TOUR OF THE YEAR: Walking holidays along the Malerweg Trail

Detailed tour description

Day 1: Individual arrival at Pirna
You travel individually to the city of Pirna, which is known as the "gate to Saxon Switzerland". Pirna is located not too far from the Saxon capitol Dresden and can be reached by public transportation easily. We recommend you take a walking tour through the medieval alleys of Pirna during which you can marvel at various artistically decorated town houses. 

Day 2: Pirna-Liebethal – City of Wehlen (approx. 12 km, walking time: approx. 4 hrs)
In the morning, you take the bus to your point of departure of your first hiking tour right on Malerweg trail. Today, you will hike through three wild and romantic grounds. Thereby, you experience the regional feature of the natural landscape Saxon Switzerland has to offer: Due to microclimatic conditions, you face an abundant und opulent flora in the deep canyons of this spectacular mountain range. Today’s final destination is the city of Wehlen – a peaceful town right by the Elbe River.

Day 3: Wehlen – Hohnstein (approx. 13 km, walking time: approx. 5 hrs)
Not far from Wehlen, you have a picturesque view over the Elbe Sandstone Mountains from probably the most famous observation deck – the Bastei Bridge. Best thing to do is to start your hike on Malerweg trail early in the morning in order to enjoy this stunning view fairly undisturbed. You descend down into Amselgrund ground and head for the second highlight of your hiking tour – the Hockstein Rock. From there, you have the perfect view onto today’s accommodation town – the city of Hohnstein. The Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg trail leads you along Wolf Canyon, Polenztal valley and Schindergraben right to your final destination for that day.

Day 4: Hohenstein – Altendorf/Kirnitzschtal (approx. 15 km, walking time: approx. 6 hrs)
The Brand viewpoint in the first third of the distance is today’s highlight. Up by the viewpoint, the restaurant Brandsteinbaude serves you culinary delicacies so that you can enjoy this phenomenal view. You continue your hike taking 800 steps down into the "Tiefen Grund" ground. Passing Waitzdorf you reach Altendorf or continue along the Panorama trail, which leads you down into Kirnitzschtal valley.

Day 5: Altendorf/Kirnitzschtal – Schrammsteine – Neumannmühle (approx. 17 km, walking time: 6.5 hrs)
Walking on Gratweg trail through Schrammstein massif, you hike directly uphill to Schrammstein viewpoint. Passing Big and Small Dome (wild romantic valley end), you reach Affensteinweg trail which leads you directly to Lichtenhain Waterfall. After visiting the natural arch Kuhstall with its Himmelsleiter (literal translation: Sky Ladder) you walk back down into Kirnitzschtal valley in order to reach the final destination Neumannmühle, which is a technological monument. By bus you return back into Kirnitzschtal valley where you will spend one more night.

Day 6: Neumannmühle – Großer Winterberg – Schmilka/Reinhardtsdorf (approx. 14/19 km, walking time: approx. 6/7.5 hrs)
You start the day taking the bus to Neumannmühle. Then you hike through rear Saxon Switzerland up till Zeughaus. Shortly after, you can experience the stunning Goldstein view and continue with climbing up Großer Winterberg Mountain. When descend down to Schmilka, you should not miss to stop at Kipphorn viewpoint. After crossing the Elbe River (ferry on extra costs), you walk up the stairs to Schöna and reach Reinhardtsdorf.

Day 7: Schmilka/Reinhardtsdorf – spa resort Gohrisch (approx. 17/12 km, walking time: 6.5/5 hrs)
Enjoy today’s view on the Schrammstein massif located on the other side of the Elbe River. Before you will reach the spa resort Gohrisch, you climb up the mesas Papstein and Gohrisch and simply enjoy the spectacular views on the unique Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

Day 8: Gohrisch – Königstein (approx. 9/16 km, walking time: approx. 4/5.5 hrs)
Today's short hiking route on Malerweg trail takes you along Pfaffenstein and cave Diebeskeller until you reach the Fortress of Königstein. That way, you have plenty of time remaining to explore what has become famous as the "impenetrable fortress".

Day 9: Königstein – Pirna (approx. 20/13 km, walking time: approx. 7.5/5 hrs)
Your last hiking stage on Malerweg trail leads you through Thürmsdorf and Weißig and up to Rauenstein massif. After passing Weißig, you soon reach Rauenstein massif wherefrom you can catch sight of Bastei Bridge on the other side of the Elbe River. Your final destination is about to be reached: Via Naundorf and Obervogelgesang you reach Pirna in the afternoon – your hiking tour’s point of departure.

Day 10: Individual departure
After having had an unforgettable hiking trip along Malerweg trail, you start your journey back home today. However, you can extend your trip in the baroque city of Dresden and enjoy some of the cultural delicacies the capitol of Saxony has to offer. With pleasure, we will book additional overnight stays in Dresden, Pirna or other towns along Malerweg trail for you – simply let us know!

This trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.

Services included

• Welcome surprise
• 9 x overnight stay in hotels and guesthouses with 3-star-standard
• 9 x continental breakfast
• TOUR OF THE YEAR-bonus: 1 3-course-menu for dinner in Pirna at our expense
• Train tickets for the second, fifth and sixth 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 along Malerweg trail

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your walking holidays along the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg trail: 

• 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.