Golden views at the Moldau

A tour full of highlights! Historic highlights brought to you by wonderful towns like the golden city of Prague, Budweis, world-famous for it´s tasty beer or Krumau, the pearl of the Moldau – an unique arrangement of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Highlights like the worth-seeing castles Orlik and Zvikov or the palace Hluboká want to be clambered by ambitious bikers. The route – often changing between uphill and downhill - leads along the blue river Moldau and offers breathtaking views. In the Czech Republic you mainly cycle on quiet secondary roads and on forest tracks. An architectural masterstroke – the canal Schwemm – leads you through the wonderful Bohemian wood into the quarter of mills in Austria. Danube, loop of Schlögen and a shipping trip to Passau are the highlights at the end of your tour.

1. day  Arrival Prague

The 'Golden City' of Prague is waiting for you with the Wenzel's square, the Karl's bridge and the Hradschin! A limited number of free parking spaces outside the hotel are avaible (no reservation possible). On arrival, you may book a transfer from Passau to Prague. In the afternoon, you will receive your bike in the hotel.

2. day  Sedlcany area 60 km

Today you start your first biking stage! Follow the blue course of the river Moldau towards south, pass the waves of the Moldau storage lake, admire small houses with gables paneled with timber, get pleasure from the blooming flowers and snug pubs with refreshing Bohemian beer.

3. day  Pisek 75 km

This day is dedicated to the castle! Uphill and downhill you cycle through deeply green forests, along the river Moldau to the gorgeous castle Orlik. You will be amazed by the wonderful furniture before you reach the castle Zvikov after few kilometres. Zvikov, which is located at the confluence of the rivers Moldau and Otava, belonged to the most important castles of Bohemia during the Middle Ages. The splendour and the beauty of the castle has been preserved until nowadays. Accommodation in the picturesque small town Pisek at the bank of the river Otava.

4. day  Budweis 70 km

Your trip is getting more and more beautiful! After few biking kilometres you can see the castle Hluboká at an altitude of 83 m above the loop of the river Moldau. The most visited castle of the Czech Republic with the epithet Neuschwanstein of Bohemia is waiting for you! But also your destination of today, Budweis, which is well-known among beer-lovers, attracts not only because of the breweries, but also because of a royal old town, a fascinating market place (133 m x 133 m) and pretty summerhouses dating from Gothic and Renaisssance.

5. day  Krumau 35 km

Spend the morning in the wonderful town Budweis! After 35 km you arrive at the highlight of your trip. The medieval small town Krumau (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992) is famous as pearl of the Bohemain forest. Located romantically in the narrow loop of the Moldau Krumau attracts by an arrangement of 300 historic houses, palace and castle, narrow crooked lanes, cafés and cosy beer gardens.

6. day  Aigen 70 km

Today you will have a very active biking day! The Bohemian forest is a forest of steep gradients, but also of heavenly beauty. Silence, which makes the ripple of the brooks and the roaring of the woods audible.The canal Schwarzenberg (built 1789-1823 for the transport of firewood) is nowadays one of the most popular biking paths between the area of the lake Lipno (parting from the river Moldau/ largest fishing area in the Czech Republic) and the quarter of the mills in Upper Austria because of it´s low downhill grade and it´s unspoild nature.

7. day  Passau 50 km

There are marvelllous panorama views on the Alps and rolling ridges on your way from the quarter of the mills to the Danube. Now it is easy cycling. You roll through the famous loop of Schlögen to Engelhartszell and to Passau. From Engelhartszell to Passau you can also take a ship (13,50 Euro, bike free).

8. day  Passau departure

Today, your nice bike tour ends in Passau. You have the possibility to extend your tour from Passau to Vienna on the Danube bike trail, or to book a transfer to Prague.