Casual & Premiere Hotels*
Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.
Hotel Ruze
Český Krumlov (2 nights)
A former Jesuit monastery from the 16th century, with a perfect location in the town's center. (pool, spa)
Heritage Hotel Hallstatt
Hallstatt (1 night)
An exclusive retreat composed of three historic houses overlooking spectacular Lake Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut region.
Hotel Schloss Fuschl
Fuschl (2 nights)
* Premiere Hotel
Set on a wooded promontory on Lake Fuschl, this castle was built as the country residence of the archbishops of Salzburg in 1450. (pool, spa)
This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-3
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 (drag to see full )
| Daily Route Options |
| 1 |
|
|
4* |
1000 |
8* |
1600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6* |
1000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
4* |
700 |
7 |
800 |
9 |
800 |
|
|
|
|
| Cesky Krumlov Guided Walk (45 Minutes) |
| 3 |
4 |
700 |
5 |
1400 |
|
|
7 |
2200 |
|
|
| 4 |
3* |
0 |
|
|
8* |
800 |
|
|
|
|
| Hallstatt Guided Walk (1 Hour) |
| 5 |
5* |
500 |
7* |
900 |
|
|
10* |
1600 |
|
|
| Cogwheel Train Ride (1.5 Hours) |
| 6 |
3* |
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
The terrain on this trip includes a mix of historic village pathways, forested lanes and rugged trails with some steeper sections in the Austrian Alps.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Meals
All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Also Included
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Get the Straight Talk about This Trip
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 on Backroads trips. Know that your Backroads leaders are there to smooth out the edges and make you as comfortable as possible.
Why Travel with Backroads in Czech Republic and Austria
Experiences That Aren't on the Menu
Close by the spectacular UNESCO-protected castle of Český Krumlov, you descend a set of stone steps into U Dobraka, a traditional Czech restaurant that was a retreat for free-thinkers during the Communist era and remains a well-kept secret. Our local friendships also lead us to the farm of Dagmar Havlova, sister-in-law of late Czech president Vaclav Havel, for an exclusive farm-to-table dinner that’s more authentic than any you’ll find in the local restaurant guide.
More Leaders to Support You
On our Czech Republic and Austria trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Everyone at Their Own Pace
We design and support our Czech Republic and Austria trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
A Variety of Routes Each Day
In Czech Republic and Austria you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Experts with Secrets to Share
In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.
The Value of Casual Hotels
In addition to the ideal balance of comfort and hospitality in our choice of lodgings, this trip featuring Casual Hotels includes nearly all of your meals, plus everything from cocktail receptions to the best snacks along the road. So there's rarely a need to reach for your wallet – we've got you covered.
In Europe Since 1988
Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.
We Live in the Neighborhood
Our Trip Leaders in Czech Republic and Austria live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
Our Cultural Roots Run Deep
Thanks to our extensive connections in Czech Republic and Austria, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.
Your Trip Will Run. Period.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
The Right Local Pairings
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
Quality You Can Measure
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
The Best Leaders in Czech Republic and Austria
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Czech Republic and Austria, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Choose Your Fellow Travelers
With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Czech Republic and Austria that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.
