Berlin to Krakow (11 days)

Dates

• June 20-30, 2024

Price:

• $3,390 USD or $4,960 AUD (single supplement $570 USD or $840 AUD)*

Level od difficulty

• Moderate

Check out our video from our 2022 Berlin-Krakow tour here.

Book here

Overview

This tour stretches through three countries – Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland – where much of the most important European history from the last century was written...

Our trip starts in the German capital of Berlin and ends in Krakow, the most beautiful city in Poland. On the way we will pass through the wooded region full of natural lakes south of Berlin. We then visit Dresden, known not only for being the target of one of the biggest Allied bombing raids during World War II but also for its amazing art galleries. We will ride along the Elbe River and see some beautiful natural sandstone formations and spend a night in Olomouc, the second most famous city for historical monuments in the Czech Republic. In Olomouc, we join the so-called Amber Trail (an ancient trade route from the coast of the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea) and we will, more or less, follow it all the way to our final destination in Krakow. Krakow is one of the very few cities in Poland that was not destroyed during the war and its rich history dates back to the 7^th century. However, before we reach Krakow, we will pass through some beautiful countryside, state parks and natural preserves and see many old and historical monuments in Moravia and Poland.

Since there is so much to see in Berlin as well as Krakow, we certainly encourage you to stay a few more days on each side of the trip. If you decide to extend your stay before or after the trip, we can help you, if desired, to arrange the extra nights of your stay.

What's Included

• Accommodations (10 nights) – 3-star hotels and pensions
• Breakfasts every morning and 6 dinners
• Sightseeing (including a walking tour in Berlin, a tour of Zwinger, the famous palace with world class art collections in Dresden, and a walking tour of Krakow)
• Van support with snack stops along the route; luggage transport
• Bus transfers
• Cue sheets and copies of maps
• Bilingual tour guide and ride leader on route
• Option for extended stay in Berlin and Krakow 

Itinerary **

Day 1, Berlin. Check-in and sightseeing 

After you check-in (for those who are just arriving), we will have a bike fitting session, after which we will regroup at the reception at 1.00 p.m. and set out for a three-hour introductory walking tour of Berlin with a professional guide. You will have the opportunity to see the center of the historically rich and reunited city, which was artificially divided by the Berlin Wall for over 25 years. In the evening, we will meet for our welcome dinner and orientation meeting.   

Day 2: Berlin – Baruth Mark (73 km / 46 miles)

Today, we pedal through the wooded and lake areas south of Berlin, passing through the town of Zossen, a very important military town in recent history. Zossen had prisoner of war camps during WW I and Wehrmacht underground headquarters during WW II, and during the Cold War, it was a Soviet military camp (part of communist East Germany). We will spend the night nearby Baruth/Mark, a small town surrounded by nature reserves.

Day 3: Baruth Mark – Senftenberg Lake (93 km / 58 miles)

We continue heading south, riding through the beautiful natural park of “Naturpark Niederlausitzer Landrücken” and via the town of Finsterwalde. The town dates back to the 13^th century and it is especially famous for its Gothic Church. Overnight we stay on the bank of one of the largest artificial lakes in Germany, Senftenberg Lake, also called Senftenberg See.

Day 4: Senftenberg Lake to Dresden (74km / 46 miles)

Still heading south, we pass through and along some more nature reserves, woods and lakes. We pedal through a few small German towns and villages (such as Schwepnitz and Konigsbruck), eventually arriving to beautiful Dresden on the banks of the Elbe River. We spend the night here. Apart from other sightseeing, we visit the Zwinger Palace and some of its world famous art collections.

Day 5: Dresden to Decin and bus transfer to Olomouc (64 km / 40 miles)

We follow the beautiful Elbe River today. We cross the border to the Czech Republic, continue along the river and admire the sandstone formation of a famous sandstone state park, which surrounds the river on the Czech side of the border. After arriving in Decin, we transfer by bus to Olomouc, where we spend the night. Olomouc is a historical city in Moravia and the second most famous city for historical monuments in the Czech Republic (after Prague).

Day 6: Olomouc - Stramberk (83 km / 52 miles)

In Olomouc, we join the so-called Amber Trail that used to be one of the most important north-south trade route connecting the Adriatic Sea with the Baltic Sea. Today we pass by the imposing Helfstyn Castle (and you will have the opportunity to explore it on your own during our lunch break). We continue to Stary Jicin with its ancient ruins and to Novy Jicin with its arcade and Renaissance chateau. From here it is a short ride to today's destination, Stramberk, a small town especially famous for its Gothic castle and timbered houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Day 7: Stramberk - Cieszyn (67 km / 42 miles)

We continue on the Amber Trail today, passing through Koprivnice. Time permitting, you can visit a technical museum of the old Czech car maker Tatra with many interesting veteran cars on display here. We also pass by Hukvaldy, famous for its ruined castle. It is also the birthplace of composer Leos Janacek. We eventually arrive to Cesky Tesin/Polsky Cieszyn a town on the Czech-Polish border. We spend the night at the Polish side of the town, in a nice hotel just a very short walk from the town's main square and its historical center.

Day 8: Cieszyn – Zywiec (69 km / 43 miles)

Riding in Poland today, we pedal along the Wisla River first. Once we say goodbye to the river, we continue through the beautiful nature of the Beskid National Park, arriving in Zywiec, an old historical town and center of the region, located by Zywiec Lake. Today is a "hilly" day but the views are worth it. Zywiec is also known for making one of the best beers in Poland, so we will visit its famous brewery in the afternoon and you can taste the beer for yourself...

Day 9: Zywiec - Krakow (27 km / 17 miles)

We continue east toady, following the Amber Trail. We pass through forests, small Polish towns and villages, seeing the “timber architecture” of the region. We need to climb a few hills today as well but the overall distance is short. At about noon, we will board a bus and shuttle to Tyniec, a great Benedictine Abbey on the Vistula River, just a few miles from Krakow. We will have plenty time to have a drink and/or lunch there. After our monastery visit, it is just a short ride along the river to Krakow, the most beautiful city in Poland and the final destination of our trip. In the evening, we will have our last dinner together.

Day 10: Krakow

Today is reserved for sightseeing Krakow. Our introductory walking tour of the city is scheduled for 10.00 a.m. After the tour, you will have plenty of time to explore this beuatiful city some more on your own. We will get together for a goodbye drink sometimes during the afternoon.

Day 11: Krakow

The tour is officially over after breakfast. We encourage you to stay a day or two longer to explore Krakow, one of the few cities in Poland that was mostly spared from bombing during WWII.

Trip Difficulty

For full enjoyment of the trip, you should come prepared to complete the 60-80 km / 40-55 mile days comfortably on flat and gently rolling terrain. Most of the hilly terrain occurs during the last four days of the trip.

We strive to design our route along small, quiet, and picturesque roads with as little car traffic as possible and/or bike paths that enhance our sightseeing of the local areas. With the exception of a few short sections of firmly packed dirt, all the roads and bike paths are paved, which means that the trip is suitable for road bikes as well as hybrids.

Transportation

Berlin is serviced by Tegel Airport, not too far from the city center and our accommodation in Berlin. Public transportation and reasonably priced taxi services are available from the airport to the city.

Krakow is serviced by John Paul II International Airport, about 7 miles west of the city. Apart from taxi services, there are train and bus public transportation services available to the city. The train service has been suspended due to renovations but should be back running in 2016.

Bike Rental

If you wish to rent a bike from us, we have the following fully serviced, light, quality road/fitness bikes available:

• Fuji Absolute 2, 3, and 4, flat handlebars
• Fuji Newest 1 and 2, drop handlebars
• Fuji Roubaix 1.3, drop handlebars

Your rental bike comes with a rear luggage rack, bungie cord, extra tube and levers, water bottle cage, pump, lock, and odometer. The price for renting a bike for this tour is $200 for Fuji Absolute or $270 for Fuji Newest and Fuji Roubaix.

* Our expenses are mostly payable in Euros. Because of the constant fluctuations in currency rates, we reserve the right to increase the trip price. The trip price may increase depending on the currency exchange rate of the Euro to the USD and/or AUD at the moment of your final payment. The trip price shall increase if the USD/Euro exchange rate exceeds 1.10 and/or AUD/Euro exchange rate exceeds 1.60.

** We reserve the right to change the itinerary without notice especially, but not only, for safety reasons

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