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Add to favouritesBohemian Rhapsody
Through Cesky kras nature reserve
Czech Republic5-days / 4 nights - 4 biking days
Guided group tour or Self-guided individual tour
Length 140 km / 84 miles
Easy tour suitable also for children. First and last days are flat following river's bank. Loops on second and third day have both longer up-hills as well longer down-hills and flat section to take rest. Distances are short and offer many stops. Surface combines paved roads with short off-road sections.
The Vltava River is the most significant Bohemian river - rising in the south of the country, running through Prague, and eventually flowing into the Elbe (Labe) River to the north. It is immortalized in Smetana's tone poem, Ma Vlast. The Berounka River is a tributary of the Vltava. The meeting of the two rivers is just 12 km south from the centre of Prague. The river valleys are picturesque countryside, with many forested areas, gently undulating hills and small villages. You will visit the world-renowned Karlstejn Castle, an impressive 600m-deep complex of limestone caves, a romantic and canyonesque former quarry, many medieval and Renaissance towns and villages, characteristic pubs and restaurants and many other sights.
You will cycle directly from Prague to the pretty village of Karlstejn, 30km from Prague. You will stay here for three of the biking days and each day you will cycle to an interesting historical or natural site. You will enjoy your lunches in charming village pubs and restaurants on the way and you will take your time enjoying the landscape and learning a lot about this beautiful region, which has not yet been discovered by mass tourism. You will visit many fascinating locations that you would not get to see on a regular bus tour!
The trails are mostly paved, but you will also cycle on forest trails and some more difficult surfaces.
The tour is mostly easy except for two moderate trips from your Karlstejn hotel. The itinerary is designed as a leisure - sporting ride with a balance of cycling and sightseeing.
This tour is the shortest and easiest bicycle tour offered by AVE Travel. This is reflected in the price, so this is also the cheapest AVE guided and self-led bicycle tour.
The trip finishes in Prague, one of the most famous and beautiful central European cities. You can explore this fascinating and lively city, full of culture and history.
Travel dates
| 01.04.2025 - 31.10.2025 |
A self Guided tour can start any day from 1st April till 31st October |
|---|---|
| 24.08.2025 - 28.08.2025 |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Prague - Karlstejn, 35 km / 20 milesGuided 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. |
Day 2 - Svaty Jan Pod Skalou Valley loop, 30 km / 18 milesThis is a moderate ride through the forests and along the Berounka River. The route leads through the romantic countryside. You will pass a limestone quarry called Velka Amerika (Big America), which has a terrific history. Political prisoners of communist regime were made to work here. Mining was conducted in an unusual way, by the gradual digging of a huge pit (about 800m long, 200m wide and 100m deep), connected to other quarries by long tunnels from the first half of the 20th century. After slight long downhill you will reach Sv. Jan pod Skalou village. Nearby is a cave where the holy hermit Saint Ivan lived in the 9th century. After the return to Karlstejn, we recommend the tour of Karlstejn Castle - built by Charles IV in the mid-14th century as a secure place for the riches of the Czech lands. |
Day 3 - Koneprusy Caves and Beroun loop, 33 km / 21 milesBeroun is a medieval town on the Berounka River. On your way, you will pass through the villages Zadni Treban and Liten to Koneprusy. A visit to the impressive complex of caves is optional but highly recommended. After lunch, you will be sightseeing around the historic center of Beroun. On the way back to Karlstejn, you will cycle along the banks of the picturesque Berounka river |
Day 4 - Karlstejn - Prague, 40 km / 24 milesEasy return to Prague along Berounka and Vltava Rivers. We ride by a different track than the first riding day. We reach our Prague Hotel by bicycle or by public transport or following vehicle. |
Day 5 - PragueBreakfast, departure, unless you are prolonging your holiday in the Czech Republic. |
Tour price list
| Tour Type | Accommodation Category | Luggage transportation | Room type | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided | standard | YES | double room | 790€ |
| Guided | standard | YES | single room | 930€ |
| Self guided | standard | YES | double room | 470€ |
| Self guided | standard | YES | single room | 610€ |
| Self guided | premium | YES | double room | 640€ |
| Self guided | premium | YES | single room | 820€ |
| Solo traveller | standard | YES | single room | 660€ |
| Solo traveller | premium | YES | single room | 790€ |
Included
What is included in the price
- Pick up from any Prague hotel or from Prague Airport on the first day of the tour (Self Guided option)
- Pick-up from AVE Prague hotel on the first day of the tour at an appointed time (Guided Group option)
- 4 x accommodation in selected hotels and pensions according to chosen accommodation category
- Buffet breakfast on all days
- 3 x dinners (Guided Group option)
- Refreshments in the supporting vehicle (soft drinks, snacks, sweets, fruit) (Guided Group option)
- Detailed town maps (per room)
- Detailed cycling maps (per room)
- Programme and English route book (per room)
- Transportation of participants, their luggage and bicycles from Prague to the starting point of the bike route and from the end of the route to Prague (according to the program of the tour)
- Transportation of luggage between hotels
- ON/Off-line map and GPX files of the recommended route
- 24 hour hotline assistance service
- Specialized AVE bicycle tour leader during all biking days (Guided Group option)
- Practical bike ride safety training (Guided Group option)
- Technical service on the route (Guided Group option)
- First aid - health service on the route (Guided Group option)
- Support minibus (Guided Group option)
- Water for bike flasks from the support vehicle (Guided Group option)
Additional charge
- Local tax payable on the spot (approx. € 1 - 2 per person/night). We recommend having small cash for these fees in local currency or Euros.
Optional
- GPS device for 15 Euro per tour. Only if in stock. Has to be ordered in advance.
Accommodation
Example of the accommodation on the tour.
Exact hotels depend upon availability at the moment of booking.
PREMIUM
Do you like comfort at a higher level? When choosing the PREMIUM category, we will provide accommodation in 4 * hotels or the best accommodation for cyclists. Accommodation is with a buffet breakfast.
Karlstejn - Karlstejn
Prague- Essence
STANDARD
When choosing the STANDARD category, we will arrange accommodation for you in 3 * hotels or B&B. Accommodation is with a buffet breakfast.
Bike rental price list
| Touring Bike | Touring Bike | E-BIKE | Road/Gravel Bike | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bike type | Leader Fox – Point or Sumava | TREK | 4Ever Comfort Sport | TREK |
| Price per tour | 66€ | 86€ | 130€ | 90€ |
| Bike | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
| Helmet | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
| Handle-bar bag | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
| 100% water-proof rear pannier | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
| Lock | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
| Repair kit | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
| New cycling water bottle | On request - free of charge | On request - free of charge | On request - free of charge | On request - free of charge |
| New helmet for a sale | 35€ | 35€ | 35€ | 35€ |
Bikes
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Map and profiles
Travel Reports
Read what the participants of Ave cycling tours think about their experience.
Excellent tour. I have been very satisfied with the organization.
John. Bohemian Rhapsody, Self Guided, UK
This tour was amazing! So good to be back on a cycling holiday, and our agent have been so helpful and flexible to enable the holiday to take place. Together with the AVE tour company, everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The bikes were super comfortable, we had loads of information to make the journeys easy to follow. The hotels were all clean and comfortable with friendly, helpful staff. The routes were just the right length, and mainly on cycle tracks or quiet roads. Very scenic, with lots to stop off and look at. One tip would be to take lots of drinks and snacks, as there were not many places open on the routes. This may be different in high season.
Pamela. Bohemian Rhapsody, Self Guided, UK
We have now completed our ride from Prague to Dresden and had a wonderful time. Thank you for all your help organizing this trip. We would very much like to write a review for your company letting people know what a great service you offer. Where would it be best for this to upload?
Kay. Bohemian Rhapsody Self Guided, Australia
This was our first-ever cycling holiday. The ladies on e-bikes and the men on the hybrid bikes. The Prague end was organized really well. Everyone was polite and very helpful. Both hotels were good. We went in April 17. Lucky with the weather except for one brief (memorable) hailstorm! We enjoyed seeing the Karlstejn castle and the sights of Prague. Eating out was not expensive. We self-guided so there was map reading to do and some navigating of traffic at times, but we found the other road users courteous and we felt safe. Lots of fun and I would recommend it.
Emma, Bohemian Rhapsody Self Guided, Australia
The Bohemian Rhapsody bike trip was great with excellent support, challenging but very pleasant rides, good bikes and excellent instructions and guidance. This was run through AVE Travel and we found they were excellent with service and support.
Richard, Bohemian Rhapsody Self Guided, Australia
The first cycle trip, South West of Prague was really terrific, with fairly good bikes and great cycle routes with beautiful scenery. The hotels were a bit basic, but the beds were comfy at the end of a good day's cycling. There were just the four of us on this one, possibly because it was late in the season.
Anderson. Bohemian Rhapsody Self Guided,Australia
Bohemian Escape was an excellent self-guided tour. Distances were ideal, leaving time for sightseeing and coffee stops. Staff at Freedom Treks have been very helpful, from the time of making inquiries about the tour to the day of departure.
Jennifer. Bohemian Rhapsody Self Guided, UK
Simply stunning, was expecting to be just riding from village to village, I wasn´t expecting the castles the varying fields, the prancing deer in the fields we were riding beside, the bear and the other wonderful beer, the galloping horses, the bomb shelters, the freshness of the fields, the joint effort of singing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, the freshness of the air and most importantly the opportunity to ride through plenty of mud.
One highlight was when Rob fell and grazed his knee, Barbara was quickly on hand to offer a pack of condoms, just in case
Coney Sautell.Bohemian Rhapsody,
Booking
