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The Trip

The focus of this trip is the Czech Greenways, a network of more than 250 miles of trails and country roads along centuries-old salt, silver, and amber trade routes that were closed off for 40 years behind the Iron Curtain. Traveling along the Greenways is like taking a trip back in time to the days of medieval towns, baroque castles, and Renaissance squares, all in an excellent state of preservation.

Our trip will begin in Vienna, the romantic capital of Austria, nestled on the banks of the Danube River. It will end, thirteen days later, in Prague, the “jewel in the crown” of central Europe and widely recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

On most days we will walk through deciduous forest, over rolling hills, across meadows, and through small towns. We will learn about local history and culture by visiting many of the well-preserved chateaus and castles along the way, as well as an archaeology museum, Valtice Wine Cellars, and the Bohemian Tapestry Center. We will hike two days with an ornithologist/botanist. We will spend our evenings enjoying the local pubs and the fine Czech beer while talking about various aspects of Czech history and culture with our local contacts.

Itinerary

Key for meals included in the trip price: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

Day 1: (Vienna) Plan to arrive in Vienna by early to mid-afternoon. We will provide instructions for getting from the airport to our Vienna hotel, where your trip leader will be waiting to meet you. At 5 p.m. we will meet for introductions and a brief overview of the trip. Dinner or music options will be on your own. Overnight: Vienna.

Day 2: (Vienna) In the morning, we meet our Czech guide and together we enjoy a city tour, taking in the impressive buildings of the Ringstrasse: the State Opera, the Burgtheater, and the Hofburg, the imperial palace of the Hapsburgs. In the afternoon, we board the U-bahn (metro) for the short trip to Schönbrunn Palace, the magnificent royal summer residence of the Hapsburgs on the outskirts of Vienna. This palace of nearly 1,500 rooms was completed in the early 18th century as a smaller model of Versailles, and is surrounded by a zoological and botanical park. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at a restaurant near our hotel. Overnight: Vienna. (B, L, D)

Day 3: (Vienna-Mikulov) We board our private bus for the trip from Vienna to the Czech Republic and spend the day in the Lednice-Valtice Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the former estate of the Liechtenstein family. We tour the Gothic Revival Lednice Chateau and hike five miles through the woods with a local ornithologist. Along the way, we also see unique "follies," romantic structures such as a faux Arc de Triumphe set harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. In the late afternoon, we visit the Valtice Wine Cellars. Overnight: Mikulov. (B, L, D)

Day 4: We drive to a trailhead below the ruined castle of Divci Hrady. From there we hike seven miles with an ornithologist through the historic wine region of Pálava to Dolni Vestonice, home to a museum of archaeology. The ancient Venus of Vestonice, estimated to be 26,000 years old, was discovered near here. Upon our return to Mikulov, we do a walking tour of the town. We also see the crypt of the Dietrichstein family, as well as a synagogue and Jewish cemetery, where the oldest tombstones date to 1605. Dinner is served in a traditional wine cellar. Overnight: Mikulov. (B, L, D)

Day 5: (Vranov-Podyji National Park) Today we drive to the village of Cizov to see the last remnants of the Iron Curtain, then walk seven miles to Vranov. Along the way, we stop at an overlook of the Austrian town of Hardegg with its ancient castle and a sweeping view of the River Dyje Valley. Overnight: Vranov nad Dyje. (B, L, D)

Day 6: (Telc) In the morning, we tour a Baroque castle perched on a rock 230 feet above the river Dyji in Vranov and then drive to the Renaissance town of Telc, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After lunch, we meet with a representative of the Phoenix Society, the nonprofit organization that protects the heritage of the Telc area. Later in the afternoon, we walk five miles, including a trail established as a memorial to Jewish painter Frantisek Nagl. Overnight: Telc. (B, L, D)

Day 7: (Telc) This morning we tour the Telc Chateau and the town of Telc. The afternoon will be free for relaxation and enjoying the Telc square, one of the largest in the Czech countryside. Overnight: Telc. (B, L)

Day 8: (Slavonice-Landstejn-Jindrichuv Hradec) We transfer by bus to the town of Slavonice, founded in the 12th century and famous for its sgraffito facades and local pottery workshop. Sgraffito is a Renaissance technique that uses two layers of plaster of contrasting color applied on the wall. While still wet, the top layer is partially scraped off to create various designs. We hike six miles from Slavonice to the ruins of Castle Landstejn. Our bus then takes us to Jindrichuv Hradec, home of the third-largest castle complex in the Czech Republic. Overnight: Jindrichuv Hradec. (B, L, D)

Day 9: (Jindrichuv Hradec-Trebon) In the morning, we tour the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec and visit the Regional Museum, home of the largest mechanical crèche in the world with several thousand figures. It's quite spectacular and beautiful! Later in the morning, we drive to Kojakovice, where we visit the Village Museum, which highlights the history of common people in the area and traces emigration routes to North America. We walk seven miles around the man-made lake of Svet, an engineering wonder of the 16th century, to the town of Trebon, a 13th-century medieval town with fortification walls. Trebon is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Overnight: Trebon. (B, L, D)

Day 10: (Cesky Krumlov) Our bus takes us to Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the "jewel of South Bohemia," with the second-largest castle complex in the Czech Republic. After a walk around the town, we can enjoy an optional activity, an eight-mile rafting trip from Cesky Krumlov to Zlata Koruna, or spend the afternoon on our own. Overnight: Cesky Krumlov. (B, L, D)

Day 11: (Cesky Krumlov) We begin by touring the town, then the unique Baroque Theater in the Castle in Cesky Krumlov. Then our bus takes us to the base of Klet, the tallest peak in the region (3,200 feet). We take a chairlift to the top of Klet, enjoy a local lunch at the top and take in the great vistas, before hiking seven miles back to Cesky Krumlov. Overnight: Cesky Krumlov. (B, L, D)

Day 12: (Kamenný-Privoz-Prague) Today we drive north to Kamenný-Privoz and we hike seven miles through the Sazava River Valley. After our hike, we drive on to Prague. Overnight: Prague. (B, L)

Day 13: (Prague) We begin the day with a city tour and a walk through the historic center of Prague, known as the Old Town. We visit the Prague Castle, Old Town Square, the Town Hall, and the Jewish Quarter. Our afternoon is free to enjoy the many other sites of Prague. We meet at the end of this day for a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful completion of our journey. Overnight: Prague. (B, L, D)

Day 14: (Prague-Departure) Participants will depart individually. The leader will provide instructions for getting from the hotel to the airport. (B)

Getting There

The trip begins in Vienna and ends in Prague. Many major international airlines serve both cities, so it is possible to purchase an "open-jaw" ticket. Or you may prefer to fly in and out of Vienna and take the train from Prague back to Vienna at the end of the trip. Your leader will provide information and recommendations.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying at small hotels, pensions, and country inns. All rooms will have their own bathrooms, but many do not have telephones, televisions, or air-conditioning. Rooms are double-occupancy, with a roommate provided for those traveling alone.

The cuisines of Austria and the Czech Republic are heavy on meat and potatoes. However, various types of dinner salads are available from every restaurant, and vegetarians can be accommodated. On several evenings, we will have opportunities to engage in "beer meditations" -- evening discussions held at a local pub on such topics as the Iron Curtain and the Cold War, fish ponds and fish farming, and the Czech culture. Your participation in these evenings is entirely voluntary, and you will be responsible for purchasing your own alcoholic beverages.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is designed for hikers in good health who are used to walking five to seven miles a day for several consecutive days. The terrain is moderate, with trails consisting mostly of well-groomed dirt tracks winding through forests or open meadows, country roads, or occasionally on town streets. Elevations are also moderate and changes in elevation are insignificant. The highest peak in the area, Klet, rises 3,200 feet, and we will be taking a chairlift to the top and walking down. Our support bus will be available in case of illness, exhaustion, or injury. The length of any day's hike may vary from the itinerary, depending on the route selected. July can be quite warm, but we may also encounter rain and cooler temperatures. We will adjust the hikes as necessary, taking weather conditions into account.

Austria and the Czech Republic are modern countries, but they do some things differently than we do. Critical to your enjoyment of this trip is a relaxed attitude and a willingness to accept the inevitable surprises that travel has in store for us.

Equipment and Clothing

Sturdy walking shoes and a day pack are essential; otherwise, your normal travel gear will do. Be prepared for both heat and rain. A complete list of equipment will be provided prior to the trip.

A valid passport is required for travel to Austria and the Czech Republic, but U.S. citizens do not need visas. Citizens of other countries should check with their embassies or consulates.

References

• Steves, Rick, Rick Steves’ Vienna, 2009.
• Agnew, Hugh, The Czechs and the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, 2004.
• Capek, Karel, Tales from Two Pockets, The War with the Newts, Catbird Press, 1994.
• Any books, plays, articles by Václav Havel, the Czech writer, philosopher, and dissident who was imprisoned during the Soviet era and who later became the first president of Czechoslovakia after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
• Czech Phrasebook, Lonely Planet, 1st ed., 2001.
• Ash, Timothy Garton, We The People: The Revolution of '89, Granta/Penguin, 1990.
• Steves, Rick, Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic, 2010.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers, aided by a salaried staff, and encourages grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants in understanding the parallels between environmental concerns at home and abroad.

The modern Greenways were created by a group of preservation enthusiasts -- Czechs and Americans -- after the 1989 "Velvet Revolution." This Greenways group realized that under the new free market economy, with its rapid and environmentally careless economic development, architectural monuments and the surrounding countryside of the region were in need of protection. They formed a nonprofit civic organization, Greenways-Zelene stezky, in 1992. Following the model of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, they created a partnership of 12 mayors and their towns, and inspired and supported grassroots initiatives. Greenways-Zelene stezky is a member of the Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development (Nadace Partnerstvi), which is working to promote sustainable regional development through projects that preserve the natural and cultural heritage that make each community unique. We will have the opportunity to visit some of these projects.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Growing up in a remote Sierra Nevada village in California, Martha Schultz's love of wilderness was nurtured from an early age. She is an avid hiker, cross-country skier, and sea kayaker. Over the past 27 years, she has led several sea kayaking trips in Alaska and backpacking trips in California for the Sierra Club. She especially likes to combine traveling with outdoor adventure-trekking in Nepal, "hut-hopping" in the Alps or kayaking in New Zealand. This will be her third trip to the Czech Republic.

E-mail: marthaschultz@earthlink.net

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback