You will be met at Prague Václav Havel Airport (PRG), and we’ll transfer as a group to our hotel in the town centre (approx 1 hour). Upon arrival, we will build bikes before heading out to explore the old town.

This evening, we will have dinner at one of the many local restaurants. This will be an opportunity to get to know the rest of the group and to hear about the journey ahead from the guide team.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1350 Metres Approx.

Today, we begin our long journey by cycling out of Prague on the cycle path along the Vltava River. Soon we will leave the city behind and ascend through the woods out of the river valley. A series of short climbs and rapid descents takes us through a changing landscape of woodlands, fields, and pastures to the quaint Bohemian villages of Zvole, Okrouhlo and Jilovem, where we stop for a delicious coffee.

Shortly after, we’ll descend towards the Sazava River and our lunch spot. The subsequent descent offers spectacular views over the Vltava River again.

In the afternoon, we continue on quiet country roads until crossing the river again shortly before arriving at our accommodation in the heart of the charming little town of Sedclany.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1000 Metres Approx.

After breakfast today, we set off through the Czech countryside, winding our way from one tiny hamlet to the next on quiet country roads until reaching our lunch spot at the confluence of the Zltava and Otava Rivers. This spectacular spot is the location of the Zvikov Castle, which is well worth a visit before we set off again.

Our route now follows shady secondary roads, leading us to the town of Pisek, which we enter near the medieval stone bridge. In the evening, a short walk takes us from our accommodation to the centre of the town for a well-deserved dinner of local specialities.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1175 Metres Approx.

On leaving our hotel this morning, we head further south in the Bohemian motherland, now on a mix of larger roads with smooth tarmac and some smaller, often slightly rougher country roads leading through stretches of pastures and fields. Several wide, sweeping views give us a good feel for the area and make cycling here a true delight.

We’ll stop for coffee in the traditionally cobbled square of the town of Tyn Nad Vltavou, situated on the Vltava River. Leaving the town, we follow a cycle path along the river, passing open landscapes before descending once again to the river in the village of Nova.

The journey continues along another scenic cycle path, bringing us to the town of Ceske Budojevice. Here, we will enjoy our lunch in one of the many restaurants of the massive central square. In the afternoon, our route mainly follows the Vltava River to the city of Cesky Krumlov and our accommodation in the town centre. After freshening up, we explore the UNESCO-listed old city centre before ending the day with dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1030 Metres Approx.

As today is a shorter day, we have time to enjoy some more of Cesky Krumlov’s sights before setting off on our bikes. Our destination is the Czech-Austrian border, cycling parallel to the Vltava River.

We stop for morning coffee in the village of Mestsky Urad, charmingly situated in a bend of the river and dominated by its Renaissance castle.

On reaching Vyssi Brod, we leave the river behind and head straight for the border which we cross for the first time shortly after lunch. From here, our route runs alongside the border, with our first stop on Austrian soil near Lepoldschlag, where we stay in a small Gasthof. Tonight, our hostess will delight us with a filling meal of local delicacies.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 800 Metres Approx.

After breakfast this morning, we set off again on small country roads close to the border, winding their way through a mix of open fields and woodland. It is a short day, but one that sees us tackling the first longer climbs, reaching nearly 1000m above sea level. The scenery becomes ever more alpine as we ride through verdant green valleys and shady forests.

At times, we briefly join larger roads to access the quiet country lanes we have grown accustomed to.

In the final stretch of today’s ride, we descend on a cycle path running alongside the local railway, leading us to Weitra and our accommodation in the village centre. Street names and shop signs are now in German, but the local architecture clearly states we are still in Bohemia.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 690 Metres Approx.

This morning, we leave Weitra behind and head north on our journey along the Czech-Austrian border. We first pass through the industrial border town of Gmund, after which we cycle for 2km quite literally on the border itself, which runs down the middle of the road!

We stop for coffee at a local Backerei and later enjoy lunch, both still in Austria. Shortly after passing through the village of Kautzen, we cross back into the Czech Republic. Our aim for the day is the town of Slavonice in the region of Moravia, where we are greeted again by Czech place names and window signs.

After settling in at our hotel in the centre of town, we can take some time to admire the beautifully decorated town houses before sitting down for dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 745 Metres Approx.

Today, we continue heading east along the border, now on Czech soil again. For most of the morning, we cycle up and down through agricultural fields before descending into the village of Uhercice, where we stop for coffee next to the little lake.

After coffee, the fields start making way to wooded river valleys and shortly after we enter Austria again near the village of Riegersburg.

We will have lunch near the castle of Hardegg on the Dyje River. As soon as we cross the river, we are back in the Czech Republic, where we quickly descend to our accommodation in the medieval town of Znojmo.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 490 Metres Approx.

After breakfast this morning, we head south towards the border once again. Our route here winds through rolling hills covered with vineyards. Indeed, Moravia is known as the Czech Republic’s main wine producing area, producing mainly the whites of Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Müller-Thurgau, and the red wines of Frankovka, St. Laurent and Blauer Portugieser. Shortly after crossing into Austria, we stop for coffee in the village of Untermarkersdorf, which, unsurprisingly, features a little wine making museum.

A short climb through the Steinberg forest takes us into the plain of Sonnberg and Breitenwaida, where we stop for lunch. One more short climb now separates us from the Donau Valley and our destination for the day, the town of Tulln-an-der-Donau which has its origins in Roman times.

• Meals: Breakfast

On your rest day, you can opt for a lie-in and lazy breakfast followed up by some dolce-far-niente and maybe an aperitivo in town to charge up your batteries. Alternatively you could make the most of the charming little town’s attractions by visiting the botanical gardens and the Egon Schiele Museum, or explore Aubad Lake – it’s a popular spot with locals to go for a swim or some canoeing.

For those wanting to visit Vienna, Austria’s capital city is only a 30 minute train ride away (to Frans Josefs Bahnhof). Alternatively you could reach the city on the cycle path along the Donau if you feel like cycling today (70 km round trip). Romantic souls may even consider an evening cruise on the river!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 775 Metres Approx.

With our legs well rested after our day off the bike, we are ready to continue our journey south through Niederosterreich, gradually leaving the region of Moravia behind us. We soon leave Tulln behind us, cycling on quiet secondary roads that lead through vast stretches of farmland. Before long we will start climbing up into the hills of the Wienerwald UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, characterised by its rolling landscape of woodlands and pastures.

After exiting the reserve near the spa-town of Baden, our route takes us onto the cycle path along the Wiener Neustadt canal and the outskirts of this industrial town, where we can admire the romantic cathedral and the 12th century castle, which still houses the military academy founded by the empress Maria Theresa of Hapsburg in 1751.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1795 Metres Approx.

After breakfast today we leave Wiener Neustadt, heading south along the Leitha River. We now leave Moravia behind and slowly climb up into the Styria Region, the green heart of Austria, covered mainly by forests.

Soon we’ll start climbing up out of the Leitha Valley into the forested hills. Throughout the day we’ll slowly gain altitude, all the while enjoying wide panoramic views. At the end of the day we drop down into the village of Pinggau where we can enjoy a well-deserved beer before going out for dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 970 Metres Approx.

After yesterday’s climbing, this morning we enjoy an easy start rolling downhill for almost 25 km. After stopping briefly for coffee in the village of Bad Waltersdorf, we continue cycling up and down to our destination at Markt Hartmannsdorf.

As is clear from its name this little village carries the (now merely honorific) title of Marktgemeinde (market town), carried into the present from medieval times when several villages had the right to hold a weekly market. Market or not, this evening’s Gasthof will delight our palates with an excellent traditional dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 640 Metres Approx.

Today’s short morning ride west through rolling hills will take us to the city of Graz, the vibrant capital of the Styria Region. We will arrive in time to grab lunch in the old town, UNESCO heritage since 1999.

In the afternoon, take some time to visit the many cultural highlights of the town, including the Uhrturm (clocktower) on the Schlossberg, the symbol of the town. Don’t miss visiting the late-gothic Dom (cathedral) and the mausoleum for the habsburg emperor Ferdinand II. For those interested in art and architecture a visit to the Kunsthaus (art museum) with its organic blob architecture is a must.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 525 Metres Approx.

Today we leave Graz on the cycle path along the Mur River, making for an easy-going ride this morning. On reaching the Austrian-Slovenian border we leave the river valley and head south to the little town of Šentilj, where we enter the third country of our journey and have to change languages again – making all the German we’ve learned while cycling through Austria superfluous again!

After entering Slovenia our route takes us on a little country road running parallel to the A1 highway. We’ll soon arrive in the city of Maribor, second only to Ljubljana, and capital of the Slovenian Styria. After checking in and freshening up, you can go for a walk through the surprisingly compact old town, or a stroll along the banks of the Drava River.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 885 Metres Approx.

On our first day of cycling exclusively in Slovenia, we head south from Maribor through the countryside. The first part of the day is flat, taking us accross the Bistrica River plain. Soon however we will start climbing the northern foothills of the Bocek Mountains, taking us up and then down again to the Dravinja River. A series of short steeper climbs and descents will take us to our accommodation in the Styrian town of Celje, home to the the largest scientific and entertainment park in Slovenia.

On reaching the town in the early afternoon, why not climb up to the castle on a nearby hill to enjoy the panoramic view on the town and the confluence of the Savinja and Voglanja rivers.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1095 Metres Approx.

After breakfast this morning we leave Celje on the cycle path along the Savinja River. For about 30 km we’ll cycle on small roads and cycle ways through the narrow river valley. The Slavinja then flows into the Sava River near the village of Radece. Here we cross the river on a small bridge and turn west to continue our route along the Sava in the direction of Ljubljana.

About 10 km out of the city we will leave the river to make our way into the center of Slovenia’s capital city, dominated by its castle, now an exhibition center. Although Ljubljana is a truly modern city, it still preserves several baroque and art nouveau buildings in its old center, and is well worth a visit before sitting down for dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1040 Metres Approx.

Today is a special day as we reach the fourth country of our journey, entering Italy at Gorizia in the afternoon. The first 25 km of our ride are flat as we leave Ljubljana cycling through the fertile plain of the Ljubljanica River.

We stop for coffee at Vrhnika, after which we cycle up to the Kalce plateau and tackle the only real climb of the day leading to the village of Podkraj. Here we have lunch, followed by a long descent to the town of Ajdovscina and the lower plains of the Goriska region.

Another 25 km through the plains take us to the Slovenian border town of Nova Gorica and its Italian counter part Gorizia. Head out for a walk in the town center before dinner and breathe in the local atmosphere steeped in often-troubled modern history.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 190 Metres Approx.

We leave Gorizia this morning crossing the Isonzo River, to then slowly descend into the Veneto plain. Indeed today our route will take us through almost completely flat land. We’ll stop for coffee at Palmanova, a prime example of a 9-pointed bastion fort (part of UNESCO World Heritage) founded by the Venetians in 1593 to defend this side of the lagoon.

After lunch on the banks of the Stella River, we continue through wide expenses of fields and along canals. Make sure to stop at Cordovado to admire the clock tower of the castle in the old town. At the end of the day we arrive in the market town of Portogruaro and its ancient harbour on the Lemene River.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 100 Metres Approx.

Today is our last day on the bike!

From Portogruaro we head west towards San Stino di Livenza first, after which we reach the town of Jesolo and its marina, the Lido di Jesolo. This is a popular spot with holiday makers and tends to get very busy in summer. Our route here however, follows the cycle path along the Sile River and keeps us away from traffic.

At the end of our ride we will arrive at the harbour of Punta Sabbioni, right in front of the Lido di Venezia, where we stop for lunch before taking the ferry for the very last part of our journey. What better way to arrive in Venice!

• Meals: Breakfast

Time to say goodbye! We’ll transfer as a group to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) for return or onward flights, or public transfer connections are available from the city for anyone choosing to extend their time in Italy.