Germany - Elbe Sandstone Mountains Hiking Tour 2021 Individual Self-Guided 8 days/7 nights The Elbe Sandstone Mountains, located in the southeast of Germany, a few kilometers from Dresden are also known as Saxon Switzerland. This nickname was given by two Swiss painters who were impressed by the similarity of the area with their own country. With its chalky sandstone cliffs, deeply carved valleys, Table Mountains and gorges, this fascinating landscape is the only one of its kind in central Europe. During your walking tour you will see famous natural and cultural sights such as the Königstein Fortress”, the rocks “Barbarine” and “Pfaffenstein” and the well-known Rock Arch “Pravcická Brána” in Bohemian Switzerland, which is the largest natural stone bridge on the European continent. OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 Itinerary Day 1: Individual arrival in Bad Schandau Bad Schandau is a well-known health resort in the heart of the Saxon Switzerland. Day 2: Bad Schandau – fortress Hohnstein - Rathen 17 km 6 hrs Through the Saxon Switzerland National Park you walk uphill to the fortress Hohnstein. You will then arrive at Rathen with its natural theatre and its lake called “Amselsee”. Day 3: Rathen – Wehlen - Königstein 14 km 5 – 6 hours Please start early in the morning to benefit from the emptiness on the famous Bastei bridge. Here you can enjoy a wonderful view over the Elbe river valley and the Table Mountains of the Saxon Switzerland. The next highlight is the famous Koenigstein Fortress. After visiting the fortress you continue your walk to the town of Koenigstein. Day 4: Königstein – Pfaffenstein - Gohrisch 11 km 4.5 hours Today you start your walk on easy and shady forest paths to the impressive rock formation “Barbarine”. Later on you pass the Quirl Mountain and climb up the table mountain Pfaffenstein where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Lilienstein Mountain, a very famous mountain of Saxon Switzerland. Via Muselweg you reach the health resort Gohrisch. Day 5: Gohrisch - Papststein – Krippen 10 km 4.5 hours After a short warm up you walk slightly uphill crossing meadows and fields. You make your way to the top of the Table Mountains Gohrisch (448 m) and Papstein (451m). Beautiful sceneries will recompense the effort. An old mill with gastronomic offers is worth a break before you continue towards Krippen. Day 6: Krippen – Rock Arch - Hrensko (Czech Republic) 15 km 5 hours In the morning you go by train from Krippen to Schöna and take the ferry boat to Hrensko into the Czech Republic. The walking tour leads you to the Rock Arch “Pravčickábrána”, the largest natural stone bridge on the European continent. During the walking tour you use the boat through the gorge Edmundsklamm and finish the tour in Hrensko, where you use the ferry boat a second time and travel back by train from Schöna to Krippen (ferry fees are not included). Day 7: Krippen - Schrammsteine – Lichtenhain waterfall - Bad Schandau 13 km or 6 hrs Today you use the ferry boat from Krippen to Bad Schandau and take the walking path to the “Schrammstein” cliffs. A part of the route consists of steep ascents and metal stairways. Through the lovely Kirnitzschtal valley you will walk back to Bad Schandau. Day 8: Individual departure or additional nights in Dresden OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 Route Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Average. Generally well-maintained footpaths with some more challenging sections, steep ascents and narrow descents via steps in some places, approximately 5-6 hours of walking per day, maximum daily difference in altitude of 650 meters Total Distance: 80 km Travel Season: Departures daily from April 1 to October 31, 2021 Please note that overnight stays are no longer available for the following dates: June 21 – June 24 (Schostakowitsch Festival) OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. - 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 www.okcycletours.com Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 Prices per person: Double occupancy B&B €559.00 Single occupancy B&B €729.00 Single Traveler €779.00 Extra Nights Rathen Double Occupancy €77.00 Extra Nights Rathen Single Occupancy €99.00 Extra Nights Konigstein Double Occupancy €48.00 Extra Nights Konigstein Single Occupancy €66.00 Extra Nights Gohrisch/Krippen Double Occupancy €54.00 Extra Nights Gohrisch /Krippen Single Occupancy €73.00 Extra Nights Bad Schandau/ Dresden Double Occupancy €65.00 Extra Nights Bad Schandau/ Dresden Single Occupancy €90.00 Accommodation: All booked accommodations are walker friendly hotels and guesthouses: 3 and 4 star category with private facilities (shower, bath, WC, telephone, TV) which are close to the route of the walking tour. Included: • Welcome drink • 7x overnight stays • 7 x continental breakfast • Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during the walking holiday • Train ticket for the fifth hiking day • Comprehensive information material in English and walking maps • 24 hour service hotline during the walking holiday Not Included: • Visitors taxes, payable locally Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848 .