Iron Curtain Trail (West)
- Length 10 Days
- Difficulty level Moderate
- Tour length 581 Km
- Price from 1150 € Per person
Tour description
The Iron Curtain Trail (EuroVelo 13) traces the former frontier between East and West Europe — once guarded by watchtowers and barbed wire, today transformed into one of the continent’s most fascinating cycling routes. On this tour, you'll ride freely through the vast, untouched border landscapes of western Bohemia, where nature was allowed to flourish for decades behind the Iron Curtain.
From the charming medieval town of Cheb, your journey leads through forgotten borderland villages, quiet forests, rolling hills, and beautiful viewpoints. Explore Český Les, a region of reclaimed meadows, wetlands, and hidden Cold War relics. In Domažlice, the historic town watchman still sings his nightly call, while the glacial lakes and deep forests of Šumava National Park offer some of the most dramatic scenery in the Czech Republic.
Along the way, discover the Schwarzenberg Canal, an ingenious 18th-century waterway once used to transport timber; ride above the wild upper stretches of the Vltava River; and visit atmospheric sites such as abandoned villages, old military roads, and restored pilgrimage chapels. The route continues past Lake Lipno, through the peaceful Novohradské hory mountains, and ends in the historic towns of Vyšší Brod and Nové Hrady — with an optional final stop in České Budějovice, the lively South Bohemian capital and birthplace of original Budweiser (Budvar) beer.
This tour is more than a cycling holiday.
It’s a journey through time — rich in history, untouched nature, and powerful stories that shaped Central Europe.
IMPORTANT: Due to the following dates, hotel availability may be problematic and a surcharge might occur.
Labor Day: May 1
Liberation Day: May 8
Ascension Day:May 29
Pfingsten/Pentecost:May 25
Assumption of the Virgin Mary: August 15
Itinerary
Arrival in Cheb
Show dayServices and prices
Self guided tour with luggage transfer (price p.p.)
| 2 Persons | 1150 € |
| 4 Persons | 1080 € |
| 6 Persons | 999 € |
Extras
| Bike rental | 135 € |
| Gravel bike rental | 180 € |
| E-bike rental | 270 € |
| Single supplement | 250 € |
| Solo rider surcharge | 220 € |
| Premium accommodation surcharge | 235 € |
| Premium accommodation SGL surcharge | 310 € |
| Train transfere from Č. Budějovice to Cheb p.p. | 35 € |
| Booking fee | 30 € / group |
| Booking fee (tailormade tour) | 100 € / group |
| Bike lights | 10 € |
| Printed tour materials | 10 € |
Tour datesAny scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private
No terms available right now
Our rental bikes
At Europe Bike Tour, we understand that a high-quality bicycle is key to an enjoyable vacation. That's why we ensure all our bikes are regularly serviced to maintain their perfect condition. For additional equipment, please refer to the "Bike Equipment" section where you'll find items included in the bike fee or available for rent/purchase at an extra cost.
Our diverse fleet includes bikes for men and women in various sizes, electric bikes, tandem bikes, children's bikes, and even recumbent bikes upon request. If you have any special requirements or wishes, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are dedicated to meeting your needs and ensuring you have the best experience possible!
What is included and what notOn self guided idividual tours
- Individual pre-tour meeting at appointed time at client's hotel on the first day of the tour
- Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions (city standard/premium)
- Breakfast on all days
- Day by day description with altitude profiles, places to visit and local tips
- Official biking maps with highlighted routing (per room)
- Detailed tailor-made cycling maps (per room)
- Detailed town maps with highlighted routing to/from hotel (per room)
- Step by step route description (per room)
- Train tickets and train timetables (for tours where train transfer is part of a tour schedule)
- Transportation of luggage between hotels between 9-17:00 (for option including luggage transfers only!)
- Practical bike ride and safety information
- 24-hour hotline assistance service
- 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
- Local touristic/spa tax (to be paid on spot directly to accommodation)
- Bike rental
On fully guided tours
- Specialized Bike Holidays bicycle tour leader during all biking days
- Pick-up from any Prague hotel on the first day of the tour at an appointed time
- Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions
- Breakfast on all days
- Dinners without drink on specific number of biking days (usually every other day but for more info, please contact your tour coordinator)
- Refreshments in the supporting vehicle (soft drinks, snacks, sweets, fruit)
- Water for bike-flasks
- Welcome briefing on the first day
- Maps of towns of accommodation on the tour (per room)
- Detailed cycling maps (on request)
- Program and detailed day-by-day description (per room)
- Practical bike ride safety training
- Technical service on the route
- First aid service on the route
- Support vehicle
- All transportation of participants and their luggage and bicycles during the tour
- Personal travel and health insurance for participants in the tour
- Transportation (air-tickets) to/from Prague – 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
- Other meals than mentioned in "What is included"
- Entrance fees to museums, castles, and chateaux
- Local touristic/spa tax (to be paid on spot directly to accommodation)
- Bike rental
Request your holidaysSelf guided tours it is support and independence
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Full-guided trip
We at Europe Bike Tour do know, that a good bike is the most important part of a nice vacation. So we let all our bikes serviced regulary so they stay in perfect condition. Under "Bike Equipment" you can find other aditional equipment that is either in the bike fee included or you can rent/buy it for adittional funds.
We offer male and female bikes with different sizes, E-bikes, Tandembikes, Bikes for kids and on request the Recumbent bike as well. Should you have a special wish/need, do not hesitate to ask us, we will make our best to fullfill your wish!
Why with us?
With a rich 12-year history, Europe Bike Tours offers more than just cycling trips; we provide immersive "Culture Biking" experiences across the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Our tours blend the thrill of biking with cultural exploration, taking you from charming local eateries to ancient, hidden castles. We handpick the most captivating locations, ensuring each bike, family, or wine holiday is an adventure in itself. Catering to diverse preferences, our tours come in various formats, from self-guided to fully guided, with options for luggage transfer and different accommodation levels. For those seeking something unique, we're always ready to craft a tailor-made tour that perfectly fits your vision of a cycling holiday.
- Self guided, fully guided or supported tours
- City standard or premium accommodation
- Tailor made maps
- More biking options for each day
- 24/7 Hotline with personal approach
- Quality bikes e-Bikes
Who we are
Lukáš SvárovskýManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, German
Guide since 2008
Lukas was born and raised in the Czech capital of Prague. His keen interest in history and sports influenced his determination to study both subjects at university in Germany. His passion for travel also led to Lukas adding a tourism degree to his studies. Biking, exploring, and discovering interesting places was one of the determining moments when in 2010 he decided to start Europe Bike Tours. Since than Lukas is keen on developing new products, improve services and above all, share his passion for traveling while guiding one of the tours!
Vitek ProchazkaManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, French, German, Slovak, Spanish
Guide since 2012
Vitek was born in Prague, Czech Republic and has remained there most of his life. During his travel and tourism studies he began guiding mostly bike and rafting trips all around Europe. Through his years in the office of a travel agency, guiding remained an important part of his life. Eventually went of for year in New Zealand and after returning started guiding and preparing programs in and around his homeland
Our self-guided tours
Accommodation is one of the most important parts of each trip that strongly influences the final look of it. We make our best to offer you the best possible accommodation in the prefered category. The hotels we offer are either comfortable small hotels or quite guesthouses both in 3* quality, all of it rather small and with personality than big chain. All the tours have accommodation in or near the town/village centres so you can spend the afternoon and evening after biking exploring the town itself or simply enjoy the peace of the place.