Iron Curtain Trail (East)
- Length 9 Days
- Difficulty level Moderate
- Tour length 401 Km
- Price from 815 € Per person
Tour description
The name says it all – we will ride along the border between Communist East and Democratic West, marked by the infamous Iron Curtain from 1948 until late 1989. But we will discover lands that were connected for centuries whose spirits still endure and even thrive together again.
These borderlands and their brutal separation bring numerous stories of villages that are no more, of bridges that cross to nowhere, of roads and paths that simply finish without destination.. It tells us about people who had lived on both sides and who have desperately tried to return to each other, risking and in many cases losing their lives! Luckily, this time is over! The countryside slowly heals its wounds and gives us the unique opportunity to see the process, to enjoy the bits of the lush countryside, the sleepy forest, misty ponds and people living together again. It is not an easy route; the trails combine everything from asphalt to dirt trails. The story is challenging, so is the biking; but it will leave you with indelible memories!
The name says it all – we will ride along the border between Communist East and Democratic West, marked by the infamous Iron Curtain from 1948 until late 1989. But we will discover lands that were connected for centuries whose spirits still endure and even thrive together again.
TOP departure dates - need to check availability:
Mikulov Wine Festival: September 11–13
Znojmo Wine Festival: September 11–13
IMPORTANT: Due to the following dates, hotel availability may be problematic and a surcharge might occur.
Labor Day: May 1
Liberation Day: May 8
Ascension Day:May 29
Pfingsten/Pentecost:May 25
Assumption of the Virgin Mary: August 15
Itinerary
Arrival to České Budějovice (Budweis)
Show dayThis day is yours to explore České Budějovice, the capital of the Bohemian south. Take your time to climb up the Black tower, walk the huge Přemysl Otakar II square or simply enjoy the local Budvar beer (yes, this is the home of the one and only original Budvar!) on the banks of Vltava or Malše rivers.
You start cycling from the lovely town of České Budějovice to the southeast, along a route taking you through a country of lakes and ponds, even past the legendary spot where the Hussite warlord Jan Zizka was born in the cozy town of Borovany. We conclude the day in Nové Hrady, a small but picturesque town with a castle, a chateau and a monastery. The place was related to the Buquoy noble family for over 3 centuries, and remains the capital of Novohradske hory, a remote but lovely area. When there, do spend some time exploring the lovely Tercino udoli, a great landscape park dating back to the 18th century!
Today we meet the border and history of the Iron Curtain trail! It will zig-zag across the Czech-Austrian border showing us tons of remote nature beauties and forgotten villages and towns telling stories and tales of those who have lived here. We can admire the Chateau in Litschau, the majestic castle in Landstejn and finally the great renaissance beauty – the town of Slavonice. In between tons of ponds, bunkers and even spots where villages and across-the-border connections used to be.
Again, across the border and back and again and again… First, we use the lovely dismantled railway track into Austria, then start meandering through the villages of Upper Austria like Neugiers and Drossendorf. We learn who Grassel was and how his surname became a nickname for bandits and villians. Finally, back on the Czech side of the border we end up in the small sleepy town of Vranov with a magnificent chateau crowning the town.
Description of the day: Today we combine the lovely nature of the Podyji / Thayatal National Park with its wealth of small villages like Hardegg, WWII monuments and remains of the Iron Curtain itself. When it all gets too heavy, we squeeze through some lush vineyards and end up in lovely Znojmo, to relax, drink some great local wine and simply enjoy the views!
Description of the day: And here we go again! Saying goodbye to Znojmo, we hop across the border, fly through the sleepy town of Hardres which shelters the longest cellar lane in Austria and on we go to the sleepy chateau in Jaroslavice. All this framed in the countryside where Maria Theresia’s military cartographers drew the first maps of the kingdom. When tired by riding, we end up in the teeny-tiny spa town of Laa, the local castle tower giving us a good view of the area around!
Today we enter the lands of a family that has written the history of the area for over 8 centuries – the Liechtensteins! Yes, the people with their own country between Austria and Switzerland. We can admire what they have built here, the lively town of Mikulov, wine palaces like Valtice, numerous saletts in the forest and of course ponds and vineyards. And naturally, we learn more Iron Curtain stories and have time to remember the unfortunate ones who died along it at the raw but very touching Monument of the Victims of the Iron Curtain. On a happier note, the town Breclav is our final destination of the day!
The last cycling day brings on board another country – Slovakia and its capital Bratislava. As the full distance would be over 100 km, we only bike to Marchegg, a historical town in Austria right on the river March/Morava which creates the Slovak-Austrian border. Until then we admire the lovely so-called Moravian Amazon at the confluence of Dyje and Morava rivers, the tiny Austrian villages with views across the border and centuries of history of the area. From Marchegg a transfer takes us to Bratislava, the lively Slovak capital which has all the ability to refresh us after a long cycling journey!
Departure
Show dayWe highly recommend you take a time to tour this magnificent city, the Slovak capital has a tiny city center full of picturesque places and buildings, and the castle is worth a visit.
You can also prolong your tour by a ride to Budapest or take a boat trip there or to Vienna!
Services and prices
Selfuguided tour with NO luggage transfer
| Price per person | 815 € |
Selfguided tour with luggage transfer
| 2 Persons | 1080 € |
| 4 Persons | 980 € |
| 6 Persons | 899 € |
Extras
| Single supplement surcharge | 250 € |
| Premium accommodation surcharge | 235 € |
| Premium accommodation single surcharge | 310 € |
| Solo rider surcharge | 220 € |
| Bike rental | 135 € (+15 € extra day) |
| Gravel bike rental | 180 € (+21 € extra day) |
| E-bike rental | 270 € (+35 € extra day) |
| Premium E-bike rental | 380 € (+43 € extra day) |
| Bike insurance | 35 € |
| Bike lights | 10 € |
| Halfboard surcharge | 235 € |
| Premium halfboard surcharge | 395 € |
| Extra night in České Budějovice | 50-80 € |
| Extra night in Bratislava | 55-80 € |
| Transfer Bratislava-České Budějovice: 1-3 / 4+ ppl | 320 / 395 € |
| Train transfer Bratislava-České Budějovice: pp / with bike | 25 / 35 € |
| Safe parking in Prague | 19 € / day |
| Printed tour materials: description / description+maps | 10 / 30 € |
| Booking fee | 30 € / group |
| Booking fee for tailormade trip or last minute booking | 100 € / group |
Tour datesAny scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private
No fully guided tours scheduled right now
Interactive mapSelf guided tour info
Our rental bikes
At Europe Bike Tour, we understand that a high-quality bicycle is key to an enjoyable vacation. That's why we ensure all our bikes are regularly serviced to maintain their perfect condition. For additional equipment, please refer to the "Bike Equipment" section where you'll find items included in the bike fee or available for rent/purchase at an extra cost.
Our diverse fleet includes bikes for men and women in various sizes, electric bikes, tandem bikes, children's bikes, and even recumbent bikes upon request. If you have any special requirements or wishes, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are dedicated to meeting your needs and ensuring you have the best experience possible!
What is included and what notOn self guided individual tours
- Individual pre-tour meeting at appointed time at client's hotel on the first day of the tour
- Practical bike ride and safety information
- Helmet, water bottle, pannier, bike repair kit (per room)
- Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions (city standard/premium)
- Breakfast on all days
- Online itinerary with day by day descriptions with altitude profiles, places to visit and local tips
- Official biking maps with highlighted routing
- Detailed tailor-made cycling maps (in pdf)
- Train tickets and train timetables (for tours where train transfer is part of a tour schedule)
- Transportation of luggage between hotels between 9-17:00 (for option including luggage transfers only!)
- 24-hour hotline assistance service
- Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour
- Transportation (air tickets) to/from starting/final point of the tour
- Transfer from Prague Airport to your Prague hotel on the day of arrival
- Transfer from hotel to the airport on departure day
- Meals (except for breakfasts)
- Entrance fees to museums, castles, and chateaux
- Local touristic/spa tax (to be paid on spot directly to accommodation)
- Bike rental
On fully guided tours
- Specialized Bike Holidays bicycle tour leader during all biking days
- Pick-up from any Prague hotel on the first day of the tour at an appointed time
- Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions
- Breakfast on all days
- Dinners without drink on specific number of biking days (usually every other day but for more info, please contact your tour coordinator)
- Refreshments in the supporting vehicle (soft drinks, snacks, sweets, fruit)
- Water for bike-flasks
- Welcome briefing on the first day
- Detailed cycling maps (on request)
- Program and detailed day-by-day description (online itinerary)
- Practical bike ride safety training
- Technical service on the route
- First aid service on the route
- Support vehicle
- Helmet, water bottle, pannier
- All transportation of participants and their luggage and bicycles during the tour
- Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour
- Transportation (air-tickets) to/from Prague – starting/final point of the tour
- Transfer from Prague airport to your Prague hotel on the day of arrival
- Transfer from hotel to the airport on the departure day
- Other meals than mentioned in "What is included"
- Entrance fees to museums, castles, and chateaux
- Local touristic/spa tax (to be paid on spot directly to accommodation)
- Bike rental
Request your holidaysSelf guided tours it is support and independence
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Full-guided trip
We at Europe Bike Tour do know, that a good bike is the most important part of a nice vacation. So we let all our bikes serviced regulary so they stay in perfect condition. Under "Bike Equipment" you can find other aditional equipment that is either in the bike fee included or you can rent/buy it for adittional funds.
We offer male and female bikes with different sizes, E-bikes, Tandembikes, Bikes for kids and on request the Recumbent bike as well. Should you have a special wish/need, do not hesitate to ask us, we will make our best to fullfill your wish!
Why with us?
With a rich 12-year history, Europe Bike Tours offers more than just cycling trips; we provide immersive "Culture Biking" experiences across the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Our tours blend the thrill of biking with cultural exploration, taking you from charming local eateries to ancient, hidden castles. We handpick the most captivating locations, ensuring each bike, family, or wine holiday is an adventure in itself. Catering to diverse preferences, our tours come in various formats, from self-guided to fully guided, with options for luggage transfer and different accommodation levels. For those seeking something unique, we're always ready to craft a tailor-made tour that perfectly fits your vision of a cycling holiday.
- Self guided, fully guided or supported tours
- City standard or premium accommodation
- Tailor made maps
- More biking options for each day
- 24/7 Hotline with personal approach
- Quality bikes e-Bikes
Who we are
Lukáš SvárovskýManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, German
Guide since 2008
Lukas was born and raised in the Czech capital of Prague. His keen interest in history and sports influenced his determination to study both subjects at university in Germany. His passion for travel also led to Lukas adding a tourism degree to his studies. Biking, exploring, and discovering interesting places was one of the determining moments when in 2010 he decided to start Europe Bike Tours. Since than Lukas is keen on developing new products, improve services and above all, share his passion for traveling while guiding one of the tours!
Lukáš Svárovský
Manager
Languages spoken Czech, English, German
Guide since 2008
Lukas was born and raised in the Czech capital of Prague. His keen interest in history and sports influenced his determination to study both subjects at university in Germany. His passion for travel also led to Lukas adding a tourism degree to his studies. Biking, exploring, and discovering interesting places was one of the determining moments when in 2010 he decided to start Europe Bike Tours. Since than Lukas is keen on developing new products, improve services and above all, share his passion for traveling while guiding one of the tours!
Vitek ProchazkaManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, French, German, Slovak, Spanish
Guide since 2012
Vitek was born in Prague, Czech Republic and has remained there most of his life. During his travel and tourism studies he began guiding mostly bike and rafting trips all around Europe. Through his years in the office of a travel agency, guiding remained an important part of his life. Eventually went of for year in New Zealand and after returning started guiding and preparing programs in and around his homeland
Vitek Prochazka
Manager
Languages spoken Czech, English, French, German, Slovak, Spanish
Guide since 2012
Vitek was born in Prague, Czech Republic and has remained there most of his life. During his travel and tourism studies he began guiding mostly bike and rafting trips all around Europe. Through his years in the office of a travel agency, guiding remained an important part of his life. Eventually went of for year in New Zealand and after returning started guiding and preparing programs in and around his homeland
Our self-guided tours
Accommodation is one of the most important parts of each trip that strongly influences the final look of it. We make our best to offer you the best possible accommodation in the prefered category. The hotels we offer are either comfortable small hotels or quite guesthouses both in 3* quality, all of it rather small and with personality than big chain. All the tours have accommodation in or near the town/village centres so you can spend the afternoon and evening after biking exploring the town itself or simply enjoy the peace of the place.
TestimonialsWhat our clients say about us
27 Oct
Peter Zimmerman
Tour Prague-Krakow FG
Completed an 8-day tour from Prague to Krakow. This was a guided tour with two excellent tour guides Jan and Michaela. The ride included snacks along the way as well as historical information . Luggage was transported everyday to the next hotel as well as having a support vehicle during the ride. We had specialized electric bikes which were fabulous to ride, especially at the end of the day...25 Oct
Susan Vogt
Tour Prague-Krakow All Way biking
Europe Bike Tours was wonderful on our bike trip from Prague to Kraków. Due to health reasons, we had to switch to a premium electric bike at the last minute, and they accommodated us. The electric bikes made the trip a dream and gave us more time to see sites. When we had a couple of issues on the road they sent somebody on a taxi to deliver parts. The accommodations were wonderful, the direct...
Susan Vogt
Tour Prague-Krakow All Way biking
Europe Bike Tours was wonderful on our bike trip from Prague to Kraków. Due to health reasons, we had to switch to a premium electric bike at the last minute, and they accommodated us. The electric bikes made the trip a dream and gave us more time to see sites. When we had a couple of issues on the road they sent somebody on a taxi to deliver parts. The accommodations were wonderful, the directions in Ride with GPS were clear and we appreciated the extra tour options to stop and see other sites. We will use them again.
22 Oct
Nicolas T
Tour Prague-Pasau
Excellent experience. I traveled alone from Colombia. I took the Prague to Passau tour. Communication was excellent, as was the bike (I requested a gravel bike). The hotels were good, all bike-friendly (they had a designated bike storage area). Highly recommended.
Nicolas T
Tour Prague-Pasau
Excellent experience. I traveled alone from Colombia. I took the Prague to Passau tour. Communication was excellent, as was the bike (I requested a gravel bike). The hotels were good, all bike-friendly (they had a designated bike storage area). Highly recommended.
20 Oct
Wright Alcorn
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour reverse
Our party of four enjoyed ourselves immensely riding the standard Prague-to-Dresden route in reverse, found the hotels to be a nice balance of convenience and comfort, and had zero issues with the bikes. We have used the RidewithGPS app before and found it to be a great asset on this ride too. We highly recommend bike tours.com and their in-country affiliates. William A.
Wright Alcorn
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour reverse
Our party of four enjoyed ourselves immensely riding the standard Prague-to-Dresden route in reverse, found the hotels to be a nice balance of convenience and comfort, and had zero issues with the bikes. We have used the RidewithGPS app before and found it to be a great asset on this ride too. We highly recommend bike tours.com and their in-country affiliates. William A.
18 Oct
Malcolm Falconer
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
There is nothing I can say but a big thank you for the Prague / Dresden trip. The organisation of the whole trip was easy and flawless and you guys are very clearly on top of your game. The overnight hotel accommodation was excellent and the scrambled eggs in Decin were legendary!We really enjoyed seeing places and things we would not ordinarily have seen had we not been cycling and the Rid...12 Oct
Rob Doerksen
Tour Prague-Krakow FG
My wife and I recently completed a guided 8-day cycling trip from Prague to Krakow. We enjoyed it thoroughly. The scenery was beautiful. The back roads we cycled on were generally quiet with very few motorized vehicles, although cycling through a few towns was a little sketchier. The cycling itself was easy to moderate, averaging just over 60km/day with an average elevation of just over 300...08 Oct
Silvia Kurth
Tour Spa Tour
The tour was well organized and the daily routes were interesting. The hotels were also good. Only the hotel in Karlovy Vary was difficult to reach by bike, as the road is very steep and there was very limited parking.07 Oct
Mary Walsh
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
We had a great week cycling with Europe Bike Tours. Prague to Dresden is a lovely route, peaceful and flat, away from traffic. It was our first time visiting the Czech/German countryside and there was loads of cultural interests to see along the route. Our hotels were very central with helpful staff. We especially liked that Europe Bikes checked in with us every evening to see that we arriv...
Mary Walsh
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
We had a great week cycling with Europe Bike Tours. Prague to Dresden is a lovely route, peaceful and flat, away from traffic. It was our first time visiting the Czech/German countryside and there was loads of cultural interests to see along the route. Our hotels were very central with helpful staff. We especially liked that Europe Bikes checked in with us every evening to see that we arrived safely. Would highly recommend 👌
01 Oct
Rebecca Heylen
Tour Prague -Budapešt - short
Ever since I returned to the U.S. five days ago, from our incredible 12 day biking trip from Prague to Budapest, (a little over 400 miles), I keep telling all my friends and family that it was “the trip of a lifetime!”. Yet, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “I want to do this again!” The beauty of that part of the world is mind blowing and so fulfilling! Being able to ride bikes (e-bik...
Rebecca Heylen
Tour Prague -Budapešt - short
Ever since I returned to the U.S. five days ago, from our incredible 12 day biking trip from Prague to Budapest, (a little over 400 miles), I keep telling all my friends and family that it was “the trip of a lifetime!”. Yet, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “I want to do this again!” The beauty of that part of the world is mind blowing and so fulfilling! Being able to ride bikes (e-bikes for us 60-somethings) through mountains and valleys, quaint little villages, pedaling along the Danube, and visiting historical (4th century castle!) sites was just breathtaking. Europe Bike Tours made everything possible, seamless and easy to manage. Lukas and his VERY adept team were helpful at every turn. We had complete confidence in them, and are super appreciative of all the help we received during our trip.Thank you for an incredible experience!
27 Sep
Liz Martin
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
The Prague to Dresden 7 day self guided bike tour with Europe bike tours was absolutely excellent. The organisation was efficient, timely and well arranged. The bikes were very comfortable. The route was mostly flat, along dedicated cycle paths. The scenery was beautiful, mostly alongside the river and picturesque valleys. The hotels were excellent and right in the centre of each town. I wo...
Liz Martin
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
The Prague to Dresden 7 day self guided bike tour with Europe bike tours was absolutely excellent. The organisation was efficient, timely and well arranged. The bikes were very comfortable. The route was mostly flat, along dedicated cycle paths. The scenery was beautiful, mostly alongside the river and picturesque valleys. The hotels were excellent and right in the centre of each town. I would unreservedly recommend Europe Bike Tours for the Prague to Dresden tour
