Day 1. Arrive by train in Bad Schandau. Transfer to your hotel in Krippen.
Day 2. From Krippen walk steadily uphill, first along the valley, then
steeply up the forested flank of the Kohlbornstein. After enjoying the view
from the summit walk downhill to Papstdorf. Now climb again to the top
of the Papststein, where there is a restaurant, and again, fine views.
From here you continue to a third summit, the Gohrisch. On a good day
you can see as far as Dresden! Descend the Gorge of the Wolf
and walk through forest to Gohrisch (about 6 miles).
Day 3. From Gohrisch walk through the forest to the fortress
of Königstein. We strongly recommend walking up to the fortress
for the view, before taking a tour. Leave Königstein along the river,
then cross mainly open country to Thümsdorf. From here you mainly
follow forest paths, first to a cave, then past more rock outcrops
(which you can climb if you want) to the river at Rathen
(about 7 miles).
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Day 4. While today could be a rest day, we strongly recommend a circular
walk from Rathen to the world famous rocky viewpoint of the Bastei, high above
the valley. Your walk can also include the famous Felsenbühne, a natural
theatre carved by nature out of the rocks, and regularly used for theatrical
performances. On the way you pass a dramatic waterfall, a fine cave and the
so-called Sweden Holes, used as a secret refuge from the Swedish armies during
the Thirty Years War (about 8 miles).
Day 5. You first leave Rathen along the river, then you climb the Lilienstein,
another dramatic sandstone outcrop offering superb views. Refreshments are available
here too. Then continue along the river to Bad Schandau, the main town of
Saxon Switzerland.
Depending on your mood, you can either relax and explore Bad Schandau,
and then take the historic tramway, the Kirnitzschtalbahn (as does Kate
Winslet in The Reader) along the valley of the Kirnitzsch,
or you can walk the final three miles to your hotel, situated in middle of
the valley (about 10 miles).
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Day 6. Follow a nature trail further up the valley of the Kirnitzsch
to the Lichtenhain Falls. Although a man-made waterfall, it is nonetheless
attractive. This is also the terminus for the tramway, so you could take
a tram from the hotel for the first stage of the walk.
Climb to the cave at Kuhstall (literally "byre" and again a reference to
the Thirty Years War). From here you can climb to the ruins of
Wildenstein Castle; otherwise the route leads you up towards the
Kleiner Winterberg.
You do not have to climb to the top. There are a number of routes back down
to the river which you cross by ferry to return to the start of the walk
at Krippen (about 8 miles).
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Tour Details: 6 nights bed & breakfast in hotels,
in rooms with shower/WC. Packed lunches, baggage transfer.
Festive evening meal on the last night. Extra nights may be taken at any point.
Sorry, there are no twin bedded rooms on this walking tour.
Information on double and
twin rooms.
Local taxes are not included and must be paid directly to the hotels.
Dates: Available in
principal throughout the year.
However, in the peak seasons of May, June and September
availabilty can be seriously restricted.
Tour Code: WDS
2012 Tour Price: By rail from London via Brussels/Cologne - £732
2012 Tour Price: By sea from Newcastle / direct sleeper from Amsterdam - £ask
2012 Tour Price: By rail from Berlin or Prague - £496
2012 Tour Price: By rail from Dresden Airport - £459
2012 Tour Price: By rail from Frankfurt Airport - £537
2012 Tour Price: No Travel Included - £436
2012 Tour Price: Single Supplement - £117
2012 Tour Price: Extra Night (Double Room) - from £ask
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Please check our travel page for information on other ways
of travelling to your holiday.
Please contact us for prices when using one of these other
routes, and also for single supplements, child discounts and so on.
Our telephone number is 01946 861652.
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