SPA TRIANGLE IN WESTERN BOHEMIA

6 days / 5 nights - 4 biking days

Guided group tour or Self-guided individual tour

Grade of difficulty: Moderate

Come with us to the land of healing springs, rich history, breathtaking nature and openhearted people. Join the bike tour in Czech Republic and you will find here an unrepeatable atmosphere of spa towns, many remarkable historical sites and numerous interesting places in the nature, which are impossible to find in other regions. You will be able to see the unique Reliquary of St. Maura from the 13th century, walk down the only imperial rabbet in the Czech Republic, which is located in Cheb. You will also have a chance to taste the healing springs in the fairytale-like spa towns and castles from the 19th century. Most of the time, you will be biking through a magnificent nature of the Slavkovsky Forest and through the valley of the Ohre River. If you are not sure about the uniqueness of this tour, we have one more trump card up our sleeve - a unique beer spa, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Here, you will be able to find out that beer can treat our bodies not only from the inside, but also from the outside!

 

Day 1 - Prague-Frantiskovy Lazne
The first day of this bike tour around Czech Republic's spa towns will begin by a pickup from Prague, welcome briefing and transfer to the spa town Františkovy Lázně (180 km). As the name of this town suggests, this town was founded by the Emperor Frantisek I. (Franz) in 1812. The town's center is full of buildings constructed in the Empire and Classicism styles and city itself has real 19th century spa atmosphere. The rest of the day you can spend on colonnade or you can take short bike loop!





Day 2 - Frantiskovy Lazne (Spa) - Lazne Kynzvart (Spa)
Distance: 37 km / 23 miles
After couple of kilometers from Frantiskovy Lazne, we will reach the old town of Cheb, which used to be the entrance into the Czech lands from the Roman Empire in the period of early Middle Ages. Here, we will visit the only rabbet in the Czech Republic. It was built in the 12th century by the Emperor Fridrich Barbarossa. This unique building with a well preserved rotunda became famous throughout Europe and, in its times, was even more known than Prague and seats of German emperors. This building is a "must see" of this entire bike tour around Czech Republic! Our next stop will be the Kynzvart Castle, which we will reach by passing an old castle and a Loretta in the village of Stary Hroznatov. The Kynzvart Castle was built by the Chancellor Clemens Metternich and, therefore, the castle is very opulent. We will spend the night in a town, which is located on a hill above the castle.

Day 3 - Lazne Kynzvart - Chodova Plana
Distance: 43 km / 27 miles
The third day of this bike tour around Czech Republic will start off by descending through an alley of 395 oak trees, which leads to another spa town called Marianske Lazne. This town is a typical representative of spas. It has a beautiful colonnade from the 19th century, along with many pavilions built around the healing springs. From here we will continue uphill to the Tepla Monastery. It was founded at the end of the 12th century. Till today, we can admire a church from the given time along with a rare library containing more than 80 000 books from all centuries. The final destination of this stage is an inconspicuous town of Chodova Plana with a phenomenon, which is unique worldwide - a beer spa. Baths made by mixing healing springs with beer extracts along with drinking beer as well - experiencing these local treating procedures will convince you that beer can treat not only from the outside, but also from the inside!

Day 4 - Chodova Plana - Karlovy Vary
Distance: 54 km / 34 miles
There are two options available for this day of the bike tour around Czech Republic's spa towns. The sport fans can ride the entire way on their bikes through a beautiful, but hilly area of the Slavkovsky Forest. The others will be taken 25 km to Becov nad Teplou. The local complex of a castle and adjacent buildings protects the Reliquary of St. Maura. This Romanesque site was built in the first half of the 13th century and, because of its well-preserved state and artistic value, it is the second most valuable treasure of the Czech Republic. At the same time, it is a significant monument of European standard as well! From Becov nad Teplou, we will climb 3 km, after next 14 km we will reach the Loket Castle. This impressive fortress from the 14th century, in a combination with a well protected settlement around the fortress located in a meander of the Ohre River, will be a very romantic stop on our way. After that, we will continue along the river to the town of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), the largest spa center in the Czech Republic. This town is known since the 14th century, primarily because of its 12 healing and treating springs, the Becherovka Liquor and its world-famous china.

Day 5 - Karlovy Vary - Kadan
Distance: 58 km / 36 miles
This day awaits us the longest stage of the entire bike tour around Czech Republic's spa towns - 60 km. Most of the time, we will follow the Ohre River, which tries to find its way through the Doupovske Hills. From the surrounding hills, we will be watched by several ruins of castles and those, who will have some excessive energy, can try to conquer them. The trail runs through a slightly hilly terrain. Along the way, we will be able to visit a castle in Klasterec nad Ohri with its china exhibition, the Kadan Town with its old-time monastery and a castle. After these visits and sufficient refreshment, we will part with our bikes and get ready for a ride back to Prague (by car this time!).

Day 6 - Return to Prague
Our services end after your check out from the hotel; we will finish our journey dropping you off at the airport.

 

 

Duration	6 days/5 nights
PRICE per person	Euro 880 pp  (based on double occupancy in premium hotel accommodation+1 hour spa) Single supplement: 165 EUR
Bike rental	Euro 75
Dates 2012	Daily, from April to the end of October
Trip rating	moderate
Included servicies for the self-guided bike tour	Pick up from any Prague hotel or from Prague Airport on the first day of the tour Accommodation in selected standard class hotels and pensions Buffet breakfast on all days Detailed town maps Detailed cycling maps (per room) Programme and English route book (per room) Bicycle repair kit (per room) Transportation of participants, their luggage and bicycles from Prague to the starting point of the bike route and from the end of the route to Prague (according to the programme of the tour) Transportation of luggage between hotels 24 hour hotline assistance service GPS set with recorded routes, batteries, battery charger (on request)
Not included services	Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour Transportation (air tickets) to/from starting/final point of the tour Transfer from Prague airport to your Prague hotel on the day of arrival Transfer from hotel to the airport on departure day Meals (except for breakfasts) Entrance fees to museums, castles and chateaux Bike rental
Bike distance	198 Km/123 miles

Guided bicycling tour

PRICE per person	990 Euro pp (based on double occupancy in premium hotels & 1 hour Spa) Single supplement: Euro 165 Minimum size of group: 4 people
Bike rental	Euro 75
Departure dates 2012	May 1st to May 6th July 3rd to 8th August 28th to Sept 2nd
Trip rating	moderate
Duration	6 days / 5 nights
Included services for the guided bike tour	Specialized bicycle tour leader during all biking days  Pick-up from any Prague hotel or Prague Airport on the first day of the tour at an appointed time Accommodation in selected standard class hotels and pensions Buffet breakfast on all days Dinners with drinks except the last night Refreshments in the supporting vehicle (soft drinks, snacks, sweets, fruit) Water for bike-flasks Welcome briefing on the first day Maps of Prague and towns of accommodation on the tour (per room) Detailed cycling maps and town maps (on request) Programme and Route Book (per room) Practical bike ride safety training Technical service on the route First aid - health service on the route Support minibus All transportation of participants and their luggage and bicycles during the tour
Not included services	Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour Transportation (air-tickets) to/from starting/final point of the tour Transfer from Prague airport to your Prague hotel on the day of arrival Transfer from hotel to the airport on the departure day Lunches and dinner on last night Entrance fees to museums, castles and chateaux Bike rental
Distance	193 km/120 miles