Open up and dive in! To the pages of a Bohemian storybook adventure. Complete with spires, turrets and onion-shaped domes. Medieval castles, sword fighting, Schuhplattler dancers and goulash. Opening scene: Prague. Captivating. Emerging. It's just the start. Bike rides through gentle countryside. The chance in magical Český Krumlov to stump Czech Professor Nechlebová, a walking encyclopedia. Kids get a taste of the Renaissance watching falconry at Schloss Rosenburg castle and wield Iron Age-style tools in Mitterkirchen. Pedal by the Danube. Taste Wachau Valley wine and grape juice. Final scene: Vienna. Intriguing. Let's get started!
Day 1 En garde! A theatrical sword-fighting display,
courtesy of the Brothers of the Rose, entrances kids and adults alike 
From beautiful Lake Lipno, bike through Bohemia's rolling pastures, evergreen forests and quiet villages to the World Heritage site of Český Krumlov, a charming 13th-century town with twisting lanes and red-tile roofs.
Day 2 Adults dive into Czech history with Helena, our local friend and historian,
at an informal Q&A and walking tour of Český Krumlov Spin into the countryside, passing lush meadows and timeless homesteads sporting traditional folk architecture.
Day 3 Two intriguing countries and cultures in one trip
Arriving in Austria, pedal rolling green hills through the famous Mostviertel district, known for its distinctive most (hard apple cider) Kids visit the Mitterkirchen open-air museum, where a re-created Celtic village offers a glimpse into the past, then test their aim at nine-pin bowling 
Dinner is served with a rousing performance by Schuhplattler dancers.
Day 4 Crisscross the fabled Danube River
as you ride along the Donauradweg, the well-loved Danube bike path Impressive World Heritage-site Melk Abbey, towering on a bluff above the river, comes into view en route to the charming town of Weissenkirchen.
Days 5-6 Austria's picture-perfect villages with onion-shaped church steeples
Bike through the Kamptal region, stopping for a sample - wine for adults and grape juice for kids Grown-ups keep pedaling while the younger set heads to a Renaissance castle for a fun and fascinating falconry demonstration Which sounds best? Spinning to the archaeological site of Willendorf, walking among vineyards and fruit orchards, or just relaxing at the hotel.
Trip Highlights
- Discover two intriguing countries and cultures in one trip
- Český Krumlov, a 13th-century Bohemian town with storybook castles and charming squares
- Crisscross the Danube River amid timeless villages and onion-domed churches
- A private, theatrical sword-fighting display entrances both kids and adults
- Dig into hearty Czech and Austrian specialties at local family-friendly restaurants
Casual Inns
Hotel Zlatý Andel (2 nights): Three buildings in the Gothic style compose this unique hotel set on the town's main historic square.
Relax Resort Kothmühle (1 night): A charming family-owned country inn, set amid rolling green hills in the "cradle of Austria." (pool, spa, tennis)
Hotel Kirchenwirt (2 nights): Austrian hospitality and Danube views abound at this comfortable guesthouse.
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 12* | 500 | 26 | 1000 | ||||||
| 2 | 8* | 400 | 26 | 1200 | 39 | 1800 | 51 | 3000 | ||
| 13 | 300 | |||||||||
| Adults: Cesky Krumlov guided walk (45 minutes) | ||||||||||
| Kids: Renaissance romp (1.5 hours) | ||||||||||
| 3 | 8* | 300 | 28 | 1000 | 36 | 2200 | 49 | 2300 | ||
| 20* | 600 | |||||||||
| Kids: Afternoon Living Museum visit (1.5 hours) | ||||||||||
| Kids: Evening bowling | ||||||||||
| 4 | 17* | 100 | 25* | 100 | 32* | 300 | 50 | 1000 | 67 | 1800 |
| 5 | 19* | 200 | 25* | 300 | 39 | 1500 | 54 | 3200 | ||
| Kids: Schloss Rosenburg visit (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 6 | 13 | 200 | ||||||||
| Hiking (1.9 miles; 100` elevation gain) | ||||||||||
There is less than 5% of riding on hard-packed dirt on this trip. Since the overwhelming majority of the trip is paved, we've elected to use standard road bike tires on our titanium road bikes. Most guests find this to be the right answer. If you prefer to skip the dirt, a shuttle is always a possibility.
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
FAMILY TRIPS
- 6/23-28 Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $450 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/7-12 Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $450 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/14-19 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $450 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/11-16 Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $450 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/18-23 Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $450 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
- Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years
- Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years
- No Burleys available on this trip
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:- 12+ amount of cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities, routes
- 9+ difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions, routes
- 6+ several longer dinners; routes are difficult for pulling a Burley and therefore not appropriate for younger children; difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
This trip exceeded all my high expectations! What a great way to experience Europe with our four girls. They were never bored, and almost always happy! We were especially pleased with the flexibility of the biking options. Although we are an active family, we have not been avid cyclists. They offered us all a nice challenge without being overwhelming (especially considering the fact my husband had to tow our youngest on a piccolo!).- Wilmington, NC
I'm a great fan of Backroads, and your Trip Leaders are what differentiates you from other active travel companies.- Palo Alto, CA
Hands down, this trip was the best so far for our 2 kids. It was a completely wonderful experience for them, from beginning to end.- Huntington Beach, CA
Thank you for an experience of a lifetime. You have broadened the horizons of the entire family! After the trip we spent three days in Vienna and both of my boys age 11 and 14 wanted to rent city bikes to explore!- Lake Oswego, OR