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Czech Republic and East Germany itinerary

Czech Republic and East Germany itinerary

Old May 17th, 2015, 02:33 PM
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Czech Republic and East Germany itinerary

We are a family of 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 14 and 12) and are spending 13 days in Germany and Czech Republic in mid/late Aug. We are nature lovers and really enjoy the great outdoors, but also like history. We have a tentative itinerary as follows:
Day 1: Fly into Berlin; drive down to Dresden
Day 2-6: Spend 5 days in Saxon Switzerland and České Švýcarsko National Parks
Day 7 and 8: Drive down to Prague and spend 2 days there.
Day 9-11: Prague vicinity, potentially 3 days as follows:
- Hike around Karlstejn area encompassing Svaty Jan pod Skalou (we saw this route recommended on a Tripadvisor post
- Bike ride from Karlovy Vary to Loket and look round both towns
- Canoeing/Kayaking on River Vltava or RIver Sazava, etc.

Day 12-13: Back to Berlin

Would appreciate thoughts on this plan, in particular:
- Are there any other memorable day hikes around these areas we should consider

- Any other picturesque towns that we should try to include in our itinerary?

- Can you recommend a good company that we could rent canoes/kayaks through? We found one place Bi-Sport recommended in the Lonely Planet guide book and have reached out to them. We are novices at this so need a place that will provide us the gear and transport us to the area on the river.

- We are also interested in doing some birding. Any recommendations for good places in the areas we are visiting?

- Another idea was whitewater rafting (maybe instead of Canoeing). Any recommendations for outfits that could take us out?
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Old May 18th, 2015, 10:09 AM
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For days 2-6 in Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland:

There is one memorable hike in Bohemian Switzerland that I recommend: The canyons and Pravcicka brana (sandstone arch). See this page:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/634fb/

And I can recommend several *must* hikes in the Saxon Switzerland region, first around Bad Schandau: Schrammsteine sandstone massif, best in combination with Großer Winterberg/Kipphorn viewpoint or Frienstein/Ida grotto or Carolafelsen viewpoint. See this page:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/12ca7/d/
for infos on this hike and others.

Then around Kurort Rathen: Bastei, Gamrig - both rather short. See this page:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/ab24/

And last, but not least, not to miss is also fortress Königstein. See this page on the town and the fortress:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/b100/

Other picturesque towns in the region:
- Pirna http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6ed7/
- the tiny town Hohnstein (good for hiking, too) http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/cb3b/
- Meißen http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/9743/

I could give you links to companies for canoe/kayak rental in the Saxon Switzerland area, but since you're asking about Vltava or Sazava rivers ... no, sorry.
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Old May 18th, 2015, 11:49 AM
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Last check, there is no East Germany anymore. There is eastern Germany . . .

You may want to check with your rental car company regarding taking the car to Prague. It's notorious as a car thief's haven and agencies have had restrictions on taking rental cars there.
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Old May 18th, 2015, 04:15 PM
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Ingo, thanks for the extremely helpful reply. Will definitely check out all those recommendations.

Another question - we were thinking about Cesky Raj and Krknose, but thought they might be rather similar to Saxon Switzerland (with the rock cities, etc). Do you have a view on that? Would the experiences be significantly different?
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Old May 18th, 2015, 09:05 PM
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Cesky Raj is indeed similar to Saxon Switzerland, Krkonose is not. Hardly any rocky patches, but the mountains are much higher.
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Old May 20th, 2015, 04:12 PM
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Thanks again, Ingo. Have you climbed Mt Snezka at Krkonose? That looked an interesting hike apparently providing a view of Poland, Germany and Czech from the summit.
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Old May 20th, 2015, 09:04 PM
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I did. Poland doesn't look different than Czech Republic from up there. And seeing Germany (it's very far in the distance and you don't really *see* it) requires very good weather.

Well, it's a hike, if you take the chair lift from Pec then it's mostly above the tree line. If not, it is a very long and exhausting hike.
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Old May 21st, 2015, 03:51 PM
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ok, so nothing out of the ordinary I think you are saying?
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Old May 21st, 2015, 09:01 PM
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Exactly.
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