Trek Notes - Czech Republic

Vienna to Prague walking

Introduction
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 of covering greater distances on foot, or for more recreational hikers (up to 6 miles / 10km per day).

Highlights
Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• Chateaux in Lednice - Valtice Area
• Renaissance square in Telc
• Medieval town of Cesky Krumlov
• Old Town of Prague

- Jewish cemetery in Mikulov
- Last remnant of the Iron Curtain in Cizov
- Vranov Chateau
- Hardegg Overlook
- Old walled town of Trebon
- Czech beer

Festivals and events
Central Europe is rich in festivals and cultural events. Worth mentioning are the local festivals celebrating the grape harvest in September - vinobrani. There is much merrymaking by the local residents with consumption of delicious wine. In some areas a folk culture is connected to wine growing and this can particularly be seen during the vinobrani.

Climate
On the continent in Central Europe the weather is cold with snow in the winter but the summers are lengthy with a lot of sunshine and clear days. Our tours run from the beginning of April to the end of October - the optimum months here for a good trip. May, June and September are the times to experience the cooler, but still warm and sunny weather. The temperature in the summer can get quite high, so July and August are perfect if you love the sun. April and October are wonderfully changeable and can be chilly too. These times are perfect if you want to see the changing of the seasons.

Itinerary
Day 1 - Vienna (Prague)
After arrival to Vienna (Prague) 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 2 - Valtice to 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 3 - Pavlov to 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 4 - Mikulov to Telc via Cizov, Hardegg, Vranov nad Dyji (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 5 - Telc to Jindrichuv Hradec via Slavonice, Landstejn, Nova Bystrice (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 6 - Trebon to 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 7 - 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 8 - 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.

Included

Guided departures in 2011:
May 7
June 12 (Includes The Festival of the Five-petalled Rose, Cesky Krumlov)
July 16
August 13
September 17 (incl. St. Wenceslas Celebrations, Cesky Krumlov)