SOUTH MORAVIA

A region associated with the best wine, charming folk songs and dulcimer music, where Nature’s colors are reflected in beautiful folk attires and painted pottery, and a multi-colored countryside in picturesque relief. Lovers of good food and drink easily forget all their troubles in the wine cellars of Moravian-Slovakian borderland. Visitors are caught up in the joyful mood generated by the music, songs and folk dances at numerous folklore festivals. You will be fascinated by superb Renaissance architecture of urban reserve areas, impressive castles, beautiful chateaux and rich collections they house, fairy-tale caves and gorges, and the famous battlefield of Austerlitz where Napoleon won the battle of Three Emperors in 1805.

SOUTH BOHEMIA

Deep forests, romantic rocks, mysterious moors, large parks, Gothic and Baroque churches and chapels, century-old towers of castles and chateaux, and blue ponds glittering in the sun. You can see all this and more traveling through the enchanted

landscape of South Bohemia and Šumava (Böhmerwald). The infinite barbed-wire barrier between Germany and Czech Republic has been removed and we can enjoy this beautiful landscape

Day 1: Vienna to Czech Republic: Lednice

We meet in the morning, and depart for the Moravian Wine Country of the Czech Republic. Here we will stay for three nights in the Mansion of the Templars, a unique hotel, refurbished from a 13th Century fortress. In the afternoon we visit Lednice Chateau, added to the UNESCO list as World Heritage. Here we will explore paths around numerous small lakes that are home to egrets, herons, and other shore birds. This wonderful complex is often called "Europe's garden". Before dinner we enjoy a stroll through Lednice park.

Cejkovice

Day 2: Slovacko Region

We drive through Hodonin and Straznice to the Bile Karpaty Mountain Range. Driving time is approximately half an hour to 45 minutes. We begin our walk at the old windmill, located above the village of Kuzelov. En Route, we may stop in Mala Vrbka to meet a local artist - a young woman making table clothes from linen and cotton. Today's walk is about 4 hours (12km) on relatively easy rolling terrain. For a portion of our walk, we are right on the border of Slovakia. We have beautiful views on the both sides of Bile Karpaty. This area is called Vojsicke Louky Meadows, known for a variety of beautiful flowers and old oak and linden trees. Our walk finishes by the lovely reservoir Lucina. We then drive through Radejov to Straznice where we can visit an open-air museum of traditional buildings from the area. We return to Cejkovice where we will have a gala party with live folk music and samples of local wine.

Cejkovice

Day 3: The Chriby hills

This morning we travel a short distance to Buchlov Castle. We will visit this old castle located on the hill and then start walking on the ridge of Chriby Mountains. These hills are forested by beech trees. We will stop at Church of St. Barbora, then continue down via a steep hill and rolling terrain to Velehrad. The Cistercian Monastery at Velehrad, is pilgrimage place and capital of the ancient Moravian Empire has a beautiful Baroque Basilica. On the way back to Cejkovice, we may stop to see a local pottery maker in Dubnany.

Cejkovice

Day 4: Telc

We depart for South Moravia, passing Brno, the largest town in Moravia. From the Rostejn Castle we walk through the Bohemian Countryside and the Moravian Highlands to the beautiful UNESCO village of Telc. Surrounded by man-made lakes, this charming village gives the impression of being an island. The houses are a colorful collection of architectural styles from Gothic to Baroque to Renaissance. After enjoying lunch in Telc we visit a local Renaissance Castle and walk by the Telc Lakes. Tonight we will stay in Telc and have time to enjoy the village, before dinner at a restaurant on the square.

Telc

Day 5: Ceska Kanada And Slovonice:

We drive today to Landstejn Castle, which is about 45 minutes south of Telc. The entire area is called Ceska Kanada (Czech Canada), named for its natural beauty. We find deep, never ending spruce forests and peaceful lakes. Our walk takes us to Stare Mesto pod Landstejnem and then to Slavonice. The well-preserved old town of Slavonice was an important border - trade town. You will see many beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings here. Today's walk is about 15km but is relatively easy. Because this area is known for its fine mushrooms, we will stop to pick some. Later, we will enjoy dinner at Trest Castle.

Telc

Day 6: Trebon

We leave Telc in the morning, driving to South Bohemian Basin. Our first stop is in Trebon, a Renaissance town famous for its beer, spa, and fish produced here since Medieval Times. We will walk around the pond Svit. This region is home to the largest ponds of the Czech Republic. After lunch, we will continue driving to Cesky Krumlov, where we will have dinner and spend the night.

Chesky Krumlov: Much has been written about the artistic town of Chesky Krumlov. Another World Heritage UNESCO site, it is also home of the largest Castle complex after Prague and must be explored. We’ll walk across a small stone bridge efore climbing to the castle where we enjoy spectacular views and walk through the castle gardens, a half French and half English style park, with a unique open air theater and revolving auditorium You may wish to come here for the evening performance.

Cesky Krumlov

Day 7: Sumava Hills And Vltava River

We start our morning walk in the foothills of the Sumava Mountains, along the Austrian-German border. We visit the Cistercian Monastery in Vyssi Brod, founded in the13th Century, and home to the first Gothic Chapel in the country. The Rococo library is accessible only through a secret door known to our guide.

We follow the old trade route, which is a10km shortcut through forested mountains to Rozmberk Castle. You will see few inhabitants on this land, because of its proximity to the former iron curtain. After lunch, we can continue by foot for another 10 km along the Vltava River to Fara Zaton where we can relax. Dinner will be served medieval style in one of many cellars in Cesky Krumlov.

Cesky Krumlov

Day 8 : Prague

We depart Cesky Krumlov in the morning and enjoy a walk around Orlik Castle, located on Orlik dam and surrounded by lovely, deep spruce forests. After lunch we continue to Prague. possibly the most magnificent city in Eastern Europe. From the 14 th Century under Charles IV(her first golden age); through the 16 th Century under the Hapsburg ruler, Rudolph II; to the first few decades of the 20 th Century, Prague has enjoyed waves of intense architectural activity. The city managed to emerge unscathed from both world wars, and the buildings created during those periods-from Baroque to Cubist-are one of the many reasons why Prague is such a wonderful place for strolling. After settling in at our small hotel, we will explore this famous city with a 3 hours walking tour. Our tour will include Prague Castle, Lesser Town, Old Town Square and the famous Charles Bridge.

Prague

Day 9: Czech Paradise Natural Reserve

This area near Prague is known for it’s splendid sandstone rock formations and wonderful by walking paths. On some of the volcanic peaks medieval castles remain forming the dominant features of the landscape. The value of this region is underlined by its status as the Natural Reserve called BOHEMIAN PARADISE (120 sq. km). We return to Prague for our farewell dinner followed by an evening walk through town.

Prague

Day 10: Departure

Departure for home for some; another day in Prague.

Details: 10 days/9 nights

Includes guided daily walks, all visits and tastings as outlined in itinerary, all meals except 1 lunch and 1 dinner. Transportation within trip by van.

Slovakia Extension: Wine Routes and Tatra Mountains

(available small group extension)

Day 1 : Meet at Budapest airport, leave directly for Eger; a spa town famous for "Bulls Blood" heavy red wine (watch out those big mustache Hungarians!). Dinner, wine tasting and overnight.

Day 2 : Depart Eger, reach the border Hungary - Slovakia and visit the famous Tokay Wine Region. Continue to Spis region in Slovakia. Visit Zehra Church and Spis Castle (both places on UNESCO World Heritage List). If it is not too late and we have a chance to walk through the protected natural reserve of Drevenik. Continue to Levoca, a well preserved 14th. century medieval town and famous religious center. Dinner and overnight. Levoca.

Day 3 : The whole day walking trip of Slovak Paradise National Park.; Waterfalls, canyons, cliffs and more.. Overnight in Levoca.

Day 4: Leave Levoca, for the High Tatras via Pieniny National Park. Traditional rafting on Polish - Slovakian border and hopefully some walking as well. Overnight in Tatranska Lomnica on the foothills of the Tatra Mountains.

Day 5 : A number of hikes are available depending on the fitness level of the guests.Overnight in Tatranska Lomnica.

Day 6 : Leave the High Tatras, cross Low Tatras mountain range and via Banska Bystrica and Zvolen (University Town) down to Budapest. This is about 4,5hour drive from the Tatras.

Note: This program will not be found in any other brochure. It has been developed specifically for The Dragon's Path guests to introduce you to the wonderful cultural, historical and natural sites of Slovakia. Guests flexibility and awareness for this introductory program are appreciated.