Czech Republic & Austria Family Bike Tour
- 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
Bohemian Knights & Danube Castles
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 verdant 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!
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk 
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Service Standards
The Czech Republic is a welcoming and fascinating country in the process of exciting change. While not a priority during the country's communist years, service is improving, though you may not always experience the level of convenience or service typically found in Western countries. It's best to travel in the Czech Republic with an open mind and a sense of humor. And know that your Backroads leaders are there to smooth out the edges and make you as comfortable as possible throughout.
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.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
I'm a great fan of Backroads, and your Trip Leaders are what differentiates you from other active travel companies.- Palo Alto, CA
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
Casual Inns
Hotel Zlatý Andel
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic (2 nights) Three buildings in the Gothic style compose this unique hotel set on the town's main historic square.
Relax Resort Kothmühle
Neuhofen an der Ybbs (1 night) A charming family-owned country inn, set amid rolling green hills in the "cradle of Austria." (pool, spa, tennis)
Hotel Kirchenwirt
Weissenkirchen (2 nights) Austrian hospitality and Danube views abound at this comfortable guesthouse.
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
| 2 - 3 guests $5,798 pp dbl. occ. | 8 - 9 guests $4,098 pp dbl. occ. |
| 4 - 5 guests $4,798 pp dbl. occ. | 10 - 11 guests $3,498 pp dbl. occ. |
| 6 - 7 guests $4,298 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests $3,198 pp dbl. occ. |
Youth savings do not apply to Private Trips.
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
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.
On this Family Trip, our routes follow rolling terrain. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.
* Includes a shuttle
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For 35 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Czech Republic & Austria tour experts. See our award-winning Europe At Large biking tours, Europe At Large walking and hiking tours and Europe At Large multisport tours.
