The precinct
The north-east of the Czech Republic is characterised by its hilly landscape. The gentle humps rise barely more than 1000 metres into the sky. Instead, they are covered in lush, green forests. Especially in the area around Trutnov (Trautenau), spectacular sandstone formations are hidden under the canopy of leaves, providing a unique backdrop for tours. What's more, the forests are criss-crossed by an almost endless network of hiking trails. These are generally well signposted and mostly open to bikers.
Even though the Czech Republic has become more and more of a trail centre stronghold in recent years, it is always worth taking a closer look at self-planned tours in the border region with Poland, as we did on our trip. Maps are usually available directly in the trail centres, but the trails are well signposted. Away from the parks, the detailed maps from the Windy Maps app are hard to beat.
On mtbczech.cz there is an overview map and information on the trail spots. The biggest obstacles to a holiday in the Czech Republic are usually the language barrier and the currency. One euro is the equivalent of around 26 Czech crowns. The euro is usually accepted for payment, but change is usually made in crowns.
You can download the complete travel report "Czech Republic" with the tours on the Brousek and in Adršpach as well as a list of all Czech trail centres from BIKE 3/2021 as a PDF in the download area below.
Journey
It takes seven hours to reach the Trutnov Trail Centre from Frankfurt am Main via Prague and just under six hours from Munich. Motorways in the Czech Republic are subject to tolls. The 10-day motorway toll sticker costs 310 Czech crowns (approx. 11.80 euros). Travelling by train is possible, but very inconvenient with a bike in your luggage.
Accommodation
The spectrum ranges from simple B&Bs to the upper class. There are often official campsites in the vicinity of the trail centres. Camping (van) in the car parks of the trail centres is often tolerated, but there is usually no infrastructure.
Guided tours
If you prefer to go on tour with a guide, Jan and Radim from Czech MTB Holidays are the right people for you. They know the best trails and every fork in the road and offer various tours. The package usually includes accommodation (3 stars) with half board and a shuttle service. High-quality hire bikes are also available.
Trail centre
The trail centre in Trutnov is one of the most popular in the Czech Republic. There are currently around 35 kilometres of trails in four levels of difficulty. The landscape is particularly characteristic with its huge sandstone boulders, which are also incorporated into the trail construction. The trail centre offers bike hire as well as bike courses. There is no lift in Trutnov.
Trail Park Dolní Morava The highlight in Dolní Morava is the new, seven-kilometre-long flow trail, which is also suitable for beginners. There is also another red line and a black line. The 369 metres in altitude to the summit, including the Skywalk viewing platform, can be comfortably conquered with the chairlift.
