FIRST DAY: Transfer from Prague to Horní Morava

Pick up at hotel or airport in Prague and transfer to Horni Morava (225 km = 135 miles by minibus or car), checking in at the hotel, adaptation of bicycles to match to bikers’ body dimensions, practical training in safe cycling (guided group tours only), dinner at town.

SECOND DAY: Horní Morava – Šumperk

Most of the route follows the flow of the Morava river today. There is only one longer uphill climb with 200 m gain in the last section. Near Dolni Morava you have the opportunity to visit two well-preserved bunkers. These bunkers were part of the defence system of Czechoslovakia against attack from Hitler´s Nazi Germany. On our way we can stop at one of largest Moravian breweries, Holba in Hanušovice. The Šumperk district had the largest catholic inquisitorial trials in the 1780s. Do not miss the city-hall and several citizens’ houses in Šumperk.

THIRD DAY: Šumperk – Olomouc

We start cycling through the valley of the Desná river on lesser used roads. Outside the town of Úsov we will avoid car roads and use a nice path through the river forest. You can enjoy a visit to the attractive Renaissance chateau in Úsov. During the 40 minute walking tour of Mladečské jeskyně (caves) you can admire the stalactical formations in all kind of shapes. Our tour will take you to Litovel – known as the Venice of Haná. The Morava river flows with six streams through this town. The river even flows under the city-hall and square. The open air museum in Přikazy has an exhibition of Haná settlements and historical residential houses. We will stay overnight in Olomouc. This city is on the UNESCO heritage list thanks to the Plague Column of the Holy Trinity. It is also the largest grouping of Baroque statues in the framework of a single sculpture in central Europe. The cathedral of St. Václav and the archbishop’s palace is also worth visiting. The palace is also famous for the coronation of Franz Joseph I during the Habsburg monarchy. Olomouc also has fortress buildings, built during the war between Austria and Prussia for supremacy in Central Europe during the 18th century

FOURTH DAY: Olomouc – Kroměříž

Tovačov is a picturesque little village set amongst ponds. Here you will find the tower of the Renaissance chateau Spanilá. Do not miss the great view from the 96 m high tower and visit the old Jewish cemetery. Kroměříž is called the Athens of Haná thanks to the many Renaissance buildings of antique influence. Kroměříž is also on the UNESCO Heritage list since the beginning of the 1990s. The Květná zahrada (Floral garden) and archbishop’s chateau is well worth visiting. You can enjoy the exhibition of paintings by Titian, Veronese and Brueghel – masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods in its art gallery.

FIFTH DAY: Kroměříž – Strážnice

 We will enjoy a brand new special cycling path along the Morava River today in the morning. Then there is a short section on roads without traffic followed by one of oldest and most popular cycling paths in the country. These paths will take you along the Morava River and Bata’s floating channel banks. We will cycle along an interesting border point between the Haná, Valašsko and Slovácko counties near Otrokovice. These are the most historical and powerful districts of Moravia. At Napajedla we will see one of the best horse-breeding farms which rears English thoroughbred horses.

Bata´s floating channel was built during 1935-1938 for the industrial transportation of lignite from Hodonín into Otrokovice where Bata´s factories were, as well for touristic reasons. We will pass through Velehrad, the most well-known pilgrimage site with the basilica of St.Cyril and Methodius. The regional museum in Staré Město has an exhibition of artefacts from settlemsents of the oldest state system, Velká Morava.

It is possible to visit another exhibition of old aircraft in Kunovice, where some of the exhibits were made in the nearby aircraft factory.

We will stay overnight at little town of Strážnice. Entrance into the town was guarded by two fortified gates built in 16th century as prevention against Turks. This town is also famous for biggest annual folklore festival in Czech Republic.

SIXTH DAY: Strážnice – Valtice / Lednice

 Ahead is another day on mostly new paved cycling paths with a long section along the bank of the Morava river. For a short time we will also visit Slovakia. Only five km from Strážnice we will make our first stop at Plže with its collection of 80 wine-cellars. The first had already been built in the 15th century. After a further 15 km we will reach Hodonín, the home town of philosopher and first Czechoslovakian president, T.G. Masaryk. We will cycle through several small villages. It is possible to make a short stop at Lanžhot and visit a small chateau and local museum. We will also make another interesting stop at the Pohansko archeological area, where you can learn about the development of this area in the middle of the floodplain forest since the 6th century.

Tonight we will stay at Valtice. This small town near Austrian border is famous for its Baroque chateau from the 12th century.

SEVENTH DAY: Valtice – Lednice – Prague

 Tour last cycling day: after breakfast we will visit the Valtice chateau and then cycle through the Lednice-Valtice complex. At the end of the 18th century, the local aristocratic family, the House of Liechtenstein, began to create a unique manmade landscape complex. The complex is registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage monuments. After 20 km we will stop at the Lednice chateau and English-style landscaped garden. You will have enough time to visit the chateau, explore other monuments around or simply relax in the garden. In the early afternoon we will return to Valtice and take a shuttle back to your hotel in Prague.

EIGHTH DAY: Sweet Goodbye

 Breakfast, transfer to the Prague airport to catch your plane, unless you decide to prolong your holiday in the Czech Republic