Meeting in Vienna. Vineyards of Austria; 6.2 miles, easy to moderate (options are available to walk 5 miles or 2.5 miles upon request.) Transfer to Telč

Upon meeting in Vienna, you travel a scenic hour’s drive north to Hollabrunn, a district in Lower Austria’s beautiful Weinviertel. Characterized by gentle rolling hills, countless vineyards, and charming villages dotted with pretty white churches, Weinviertel (meaning “wine quarter”) is Austria’s largest wine producing area—its most important grape variety being the peppery white Grüner Veltliner. The morning’s walk takes you over quiet country lanes nestled between vineyard-covered slopes and old oak forests. A unique feature of this bucolic landscape is its cellar-lined roads called “Kellergassen,” which connect village to village via an extensive network of wine cellars. Arriving in one of these villages on foot, you are welcomed to lunch at a family-run country inn—perhaps starting with a bowl of creamy garlic soup, followed by an excellent dish of goulash. A short wine presentation ensues with a chance to sample the region’s acclaimed wines.

Following lunch, you transfer 90 minutes to an area known as the Czech Highlands, a high, undulating territory between Bohemia and Moravia. There, you’ll enjoy a short walk through a landscape of dense woods and numerous ponds. Time permitting, you stop en route to explore an open-air museum of Czechoslovakian military fortifications dating to the 1930’s.

By late afternoon you reach the small town of Telč, situated at the southwest tip of Moravia and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic. Following a devastating fire in 1530, the entire town was rebuilt in a unified Renaissance style and in 1992 its historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural and historical importance. Regarded as the best preserved of all Bohemian and Moravian Renaissance towns, its central square is bordered by historic houses featuring a dazzling array of colorful, elaborate façades, covered arcades, and walkways. Other notable features of the town are its Renaissance chateau, which retains evidence of Gothic origins, as well as a series of interconnected medieval fishponds, which encircle the town center on three sides. Arriving at your family-run hotel, a 16th-century property bordering the chateau’s park, there is time to relax and refresh before dinner on site.

“Duke Zak” walk in the Javorice Highlands; 8 miles, easy (options are available to walk 6 miles or 3.5 miles upon request)

Following breakfast, you set off to explore the picturesque landscape surrounding Telč. A 30-minute drive delivers you to the Javorice Highlands, an area of verdant forests and quiet meadows replete with wildflowers and fishponds. There are a number of walk options to choose from, all leading through forest and rolling fields, and starting from Roštejn Castle. Situated in a beech forest on a rocky hilltop, this Renaissance-era hunting lodge was once owned by the Lords of Hradec and the Lechtensteins, and features collections of china, ceramics, tin, as well as an exhibition of highland stonework.

Returning to Telč by midday, you break for lunch at the hotel before joining your guides on a tour of the well-preserved Telč Castle, a sumptuous Renaissance chateau rebuilt from the original Gothic structure in the 16th century. In the neighboring ornate Chapel of St. George are the remains of the castle’s founder, Zachariáš z Hradce, also one of the owners of the Roštejn Castle visited earlier today. The rest of the day is yours to design; you may join your guides on an additional countryside walk, peruse the local galleries in town where local artisans are at work, or simply choose to relax at the hotel.

This evening you reunite for a short transfer to the neighboring village of Krahulčí where a hearty family-style meal awaits. In addition to sampling a few Czech staples, such as delicious homemade dumplings and sauerkraut, you will be treated to a festive introduction to the singing and dancing traditions of the area.

Juniper six villages walk; 9 miles, easy to moderate (options are available to walk 6.5 miles, or 4.5 miles, or 3.5 miles upon request.) Transfer to Tábor

Today we bid farewell to Telč and drive less than 30 minutes to the outskirts of the little town of Jindrichuv Hradec, home to a stunning lakeside chateau and the only working narrow-gauge railway in the country. Under a backdrop of wooded hills, shimmering ponds, and green pastures dotted with grazing sheep and horses, you make your way through six picturesque rural villages frozen in time. Arriving in one of these villages in time for lunch at a traditional restaurant, you are greeted by a local couple with bowls of homemade goulash soup and a tasty buffet of assorted sausages, cheeses, fresh and pickled vegetables, and delicious rye bread.

Following an hour’s drive, you arrive in the medieval town of Tábor by late afternoon. Founded in the 15th century as an egalitarian peasant commune, Tábor is known for its maze of narrow cobblestoned streets, elaborate tunnel system, monumental city walls, and fascinating history. Your home for the next two nights—a four-star boutique hotel complete with original artwork and eye-catching design elements—is ideally located right on the town’s central Žižka Square. Dinner tonight is a short stroll away at a local restaurant.

Religiosity of our ancestors; 9 miles, easy to moderate (options are available to walk from 4 to 8 miles upon request)

Following a delightful breakfast of freshly baked Czech pastries, eggs, fruit, and an array of cheeses and cold cuts, you set off on foot to explore Tábor’s historical center and surrounding countryside, the latter offering numerous walk options of varying lengths. Starting from the main square—site of the Old Town Hall, the Czech Republic’s most important Gothic building and home to a museum dedicated to the Pre-Lutheran Protestant movement—you meander through a labyrinth of tiny streets and continue around the local lake. Founded in 1492, it is the oldest reservoir of its kind in Central Europe.

Returning to the main square, you set off into the fields and forests along an ancient pilgrimage route to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Klokoty Monastery. This spectacular double-cross-shaped Baroque complex dates to the early 17th century and boasts numerous spires and an idyllic location above the Lužnice River. Descending into the valley, you stop for a relaxing riverside picnic of homemade Czech specialties. Following lunch, you continue on an undulating path through the rural landscape back to town.

This afternoon there is time to relax at the hotel or explore the winding streets and shops in Tábor before dinner at your hotel’s excellent restaurant, famed for its fresh, local fish and regional cuisine with a modern twist.

Baroque peasant villages; 8 miles, easy (options are available to walk 8 miles, 6.5 miles, 5 miles, or 4 miles upon request.) Transfer to Český Krumlov

After breakfast you transfer about one hour from Tábor to the area north of České Budějovice for the day’s walk. The route takes you through the peaceful countryside of Southern Bohemia— rolling hills with only gentle ascents and descents as well as countless villages featuring the best-preserved “Baroque peasant” houses in the country. Dating from the time when farmers and merchants imitated the architectural style of the wealthy nobility, these houses are appreciated for their colorful facades, gables, and white stucco ornamentation. On the quiet streets of these working communities, you encounter the descendants of several generations of farmers who might share stories and a handful of just-picked fruit from nearby orchards. Lunch is at a local restaurant en route. Once again, your guides can offer flexible options to satisfy those interested in shorter and longer walks.

This afternoon you transfer approximately 90 minutes to the enchanting town of Český Krumlov, one of Bohemia’s prettiest towns—named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992 for its historical importance and physical beauty. Situated on the banks of the Moldau River—or Vltava in Czech—Český Krumlov is a showcase of elegant Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings housing delightful cafés, pubs, restaurants, shops, and galleries. Cobblestoned lanes lead to your hotel for the next two nights—a charming riverside property in the heart of town. Following time to settle in, you stroll to a dinner of grilled Czech specialties at a neighboring restaurant.

Blanský Les and the Czech countryside; 5.5 miles, moderate (options are available to walk 3.5 miles or 1.5 miles upon request.) Free afternoon

Following breakfast, your guide(s) offer an introductory walk through the fairy-tale town of Český Krumlov. They are happy to point out the locals’ favorite restaurants and cafés for your independent lunch and dinner. You then depart for a loop walk in the countryside surrounding the town. In the Blanský Les (literally the Blansky forest) Nature Reserve, a network of trails passes through a variety of natural habitats and a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest of pine, oak, beech, and ash. A break in the trees opens up every now and then to provide a glimpse of the open countryside.

After you return to the center of Český Krumlov by early afternoon, the rest of the day, including lunch and dinner, is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You may choose to browse inviting craft shops and narrow alleyways or explore the jewel of the town—the 13th-century Ceský Krumlov Château, Bohemia’s second-largest castle.

Prague green city walk; 3.5 miles, easy to moderate

Bidding farewell to Český Krumlov and Southern Bohemia this morning, you head north on a three-hour drive through the Czech countryside, passing through picturesque villages and farmland to Prague, the nation’s capital. Known as the City of a Hundred Spires, Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful and romantic cities, with gold-tipped towers, church spires, and breathtaking cathedrals dotting its skyline.

You are welcomed to this UNESCO World Heritage city with a captivating walking tour beginning at Prague Castle, the centerpiece of the city dating to the 9th century. Known as the “city within a city,” this complex of buildings includes Gothic and Romanesque churches, several palaces, gardens, courtyards, and defense towers all perched on “Castle Hill” overlooking the city and famed Charles Bridge. Following a stop to admire the 14th-century gargoyles and unique glass mosaics of Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, you sit down to a light lunch, finished off with strudel and ice cream.

Rather than making your way downtown to Prague’s most crowded and touristy sites, you follow a peaceful path through flower-filled parks and gardens to your accommodations for the night—a lovely boutique hotel located just a few steps away from the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Hall and its prized 15th-century astronomical clock featuring a glockenspiel spectacle every hour. The hotel’s chic design, local art displays, and expansive inner courtyard offer a peaceful retreat from the bustling neighborhood.

Your Czech adventure draws to a close this evening at an elegant restaurant overlooking this art-loving city. You toast the week’s highlights over a celebratory dinner and glass of Moravian wine or the finest Czech beer.

Farewell

The tour ends in Prague. After breakfast, you are free to continue your exploration of this historic, fascinating city, or depart at your leisure for your next destination.