Czech Republic Bike Tour: Southern Bohemia

A great mix of culture and riding: that’s one way to describe this bike tour. We’ll share our week between two separate towns in the Southern Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. First off is Cesky Krumlov, a town celebrated for its exquisitely preserved Renaissance and Baroque architecture. It embodies the pinnacle of Czech towns from bygone eras. It has all the charm of Prague, in a more manageable size. And of course, there is wonderful cycling to be had all around. The second half of the trip focuses around the remote village of Kvilda. Situated deep within the Sumava Mountains, the village is a perfect base for remote riding, with wonderful natural scenery along almost all stretches of the routes.

You’ll meet your trip leaders in Prague, before a private motor coach shuttle to our hotel in Cesky Krumlov. After assembling your bikes, we’ll take a ride in the surrounding hills and valleys to get ready for the week ahead. There will be an evening cocktail reception at which you’ll meet your fellow travelers and discuss the trip itinerary. We’ll then sit down to dinner as a group. Ride: 39 km (24 miles) with 764 m (2500 feet) of climbing

Our first full day of riding is a mix of rolling farmland, lakes and hilly forests. We’ll ride a loop to the east, around the Velesin Reservoir then up over the Klet mountain from the north. It’s a fantastic day to take in the varied landscape that this part of the Czech Republic has to offer. You’ll have the afternoon to explore the beautiful town of Cesky Krumlov. Dinner will be together in town. Ride: 74 km (46 miles) with 1450 m (4,757 feet) of climbing.

There’s quite a ride in store for you today. The route is the longest and most challenging of the week, but is as varied as it is interesting. We’ll ride southward, right up to the edge of the Czech / Austrian border. Cycling along small forest roads, we’ll encircle Lake Lipno, the largest lake in the Czech Republic. Expect steep, but relatively short climbs and plenty of good views along the route. Once back in Cesky Krumlov and cleaned up, you’ll be dining on your own tonight. We’ll give you a list of suggestions, depending what you’re in the mood for. Ride: 126 km (78 miles) with 1814 m (5951 feet) of climbing.

Today’s the chance to ride westward, from hotel to hotel and deep into the Sumava Mountains. Starting in Cesky Krumlov, our route starts out mildly rolling, through small villages along rural roads. As we approach the edge of the Sumava Forest, the roads continue up until our final destination of Kvilda. Our route is not extremely long today, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore this quaint village, take in the hotel’s sauna or take a short nature walk. We’ll eat together tonight at our new hotel. Ride: 81 km (50 miles) with 1472 m (4829 feet) of climbing.

Our route today is almost exclusively within the Sumava National Park. While the roads seem to be going either up or down the entire ride, there are many wonderful natural vistas to take in. Whether you’re climbing through dense forest or coasting down next to an adjacent meadow, today’s ride is as pretty as it is challenging. It’s a perfect way to top off the week. Once back in Kvilda, you’ll have some free time on your own before we sit down for our farewell dinner. Ride: 71 km (44 miles) with 1313 m (4307 feet) of climbing.

After breakfast, we’ll say our goodbyes and shuttle back to Prague.