From the Labe Spring to Dresden
Guided cycling tours:
distance: 237 km long
duration: 8 days
The tour from Špindlerův Mlýn to Dresden leads you from the spring of Labe in the highest Czech mountains, Krkonoše, via Dvůr Králové – where the most famous ZOO in the Czech Republic is situated, via the spa town of Poděbrady and the ancient towns of Stará Boleslav and Mělník to the protected area of sandstone rocks of the Kokořínsko Region, and to Mácha´s Region under the hill of Bezděz surrounded by an endless carpet of forests. Having passed through the unusual but picturesque countryside of the Lužické hory Mountains with their halftimbered and timbered houses you will be welcome by the youngest national park in the Czech Republic – České Švýcarsko National Park, being famous for its stone towns, view points and the largest rock gate in Europe – Pravčická brána. From here you continue on the German side of the Labe River which leads you to Dresden.
The programme includes also something extra:
- Chair lift up to the top of the Medvědín Mountain
- Night safari in the town of Dvůr Králové
- Tour around the open-air museum in Přerov nad Labem
- Dinner in wine tavern in Mělník
- Tour around the Houska Castle
- Entrance fee and tour around the rock arch Pravčická brána
The tour is 237 km long and is divided into daily sections that are 33 – 60 km long. The level of diffi culty is higher in the Krkonoše and Lužické Mountains. You should be ready for steeper uphill and longer downhill rides. Along the river Labe a lowland terrain prevails and the level of diffi culty decreases.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Meeting point in Prague. Transfer to Špindlerův
Mlýn in Krkonoše. Accommodation in a hotel, dinner.
Day
2
Špindlerův Mlýn - Mountain hike to the spring of the Labe River,
16 km. Chair lift up to the top of the Medvědín Mountain. Hike to the spring of
the Labe River (1.387 m above sea-level). Optional cycling tour in Špindlerův
Mlýn in the afternoon.
Day 3
Špindlerův Mlýn – Dvůr
Králové nad Labem, 47 km. Undemanding cycling trip along the River Labe leads
you from Krkonoše to Dvůr Králové. Optional visit of the Krkonoše Museum in
Vrchlabí. Unique night safari in Dvůr Králové.
Day 4
Poděbrady – Mělník, 43 km. Transfer of the participants from Dvůr Králové to
the spa town of Poděbrady by mini-bus. Tour around the town. Cycling tour via
Nymburk and Přerov nad Labem. Visit of the open-air museum. End of the cycling
part of the trip in Stará Boleslav. Transfer by mini-bus to Mělník - the town
above the confl uence of two important Czech rivers, the Vltava and Labe. Dinner
in a wine tavern and local wine tasting.
Day 5
Mělník –
Doksy, 54 km. The trip takes you from Mělník to the Kokořín Region – romantic
countryside of the sandstone rocks, lakes and large woodlands in the
surroundings of the Máchovo jezero Lake. Visit of the mysterious Houska Castle
where the entrance to hell is said to be under its chapel and where a lot of
unexplained phenomena appeared. Optional visit of the Kokořín Castle known for
its 38-m high tower.
Day 6
Horní Podluží – Mezní
Louka, 33 km. Transfer by mini-bus to the Horní Podluží Region in the Lužické
Hory Mountains. The cycling trip will lead you to the heart of the České
Švýcarsko National Park, among its fascinating rock towns and towers with a lot
of view points, romantic glens of the river Kamenice and the largest sandstone
gate in Europe – Pravčická brána. Hiking trip and visit of Pravčická brána and
Sokolí hnízdo.
Day 7
Mezní Louka – Dresden, 60 km. From
Mezní Louka to the town of Hřensko down to the river Labe, across the border
with Germany and along the river via Bad Schandau to Dresden. Here the cycling
trip ends. Accommodation in a pension, dinner.
Day 8
Tour
around the city. Transfer to Prague. End of the programme.
