Winter hiking tour Elbe Sandstone Mountains | 8 days
Hiking in winter wonderland
When the fog dances over the Elbe valley, when hoarfrost decorates meadows and forests, when snowflakes fall gently on the rough sandstone and icicles hang from the roofs... This is how a winter fairy tale could begin - or your winter hiking trip in Saxon Switzerland! The latter is also a worthwhile destination in winter! When it's crisp and cold outside, the paths are empty and you can enjoy impressive views of a magical winter landscape.
You can look forward to a cozy and enjoyable stay in carefully selected accommodations. On particularly icy days, visit the pleasantly warm thermal spa in Bad Schandau and enjoy dinner at the hotel in the evening.
Note: Depending on the weather, you should also be prepared for wintry conditions on the hiking trails in Saxon Switzerland. The paths are usually not cleared of snow and ice. The hike is at your own risk and peril.
Day 1: Individual arrival in Bad Schandau
Use the afternoon for a short stroll through the picturesque spa town.
Overnight stay in Bad Schandau
Day 2: Bad Schandau – Schrammsteine – Schmilka (approx. 11 km, duration: approx. 3.5 h, + 230 m, - 260 m)
Take the historic passenger elevator (extra charge) up to Ostrau and enjoy the magnificent view of the Elbe valley. Continue into the mystical forests of Saxon Switzerland. You reach the winter village of Schmilka and take the S-Bahn back to Bad Schandau.
Overnight stay in Bad Schandau
Day 3: "Lichtenhain circular route" Bad Schandau – Lichtenhain waterfall – Bad Schandau (approx. 16 km, duration: approx. 5 h, + 560 m, - 560 m)
Your day begins with a ride on the Kirnitzschtalbahn (extra charge) or the bus to the Lichtenhain waterfall. You continue your tour from Lichtenhain via the famous Kuhstall and through the wintry Kirnitzschtal valley until you reach the waterfall again. From here you return to Bad Schandau.
Overnight stay in Bad Schandau
Day 4: Bad Schandau – Gohrisch and optionally "Gohrischer Folgenweg" (approx. 8-13 km, duration: approx. 5 h)
Today your hike takes you via Krippen into the "Empire of Stones", as the region around Gohrisch is also referred to. If you wish, you can then take a leisurely winter walk along the Gohrischer Folgenweg and enjoy wonderful views, for example of the famous Lilienstein.
Overnight stay in Gohrisch
Day 5: "Cunnersdorf circular route to the Katzstein" (approx. 9 km, duration: approx. 3 h, + 285 m, - 285 m)
In Cunnersdorf you start your hike to the Spitzstein and from there to the Schneebergblick. Enjoy the wonderful view of the Schrammsteine and the Hoher Schneeberg before you reach the destination of todays loop hike, the Katzstein. You will spend the night again in the climatic spa village of Gohrisch.
Overnight stay in Gohrisch
Day 6: Gohrisch – Königstein Fortress – Wehlen (approx. 13 km, duration: approx. 4 h)
Todays winter hiking tour first takes you to Königstein. Pay a visit to the “impregnable” fortress here. Then continue via Thürmsdorf and the Kleiner Bärenstein towards Wehlen. Take the train to the spa town of Rathen.
Overnight stay in Rathen
Day 7: "Bastei circular hike" (approx. 9 km, duration: approx. 3 h, + 120 m, - 120 m)
Today is all about the famous Bastei. The day begins with the ascent to the Bastei rocks. Via the Stone Table you reach Rathewalde. The path leads you back to the Bastei and you descend to the spa town of Rathen.
Overnight stay in Rathen
Day 8: Individual departure
Today its time to say goodbye to the winter hiking paradise of Saxon Switzerland. Of course, you also have the option of extending your unforgettable hiking vacation with an extra night in Rathen or Dresden. Please enquire with us!
Note: Please bear in mind that the routes listed in the itinerary are hiking stages only. The overnight locations may differ from the start and finish locations of the hikes.
Immerse yourself in the world of the famous Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich, who celebrates his 250th birthday in 2024. The circular tour first takes you along the Elbe. The highlight is the ascent to the Kaiserkrone: enjoy the wonderful panoramic view of the Schrammstein mountain chain and Bohemian Switzerland (approx. 15 km, walking time: approx. 4.5 h, +320 m, -325 m).
Services:
overnight stay incl. breakfast in Bad Schandau/Krippen
Price: from 82 € p.p. in a double room
Services
Services included
7 x overnight stays in 3-star standard accommodation and guesthouses
7 x continental breakfast
7 x dinner
Tickets for the hiking days (partly included in the "Gästekarte")
Luggage transport from accommodation to accommodation (9am - 5pm,up to 2 pieces of luggage per person, max. 20 kg)
GPS data as maps
1 package with personal itinerary and general information per room (in English language)
Telephone service during your hiking tour
Additional services
You are welcome to add the following additional services to this travel package in order to tailor the programme of this winter hiking tour in Saxon Switzerland to your individual wishes and expectations:
Additional nights in Bad Schandau, Gohrisch or Rathen
FlexPLUS: rebook or cancel up to 28 days before arrival without giving reasons (more about our FlexPLUS)
Travel documents
Less paper, more savings! This tour, you can do without printed travel documents – you will receive all information digitally (PDF route booklet and GPS data). As a thank you, we offer you a discount of 20 € per room. Simple, practical and consciously sustainable! Please select this option when booking.
Accommodation categories
We book hiking-friendly hotels and guesthouses of 3-star standard for you.
Further information
Local taxes such as visitor's tax or city tax, parking, pets, lunch packages and ferries are not included in the tour price unless otherwise stated and must be paid locally.
Travelling by train:
As an international EC stop, the Bad Schandau National Park railway station is ideal for travelling directly by train. There are direct connections between Bad Schandau and Berlin, as well as Leipzig, Prague, Budapest, Graz and Vienna. The ferry awaits you in Bad Schandau for the crossing into the town.
From Bad Schandau Elbkai you can reach your hotel on foot in no time. Depending on the location of your hotel, we also recommend taking a taxi.
Current timetable information and prices can be found at www.bahn.de.
Travelling by car and parking facilities:
If you are travelling by car, take the A17 motorway from Dresden in the direction of Prague as far as the Pirna exit. You will reach Bad Schandau after approx. 20 km.
You can find a good overview of public car parks and multi-storey car parks at www.parkopedia.de.
Level of difficulty: average
Place-to-place tour
AugustusTours Original Tour (organized by AugustusTours)
Experience PACKAGES 
