Czech Republic along Morava river self-guided bike tour 

Itinerary Morava river self-guided bike tour from Prague 

Day 1: Prague – Horní Morava 225 km / 135 miles by minibus or car

Pick up at hotel or airport in Prague and transfer to Horní Morava, check-in at the hotel there, adjusting the bicycle for you, practical training in safe cycling (guided group tours only), dinner at town.

Day 2: Horní Morava – Šumperk 35 km / 21 miles

Most of the route follows the flow of the Morava River today. There is only one longer uphill climb with 200 m gain in the last section. Near Dolni Morava you have the opportunity to visit two well-preserved bunkers. These bunkers were part of the defence system of Czechoslovakia against attack from Hitler´s Nazi Germany. On our way we can stop at one of the largest Moravian breweries, Holba in Hanušovice. The Šumperk district had the largest catholic inquisitorial trials in the 1780s. Do not miss the city-hall and several citizens’ houses in Šumperk.

Day 3: Šumperk – Olomouc 63 km / 38 miles

We start cycling through the valley of the Desná River on lesser used roads. Outside the town of Úsov we will avoid car roads and use a nice path through the river forest. You can enjoy a visit of the attractive Renaissance chateau in Úsov. During the 40 minute walking tour of Mladečské jeskyně (caves) you can admire the stalactical formations in all kinds of shapes. Our tour will take you to Litovel – known as the Venice of Haná.  The open air museum in Přikazy has an exhibition of Haná settlements and historical residential houses. We will stay overnight in Olomouc.  The archbishop’s palace is also famous for the coronation of Franz Joseph I during the Habsburg monarchy. Olomouc has fortress buildings built during the war between Austria and Prussia for supremacy in Central Europe during the 18th century.

Day 4: Olomouc – Kroměříž 45 km / 27 miles

Tovačov is a picturesque little village set amongst ponds. Here you will find the tower of a Renaissance chateau Spanilá. Do not miss the great view from the 96 m high tower and visit the old Jewish cemetery. Kroměříž is called the Athens of Haná thanks to many Re-naissance buildings of antique influence. Kroměříž is also on the UNESCO Heritage list since the beginning of the 1990s. The Květná zahrada (Floral garden) and archbishop’s chateau is well worth visiting. You can enjoy the exhibition of paintings by Titian, Veronese and Brueghel – masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Day 5: Kroměříž – Strážnice 74 km / 45 miles

We will enjoy a brand new special cycling path along the Morava River in the morning. Then there is a short section on roads without traffic followed by one of the oldest and most popular cycling paths in the country. These paths will take you along the Morava River and Bata’s floating channel banks. We will cycle along an interesting border point between the Haná, Valašsko and Slovácko counties near Otrokovice.  At Napajedla we will see one of the best horse breeding farms which rears English thoroughbred horses.  We will pass through Velehrad, the most well-known pilgrimage site with the basilica of St.Cyril and Methodius.  It is possible to visit another exhibition of old aircrafts in Kunovice, where some of the exhibits were made in a close aircraft factory. We will stay overnight in little town Strážnice.

Day 6: Strážnice – Valtice / Lednice 71 km / 42 miles

Ahead is another day on mostly new paved cycling paths with a long section along the bank of the Morava River. For a short time we will also visit Slovakia. Only 5 km from Strážnice we will make our first stop at Plže with its collection of 80 wine-cellars. The first had already been built in the 15th century. After a further 15 km we will reach Hodonín, the hometown of philosopher and first Czechoslovakian president, T.G. Masaryk. We will cycle through several small villages. It is possible to make a short stop at Lanžhot and visit a small chateau and local museum.  Tonight we will stay in Valtice, small town near Austrian border famous for its Baroque chateau from the 12th century.

Day 7: Valtice – Lednice – Prague 23 km / 14 miles by bicycle and 260 km / 160 miles by bus

Our last cycling day: after breakfast we will visit the Valtice chateau and then cycle through the LedniceValtice complex. At the end of the 18th century, the local aristocratic family, the House of Liechtenstein, began to create a unique manmade landscape complex. The complex is registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage monuments. After 20 km we will stop at the Lednice chateau and English-style landscaped garden. You will have enough time to visit the chateau, explore other monuments around or simply relax in the garden. In the early afternoon we will return to Valtice and take a shuttle back to your hotel in Prague.

Day 8:  Prague Departure after breakfast or extension of your holiday in the Czech Republic

What’s included in the self-guided bicycling tour