Circular walking tour in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains

Detailed tour description

Day 1: Individual arrival at Bad Schandau
On your first day of your walking holidays you can take a small roundtrip through the city of Bad Schandau. Don’t forget to visit the robust protestant Church of St. John, with its octagonal western tower that stands in its original form since 1679.

Day 2: Bad Schandau – fortress Hohnstein – Rathen (approx. 17 km, walking time: approx. 6 hrs)
In the beginning your first walking tour leads you uphill. Once you have reached the top, a breath taking panorama view will unfold itself right in front of your eyes. You will walk on, over the Brandstufen stairs to the Brand – the ‘Balcony of the Saxon Switzerland National Park’. Your next stop is the impressive Hohnstein Castle. The history of the castle begins in the year 1444, when Hohnstein first gained its rights to bear the appellation of a town. After a big fire, that destroyed many houses, however left the Hohlstein Castle undamaged, the Castle’s touristic attraction has been increasing. You will continue your walking tour, crossing idyllic grounds and forests, eventually reaching beautiful Amsel Lake and the well-known spa resort Rathen.

Day 3: Rathen – Wehlen – Königstein (approx. 14 km, walking time: approx. 5 – 6 hrs)
The next part of your walking holidays will begin with the ascent on the Bastei Rocks. At the peak – in the altitude of 300 Metres above Sea level – you will be able to enjoy the view over the River Elbe and its green surroundings. Following on your walking route from the Bastei through the stone formations Hoellengrund and Wehlener Grund, you will soon reach the town Wehlen. In this lovely and peaceful town you will have the possibility to take a look at the Herbrig’s organ inside the Church of St. Michael. You will then cross the River Elbe and continue further on its opposite bank. After passing the formations Big and Small Bear’s Stone (‘Großer und Kleine Baerenstein’), you will be approaching today’s destination. The Fortress of Koenigstein – largest in the entire Europe – is expecting you!

Day 4: Königstein – Pfaffenstein – Gohrisch (approx. 11 km, walking time: approx. 4.5 hrs)
From Koenigstein, you will continue walking on the pleasant forest paths, until reaching the famous pinnacle Barbarine. This 42,7m high rock formation is the best-known, free-standing one on the German side of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and is one of the symbols of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. The walking tour will lead you on through the path of Pfaffenstein to the top, where you will get an imposing view over Lilienstein. Later you will follow the Musel path (Muselweg) to the spa resort Gohrisch, originally called 'dorffe Gorusch'.

Day 5: Gohrisch – Papststein – Krippen (approx. 10 km, walking time: approx. 4.5 hrs)
After you have sufficiently enjoyed the region around Gohrisch, called the Kingdom of Stones, you will continue walking through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. First, you will climb the Gohrisch (448 Metres), then the Papststein (451 Metres). From both rock formations you will have a wonderful view over the Saxon Switzerland National Park. Your walking tour will further lead you through the adventurous Kleinhennersdorfer Höhlen, over the Liethen Valley until you arrive in the town Krippen.

Day 6: Hrensko – Rock Arch – Hrensko (approx. 15 km, walking time: approx 5 hrs)
Today you will need your passports or ID’s for your walking tour, because you will walk through the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic. Beginning with the Pravčická brána (in German Prebischtor), Europe’s biggest natural sandstone arch, your walking tour will guide you through the steep valley of the River Kamenice all the way to the boat station of Edmund’s Gorge. Let yourself be carried away by the current of this River through the wild and bare nature its surroundings. At the end of the today’s walking tour, you can take the train (S-Bahn) back to Krippen.

Day 7: Krippen – Schrammsteine – Lichtenhain waterfall – Bad Schandau (approx. 13 km, walking time: approx. 6 hrs)
On the last day of your walking holidays in the Saxon Switzerland National Park, your first target will be the Schramm Stones (Schrammsteine). When you reach the summits in approx. 400 Meters above sea level, a breath-taking view over the entire Elbe Sandstone Mountains will unfold itself right in front of your eyes. After that you will follow the Wald path (Waldweg) along the Affensteig and later the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg trail (literal translation: Painter's trail) to Beuthenfall. From Beuthenfall you will board the famous Kirnitzschtal Train, which will bring you back to Bad Schandau.

Day 8: Individual departure
You have the possibility to prolong your unforgettable circular walking tour in the Saxon Switzerland National Park with an additional night in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains or in Dresden. We will gladly book further overnight stays for you so please do not hesitate to ask us!

This trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.

Services included

• Welcome surprise
• 7 x overnight stay in hotels and guesthouses with 3-star-standard
• 7 x continental breakfast
• Train ticket for the sixth hiking day
• Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during your walking tours
• 1 package with maps and information material per room (in English language)
• 24-hours-service-hotline during your walking holidays

Bookable value-added services for these walking holidays

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your circular tour: 

• Additional nights at every overnight location according to the tour description

Prices of these value-added services are detailed under the tab "Quotes".

This trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.