Vienna to Prague Walking Tours

Self Guided Walking Tours may be arranged every day from April to the end of October
Guided Tours are available June - September.

Length of walk: 80 km / 50 miles

Since the entire length of the Czech Greenways corridor is over 350 miles (500 km), this hiking trip covers a selection of only the best foot trails and hiking spots along the Greenway. These walks are good due to both the density of tourist destinations and points of interest and the attractiveness of the hiking trails. The hikes are on the Czech Republic's excellent and dense network of signed hiking trails, which were created over 100 years ago. This walking tour is suitable for hikers capable recreational hikers who are comfortable walking up to 10 miles/day.

Self guided tours are fully organized vacations for the independent traveler who wants the freedom to walk at his or her own pace. You'll have complete support behind the scenes. Our Czech Republic representative will meet you at the beginning of your tour for an orientation. You will receive a packet with detailed route instructions, maps, suggestions for sights to visit along the route and emergency support phone numbers. You can take a spontaneous detour and always feel secure that your hotel room will be waiting for you. You will be able to travel at your own pace without a guide or support vehicle to hurry you along or to slow you down. Your luggage will be transported each day to the next accommodation, which will be reserved and prepaid. You don't need to worry, as emergency support is just a phone call away. Below is a sample itinerary that you can choose your exact dates between April to October. Just let us know if you would like to make any changes or add additional days and we'll do our best to accommodate your requests.

THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE AS A GUIDED TOUR WITH SCHEDULED DEPARTURES AND AS A SELF GUIDED TOUR THAT YOU MAY CHOOSE ANY DATES BETWEEN APRIL AND OCTOBER.

Day 1: Vienna
Accomodation in Vienna

Day 2: Vienna - Valtice
Take the train to Breclav, where you will be picked up by your program coordinator and driven to Valtice. They will introduce you to the program and give you all the information and navigation materials. Overnight in Valtice.

Day 3: Valtice - Lednice (11 km / 7 miles)
Start by touring the Baroque Valtice chateau, then follow the path through fields,
vineyards and forest. See the romantic follies on the way to Lednice, and wrap up your day
in the Gothic Revival Chateau of Lednice, one of the most ornate examples of this historical
architectural style. Afternoon transfer to Mikulov. Overnight in Mikulov

Day 4: Pavlov - Mikulov (10 km / 6 miles)
Walk along the Palava hills through the ruins of Divci hrady (Maiden's Castles) and across  Devin, the highest point of the Palava hills (550 m). After crossing the "saddle" you arrive at the ruins of Sirotci hradek (Orphan castle). From there climb to Tabulova Hill and over Turold Hill down to Mikulov, a magic castle town surrounded by vineyards.
Overnight in Mikulov.

Day 5: Mikulov - Cizov - Hardegg - Vranov nad Dyji – Telc (14 km / 9 miles)
Morning transfer by car from Mikulov to Cizov. Take in the unspoiled beauty of Podyji National Park. The trail starts in the village of Cizov, where you can see the last remnant of the Iron Curtain, continues to the Austrian village of Hardegg with its ancient castle and a sweeping view of the Dyje valley, and then leads back to Vranov nad Dyji. Finish your day with the tour of the magnificent Baroque chateau in Vranov, perched atop a cliff over the Dyje River. Late afternoon transfer by car from Vranov to Telc.
Overnight in Telc. 

Day 6: Telc - Slavonice – Landstejn – Nova Bystrice – Jindrichuv Hradec (12 km / 7 miles)
Transfer by train from Telc to Slavonice, a forgotten jewel with sgraffito houses. The hiking trail begins in the town and finishes at the castle of Landstejn. On the way, you will see an interesting outdoor museum of military bunkers that were built along the Czech borders in the 1930s. You will have a short transfer by car from Landstejn to the town of Nova Bystrice to take the quaint narrow-gauge railway dating from 1897, which winds through the sparsely inhabited, forested region called “Czech Canada”.
Overnight in Jindrichuv Hradec.

Day 7: Trebon – Kojakovice (14 km / 9 miles)
First, take in the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec, then continue through the
mosaic of ponds, woods and meadows of the Bohemia Lake District and its capital, Trebon,
a medieval city whose walls are still largely intact. The trail leads around Svet, a man-made
lake and an engineering wonder of the 16th century. The hiking tour ends in the village of
Kojakovice with interesting local village museum. Late afternoon transfer by car from
Kojakovice to Cesky Krumlov. Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.

Day 8: Cesky Krumlov – Klet – Cesky Krumlov (16 km / 10 miles)
Morning transfer by train from Cesky Krumlov to Zlata Koruna, which is famous for its monastery. You continue over the highest peak of the Blanský Forest: Klet, with a restaurant, a lookout tower and an astronomical observatory. Then hike back to Cesky Krumlov. Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.

Day 9: Cesky Krumlov - Prague
The recommended program gives you ample time to enjoy all that Cesky Krumlov has to offer within one day. Late afternoon transfer by bus from Cesky Krumlov to Prague. Hotel in Prague

Day 10: Your tour ends after breakfast.

While we strive to create the most accurate itinerary possible, the nature of international travel demands that participants remain flexible to any changes. We will do our best to substitute activities and services of equal quality for those listed.

SELF GUIDED WALKING TOUR DATES: April - October

SELF GUIDED WALKING TOUR PRICE: €1,290 Euros/double occupancy, €390 Euros/pp/single supplement

SELF GUIDED WALKING TRIP PRICE INCLUDES: 9 nights hotel, 9 breakfasts, Detailed hiking maps (route highlighted), English route descriptions, Global Positioning System (GPS) console with programmed route, Transportation by car according to program, Welcome briefing upon arrival, Stand-by support (cell phone and contact person)

SELF GUIDED WALKING TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: lunches, dinners, train transportation

GUIDED WALKING TOUR DATES:
June 14-21, 2009 (Includes The Festival of the Five-petalled Rose, Cesky Krumlov)
July 4-11, 2009
August 15-22, 2009
August 25-September 1, 2009
September 19-26, 2009 (incl. St. Wenceslas Celebrations, Cesky Krumlov)
Private guided tours available everyday from April to the end of October for groups of 4 or more.

GUIDED WALKING TOUR PRICE:
Group size 4-7 people: 1840 EUR per person (double occupancy)
Group size 8+ people: 1640 EUR per person (double occupancy)
Single supplement: 390 EUR

GUIDED WALKING TRIP PRICE INCLUDES: Professional bilingual guide, 9 nights hotel, 9 breakfasts, 7 dinners, route directions, cycling maps, Support van, Town maps, Guided tours at chateaux, castles, museums and other select attractions, Special events, including wine tasting and picnics

GUIDED WALKING TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Some lunches, dinners in Vienna and Prague, train transportation

RESERVATIONS: For complete reservation information and to book a tour, click here.

BEST TIMES TO TRAVEL TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC: The Central European continental climate consists of long, hot summers and cold, snowy winters. July and August are perfect for people who love hot weather. May, June and September are good months to take advantage of the cooler, but still warm and sunny weather. April and October are wonderfully changeable and can be chilly. These times are good for people wanting to experience the changing of the seasons as they cycle.

TRAVEL INFORMATION: This trip begins in Vienna and ends in Prague. Many airlines will allow booking from the US to Vienna and returning from Prague back to the US. If you choose to fly roundtrip to either Prague or Vienna, trains connect Prague and Vienna five times daily; the 5 1/2-hour trip costs $100.

TRAIN SCHEDULES: Check out European Train Schedules. If you are bringing a bike on the train, you will need to ask at the train station which trains have space for your bike box. You do not need to make advance train reservations.

BAGGAGE: Two simple words - TRAVEL LIGHT! To avoid loosing luggage (that may contain irreplaceable clothing, personal items and medications) and to prepare you for the reality of European hotels (many have narrow stairways and do not have elevators), we urge you to limit your luggage to 2 items. We suggest the following: a carry-on size suitcase or duffel (a legal carry-on sized wheeled suitcase is perfect) and a daypack. You will be able to bring these 2 items as carry-ons on all international and domestic flights, insuring that your luggage will arrive with you!

TRAVEL DELAYS: Nichols Expeditions is not responsible for any costs you may incur due to delays with transportation (airline or other), weather, road conditions, government intervention, sickness or other contingencies we are unable to control. For international flights, arrive at least 2 hours prior to departure (check with your air carrier for their requirements) and allow ample time between connecting flights. If you miss your flight and you need a special shuttle to meet up with the group, you will be responsible for the cost.

THE SECRET TO STRESS FREE TRAVEL: Simply put, pack light and arrive at the starting point of your trip a day early. Many have told us this was the most important thing they did to get ready for their trip. They felt rested and more acquainted with the customs and pace of life of their new surroundings.

ADDITIONAL HOTEL LODGING: We can make additional hotel lodging reservations for you at our first night's hotel on the tour in Vienna or the last night in Prague. Just let us know in advance.

MONEY: You will need Euros for lunches, dinners, beverages, shopping, snacks, and tips. We suggest starting with a minimum of $250 (more if you like to shop and sample the local wine and ice cream).

CASH & CREDIT CARDS: For cash, bring new bills with no tears. You can exchange money at any airport when you arrive. For credit cards, we recommend bringing 2 or more Visa or Mastercards in case you have trouble with one. There are ATM machines in all of the towns on the tour. To use your credit cards in an ATM machine, each card will need a PIN#. Be sure to activate the PIN# and check that it works BEFORE you begin your travels. We also suggest contacting your credit card company prior to your trip to inform them of the countries where you will be traveling and the dates. We do not recommend bringing Travelers Checks because ome places do not accept them, exchange rates vary widely and they require a bank to exchange them.

TIPPING: We suggest 10% for exceptional service in restaurants (most restaurants include a service charge) and a small amount for baggage and taxi service.

LANGUAGE: It is not necessary to be able to speak Czech or German to get along in the Czech Republic or Austria, but it can be lots of fun. A small dictionary and some creative sign language should get you to the start of the trip without too much trouble. Many people at the airport and train stations do speak English.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT: Whether you shoot a digital or film camera, bring more media storage capacity or film than you think you need. A portable hard drive may be the answer for digital storage. Other useful items are lens cleaner, lens tissue, lens brush, a mini tabletop tripod and a clean toothbrush to remove grit from your camera.

__ PASSPORT! Please make sure that it DOES NOT EXPIRE DURING YOUR TOUR! Make 2 photocopies of your passport and any other valuable documents you might carry with you on the tour. Travel with one copy stored in a separate place from your passport. Leave the other copy at home with a relative or friend (ideally the same person you gave as your emergency contact). In the event that any of your documents are lost or stolen, this will greatly assist the process of replacement.

CLOTHING:
Temps. - days 60º to 85º F. & nights 50º to 70º F. , possible rain showers, dress is always casual, select synthetic quick drying clothing & do laundry in your room to keep your baggage light.
__ DAY PACK(large enough to carry water, raingear, snacks and extra items you will need during the day)
__ WATER BOTTLE - or Camelbak-style hydration system
__ SUNGLASSES, if prescription, bring a spare pair
__ Brimmed hat, visor or baseball cap
__ Bandanna or sweatband
__ Short sleeved shirts – 2, synthetic quick drying fabric for evenings
__ Long-sleeved shirt - synthetic quick drying fabric
__ Long-sleeved t-neck - mid-weight synthetic for layering
__ Light sweater – fleece or wool
__ Underwear - sports bras
__ Shorts
__ Long pants - synthetic quick drying fabric, zip-off leg convertible pants recommended
__ Skirt - casual dress
__ Swimsuit
__ Rain suit - BOTH JACKET W/ HOOD & PANTS, gore-tex or waterproof nylon
__ Socks - 4 pr
__ Comfortable shoes for walking
__ Sandals (optional) or shoes to change into in the evenings
__ Toilet kit - buy travel-size samples of your regular items, feminine hygiene products, Ziploc bag lotions to prevent spills
__ Waterless hand sanitizer 2 oz. - clean hands will keep you healthy
__ Personal medications - keep all prescription meds. in original, labeled containers
__"Baby-wipe" towelettes - (optional) for quick clean up anytime
__ Personal first aid kit: anti-inflammatories, anti-diarrhea, anti-acid, anti-biotic cream, antihistamine / decongestant tablets, Vaseline, hydrocortisone cream, band-aids, tampons, eye drops, sunburn ointment, 1" white athletic tape, second skin for blisters
__ Sunscreen & lipscreen - SPF 30 min., sweat proof so it will not run in your eyes
__ Insect repellent
__ Small flashlight with extra batteries - sm. LED headlamps are most versatile and are good nightlights in hotel rooms
__ Small travel alarm clock
__ Portable laundry kit packed in a Ziploc bag - 1 cup powdered laundry detergent in 1 qt. ziploc bag, 10-12 clothes pins & 25 feet of light nylon cord for clothes line
__ Plastic laundry bag - for dirty laundry / damp swimsuit
__ Ear plugs - 2 pr., a MUST for sound sleep, European towns can be noisy

OPTIONAL ITEMS: (Note: electrical items must have 220V capacity & bring a 2-round prong EU-style plug adapter and a transformer if your equipment is 110 volt)
__ Camera in protective case - new & spare batteries, extra film / media cards, lens cleaner, lens tissue, lens brush, mini table-top tripod
__ Extra freezer weight Ziploc bags of assorted sizes
__ Small "hotel size" sewing kit
__ Guidebook
__ Phrase book / dictionary
__ Paperback book(s)
__ Small sketchbook, journal, notebook, pen
__ Postcards from home – a few to show the staff and others
__ Address book
__ Small calculator - to calculate exchange rates
__ Electrical outlet adapter - 2-round prong European style
__ FRS handheld radio - (optional), guides will be using these, range limited to 2-3 mi.
__ Cell phone - (optional), must be tri-band with international service to work in Europe
__ Hiking Poles (These are quite helpful if you have any problems with your knees, hips or back.)

HINTS ON PACKING: Simply put - TRAVEL LIGHT & CARRY IT ON WITH YOU! You will avoid loosing your luggage (that may contain irreplaceable clothing and medications) and you will be prepared for European hotels with narrow stairs and few elevators. Through our years of travel we have learned these valuable lessons and want to pass them on to you before your trip.

Packing Hint #1: Limit your luggage to 1 carry-on bag (a legal carry-on sized wheeled suitcase is perfect) and a small personal bag like a small day pack or shoulder bag.

Packing Hint #2: Freezer-weight Ziploc plastic bags are lightweight, inexpensive, and see-through. They make a great waterproof biking wallet and are indispensable for packing items like clothing, books, toilet kits, and especially lotions in your baggage.

Packing Hint #3: Travel-size samples save space and weight! Visit the "samples section" of your drugstore or supermarket and see if your favorite shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, toothpaste and deodorant are available in travel-size samples. If not, transfer some to smaller plastic bottles in the size you need. Remember to plastic bag all lotions!

Packing Hint #4: Think multiple use garments. Convertible pants with zip off legs save bringing an extra pair of shorts. Quick dry shorts double as a swimsuit. Be creative and keep that baggage light!

Packing Hint #5: Packing Hint #5: Do your own laundry. If you bring synthetic clothing, you can easily wash it and hang it to dry.

RESERVATIONS: For complete reservation information click here.