Austria Premium Guided Czech Republic Cycling Poland

Amber Trail

Day 1 72 km Vienna - Stockerau to Mikulov Day 2 57 km Vienna to Krakow To Brno

Day 3 43 km This bicycle tour connects three countries: Austria, the Czech Republic and Po- To Moravsky Kras land and follows the ancient, amber trading routes. Day 4 60 km To Olomouc Cycle through the winegrowing region of South Moravia and on through steep- sided valleys, riddled with caves – the most beautiful in the Czech Republic. Day 5 51 km Teplice nad Becvou From here bike to Olomouc, second only to Prague in terms of impressive archi- tecture. Bicycle past Hukvaldy the birthplace of the Czech composer Janáček. Day 6 39 km To Stramberk Skirting the Beskydy Mountains, you will get some fantastic views of the Day 7 66 km hillsides as you pass through the Moravian Gate, an ancient migration route over To Cesky Tesin/Polsky Cieszyn the European continental divide. Crossing the border into Poland, this bicycle tour brings you to the town of Osvetim (Auschwitz) and finally to the royal city Day 8 43 km of Krakow. To Jasienica

Day 9 25 km To Babice - Krakow Day 10 End of tour

Tour Details 2020 Departures: June 11 August 13 Cost: $4795 per person 4-7 people Fast Facts $4295 per person 8+ people Single Supplement: $795  Accommodation in selected hotels E-Bike Info :  E-bike rental: $395 Bike rental: Included and pensions with breakfast and dinner  Limited supplies available, res-  TREK hybrid bike with GPS track ervations upon booking recommended Length: 10 days / 9 nights  Services of bilingual guide, luggage  SCOTT E-Sub models Grade: Intermediate transfers, support van, cycling maps Starts: Vienna  Tours of chateaux, museums & castles Ends: Krakow

Active Journeys Contact: 11----800800800----597597597----55945594 or 416416----236236236----50115011 Email: [email protected] Day 1 Vienna - Stockerau - Mikulov 72 km Meet our representative who will transfer you from Vienna to Stockerau, intro- duce you to the tour and give you the bike and all information materials. On this first day of the route you will follow the rolling countryside of Weinviertel (Wine Quarter) past the spa town of Laa an der Thaya to enter the Czech Re- public. Wrap up your day in Mikulov with its imposing caste, historic square, the Dietrichstein family tomb and the Jewish cemetery where the oldest tomb- stones date back to 1605.

Day 2 Mikulov - Brno 67 km From Mikulov the cycle route goes through the wine-making region of South Mora- via, past the Palava Hills, a protected landscape area and Biosphere Reserve, which will serve as the main panorama during the trip today. You will pass the town of Zidlochovice and its chateau, where the division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia was negotiated. Before arriving in Brno the journey goes through some less-relaxed landscape, around the new modern shopping malls and industrial outskirts of Brno, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city.

Day 3 Brno - Moravsky Kras 43 km The journey through Brno demands concentration and caution (Brno tries to look similar to Vienna but unfortunately this is not apparent from the cycle trails). De- spite this, the first village outside of Brno is the delightful Bilovice nad Svitavou, the scene of a famous Czech opera ‘Lisky Bystrousky’ by Leos Janacek. At the end of this stage is the famous cave system – the Moravian Karst, a popular nature destina- tion in the Czech Republic. Today’s short ride could finish in a journey down the underground river Punkva in one of the caves along with a trip to the bottom of the deepest Czech abyss called Macocha (depth 187.5 m).

Day 4 Moravsky Kras - Olomouc 60 km Today is the most demanding not only in length but also hills (550 m) due to the Drahan Hills. Our reward will be a visit to Plumlov, a small town with a dominant but unfinished, baroque castle on a rocky outcrop and the chance to bathe in the cool, refreshing Plumlov reservoir. Through Prostejov we get to Olomouc, the second most famous town for monuments in the Czech Republic, after Prague. A trip to Premysl palace or St. Wenceslas Cathedral is an experience not to be missed as is seeing the Trinity Column in the square, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Day 5 Olomouc - Teplice nad Becvou 51 km After sightseeing around Olomouc the trail brings you along the Amber Trail to Pre- rov and from there straight to Lipnik nad Becvou (Jewish cemetery and syna- gogue). In Lipnika and Becvou, a short trip takes you up to the imposing Helfstyn Castle, which is unique not only in terms of area but also in its rich cultural calendar, dominated by the annual event of the meeting of artistic blacksmiths – the Hefaiston, at the end of September. After the uphill journey to Helfstyn we ride on to the spa town of Teplice nad Becvou, where you have the opportunity to visit the Zbrasovska aragonite cave.

Day 6 Teplice nad Becvou - Stramberk 39 km From the mineral rich spas of Teplice you travel on to Stary Jicin with its ancient ruins of the same name, on to Novy Jicin with its arcade and renaissance chateau. Day 9 Oswiecim - Babice - Krakow 25 km From here you journey just a short distance to Stramberk, a small town especially This day allows you to spend more time in Oswiecim. The famous for its tower, part of a Gothic castle ruin. From this tower you have a beauti- short ride is mainly flat and finishes in Babice at an interest- ful view of the surroundings. You could taste the local specialities – the so-called ing outdoor museum of traditional Polish architecture and Stramberk ears! You also have the opportunity to visit the museum of Zdenek Buri- crafts. Transfer by car from Babice to Krakow. an – a famous painter whose paintings depict the Stone Age. Day 10 Krakow Day 7 Stramberk - Cesky Tesin/Polsky Cieszyn 66 km Your journey ends after breakfast. You will probably want This day on the Czech part of this route brings you to Koprivnice, where it is possi- to spend more than just one day in Krakow : Wawel Castle, ble to visit the Technical museum of the old Czech car maker - Tatra, displaying the Old Market Square, the Kazimierz Jewish quarter, or many interesting, antique cars. Hukvaldy is another delightful stop on the route, the town walls and Royal Way could easily take one day. To which is famous for its ruined castle of the same name and also as being the birth- really soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant city you must place of the composer Leos Janacek. The route takes you through Frydek-Mistek to visit cafes or pubs, theatres or clubs and that takes more Tesin, where the Czech - Polish border separates Cesky Tesin and Polsky Cieszyn. than a day too...Just outside of Krakow you could visit the salt mine in Wieliczka, which has been in constant opera- Day 8 Cesky Tesin – Jasienica 42 km tion since the Middle Ages. It includes vast chambers or- The cycle route on the Polish stage leads through farmland and forests to the town nately carved out of rock salt. of Jasienica. Transfer by car from Jasienica to Oswiecim (Auschwitz), the famous yet terrible concentration camp of WWII.

What to Expect Getting There

What will the weather be like?  Fly into Vienna with many inter- The weather in this region is very similar to Vermont. So spring may be a little national airlines such as Austri- cloudy and rainy. Summer will be cool mornings and evenings, and hot during the day. an, KLM and Lufthansa.

How many hours of cycling a day? Be prepared to be active between 4.5 to 6 hours daily, everything will be at an  At the end of the journey, we intermediate level, it is a hilly region. This is a not supported tour, so you should can organize a bus back to Vi- be able to the minimums required each day. Keep in mind that you can opt out enna for your return flight. This occasionally or take local transport en route. option can also be used at the How fit do I need to be? beginning of the tour. The fitter the better, as you will enjoy the holiday more. This is an intermediate trips with challenging options.

What are the hotels like? We use a wide mixture of accommodations. Hotels and guesthouses are of tourist class standards with private facilities and hot water. Facilities in the village stays are obviously quite limited, but we make sure you have clean and charming ac- commodation. You can opt to take the half-board meal plan, this would include

How to book your holiday

 Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire pro- cess. Self-guided Option also Available Daily from April to October  Download the reservation form from our website and send in completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your $ 3295 per person space is confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent. The self-guided tour includes:  Accommodations specially selected  A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due  Buffet breakfast 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & conditions are  Luggage transfers outlined in our Reservation Form.  English route descriptions  Detailed cycling and town maps  Plan your air travel as soon as possible.  Global Positioning System (GPS) console with programmed route  We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either  Transfers by car according to program through us or a travel insurance provider directly.  Welcome briefing upon arrival  Quality TREK bike rental  Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact  Emergency support us, for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and (mobile phone & contact person) fitness requirements.