About

We are a small travel agency based in Český Krumlov, specializing in organizing cycling trips in the Czech Republic, mainly in southern Bohemia and its immediate surroundings. We have been operating in the tourism industry since 1993 under the brand name Vltava sport service, when we started organizing water sports trips on the Vltava River and cycling trips in the vicinity of Český Krumlov. In 2005, we started organizing complete cycling trips under the new brand name Czech Bike Tours. The founder of both companies is Petr Janota, who has recently been focusing solely on his work for Czech Bike Tours. Our entire team consists of friends, family members, and external collaborators. We all love to travel, ride bikes, go boating, meet new people, and learn new things. We live here and want to show you why this place is truly special.

We organize comprehensive cycling trips for our clients, either self-guided or guided. You can choose from trips of various lengths and difficulty levels, depending on how much time you have and how fit you are. In both cases, you will be well taken care of.

This trip is suitable for pretty much everyone (see explanation in 2 points below 😊).

The self-guided tour includes:

• Transport from starting point (usually Prague or Vienna)  at the beginning of your trip by van

• Transport to destination point  at the end  of your trip by public transportation (usually bus or train, but it is available to arrange private transfer for supplement)

• 3 – 12 * Accommodations in selected premium hotels ( 4 – 3 stars ) based on double occupancy (single occupancy is avilable for supplement)

• 3 – 12 * Buffet-style breakfasts

• Baggage transport

• Transfers as per program

• Quality hybrid bike rental including accessories for the duration of the trip (e‑bike or gravel bike rental is availaable for supplement)

• Information book with detailed description of the routes in English and daily suggestions

• High-scale bike maps

• GPS navigation

• Guidebook of sights, cities and nature monuments

• Cellphone

• Hotline support

This trip is suitable for those who don’t want to worry about anything. 😊It is suitable for groups of friends, families, etc. We organize this type of trip as a private tour. We do not offer scheduled guided tours because we believe that the group should be ​“uniform.” Group members should have similar priorities in terms of riding and bikes, exploring, and physical fitness. In the past, we have found that even one ​“mismatched” participant can ruin the trip for everyone else.

The guided tour includes:

• Transport from starting point (usually Prague or Vienna)  at the beginning of your trip by van

• Transport to destination point  at the end  of your trip by public transportation (usually bus or train, but it is available to arrange private transfer for supplement)

• 3 – 12 * Accommodations in selected premium hotels ( 4 – 3 stars ) based on double occupancy (single occupancy is avilable for supplement)

• 3 – 12 * Buffet-style breakfasts

• 3 – 12 * snack, water and fruits during cycling

• English-speaking guide

• Support vehicle

• Baggage transport

• Transfers as per program

• Quality hybrid bike rental including accessories for the duration of the trip (e‑bike or gravel bike rental is availaable for supplement)

• Information book with detailed description of the routes in English and daily suggestions

• High-scale bike maps

• GPS navigation

• Guidebook of sights, cities and nature monuments

• Cellphone

• Hotline support

A guided tour includes the following three items in addition to a self-guided tour:

3 – 12 * snack, water, and fruit during cycling

• English-speaking guide

• Support vehicle

However, you can also take advantage of all these services during a self-guided trip.

• You can buy lunch or snacks anywhere along the way

• Our Infobook, which contains a wealth of useful information about interesting places, sights, and recommended restaurants, will replace the services of a guide

• If you need transportation by car during your trip, we can arrange this upon request

As I wrote above, there is no need to be afraid of a self-guided trip. This is confirmed by our clients, 95% of whom choose this option and have had no problems along the way. So why shouldn’t you be afraid either?

1) We are based in Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia, and most of our trips take place in our immediate vicinity, where we know the area perfectly and can provide you with maximum support. We can meet you practically every day, as we will transport your luggage from hotel to hotel, so we can help you in case of any problems.

2) In case of bad weather, physical indisposition, or any other reason why you do not want to/​cannot ride your bike, we can arrange (usually free of charge) a transfer with bikes to another hotel.

3) In the event of a major bike malfunction (you should be able to change a flat tire yourself) that you are unable to fix yourself or at a bike repair shop along the way, we will arrange for a replacement by the next morning. If you have a problem along the way, we will usually be with you within 1 – 2 hours, replace your bike, and, if necessary, transport you to your destination hotel.

4) If you are on the road, we are ready to assist you in any way we can, whether it’s solving problems or just recommending a good restaurant along the way.

5) The self-guided package also includes our annually updated Infobook, where you will find lots of useful tips and recommendations regarding restaurants, sights, and other tourist attractions.

6) Thanks to modern technology, especially GPS navigation, you no longer have to worry about getting lost. You will always find your way back! In addition to GPS navigation, you will also have classic paper cycling maps at your disposal.

There is really nothing to worry about. Anyone can do it!😊

You arrive in Prague (or Vienna) and the next day your dream holiday begins…

Your first day.                                                                                                                                                                         In the morning, usually between 8 and 9 am, you will be picked up by our representative at the place we agreed. This can be at your hotel, at the airport or anywhere else that suits you. We will load you and your luggage and take you to a place from where you will continue on your bikes. The car ride usually takes 2 hours and I recommend using it to thoroughly interview our guide. Upon arrival at the starting point, your guide will give you a detailed breefing on the organisation of the trip, answer any questions you may have, help you adjust your bikes according to your requirements, and mark your luggage that will be transported from your hotel to the hotel during your trip.  This initial breefing takes approximately 1 hour. I therefore recommend that you change into the clothes you will be cycling in the morning. Breefing usually takes place in a café or restaurant and you would have to change in the toilets. Once you are on your way, your guide will transport your luggage to the hotel where you will sleep that night. Upon your arrival at the hotel, ask at the reception where you can store your bikes. Hotels have specially designated areas for this purpose, usually a garage or bike room. Your room will usually be available after 2pm. To check in, the receptionist will require your passport or ID card. After checking in, you can start exploring your new place. You can always find what to see or where to eat in the description of each dayin your Infobook. However, everything is subject to change, so I still recommend asking the reception staff what’s new or interesting.

Other days.                                                                                                                                                                           The next days, until you reach your destination, will actually be the same… ☹ Just kidding, the days will be varied and great! Only the organization will be the same. In the morning after breakfast (usually 7 — 10 am) you need to leave your room, usually by 11 am. Your luggage (marked with our agency’s tag) that you want to transport to the next hotel should be deposited at the reception by 11 am. Luggage is usually transported between hotels by taxi or by our agency. They will be available at the next hotel reception from 2 pm (usually earlier). Then just choose the daily itinerary that suits you for the day and get on your way. In case you are indisposed and would like to use the luggage transport for your transfer to your next destination as well, please contact us in the evening day before or in the morning by phone. If possible, we will be happy to accommodate you or find another solution for you.   And the next day is the same…😊

Penultimate day — Your last day of cycling.                                                                                                                    The organisation of the penultimate day is the same as the previous days. Only after arriving at the finish you need to hand in your rented bikes and other equipment. Please see the detailed description of this day for handover instructions. Either drop them off at our office in the centre of Cesky Krumlov, 2 minutes from your hotel, or leave them at the hotel as instructed.

The last day of your trip.                                                                                                                                                     If you have not extended your holiday for another day at the destination, the trip ends with a transfer to your chosen destination (Prague, Vienna…) based on your request. The departure time (between 7 am and 7 pm) must be arranged at least 2 days in advance so that we can arrange the required tickets.

The ideal start and end points for each trip are listed in the basic itinerary for each trip. They are chosen so that transfers by car to the starting point and during the trip are as short as possible. Usually, it’s about a 2‑hour drive at the start. However, you can also start at other places, such as Brno, Vienna (A), or Linz (A) instead of Prague. Trips usually end in Prague or Vienna, where we’ll take you by public transport (bus or train). These are direct connections and the transport is comfortable. Upon request (for a fee), we can also arrange private transfers to these locations. If you are continuing your trip to a location other than the one listed in the itinerary, we are happy to help you organize your transportation. Just mention this in the comments section of the booking form.

It is no problem to extend your standard trip with a break anywhere along the way or at the end of the trip. Many clients extend their trip with an extra night in Český Krumlov.

Where possible, we use 4* hotels on our trips. These are the best hotels in these destinations, mostly located in the center, offering quality services, sufficient capacity, and ready to meet the needs of cyclists (bike storage, e‑bike charging, etc.). The hotels we usually use can be found in the itinerary of each trip. If you book a trip, the confirmation will include a list of hotels where you will be staying. Only after you have agreed to the trip itinerary, including your hotels, will you be asked to pay a deposit.

The basic price of the trip includes the rental of a hybrid bike (men’s or women’s version in various sizes). The bikes have 27 (3×9) gears and are suitable for the local terrain. The bikes are equipped with mudguards, a rear rack with panniers, a handlebar bag, a water bottle holder, basic tools, a pump, and a spare inner tube. We will also lend you a bike helmet. Upon request, we will attach your SPD pedals or toe clips to the bikes. For an additional fee, we also offer cross e‑bikes with a Panasonic motor and a 720 Ah battery, which will save you any hard work and last all day. For sporty cyclists, we offer gravel bikes with Shimano GRX 800 – 400 components.

You don’t have to worry about food during your day. If you are on a self-guided tour, you will find information in the Infobook about where you can get refreshments along the way. However, keep in mind that during the off-season (mid-April to May, mid-September to October), some restaurants (especially in small villages) may already be closed. During this period, we recommend bringing snacks, fruit, and water with you so that you are not caught off guard by this situation.

Generally speaking, you can go on a trip between April and October. However, the weather in April (first two weeks) and October (second half) can be unpredictable. In both cases, temperatures can rise to 25 degrees Celsius, or it can snow or rain heavily. We therefore recommend avoiding this period, or at least being sufficiently prepared for this eventuality, i.e., having enough warm and waterproof clothing. The ideal weather for a trip is from May to September, when the weather is more or less stable and favorable for cycling. Each month during this period has its slight advantages and disadvantages:

May (15 – 20°C) Start of the season, few cyclists, some small restaurants closed

June (18 – 25°C) Ideal time, before school holidays, everything open

July (20 – 30°C) Start of school holidays, more people in tourist areas, everything open

August (18 – 25°C) The second and third decades of the month are ideal, everything is open,                                       warm, fewer tourists

September (15 – 25°C) End of season, fewer tourists, some small restaurants closed

The minimum number of people for a self-guided tour is 1 person, and the maximum is 14 people.

The minimum number of people for a guided tour is 2 people, and the maximum is 12.

If there are more of you, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will try to help you.