Europe Bike Tours
Day 1 Arrival to Litoměřice
Description of the day: This day is devoted to your arrival to this lovely town on the Ohře and Elbe rivers’ confluence. Litoměřice is an old seat of archbishops and a medieval trade hub full of Renaissance architecture and art - do take your time to explore! Should you like more nights prior to the tour, let us know; we are happy to assist!
Transfer: For those arriving to Prague, we are happy to provide a transfer, see below. The fully guided tour includes this transfer. Following the tour, we are also happy to provide a transfer from Cheb to Litoměřice/Prague.
Day 2 Litoměřice - Louny
Distance: 57 km / 36 miles
Description of the day: An exciting first bike day! We start from Litoměřice, and travel upstream along the Ohře, admiring a number of chateaux along the way like Pátek, Vršovice and on the top of this all, Libochovice - a real baroque gem! As a backdrop for our route we have the gorgeous panorama of the Central Massif (Středohoří,) a real volcanic playground of nature - not active anymore, of course! Before all the beauty we pause in Terezín, or Theresienstadt. A great 18th-century fortress, which through WWII was turned into the infamous Jewish Ghetto. After this profound and educative experience we continue upstream to the chateaux and castles. Finally, we end up in Louny, an old walled town sleeping lazily on the river banks.
Day 3 Louny - Kadaň
Distance: 73 km / 46 miles
Description of the day: Today is full of different places! We start from Louny along the river enjoying the easy ride and again some lovely chateaux like Stekník. Once the hops fields grow big, we arrive in Žatec, the world capital of hops growing! Less-known, and only a little less important, Žatec holds strong connections to the Hussite movement of the 15th-century. After that we continue along the river to the huge Nechranice dam. Here we need to leave the Ohře for a while to explore the gargantuan brown coal mine with gigantic mining machines, At the same time, we might have a chance to meet a dragon. Finally we arrive at our day’s destination - the medieval town of Kadaň with its fantastic town center, castle and a monastery. Its beauty today hides the destruction it endured during Communism.
Day 4 Kadaň - Karlovy Vary
Distance: 50 km / 31 miles
Description of the day: Soon after leaving Kadaň we arrive in Klášterec, a lovely small town with a fairytale red chateau. Most of today leaves us in the gentle nature around the Ohře river offering some great views of the rather mythical Doupov hills area, for more than hundred years closed as a military training zone. A stop to remember is Kyselka - a tiny town once known worldwide as the most adorable small spa. Today, after decades of little interest, the place is slowly returning to its former beauty. From Kyselka it is just a short ride to Karlovy Vary, our destination and one of the tour’s highlights. This world-renowned spa is a real urbaine town, definitely worth a long walk, passing through its colonnades to try the waters of its numerous springs!
Day 5 Karlovy Vary - Cheb
Distance: 60 km / 37 miles
Description of the day: We'll start from Karlovy Vary and bike through the nature of the amazingly beautiful Ohre river valley. Our day leads us along a nicely built cycling trail through the Slavkov Forest nature preserve and the stunning Svatosske Skaly rock formations. Following the river we arrive in Loket with its stunning 14th-century castle. Next stop is the town of Sokolov with its noble chateau and town centre originating in the 13th century. Refreshments abound along the route, but the Kynsperk brewery or the coffee in Mostov's small chateau are highlights. Today's last stop and our overnight stay is the old imperial seat of Cheb. This old town with its rather German architecture and ancient castle tells many stories - starting with Barbarossa, continuing to Wallenstein and finally the search of a new future after WWII.
Day 6: Cheb - Weißenstadt - Egerspring
Distance: 54 km / 34 miles + 15 km/9 miles the spring loop
Description of the day: Today we finish off the last remaining part of the Eger river trail! Crossing the border we get to Germany (Bavaria) and along the former Iron curtain and then through lush countryside and sleepy small villages and small towns like Markleuthen or Röslau we get to the big holiday lake by Weissenstadt, which will be our last day overnight spot. From here i tis just a very short way to the actuall spring a little up in Fichtelgebirge (Smrčiny), the small hill range named after the neverending spruce tree forrest all over it. Another highlight just acros the Czech border will bet he town and castle of Hohenberg, the actuall „capital“ of the Germans who were pushed to leave Czechoslovakia after WWII. Also, those who would like to shorten the trip can take a local train all the way to Röslau (1 change).
Day 7 Departure
Description of the day: The last day is dedicated to exploring the area or just relaxing - the town is well worth it! For those leaving by plane we are happy to provide a transfer to Prague. The fully guided tours have it included!
Of course, you can save the loop to the river spring for today making it more relaxed, same as more nights in Weißenstadt!