Hiking the Bohemian Switzerland National Park

Day 1: arrival in Děčín

Today you arrive in Děčín, the base for this tour. The walking program starts tomorrow, so you have plenty of time to explore this historical twon. Děčín Castle with its beautiful rose garden, for example, is worth a visit. Another suggestion is the spectacular via ferrata in Děčín with a magnificent panorama of the city on the Elbe as a reward.

• Overnight: Hotel Faust, Pension U Pekaře

Day 2: Děčín – Hřensko – Mezná

The day starts with a boat trip on the Elbe. The boat sails all the way to Dresden, but you get off in Hřensko. This village is the gateway to Bohemian Switzerland, of which today you will immediately encounter its most famous symbol: Pravčická brána, the largest natural gate in Europe.

Note: the boat does not sail at extreme water levels. The timetable will be announced one day in advance, we will provide information about this. An alternative to the boat is the train, a very nice train ride to Schöna where you still have to cross the Elbe with a pound from the left bank to the right bank.

From Pravčická brána you descend to the Kamenice gorge and go for a boat trip on a punt boat. You can also omit this part if you prefer to walk. There are two alternatives – via Pravčická brána 10.5km to Mezní louka / 12.5km to Mezná or through the gorge with a boat trip 7km

• Distance: 7-12,5 km
• Climbing: 369-390 m
• Descent: 222-225 m
• Overnight: Pension Na vyhlídce, Hotel Hubert or Hotel Mezní louka, Pension U Fořta (upgrade)

Day 3: Mezná – Rynartice

Via the Nová cesta (New pathway), a yellow marked path you walk to the ruins of rock fortress Šaunštejn. Not much is left of it now, but in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the castle was a base for robbers and bandits. Continue to Jetřichovice, where you can take a longer detour to Ostroh hill (484 m) and the Mariina Skála viewpoint. It is a bit of a climb, but once at the top you will be rewarded with another fantastic view over Bohemian Switzerland.

• Distance: 8-13,5 km
• Climbing: 200-592 m
• Descent: 250-634 m
• Overnight: Hotel Bellevue, Pension U vyhlídky, Hotel Zámeček (upgrade)

Day 4: Rynartice – Česká Kamenice, train to Děčín

For those who still have enough energy, a trip to the Seven Dwarfs of Rynartice is recommended. From here you walk to Česká Kamenice, but you can of course also choose to walk directly to this town to take the train or bus to Děčín. You can extend the tour with, for example, an extra night after the tour in Děčín or a city trip to Prague.

• Distance: 8,5-11,5 km
• Climbing: 309-325 m
• Descent: 212-231 m
• Overnight: none

Difficulty Grade: Easy to Moderate ( )

Relaxed and mild walks suitable for walkers with average levels of fitness and who are generally in good health. These walks are typically on maintained trails or timber roads and have marked trails with signage. Gradients are mild with no steep uphill or downhill section. No previous hiking experience is required and they are suitable for novices and different age groups. Walking is typically limited to 3-5 hours per day (up to 12 km of walking).(read more about explanation of our difficulty grades).

Route Navigation in the field

You will walk mostly on rocky roads and even some paved roads. All trails are well-marked in the field. We advise  to follow only the marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. Off trail walking is strongly forbidden. We will provide you with detailed navigation instructions and maps (1:40.000 or 1:25.000).  You can call us 24/7 for assistance (however preferably during working hours only).

More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your booking documents.

Best time to go

This trip as available from April until October. April you still will find some remnants of snow on the ridges. The weather for walking is optimal in June – September. However July and August can sometimes be quite warm and weekends can be busy at some hot spots.

The busiest months are July and August. If you want to travel in that specific term, it is preferable that you book as early as possible. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season, therefore please indicate desired starting date when booking.

Weather

The climate is typical for Central Europe. Humid summers with occasional hot spells, and cold, cloudy and humid winters. If you are planning a trip to the Czech Republic, weather will probably be one of your concerns. Czech Republic’s climate is comparable to that of southern inland Canada. Summer in the Czech Republic typically covers the period from June through mid-September. Czech summers are usually mild (20-27°C/70-80°F) and somewhat humid, with the highest temperatures up to 30-35°C/85-95°F (occasionally higher) for short periods. Such heat waves can be expected in July and August. Sudden showers and thunderstorms are common, so bring an umbrella or be prepared to dash for cover.

Recommended weather information: yr.no

What to bring

We recommend that you travel as light as possible because airlines nowadays charge larges fees for luggage above 15kg. Ideally, you should bring one piece of luggage weighing not more than 25 kg (to be checked in) and a daily pack (15 – 20 l backpack) for your daily essentials (snacks, drinking water, camera, etc). Below is a indicative list of what you should bring with you on this trip. More detailed information will be included in your booking information documents. If you need further advice, please contact us or ask at you local outdoor retailer.

• Good hiking boots (we have seen hikers on sneakers though)
• Hiking socks (at least 2 pairs or 3 pairs on the longer trips)
• Several t-shirts (cotton or preferably breathable/fast drying)
• Waterproof and windproof jacket with hood
• Synthetic mid layer or warm fleece
• Shoes/slippers – to relax and wear inside accommodation (shower / toilet)
• Sunglasses, sunscreen skin protector and lip salve
• Hat/Baseball cap
• First Aid kit (aspirine, diaria profilact)
• A good book 🙂

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