From Prague to Krakow

Day 1/x - Prague - Nymburk (Option B skip this part by a train/car!)

Distance: 63 km / 39 miles (from Prague city centre)

Prague's urban planners were certainly forward-thinking – part of our bike route follows right atop the metro tunnel! Escaping Prague, we bike northeast towards the fertile Polabí region, stopping on the way in the old towns of Čelákovice and then Přerov nad Labem, home of the oldest village culture museum in Europe. On a hot day, take the chance to swim in a local lake before we arrive at the old royal town of Nymburk with ancient walls bordering the Elbe, While here we must taste the local Postřižiny beer to commemorate the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal who grew up in the local brewery!

Option B: In the morning you will be transferred by train/car from Prague to Nymburk – from here we will continue as per itinerary.

Day 3/2 - Kutna Hora - Pardubice

Distance: 56 km / 35 miles

Before we leave Kutná Hora we will visit an extraordinary venue – the Sedlec ossuary, whose decorations were created using the bones of more than 30 000 people, making it a curious and macabre exhibition. Just before we return to the Elbe, we can visit a lovely Classical-style chateau, Kačina. Rejoining the river we pedal to the Kladruby national stud farm, which has produced exceptional horses for the Habsburgs since the 16th century. In the afternoon we'll bike along the Buňkov lake, taking a pause to relax on the beach or even swim . Today's last stop is the medieval town of Pardubice. A charming, quiet old town with a nice chateau and old lanes, but home of the SEMTEX plastic explosive too. For those looking for something sweet - you've found it! - Pardubice is the Czech capital of traditional gingerbread.

Day 5/4 - Litomysl - Moravska Trebova

Distance: 44 km / 27,5 miles

This day we say good-bye to Bohemia,crossing the historical border to Moravia as we bike the gap between the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the south and the Eagle Mountains in the north. We can admire the Renaissance town of Svitavy with its beautiful square and explore the history of its most famous resident, the locally-dislike Oskar Schindler. From here we do have to climb over the Hřebeč range, but our route soons descends easily towards our lodging in the town of Moravská Třebová. This little town has a fantastic Renaissance chateau, one of the best examples of that in the whole Moravia.

Day 7/6 - Olomouc - Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou

Distance: 58 km / 36 miles

Today we follow the Bystřice river. First we reach the Tršice region with its beautiful views of Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill). Arriving in Přerov we reach the Bečva river and following the nice bike trail upstream. In Lipník we can admire the town center complete with a castle and extraordinary gardens, or we can make a detour up the hill to the mighty Helfštýn castle. Further upstream we reach the town of Hranice with its Renaissance square. On the other bank of Bečva we can relax in the local spa Teplice nad Bečvou.

Day 9/x - Stramberk - Cesky Tesin - Option B skip this part by a train/car!

Distance: 64 km / 40 miles

Right after we leave Štramberk we enter the small town of Kopřivnice - home of the famous Tatra trucks. Next stop in this rather hilly morning is Hukvaldy, a small town overlooked by a mighty castle. Most of all the town is known as birthplace of the innovative 19th-century composer Leoš Janáček, whose house borders the bike route! After that we follow the small river Ondřejnice to the twin town of Frýdek-Místek just in time for lunch. In the afternoon we bike along the Žermanice lake, a nice spot for a swim! Arriving even before we dry out, we stay in the border town(s) of Český Těšín/Cieszyn.

Day 11/8 - Osvetim - Krakow

Distance: 84 km / 52 miles

This day ranks among the longest ones but no need to be worried. Most of the day you will spend biking by the Wisla river on flat newly built bike trails with wonderful views at the meandering river! As an extra to avid bikers, you can take a detour to Lipoviec (Babice), where you can climb to a majestic castle ruin, visit the town's open-air museum or just enjoy traditional lunch! Shortly before arriving Krakow we highly recommend visiting Dominican monastery at Tyniec, which with more than a 1000 year history is the oldest monastery in Poland.

We will conclude our day and whole tour in the historical town Krakow, known as the seat of Polish kings and archbishops.

TIP: Those willing to visit memorial site and museums in the concentration camp Auschwitz can shorten or skip their bike ride with a train transfer to Krakow.