CORSO: Hike Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland

CORSO... die reiseagentur
Propietor: Michael Corso
Jagdsteig 25
01662 Meißen

Validity: 01.04.2025 - 31.10.2025

Total distance: approx. 90 km

Difficulty level: medium

Minimum number of participants: 2 (the surcharge below applies to a single traveller)

• 7 nights in 3 and 4-star guesthouses and hotels
• 7 breakfast buffets
• Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation
• Maps and information material
• 1x CORSO... water bottle per person
• 24-hour telephone service during the trip

All applicable visitor's taxes are not included in the holiday price and are to be paid locally.

Please note the form for informing the traveller in the case of a package holiday in accordance with § 651a of the German Civil Code.

• Day 1: Individual journey to Bad Schandau
• You travel individually to Bad Schandau. If you arrive early, you can hike a circular tour from/to Bad Schandau on the day of arrival
• Day 2: Bad Schandau - Kirnitzschtal / Bad Schandau (approx. 13 km)
• Your hike begins directly in Bad Schandau at the historic passenger lift, which takes you up to the Ostrava plateau. Through the Zahnsgrund and the Lattengrund you reach the large Schrammtor gate. The Jägersteig trail leads up ladders and steps to the Schrammsteine and the spectacular Schrammstein views. Cross the Schrammsteine on the ridge path and follow the hiking trail into the rock labyrinth of the Affensteine. The rocky plateau at the entrance to the Breite Kluft offers a wonderful picnic spot to rest a few metres off the route and enjoy the beautiful view. In the Affensteine area, the Carola Rock with the magnificent Carola view, the highest peak of this rock formation, is reached. If you prefer a more leisurely descent into the Kirnitzschtal valley, follow the hiking trail via the Sandloch and the Unterer Affensteinweg into the Kirnitzschtal valley. Alternatively, you can follow the highly recommended route via the narrow gorge of Wilde Hölle. This scenically special and unspoilt path leads downhill on a rather challenging rocky surface and ends on an always wet staircase. In any case, good surefootedness is required when hiking through the Wild Hell. Once you reach the Unterer Affensteinweg, the trail follows a gentle path past the imposing Bloßstock and down into the Kirnitzschtal valley. Travel back to your accommodation in Bad Schandau on the historic Kirnitzschtalbahn railway or the 241 hiking bus (free of charge with the mobile guest card)
• Day 3: Bad Schandau / Kirnitzschtal - Hinterhermsdorf (approx. 13 km)
• Take the hiking bus 2 41 or the Kirnitzschtal railway to the Lichtenhain waterfall. You hike to the famous Kuhstall rock gate, which is the second largest rock gate in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains after the Prebischtor. You leave the Kuhstall in a southerly direction and hike along the Fremdenweg towards the Kleiner Winterberg. Past the Winterberg peaks, the path winds its way up a number of steps to the lower Fremdenweg. The effort is truly rewarded! From the Gleitmannshorn, the panorama opens up over the Bärenfangwände and the Winterstein to nearby Bohemian Switzerland. Via the Reitsteig you reach the Roßsteig and the Goldsteinaussicht and finally the Zeughaus. Follow the signs for the Malerweg trail to the Grosses Polshorn viewpoint and continue past the Kleiner via the upper Hirschwaldweg trail directly to the stage destination of Hinterhermsdorf.
• Day 4: Hinterhermsdorf - Vysoka Lipa (approx. 14 km)
• From Hinterhermsdorf you walk past the Buchenparkhalle to the boat trip on the Upper Lock. A short boat trip takes you comfortably through the narrow rocky gorge of the Kirnitzsch (cash payment on site approx. 7 euros per person). As an alternative to the boat trip, a beautiful path leads above the gorge to the Hermannseck, from where you have an interesting view into the deep gorge. The hiking trail meanders along a narrow path through the Kirnitzschklamm gorge to the Bärenhöhle cave. After crossing the bear cave in Wolfsgrund, the hiking trail runs leisurely along the Kirnitzsch. As soon as the Rabensteine appear on the right, it is not far to the bridge over the Kirnitzsch. Cross the bridge and you are in the Czech Republic. The forest path continues with a slight incline through the Bohemian Switzerland National Park to Vysoka Lipa/Hohen Leipa.
• Day 5: Vysoka Lipa (High Leipa) - circular hike (approx. 15km)
• From Vysoka Lipa, the route heads east along the rocks with a view of the Dittersbach rock world. A narrow path leads partly over wood and sandstone steps and short stretches over iron rails to the summit. From here you can enjoy a marvellous panoramic view over Bohemian Switzerland as far as the Lusatian Mountains. The views from the Wilhelminenwand and the Marienfelsen are even more spectacular. From the newly erected wooden pavilion, a magnificent panorama opens up over the pointed volcanic cones of Bohemian Switzerland. The way back to Vysoka Lipa leads along the Bielebach stream from the Old Mill to the ruins of the Grundmühle mill. A truly crowning finale to the day's stage is the view from the castle hill near Vysoka Lipa.
• Day 6: Vysoka Lipa (High Leipa) - circular hike (approx. 17km)
• You leave the small village of Vsoka Lipa for your next destination, the robber baron's castle Schauenstein (Šaunštejn). You reach the Schauenstein via iron ladders, footbridges and narrow crevices. However, the somewhat arduous climb is rewarded with fantastic views over Bohemian Switzerland. Just under half an hour from Schauenstein is the small Prebischtor, which almost looks as if it was modelled on its big brother. From here, the marked trail descends a few metres down the mountain to Mezni Louka. On the way to Hutberg you cross the Wild Gorge. Here you have the opportunity to take a boat trip through the wild and romantic gorge (payment on site, approx. 100 CZK or 4 euros). This is followed by a gradual ascent to Ruzova and on to Hutberg. There is an extraordinary lookout tower on the Hut Hill, which is reminiscent of a lighthouse and is affectionately known as Růženka. Passing the second highest mountain in Bohemian Switzerland, the Rosenberg, the hike leads back into the heart of Bohemian Switzerland to the small village of Vysoká Lipa.
• Day 7: Vysoka Lipa (High Leipa) - Hrensko - Bad Schandau (approx. 17km)
• You leave Vysoka Lipa by bus in the direction of Hrensko (ticket free of charge from the hotel) to visit the most famous sight in Bohemian Switzerland, the Prebisch Gate. You can get off at the bus stop Hrensko, Pravcicka brana (Prebisch Gate). Allow about an hour for the two-kilometre climb to the Prebisch Gate. An entrance fee is charged for direct access to the Prebischtor (payment on site). Once you arrive at the largest free-standing sandstone gate in Europe, you can refresh yourself in the restaurant and visit the many viewpoints, from where new and impressive views of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland open up again and again. For the descent, take the same route as the ascent and follow the path to Hrensko. In the border town of Hrensko (Herrnskretschen) you change sides of the Elbe by ferry and hike to the 343 metre high Wolfsberg and on via Reinhardtsdorf into the Krippenbach valley to Bad Schandau.
• Day 8: Individual departure from Bad Schandau

• For organisational reasons, this hike can only be booked up to 10 days before the date of arrival.
• We recommend sturdy ankle-high hiking boots and a small backpack for food and rain gear.
• A good level of fitness, sure-footedness and a head for heights are required for this hiking tour.
• The complete overview of the booked accommodation is noted on the travel confirmation/invoice and is sent to the guest by the tour operator only after the travel booking with the documents by post.
• Communication during the trip in the following languages: German
• The trip is unsuitable for guests with limited mobility.
• For German citizens, the current identification documents apply. All other persons should note the respective passport and visa deadlines. Your embassy will be happy to provide you with information on this.
• Please also note the information in the terms and conditions of the tour operator CORSO... die reiseagentur.
• The Saxon Switzerland Tourism Association only acts as an agent for this trip.