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?

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.

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.

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?

Cesky Raj is indeed similar to Saxon Switzerland, Krkonose is not. Hardly any rocky patches, but the mountains are much higher.

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.

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.

ok, so nothing out of the ordinary I think you are saying?

Exactly.