Vienna to Krakow on the Amber Trail – 10 Days
Type of tour: Guided/Self-guided
Level: 3
Duration: 9 Nights
Distance: 32 Miles/day average
Dates: Guided: Jun 18, Aug 19, 2015 (minimum 4 participants)
Self-guided – Daily: Apr 1-Oct 31, 2015
Tour price: €2590 (guided)
Tour price: €1760 (self-guided)
Start city: Vienna, Austria
End city: Krakow, Poland
This bicycle tour follows the ancient, amber trading routes that connects three countries: Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. Cycle through the most beautiful in the Czech Republic, as you pass the wine growing landscape of South Moravia and on through steep-sided valleys riddled with caves.
From there you continue to Olomouc, second only to Prague with its impressive architecture, before passing Hukvaldy, the birthplace of the Czech composer Janácek. Alongside the Beskydy Mountains, you will have fantastic views of the hillsides. Crossing the border into Poland, you come to the town of Osvetim, where Auschwitz is located, and finally to the royal city of Krakow.
Day 1: Stockerau – Mikulov (48 miles/77 km) Day 2: Drnholec – Brno (32 miles/52 km) Day 3: Brno – Moravsky Kras (26 miles/43 km) 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 destination in the Czech Republic. Today’s short ride could finish in a journey down the underground Punkva River in one of the caves, along with a trip to the bottom of the deepest Czech abyss called Macocha, with a depth of 615 feet (187.5m). Day 4: Moravsky Kras – Olomouc (39 miles/63 km) Day 5: Olomouc – Teplice nad Becvou (31 miles/51 km) High above it lies imposing Helfstyn Castle, unique not only for its great size but also for its rich cultural calendar, dominated by the annual meeting of artistic blacksmiths, the Hefaiston, at the end of September. After the uphill journey to Helfstyn you ride on to the spa town of Teplice nad Becvou, where you have the opportunity to visit the Zbrasovska aragonite cave, or stroll the spa grounds and sip the invigorating waters. Day 6: Teplice nad Becvou – Stramberk (25 miles/41 km) Day 7: Stramberk – Cesky Tesin/Polsky Cieszyn (39 miles/62 km) Day 8: Cesky Tesin/Polsky Cieszyn – Jasienica (27 miles/43 km) Day 9: Cycling Oswiecim – Babice – Krakow (15 miles/25 km) Day 10: Krakow End of services and individual departure, or extend your stay in Krakow to really explore the city’s treasures in depth! Bikes available on this tour, included in tour price (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking): All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge: Pedals: Helmets:
The route begins in the town Stockerau, 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Vienna on the other side of the Danube. Stockerau is best reached by commuter train. Your bike begins here and route leads through the region of Lower Austria through undulating terrain to Ernstbrunn, then over the big hill of the day and through Leiser Berge Nature Park. You then continue onward through the border crossing into the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic. From there the trail leads through the vineyards and lowlands to Mikulov.
Overnight in Mikulov.
Start with a short 15-minute car transfer to the nearby village of Drnholec. From there the cycle route goes through the wine-making region of South Moravia, 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 with 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.
Overnight in Brno.
The journey through Brno demads concentration and caution. The bike trails here are a bit deficient. Brno is famous for its architecture; historically it was closer both physically and even culturally to Vienna than to Prague. Brno is home of the famous Villa Tugendhat, a 20th-century architectural treasure.
Overnight in Moravsky Kras area.
This part of the trip is the most demanding not only in length, but also in elevation gain due to the Drahan Hills (1,800 feet/550 m). The reward will be a visit to Plumlov, a small town with a dominant but unfinished, baroque castle on a rocky outcrop, along with the opportunity 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, St. Wenceslas Cathedral and the Trinity Column in the square, a UNESCO world heritage site, should not be missed.
Overnight in Olomouc.
After sightseeing around Olomouc the trail brings you along the Amber Trail to Prerov. From there it heads straight to Lipnik nad Becvou, featuring a famous Jewish cemetery and synagogue. Lipnik nad Becvou lies at the southwestern end of the great pass known as the Moravian Gate.
Overnight in Teplice nad Becvou.
From the mineral rich spas of Teplice you travel to Stary Jicin with its ancient ruins, before continuing on to Novy Jicin with its arcade and renaissance chateau. From here you journey a short distance to the day’s destination, Stramberk. Stramberk is a small town especially famous for its tower part of the ruins of a gothic castle. From this tower you have a beautiful view of the surroundings. You could taste the local specialities, the so-called Stramberk ears! You also have the opportunity to visit the museum of Zdenek Burian, a famous painter whose paintings depict the Stone Age.
Overnight in Stramberk.
This day on the Czech part of this route brings you to Koprivnice, where it is possible to visit the technical museum of the old Czech car maker, Tatra, that displays many interesting antique cars. Hukvaldy is another delightful stop on the route, which is famous for its ruined castle and also as being the birthplace of the composer Leos Janacek. His original home, now a protected monument, houses an exhibition. The route takes you through Frydek-Mistek to Tesin, where the Czech-Polish border separates Cesky Tesin and Polsky Cieszyn.
Overnight in Tesin/Cieszyn.
The cycle route on the Polish stage leads through farmland and forests to the town of Jasienica. From there you will be transferred by car from Jasienica to Oswiecim, where Auschwitz is located, the famous, yet terrible concentration camp of WWII.
Overnight in Oswiecim.
This day allows you to spend more time in Oswiecim. The short ride is mainly flat and finishes in Babice at an interesting outdoor museum of traditional Polish architecture and crafts. You will be transferred by car from Babice to Krakow.
Overnight in Krakow.
In Krakow you will probably want to spend more than just one day to visit such sites as Wawel Castle, the Old Market Square, the Kazimierz Jewish quarter, town walls and Royal Way. To really soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant city you must visit its cafes or pubs, theatres or clubs. Just outside of Krakow you could visit the salt mine in Wieliczka, which has been in constant operation since the Middle Ages. It includes vast chambers ornately carved out of rock salt.
The bikes will have FLAT pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets are included in the bike rental. We recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own helmet.
