll see anywhere to Kojakovice, featuring a fascinating village museum.
Cycling Jindrichuv Hradec - Trebon (19 miles/30 km)
Take in the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec (the third largest castle in the Czech Republic). You then start cycling in the beautiful Bohemian Lake District full of lake and wetlands. Cycling through the village of Jemcina with a hunting lodge, you head to the medieval town of Trebon.
Horseback The route leads around Trebon's rustic lakes and ponds. Its length can be varied according to the wishes of the riders.
Car After sightseeing in Jindrichuv Hradec, you will visit the magic chateau of Cervena Lhota, then on to Straz nad Nezarkou, the home of the Metropolitan opera singer Emma Destin. The drive ends in Trebon, from which you can set out on a short walk by the fishpond called Svet as far as the Schwartzenberg Tomb. Go for a swim before walking back to Trebon.
On water Canoeing on the river Luznice starts in Suchdol nad Luznici, ending in the village of Majdalena. The route is about 7 miles long (basic canoeing skills are necessary).
Day 6: Trebon - Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov, the jewel of South Bohemia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site universally recognized as a unique part of the architectural heritage. The old town holds an unequaled ensemble of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque structures, virtually intact and well restored. Among the attractions are the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic, the oldest working Baroque theater in Europe and an open air theater with revolving auditorium.
Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.
Your options:
Hiking Cesky Krumlov - Klet - Zlata Koruna (10 miles/16 km)
The route from Cesky Krumlov leads over the highest peak of the Blansky Forest - Klet, with a restaurant, a look-out tower and an astronomical observatory. The day's destination today is Zlata Koruna, famous for its monastery founded in 1263 by the Premysl King Otakar II. You then head back to Cesky Krumlov.
Cycling Trebon - Cesky Krumlov (33 miles/52 km)
Take in the historic town of Trebon before biking past lakes and through forests to Cesky Krumlov.
Horseback You will be transferred to the horse stables. You can pick your own level of challenge for the day in the saddle. Your destination is the Zlata Koruna monastery.
Car From Trebon you drive to Ceske Budejovice, home to the famous Budweiss beer. The next stop is the fairy-tale like Tudor Gothic chateau of Hluboka. Visit the monastery in Zlata Koruna, then continue to Krasetin to take the cable car to the top of Klet Mountain.
*Canoeing Cesky Krumlov - Zlata Koruna (6 miles/10 km)
You can take a canoe to cover the distance from Cesky Krumlov to Zlata Koruna. You return to Cesky Krumlov by train.
Day 7: Cesky Krumlov
The recommended program gives you ample time to enjoy all that Cesky Krumlov has to offer within one day.
Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.
Day 8: Cesky Krumlov - Prague
On this day you will continue your activities in Central Bohemia. The Sazava River Valley is the main feature of this region.
Overnight in Prague.
Your options:
Hiking Kameny Privoz - Davle (8 miles/12.5 km)
The route leads through the Sazava River canyon on one of the most popular hiking trails in the Prague region. It leads through a beautiful valley with cliffs and woods, complete with romantic hiking chalets built in the style of the Canadian North.
Cycling Tynec nad Sazavou - Prague (18 miles/28 km)
Cycle from Tynec nad Sazavou to Pruhonice with its Renaissance chateau and park. Pruhonice is the center of botany and horticulture in the Czech Republic.
Horseback Tour of the chateau of Konopiste, one of the most popular castles in the Czech Republic. It once belonged to Franz Ferdinand d'Este, the Emperor of Austria.
Car The route begins with a tour of Konopiste chateau. The next stop is Karlstejn, founded by Czech King Karel IV and once home of the Czech crown jewels. The day ends with a short walk through the beautiful Sazava River Valley.
*Canoeing Sazavou River Valley (10 miles/16 km)
Canoe or kayak trip down the Sazava River canyon. The highlight is the section from Tynec to Pikovice, which you will tranverse in a sturdy canoe. This small section of white water can be easily negotiated by a beginner with the help of a guide. Experienced paddlers can go by kayak to the more challenging areas.
Day 9: Prague
Coming to Prague from the quiet, rustic countryside is like entering a different world. This living, changing and active city combines the feeling of history with a uniquely modern world view.
Prague is one of the great cities of the world, a sprawling metropolis of towers, palaces, parks, museums, galleries, exhibitions and trade fairs. It is warm, well lived-in, filled with quaint shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés. Centuries-old buildings in Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque line narrow, winding streets, interrupted by some of the most daring Art Noveau architecture of the century. Somehow it all seems to fit together. In Prague, the past and the future are in harmony, one complementing the other. When you enter Prague, even for a day, you become more aware of your own small place in the flow of history. This awareness will return to you later as a memory of an old stone wall, a rainy street, a green park lawn in the sunshine or a soaring tower. Hidden in Prague, somewhere, you may accidentally find something of the meaning of life.
This program is designed to present the highlights of the Czech Greenway. The main point of the program is versatility. Within the limitations of time and space, you may freely alter the number and order of days and activities, and the distances to be traveled. You may add, subtract, or omit at will. The following 9-day schedule which we present here is the favorite, recommended program. The recommended choice for the day is marked with an asterisk (*).
Day 1: Vienna - Valtice
After arrival in Vienna you will take the one-hour train ride to Breclav, where you will be picked up by your GTC representative and be driven to Valtice area, where you will stay overnight at a local hotel. You will meet with your tour coordinator, who will introduce you to the program, give you all necessary materials, and who will also be your contact person for the whole trip. If you wish to spend more time in Vienna first, it will be our pleasure to arrange accommodation there.
Overnight in Valtice.
Day 2: Valtice - Mikulov
After morning sightseeing in Valtice, the program concentrates on the unique Valtice-Lednice area, the former estate of the Liechtenstein family, who resided there from early 13th century until 1945. The area is graced by two magnificent chateaux and numerous follies, or romantic structures set in a harmonious way into the surrounding landscape. Vineyards on the slopes of mellow hills, mirror-smooth ponds, nature reserves, bird sanctuaries, storks' nests perched up on high trees and telephone poles plus excellent cooking and wine are among the simple pleasures of life in South Moravia. Finish in Mikulov with its centuries of Jewish Heritage, synagogue and cemetery.
Overnight in Mikulov.
Your options:
Hiking Valtice - Lednice (9.5 miles/15 km)
Start by touring the Baroque Valtice Chateau, then follow the path through fields, vineyards and forest. Stop for lunch at the romantic Border Chateau, before passing the follies on the way to Lednice. Wrap up your day in the Gothic Revival Chateau of Lednice, one of the most ornate examples of this historical architectural style.
*Cycling Lednice - Valtice - Mikulov (19 miles/31 km)
This is the recommended option for the day. It will offer some mild challenges and rewards with a beautiful view of Mikulov and its famous Holy Hill Chapel. In the afternoon you will encounter the architectural masterpieces of the area, as you cycle on comfortable biking trails through flat, shady forests.
Horseback Experiencing this romantic backdrop from the saddle will give the feeling of going back in time to the end of 18th century, as you make a round trip in the Lednice/Valtice area.
Car Along with a round trip of the Valtice-Lednice area, you will also have the opportunity to drive through the beautiful limestone Palava Hills and visit the historic village of Pavlov. For exercise you can take a stroll in the romantic chateau park in Lednice and climb up the Minaret to watch, from above, the herons and storks in their treetop nests.
Day 3: Mikulov - Vranov nad Dyji
Start the day with a transfer from Mikulov to the Podyji National Park, located along the border with Austria around the deep, meandering canyon formed by the Dyje River. Podyji National Park is a unique ecological system unrivaled in the Czech Republic, featuring extraordinary natural scenery. The deep, forested canyon of the Dyje and its towering cliffs are natural geologic formulations of great interest. The park itself spreads over 23 square miles (62 square kilometers). Finish your day with a tour of the magnificent Baroque chateau in Vranov, perched atop a cliff over the Dyje River. Your day's program concludes with a transfer to Telc, a jewel of the Czech Renaissance.
Overnight in Telc.
Your options:
Hiking Cizov - Vranov nad Dyji (9 miles/14.5 km)
The trail starts in the village of Cizov, where you can see the last remnant of the Iron Curtain. It continues to the Austrian village of Hardegg with its ancient castle and a sweeping view of the Dyje valley, before heading back to Vranov.
Cycling Znojmo - Vranov (26 miles/42 km)
The bike trail begins in Znojmo and leads through the entire National Park to Vranov on challenging, hilly terrain.
*Horseback The ride begins in the town of Znojmo and takes you along the Dyje River inside the National Park (maximum 4 hour ride).
Car After a tour of Vranov nad Dyji chateau, drive a short distance to the nearby Bitov castle, reflected in the waters of Vranov reservoir. Then drive over to Cizov to set out for a short hike to the Austrian town of Hardegg.
Day 4: Telc - Jindrichuv Hradec
Enjoy your morning coffee on the spacious square of Telc encircled with Renaissance gables and arcades, a UNESCO World Herritage site. Don't miss the Renaissance chateau and the ponds surrounding the old town. The atmosphere is even more suggestive in the border town of Slavonice, set amid rustic natural surroundings untouched by development.
Overnight in Jindrichuv Hradec.
Your options:
Hiking Slavonvice - Nova Bystrice (14 miles/22 km)
The trail begins in Slavonice, with its sgrafitto facades and town square, then leads past the castle of Landstejn, the site of Schiller's Highwaymen, to Nova Bystrice. To get to Jindrichuv Hradec, take the quaint narrow-gauge railway dating from 1897, which leads through the sparsely inhabited, forested area of ”Czech Canada”.
Cycling Telc - Jindrichuv Hradec (26 miles/42 km)
The route begins in Telc and leads you through rolling countryside through Kunzak and on to Jindrichuv Hradec.
Horseback We will take you to the village of Studnice, where you will begin a 4-hour ride. The destination is Cervena Lhota, a magnificent chateau located on an island in the middle of a pond. This ride is not suitable for beginners (for the less experienced riders, there is a shorter route available).
*Car After looking around Telc you will visit nearby Dacice, a quiet town with its Classicist chateau, before continuing on to the beautiful Slavonice. The next stop is the nearby village of Mariz, located in the former no-man's land on the Austrian border. Stare Mesto will be the starting point for a hike up to nearby Landstejn Castle (4 miles). Your day's travels will be crowned by a train ride on the curious narrow-gauge railway to Jindrichuv Hradec, where the superb Renaissance chateau of the Rozemberk family and the famous Bohemian tapestry workshop are the principal points of interest.
Day 5: Jindrichuv Hradec - Trebon
First, take in the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec, then continue through the mosaic of ponds, woods, and meadows of the Bohemia Lake District and its capital, Trebon, a medieval city whose walls are still largely intact. The only way to enter the historical core is through a gate in the old fortifications, crossing a moat which is a part of a unique water regulation system dating back to the 16th century.
Overnight in Trebon.
Your options:
*Hiking Trebon - Kojakovice (9 miles/13 km)
After arriving in Trebon, you hike the trail around a great fishpond called Svet, an engineering wonder of the 16th century. The trail leads you through some of the most idyllic, pastoral countryside you'll see anywhere to Kojakovice, featuring a fascinating village museum.
Cycling Jindrichuv Hradec - Trebon (19 miles/30 km)
Take in the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec (the third largest castle in the Czech Republic). You then start cycling in the beautiful Bohemian Lake District full of lake and wetlands. Cycling through the village of Jemcina with a hunting lodge, you head to the medieval town of Trebon.
Horseback The route leads around Trebon's rustic lakes and ponds. Its length can be varied according to the wishes of the riders.
Car After sightseeing in Jindrichuv Hradec, you will visit the magic chateau of Cervena Lhota, then on to Straz nad Nezarkou, the home of the Metropolitan opera singer Emma Destin. The drive ends in Trebon, from which you can set out on a short walk by the fishpond called Svet as far as the Schwartzenberg Tomb. Go for a swim before walking back to Trebon.
On water Canoeing on the river Luznice starts in Suchdol nad Luznici, ending in the village of Majdalena. The route is about 7 miles long (basic canoeing skills are necessary).
Day 6: Trebon - Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov, the jewel of South Bohemia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site universally recognized as a unique part of the architectural heritage. The old town holds an unequaled ensemble of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque structures, virtually intact and well restored. Among the attractions are the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic, the oldest working Baroque theater in Europe and an open air theater with revolving auditorium.
Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.
Your options:
Hiking Cesky Krumlov - Klet - Zlata Koruna (10 miles/16 km)
The route from Cesky Krumlov leads over the highest peak of the Blansky Forest - Klet, with a restaurant, a look-out tower and an astronomical observatory. The day's destination today is Zlata Koruna, famous for its monastery founded in 1263 by the Premysl King Otakar II. You then head back to Cesky Krumlov.
Cycling Trebon - Cesky Krumlov (33 miles/52 km)
Take in the historic town of Trebon before biking past lakes and through forests to Cesky Krumlov.
Horseback You will be transferred to the horse stables. You can pick your own level of challenge for the day in the saddle. Your destination is the Zlata Koruna monastery.
Car From Trebon you drive to Ceske Budejovice, home to the famous Budweiss beer. The next stop is the fairy-tale like Tudor Gothic chateau of Hluboka. Visit the monastery in Zlata Koruna, then continue to Krasetin to take the cable car to the top of Klet Mountain.
*Canoeing Cesky Krumlov - Zlata Koruna (6 miles/10 km)
You can take a canoe to cover the distance from Cesky Krumlov to Zlata Koruna. You return to Cesky Krumlov by train.
Day 7: Cesky Krumlov
The recommended program gives you ample time to enjoy all that Cesky Krumlov has to offer within one day.
Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.
Day 8: Cesky Krumlov - Prague
On this day you will continue your activities in Central Bohemia. The Sazava River Valley is the main feature of this region.
Overnight in Prague.
Your options:
Hiking Kameny Privoz - Davle (8 miles/12.5 km)
The route leads through the Sazava River canyon on one of the most popular hiking trails in the Prague region. It leads through a beautiful valley with cliffs and woods, complete with romantic hiking chalets built in the style of the Canadian North.
Cycling Tynec nad Sazavou - Prague (18 miles/28 km)
Cycle from Tynec nad Sazavou to Pruhonice with its Renaissance chateau and park. Pruhonice is the center of botany and horticulture in the Czech Republic.
Horseback Tour of the chateau of Konopiste, one of the most popular castles in the Czech Republic. It once belonged to Franz Ferdinand d'Este, the Emperor of Austria.
Car The route begins with a tour of Konopiste chateau. The next stop is Karlstejn, founded by Czech King Karel IV and once home of the Czech crown jewels. The day ends with a short walk through the beautiful Sazava River Valley.
*Canoeing Sazavou River Valley (10 miles/16 km)
Canoe or kayak trip down the Sazava River canyon. The highlight is the section from Tynec to Pikovice, which you will tranverse in a sturdy canoe. This small section of white water can be easily negotiated by a beginner with the help of a guide. Experienced paddlers can go by kayak to the more challenging areas.
Day 9: Prague
Coming to Prague from the quiet, rustic countryside is like entering a different world. This living, changing and active city combines the feeling of history with a uniquely modern world view.
Prague is one of the great cities of the world, a sprawling metropolis of towers, palaces, parks, museums, galleries, exhibitions and trade fairs. It is warm, well lived-in, filled with quaint shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés. Centuries-old buildings in Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque line narrow, winding streets, interrupted by some of the most daring Art Noveau architecture of the century. Somehow it all seems to fit together. In Prague, the past and the future are in harmony, one complementing the other. When you enter Prague, even for a day, you become more aware of your own small place in the flow of history. This awareness will return to you later as a memory of an old stone wall, a rainy street, a green park lawn in the sunshine or a soaring tower. Hidden in Prague, somewhere, you may accidentally find something of the meaning of life.
Upon request: Apr 1- Oct 31, 2013
Upon request: Apr 1- Oct 31, 2013
| Tour package (guided) |  |
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| Comfortable, centrally located hotels and guesthouses (minimum 3-star level). | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Tour package (self-guided) | |
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| Comfortable, centrally located hotels and guesthouses (minimum 3-star level). | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Hotels are comfortable, centrally located 3-star hotels and guesthouses. Typically smaller, charming hotels, they are all in a central location and often in a historical building. All rooms have a private bathroom. Rooms are typically double occupancy, with either one large bed for two people or a twin room with two single beds. Single rooms are available on most trips for a supplement.
Sample Hotels:
Pension Prinz, Valtice
www.penzion-valtice.cz
The Pension Prinz is a cozy family guesthouse located in the historic center of Valtice.
Hotel Celerin, Telc
www.hotelcelerin.cz
Hotel Celerin is located on the Zacharias of Hradec Square overlooking the square. It provides visitors all the comforts and opportunities for recreational residence in a quiet home environment.
Hotels are comfortable, centrally located 3-star hotels and guesthouses. Typically smaller, charming hotels, they are all in a central location and often in a historical building. All rooms have a private bathroom. Rooms are typically double occupancy, with either one large bed for two people or a twin room with two single beds. Single rooms are available on most trips for a supplement.
Sample Hotels:
Pension Prinz, Valtice
www.penzion-valtice.cz
The Pension Prinz is a cozy family guesthouse located in the historic center of Valtice.
Hotel Celerin, Telc
www.hotelcelerin.cz
Hotel Celerin is located on the Zacharias of Hradec Square overlooking the square. It provides visitors all the comforts and opportunities for recreational residence in a quiet home environment.
The primary bikes offered for the cycling portion fo this tour are TREK 7300 hybrid bikes that are 24-speed with front fork suspension. Bike frames come in men's and women's sizes that will ensure bike frames for all sizes.
TREK 900 tandem bikes are also available with alpha aluminum frames, oversized frame tubing and Shimano Deore gear components. LEADER FOX bikes for children are available, as well as AZUB Wave child trailers and a Trailgator so that an adult can ride with a child in tow.
All bikes are equipped with a mudguard, rear luggage carrier, bar ends, bell, rear light, clips and water bottle holder. Additional equipment provided free of charge includes a helmet, pannier bag, handlebar bag, cyclo-computer, repair tools, puncture repair kit, inner tube, pump, water bottle and lock. Gel seat covers are available upon request. You can also bring your own cycling shoes, but you must bring your own clipless pedals as well.
The primary bikes offered for the cycling portion fo this tour are TREK 7300 hybrid bikes that are 24-speed with front fork suspension. Bike frames come in men's and women's sizes that will ensure bike frames for all sizes.
TREK 900 tandem bikes are also available with alpha aluminum frames, oversized frame tubing and Shimano Deore gear components. LEADER FOX bikes for children are available, as well as AZUB Wave child trailers and a Trailgator so that an adult can ride with a child in tow.
All bikes are equipped with a mudguard, rear luggage carrier, bar ends, bell, rear light, clips and water bottle holder. Additional equipment provided free of charge includes a helmet, pannier bag, handlebar bag, cyclo-computer, repair tools, puncture repair kit, inner tube, pump, water bottle and lock. Gel seat covers are available upon request. You can also bring your own cycling shoes, but you must bring your own clipless pedals as well.
The cycling portion of this tour is on routed paved backroads that connect small towns and villages. There are some short, unavoidable sections on busier roads when entering or leaving larger towns, or to connect two backroads.
The hiking portion of this tour is on national market hiking trails suitable for all. Most of the hikes are leisurely with no technical hiking or scrambles involved.
This tour is rated Moderate and is for those in good physical condition.
The cycling portion of this tour is on routed paved backroads that connect small towns and villages. There are some short, unavoidable sections on busier roads when entering or leaving larger towns, or to connect two backroads.
The hiking portion of this tour is on national market hiking trails suitable for all. Most of the hikes are leisurely with no technical hiking or scrambles involved.
This tour is rated Moderate and is for those in good physical condition.
Tour Start
Nearest airport: Vienna, Austria
Nearest train station: Breclav, Czech Republic
Direct trains from Wien Mitte (Vienna Middle station) to Breclav take 1 hour and 24 minutes and cost 17 Euros per person.
Tour End
Nearest airport: Prague, Czech Republic
Nearest train station: Prague, Czech Republic
Private car transfers are available from Vienna to Mikulov for 100 Euros per 4-seat car; from Prague to Mikulov for 260 Euros per 4-seat car; Cesky Krumlov to Prague for 200 Euros and from Cesky Krumlov to Vienna for 280 Euros.
Tour Start
Nearest airport: Vienna, Austria
Nearest train station: Breclav, Czech Republic
Direct trains from Wien Mitte (Vienna Middle station) to Breclav take 1 hour and 24 minutes and cost 17 Euros per person.
Tour End
Nearest airport: Prague, Czech Republic
Nearest train station: Prague, Czech Republic
Private car transfers are available from Vienna to Mikulov for 100 Euros per 4-seat car; from Prague to Mikulov for 260 Euros per 4-seat car; Cesky Krumlov to Prague for 200 Euros and from Cesky Krumlov to Vienna for 280 Euros.
Austria sits at the crossroads of Central Europe, once the Habsburg Empire’s seat of power that ruled Europe for over 6 centuries. While Habsburg power ended after World War I, Austria remains a prominent country. Today it is known for its idyllic and majestic landscape of mountains, green valleys, rivers and storybook villages. Along with such a landscape are the cultural centers of Vienna and Salzburg. The elegant city of Vienna reveals the glory days of the Habsburg Empire, featuring the Hofburg Imperial Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and impressive Opera House. Salzburg, home of Mozart and The Sound of Music, has Europe’s largest intact medieval fortress overlooking the cobblestone streets of its historic Old Town.
More on bicycling in Austria >
Austria sits at the crossroads of Central Europe, once the Habsburg Empire’s seat of power that ruled Europe for over 6 centuries. While Habsburg power ended after World War I, Austria remains a prominent country. Today it is known for its idyllic and majestic landscape of mountains, green valleys, rivers and storybook villages. Along with such a landscape are the cultural centers of Vienna and Salzburg. The elegant city of Vienna reveals the glory days of the Habsburg Empire, featuring the Hofburg Imperial Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and impressive Opera House. Salzburg, home of Mozart and The Sound of Music, has Europe’s largest intact medieval fortress overlooking the cobblestone streets of its historic Old Town.
More on bicycling in Austria >
Founded in 1996 by Tomas Leskovjan, Greenways Travel Club was the first company to organize tours along the Czech Greenways from Vienna to Prague. It specializes in personalized, active vacations along the Central European Greenways including cycling, hiking, horse riding, canoeing and multi- activity vacations. Cycling proved to be most popular and Tomas decided to transfer his extensive bicycle tour experience to focus more on cycling in Central Europe. The result was Topbicycle, which is the brand name of Greenways Travel Club.
Topbicycle's strengths include their excellent organisation, comprehensive tour materials (English route notes, highlighted detailed maps, town maps with location of accommodation marked and GPS with programmed routes), as well as their TREK hybrid bikes in a range of different sizes, guaranteeing a fit for everyone.
Here is a message from Topbicycle: "A bicycle tour is a great way of discovering new places and countries - every cyclist knows this. It is good to share information about places where cycling is a joy. Central Europe is one of those places and it is our pleasure to invite you to see this region up close. The chance to help people who are open to learning something new about Central Europe is the best part of our jobs."
Founded in 1996 by Tomas Leskovjan, Greenways Travel Club was the first company to organize tours along the Czech Greenways from Vienna to Prague. It specializes in personalized, active vacations along the Central European Greenways including cycling, hiking, horse riding, canoeing and multi- activity vacations. Cycling proved to be most popular and Tomas decided to transfer his extensive bicycle tour experience to focus more on cycling in Central Europe. The result was Topbicycle, which is the brand name of Greenways Travel Club.
Topbicycle's strengths include their excellent organisation, comprehensive tour materials (English route notes, highlighted detailed maps, town maps with location of accommodation marked and GPS with programmed routes), as well as their TREK hybrid bikes in a range of different sizes, guaranteeing a fit for everyone.
Here is a message from Topbicycle: "A bicycle tour is a great way of discovering new places and countries - every cyclist knows this. It is good to share information about places where cycling is a joy. Central Europe is one of those places and it is our pleasure to invite you to see this region up close. The chance to help people who are open to learning something new about Central Europe is the best part of our jobs."
Please read these terms and conditions carefully. You need to agree with these before you book your tour.
Topbicycle is a brand name of Greenways Travel Club Ltd (GTC) for its bicycle tour programs in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Self-guided tours are available every day from April to the end of October.
• Private guided tours are available every day from April to the end of October.
• All trip prices are per person, and are based on double occupancy.
• Single occupancy requests come with a single supplement.
• There is a 15% surcharge if you travel alone on a self-guided tour.
Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellation by client: if you need to cancel your tour before departure, the following fees shall apply at the time we receive your written cancellation notice:
• More than 45 days before departure: 100 EUR per person (the deposit).
• From 45 to 14 days before departure: 50 % of tour price.
• Less than 14 days before departure: 100% of tour price.
Tour Cancellation by GTC:
GTC reserves the right to cancel any tour due to acts of nature and/or any other occurrence out of our control. We also reserve the right to cancel any trip prior to departure when circumstances make it necessary, in which case a full refund will be made to the client, constituting full settlement. GTC is not responsible for any additional expenses that may be incurred by a client in relation to a canceled tour (i.e., purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket, visa fees, equipment, or additional lodging).
Eligibility and Reservations
You must be at least eighteen years of age. People younger than this must be accompanied by an adult.
Refunds for Services Not Used
Our tours are sold as a package. Credit cannot be given for services not used by a client. This includes accommodations, meals, or any other arrangements not used for any reason.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Travel Insurance
We recommend all clients carry medical and personal insurance to cover hospital and other medical expenses and loss of baggage or personal belongings.
Responsibility
As a client, you have specific responsibilities to GTC and to other tour members that include:
• Selecting a tour appropriate to your interests and abilities.
• Preparing for your tour by reading and understanding pre-tour information provided by GTC
• Bringing appropriate clothing as recommended by GTC.
• Acting in an appropriate and respectful manner in accordance with customs and laws of countries and regions visited.
GTC reserves the right to accept, retain, or decline any tour member at any time and for any reason. In such a case, a refund equal to the actual cost of the unused services is the limit of GTC´s responsibility.
Furthermore, payment of your deposit represents your acceptance of the following terms and conditions:
GTC, and agents give notice that all services and arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and all other services and arrangements related to this tour have been made by GTC only as an agent upon the express condition that GTC shall not be liable and does not assume responsibility for any claims, damages, expenses, or other financial loss whether to person or property arising out of any injury, accident, death, cancellation, delay, alteration or inconvenience resulting from any act of omission, commission, or inadvertence of any hotel, carrier, restaurant, or other company or person rendering any of the services included in the tour or caused by weather, sickness, strides, quarantines, or other cause whatsoever beyond the control of GTC. The right is reserved to alter the itinerary, arrangements, or dates, if it becomes necessary or advisable, and each participant agrees to pay additional expenses, if any.
Rental Agreement
If you rent equipment from GTC, you agree to return all of this equipment at the end of the tour or at the expiry of the agreed rental period in the same conditions as when delivered to you, reasonable wear and tear only excepted. You also acknowledge that you are so responsible even when your use of the equipment is in a tour or excursion organized by GTC. In the event of loss or constructive loss of the rental equipment, you agree to pay the replacement value thereof to GTC, should GTC elect to replace the same equipment, otherwise you shall only be required to pay fair market value for that equipment, and in the event of damage which is less than a loss or constructive loss of the equipment, to pay for the cost of repairs, and you also agree without prejudice to any other remedy GTC might have.
Statement of Risks
The risks and dangers inherent in cycling, horse-riding, walking, swimming, hiking, ballooning, flying, and sailing include, but are not limited to, vehicle traffic; weather conditions; illness or accident caused by stress, fatigue, or consumption of alcoholic beverages; secondary transportation by airplane, bus, car, van, taxi, boat, or other conveyance. GTC assumes no responsibility for any claims, damages, expenses, or liability for any claims, damages, expenses or other financial loss whether to person or property arising out of these risks and dangers.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully. You need to agree with these before you book your tour.
Topbicycle is a brand name of Greenways Travel Club Ltd (GTC) for its bicycle tour programs in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Self-guided tours are available every day from April to the end of October.
• Private guided tours are available every day from April to the end of October.
• All trip prices are per person, and are based on double occupancy.
• Single occupancy requests come with a single supplement.
• There is a 15% surcharge if you travel alone on a self-guided tour.
Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellation by client: if you need to cancel your tour before departure, the following fees shall apply at the time we receive your written cancellation notice:
• More than 45 days before departure: 100 EUR per person (the deposit).
• From 45 to 14 days before departure: 50 % of tour price.
• Less than 14 days before departure: 100% of tour price.
Tour Cancellation by GTC:
GTC reserves the right to cancel any tour due to acts of nature and/or any other occurrence out of our control. We also reserve the right to cancel any trip prior to departure when circumstances make it necessary, in which case a full refund will be made to the client, constituting full settlement. GTC is not responsible for any additional expenses that may be incurred by a client in relation to a canceled tour (i.e., purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket, visa fees, equipment, or additional lodging).
Eligibility and Reservations
You must be at least eighteen years of age. People younger than this must be accompanied by an adult.
Refunds for Services Not Used
Our tours are sold as a package. Credit cannot be given for services not used by a client. This includes accommodations, meals, or any other arrangements not used for any reason.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Travel Insurance
We recommend all clients carry medical and personal insurance to cover hospital and other medical expenses and loss of baggage or personal belongings.
Responsibility
As a client, you have specific responsibilities to GTC and to other tour members that include:
• Selecting a tour appropriate to your interests and abilities.
• Preparing for your tour by reading and understanding pre-tour information provided by GTC
• Bringing appropriate clothing as recommended by GTC.
• Acting in an appropriate and respectful manner in accordance with customs and laws of countries and regions visited.
GTC reserves the right to accept, retain, or decline any tour member at any time and for any reason. In such a case, a refund equal to the actual cost of the unused services is the limit of GTC´s responsibility.
Furthermore, payment of your deposit represents your acceptance of the following terms and conditions:
GTC, and agents give notice that all services and arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and all other services and arrangements related to this tour have been made by GTC only as an agent upon the express condition that GTC shall not be liable and does not assume responsibility for any claims, damages, expenses, or other financial loss whether to person or property arising out of any injury, accident, death, cancellation, delay, alteration or inconvenience resulting from any act of omission, commission, or inadvertence of any hotel, carrier, restaurant, or other company or person rendering any of the services included in the tour or caused by weather, sickness, strides, quarantines, or other cause whatsoever beyond the control of GTC. The right is reserved to alter the itinerary, arrangements, or dates, if it becomes necessary or advisable, and each participant agrees to pay additional expenses, if any.
Rental Agreement
If you rent equipment from GTC, you agree to return all of this equipment at the end of the tour or at the expiry of the agreed rental period in the same conditions as when delivered to you, reasonable wear and tear only excepted. You also acknowledge that you are so responsible even when your use of the equipment is in a tour or excursion organized by GTC. In the event of loss or constructive loss of the rental equipment, you agree to pay the replacement value thereof to GTC, should GTC elect to replace the same equipment, otherwise you shall only be required to pay fair market value for that equipment, and in the event of damage which is less than a loss or constructive loss of the equipment, to pay for the cost of repairs, and you also agree without prejudice to any other remedy GTC might have.
Statement of Risks
The risks and dangers inherent in cycling, horse-riding, walking, swimming, hiking, ballooning, flying, and sailing include, but are not limited to, vehicle traffic; weather conditions; illness or accident caused by stress, fatigue, or consumption of alcoholic beverages; secondary transportation by airplane, bus, car, van, taxi, boat, or other conveyance. GTC assumes no responsibility for any claims, damages, expenses, or liability for any claims, damages, expenses or other financial loss whether to person or property arising out of these risks and dangers.
