Welcome to Dresden—Saxony’s crown jewel and one of Europe’s most gracefully reborn cities. Here, Baroque domes and riverfront palaces shimmer above the Elbe, museums rival the world’s finest, and cafe terraces spill onto cobbled squares where life moves at an unhurried pace.

On embark day we’ll wrap up an optional PreTour, retrieve the final morning arrivals at DRS Airport, and find our ship at the perfect spot in Dresden. A late morning bike assembly session hosted by our pro mechanics precedes an easy first day of cycling where riverside bike paths and forest trails welcome us to Saxony.

The route leads into Radebeul, a community born from winemaking and shaped by centuries of trade along the river valley. Its villa-lined streets give way to quiet forest lanes that have served as local travel corridors since Saxon electors built their country estates here.

The approach to Moritzburg Castle is pure theater: a baroque palace rising from its mirror-still pond, framed by tall pines and broad sky. Riders can circle the water for photos or linger on the causeway for classic views of towers, turrets, and reflections. Constructed as a hunting lodge and expanded into a masterpiece of Saxon baroque architecture, the castle sits perfectly upon its symmetrical pond, as if engineered for both royal procession and centuries of photography to come.

The return to Dresden follows a direct set of flat cycleways, giving most riders more than enough time to view or ride the steam-powered Lossnitzgrundbahn before returning to the Elbe Princesse for embark.

Day 2 – Dresden wakes slowly behind you as you follow the Elbe upstream, the river carrying a soft shimmer across the morning. The path keeps you close to the water’s edge, where fishing boats, stone embankments, and tidy gardens mark your gentle progress toward the countryside.

Your first pause is Altkaditz, a tiny historic enclave tucked neatly into Dresden’s northwest edge. Here, a 13th-century chapel anchors a cluster of cobbled lanes that feel suspended in time. It’s a gentle, quiet moment to stretch, sip water, and enjoy the tranquility before continuing upriver.

Then the river guides you onward, and soon Meissen comes into view: terraced vineyards, steep rooftops, and the unmistakable silhouette of Albrechtsburg Castle rising above the town. This is your mid-day world — porcelain workshops humming with tradition, courtyards echoing with history, and sunlit cafés ready with soups, salads, and Saxon desserts. The pace is gentle, the experience rich.

In the afternoon you return toward Dresden, stopping at storied vineyard where the vines curl up the hillside and the valley feels open and warm. Here a small winery welcomes you for a tasting — crisp whites, floral Goldriesling, and the unmistakable minerality of the Saxon terroir. It’s the kind of stop that makes the day linger pleasantly.

The final miles roll by quickly, bringing the group back to Dresden with plenty of energy left and the satisfaction of an easy, scenic loop along one of Europe’s best cycling corridors.

Day 3 – Today’s ride unfolds like a perfectly composed overture inspired by “Saxon Switzerland,” only this time we trace the Elbe upriver toward Bohemia. We roll out of Stadt Wehlen after breakfast, easing into the tranquil rhythm of the riverside path as morning light settles over the canyon walls.

A gentle climb carries us into the forested heights above the river, where the day’s first highlight awaits. After reaching the Bastei plateau, a short stroll leads to the famous bridge and sweeping views across the sandstone cliffs—an unforgettable survey of the landscape you’re about to ride through.

The glide down into Rathen is smooth, scenic, and grin-inducing. After enjoying the spectacular views of Saxon Switzerland, we’ll sojourn for a quick lunch aboard the Elbe Princesse.

Back on the bikes, the path follows the Elbe’s curves effortlessly to Königstein, where the terrain shifts from mellow to monumental. Stronger riders can tackle the short climb to the fortress plateau to stand where kings and generals have surveyed the same valley since the 12th century—a fortress so commanding that it has never been taken by force.

The spin to Bad Schandau is short and sweet, arriving just in time for pastries, riverside coffee, and the pleasant hum of cyclists settling into their stride.

As we follow the river upstream, mist gathers between the cliffs once more, signaling our return to the quiet beauty of Bohemia. Crossing back into the Czech Republic, the Elbe opens its arms as we close in on Děčín.

By the time you see the town’s riverside silhouette, you’ll feel like you’ve ridden the region’s greatest hits in a single, extraordinary arc—finishing where the cliffs soften, the river widens, and the day’s adventure comes peacefully to rest.

Day 4 – Today’s ride begins along the Elbe in Ústí nad Labem, where the river bends beneath castle-topped cliffs and industrial relics hint at centuries of reinvention. You’ll ease onto the riverside path, settling into a friendly, gently undulating rhythm as we head upriver toward Bohemia’s quieter landscapes.

Your optional “hero’s moment” arrives almost immediately at the base of Střekov Castle. Riders craving a little extra challenge can take on the short climb to the fortress, earning a lofty panorama over the Elbe, the town, and the river corridor stretching away in both directions. Prefer to keep it mellow? Stay on the riverside path and enjoy the easy roll—no climb required, no regrets attached.

Back together again, we continue along the smooth, low-gradient path toward Sebuzín, tracing the same river corridor that once carried traders and armies but now belongs to cyclists and riverboats. Vineyards rise from the slopes where fortifications once stood guard, and the valley steadily widens into the dramatic opening of Porta Bohemica.

By midday, the story shifts from scenery to hospitality as our ship awaits in Sebuzín, moored right beside the bike path with an abundant lunch ready for your arrival.

Refueled, you’ll rejoin the Labská Stezka, the Elbe Cycle Route, for a gentle ride deeper into the Bohemian countryside. As the valley opens into fertile lowlands, you’re pedaling the same corridor that carried centuries of trade—and appreciating how effortlessly today’s path carries you across it.

Near the end of the ride, the mood changes from pastoral to poignant as we approach Terezín. After rolling across the flat plain, we’ll take a meaningful break from cycling for a guided visit. With a focused program at key sites, you’ll explore the small fortress, courtyards, and preserved barracks—reading original inscriptions, absorbing the atmosphere, and appreciating the care that has gone into preserving this place of remembrance.

Our final stretch leads to Litoměřice, where colorful facades and layered history mark your arrival. By the time you roll into town, you’ll feel like you’ve ridden a complete narrative arc.

Day 5 – Today’s ride begins along the tranquil Elbe in Roudnice, where Baroque landmarks and a peaceful riverside promenade set an elegant tone for the day. Rolling out of town, the riverside trail unfurls like a welcome mat—smooth, scenic, and quietly memorable. Meadows, gardens, and classic Czech farmsteads line the gentle curves of the path, creating a ride so effortless it feels like a warm-up lap before the main event.

Before long, the silhouette of Mělník rises ahead of you, perched above the confluence of the Vltava and Elbe. A gentle climb carries you from the port up into the picture-perfect town square, where pastel facades and lively cafés create a charming pause. Steps from your morning latté, the castle overlook opens like a storybook scene: two rivers meeting below vineyards in a swirl of silver. With the countryside behind you and the sprawling panorama before you, Mělník reveals why it has always felt like a fairytale hill town.

From here, routes leave the town and drift into the dappled forest light of Kokořínský Důl—a serene valley prized for its tranquility and gentle beauty. As the sandstone towers close in around the gorge, the silhouette of Hrad Kokořín emerges above the pines like something conjured by imagination. After a ¼-mile walk to the ramparts, that triumphant “we earned this view” moment awaits, with sweeping vistas across one of the Czech Republic’s most spectacular national parks.

Deeper into the valley, the forest thins to reveal Pokličky, a cluster of sandstone “mushroom rocks” perched atop slender pillars. The ¼-mile path to the lookout is brief, and the formations feel almost magical—time and weather sculpting shapes so whimsical they seem invented.

The satisfying finale is a smooth, mostly downhill spin back through the valley toward Mělník, where your ship waits with a bountiful late lunch. It’s the perfect landing: a peaceful glide out of the forests and cliffs of Kokořín, finishing at the confluence where two rivers meet and your day’s arc comes gently to rest.

Day 6 – Our last day of cycling on the Elbe–Vltava corridor begins in Kralupy, where the riverside path invites an easy, cheerful rollout. The route slips south through Roztoky, following gentle curves, shaded stretches, and familiar glimpses of river life. It’s a smooth, scenic ride that feels like one last chance to savor everything we’ve loved about this journey—quiet paths, friendly villages, and the freedom of spinning along a historic waterway.

Before long, the skyline begins to shift. As the river bends, Prague’s spires rise ahead and the city’s energy subtly replaces the countryside hush. This is the day’s playful tradition: we’ll “race” the ship into Prague, keeping pace along the riverbanks as our floating hotel makes its final glide toward the capital. Whether you push the pace or simply enjoy the ride, the thrill builds as you approach the finish.

Our ship will be waiting near the Charles Bridge, one of Europe’s most iconic riverfront landmarks. Rolling into Prague by bike—past towers, domes, and the soft rumble of the city—is the kind of arrival that stays with you.

This afternoon, we’ll gather on the sun deck to pack our bikes one last time, sharing stories, laughs, and maybe a toast to the miles behind us. Tonight’s farewell dinner brings everyone together to celebrate the week. And if the mood is right? Well, Prague offers no shortage of places to wander out afterward for a final nightcap beneath the lights of Old Town.

On disembark morning, bike-capable shuttles will take participants to Prague’s PRG Airport.
Prague is an exciting city with plenty of interesting museums and culinary delights if you’d like to extend your stay in the Czech Republic.

Santana Adventures is proud to announce that we have chartered the Elbe Princesse for our 2027 Prague to Dresden Cycling Cruise.

For the past ten years Santana has chartered various river and ocean ships from CroisiEurope, a family-owned company based in France. Since day one we’ve attempted to charter one of their most exclusive ships. Exclusive? Because of the Elbe’s heritage, landscape and castles, the German and Czech governments prohibited modernization, dams, locks and channels are still the petite dimensions used before modern river ships. Long segments of this narrow river are barely three feet deep — far too shallow for a classic river cruise ship.

A few years ago, CroisiEurope announced the construction of the Elbe Princesse—the first-ever cruise ship to be custom designed for the locks and shallow waters of the Elbe and Vltava Rivers. Designed with the secret help of a French University and avante-garde constructeur, the Elbe Princesse is uniquely proportioned to suit the challenges of these historic rivers. Instead of vulnerable props below a pointed keel, the Elbe Princesse’s stern-wheel propulsion sits above the ship’s flat bottom. Unlike other river cruisers, the roomier Elbe Princesse draws less than 30 inches of water.

As on most modern cruise ships, two full-width twin beds convert to a king-width double. In most staterooms the beds face the window for a scenic view of the river. All of the upper deck staterooms have french balconies.

All staterooms are soundproofed. Those who book earliest obtain the staterooms farthest away from the paddle wheels. On our scouting cruise Jan and I had a lower deck stateroom nearest the paddlewheel, and were not bothered by the slight vibration and sleep-inducing white noise.

With one less deck than most ships we’ve chartered, this very special charter will have a third fewer rooms (39 vs. ~72). The ship’s upper deck lounge and lower deck dining areas are spacious and will have ample seating for all of us. The sun-deck is huge, and our bike parking and service areas will take up less than half the area.