River running through the gully at the bottom of Bohemian Switzerland National Park

Written by: Katelyn Marnoch & Taylor Holmes

During the early Fall of mid September we adventured throughout the Czech Republic, dedicating a full month to exploration. The Czech republic is divided mainly in to three historic lands. Bohemia is located in the north-western and central lands, where the capital city of Prague is found (and wonderful beer is brewed)! Moravia to the south-east, is famous for their delicious wine, and beautiful rolling hills, while Silesia in the far east rides over the border, and in to the region of Poland.

The towns and cities of Czechia have a decadent bourgeois beauty to them, with centuries old architecture still largely in use today, and the entire city of Prague is designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. While tourists flock to the major cities, one of the best kept secrets of the Czech republic is it’s unspoiled natural beauty. With castles to rival Scotland, rolling vineyards straight out of Tuscany, and forests & rivers reminiscent of the Canadian wilderness, the Czech republic is full of natural wonders sure to surprise and delight every outdoor enthusiast. A month of travel I can truly say was not nearly enough, I feel as though I left a part of myself (and plenty of undrank beer) behind when we departed.

Here’s our list of the most magical, and wildly beautiful landscapes that the awe inspiring Czech Republic has to offer, don’t miss out on these truly epic hikes through nature!

Me, beside this giant stone pillar for scale!

Karlovy Vary is situated in the West-Northwest area of the Czech Republic, nestled against the border with Germany. This famous spa town is on the northern tip of the Slavkov Forest, a serene and almost dreamlike area in west Bohemia, filled with streams, meadows, and towering cliff sides.

Be sure to book yourself a room in one of the many spa-oriented hotels in this architecturally stunning town. Layered and tiered upon the hillside like a wedding cake, each house is painted a different bright colour from its neighbour, creating a wonderfully visual array of pastels that cascade downwards into the streets.

Just a hooligan stopping by the pub for a pint in the middle of the forest.

After a day spent hiking in the neighbouring Slavkov Forest, be sure to have a relaxing massage and spa treatment awaiting your return to cap off an invigorating day of adventure. Karlovy Vary is a historic spa town famous for its healing mineral springs that continues to attract celebrities from all over the world.

The Slavkov Forest follows the Ohře river west out of Doubí, near Karlovy Vary, and it doesn’t take long to see the natural beauty of the area. Treelines bow over the smooth river, interrupted by ancient rock faces that grimace from above. Continuing along a scenic riverside trail, we even encountered a quaint and cozy pub, proving that the Czechs truly know how to marry wilderness and hospitality, even off the beaten path. For those who love a piece of history, take the full trail to the 14th century Gothic Andělská Hora castle ruins, that command a wide ranging view of the Slavkov Forest and surrounding hills. These romantic ruins are worth the hike, along with the charming and historic town sharing the same name situated next to it. Be sure to get an early start as this is easily a full day excursion! You can also make the trek by bicycle and an intercity bus.

Things-to-do in the Slavkov Forest & Karlovy Vary: cycling, hiking, castle ruins, fishing, canoeing, wood side pints, historic small town exploration, spa retreat, mineral springs, wellness therapy, luxury getaway, fine dining.

Bohemian Switzerland National Park straddles the border of Germany and the northern Czech Republic. It earned it’s name from two Swiss artists (Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff) for whom the beauty of northern Bohemia was reminiscent of their homeland, and rightly so. The rolling mountain landscape, cut by valleys and tree laden cliffs, are highly coveted by local rock climbers for their porous faces and high ledges. Many films have had scenes shot in and around Bohemian Switzerland, taking advantage of the breathtaking views and unique formations. The sheer size of the national park means you can spend numerous hours, days and adventures exploring! Both Czech locals and Germans frequent this park and the two cultures share an ingrained love of the outdoors, be sure to say a friendly “Hello” to passing hikers or “Ahoj” (pronounced Ahoy!) which is a popular Czech trail greeting.

While you certainly have to hike a ways in to get here, the unobstructed view of the surrounding hillside, and unique features of this impressive natural monument are well worth the sweat and effort. Plan to spend a full day hiking here and pack plenty of water and snacks. While the Falcon’s Nest no longer accepts guests, you can enjoy at meal at the restaurant. (Be sure to ask how they get the kegs of beer up!)

Owing to the large expanse of the national park, if you are short on time, and want to make the most of your visit, you can book a hiking tour like we did. We went with Northern Hikes, a locally run and operated tour company that specializes in tours of Bohemian Switzerland National Park. A knowledgeable and experienced guide will pick you up, transport you into the park, provide water & snacks, and take you to all the best highlights of the park, before dropping you off at your accommodations. Lunch is also included in the tour, at the restaurant inside the park called U Forta, where you can choose anything off the menu, including one beverage. Vegetarian and Vegan options are also included on the menu. We highly recommend this tour as it is very well organized, everything is taken care of for you, all of the park highlights are included, while you get to skip the lines & take great pictures!

If you are visiting on your own it is important to note that when we visited, it was not possible to access the park by local transport due to its remote location, so you will need to either rent a vehicle, or arrange alternate transportation to access the interior of the park. Another reason why we went with Northern Hikes is that we prefer to book small sized tours on all our trips, it gives us the opportunity to meet other travelers, learn from a local guide, and if you are worn out, sleep on the ride home!

Things-to-do in Bohemian Switzerland: hiking, rock climbing, swimming (not typically, but I did it), river boat ride, dining and taking in the spectacular views!

Hrubá Skála, which translates to the “Rock City”, located by Turnov, is a marvel of massive natural stone formations found in north central Czechia. The monumental stone giants you come across while hiking through this beautiful, and aptly named Český ráj (Czech Paradise) natural reserve, are both inspiring and intimidating. The sheer size of these massive pillars give even the boldest adventurers vertigo, yet many brave dare devils love this area for rock climbing. Come for a walk in what is known as the “forest of stone giants”. There are numerous trails throughout this region, with various points of historical, and natural significance to keep hikers, and cyclists immersed for days.

Rough Rock, Hruba Skala Castle, built in the 1350s, now a luxurious hotel.

Throughout this magnificent Rock City, you will find neatly hidden castles, with beautiful architecture nestled among the cliffs, rocks, and trees. Climb centuries old stairs carved into the winding stone pillars, to ascend to Hrubá Skála Castle. Originally built in the 1350s, it is now a hotel, restaurant & spa, with views fit for a king that overlook the countryside, as far as the eye can see! A refreshing 10km hike away are the double mound ruins of Trosky, an ancient medieval castle visible from Hrubá Skála’s ramparts. While a short 3km hike away is the oldest castle in the region, known as Valdštejn. Still in use today as an event space and open for tourism, Valdštejn is equally impressive in both beauty and scale, a surviving testament to the ingenuity of the builders, daring to construct a castle high atop the rocky cliffs.

For those who aren’t afraid of heights and want to take their adventures to the next level, another popular outdoor sport in the area is hot air ballooning! While we were staying at Hrubá Skála Castle, we woke up early one morning to watch the sunrise, and were pleasantly surprised to see several hot air balloons dotting the skies in the early morning sunshine. If you are interested in staying in the luxurious historical accommodations of Hrubá Skála book here and be sure to check what seasonal packages they have on offer.

Things-to-do in Hrubá Skála: hiking, cycling, castle hunting, luxury castle getaway, spa retreat, dining, rock climbing, hot air balloon riding.

A hidden bridge through the park lands on the outskirts of Breclav

Moravia is the southeastern wine region of Czechia. Gorgeous rolling hills accented by vineyards, serene lakes, and dappled with mystifying grottoes hidden in the expansive groves of trees, it is no surprise that this area is also referred to as “Moravian Tuscany”.

Having spent over two weeks in Czechia by this point, we decided to go for a cycling trip through Moravia. From Brno, the capital of the south, we took the train to Breclav, rented bicycles, and hit the road. Unlike the northern part of the country which was already showing signs of fall colours in the leaves, Moravia enjoys a more temperate climate and we were treated to lush greenery, and warm summer temperatures. It is easy to see why this region is known for the quality of its wine and romantic chateaus by the lakeside.

Cycling and hiking are both actively pursued by most Czech’s, and as such, there is a large infrastructure of dedicated trails and services to support locals and tourists. We specifically got off at Breclav because there is a bicycle rental service at the train station, where you also have the option to rent a helmet. The bikes were of surprisingly good quality, complete with a small repair kit and bike locks. You simply let the clerk know how long you wish to rent the bicycles for, pay, and then go around to the shop and pick them up. The rental fee was also surprisingly affordable compared to north american bike rental rates. Considering most bike and municipal bike rental operations charge upwards of $15 per hour, the modest fee of 150 CZK (just under $9 CAD) for the entire day is very easy on the wallet. There is a 1000-2000 CZK refundable deposit you have to pay, depending on the number of bikes you rent, but it is returned once you bring the bikes back. Children’s bikes and electric bikes are also available to rent, and the national train system easily supports the transportation of multiple bicycles in its own storage compartments. Cyclists rejoice!

Once you are set up with your bikes, there is a popular triangle in the region known as the Lednice-Valtice-Mikulov tour, this is also equally scenic if you are driving. It is advisable to book accommodations in the area in order to be able to fully experience all three of the sites to their fullest, as we found out trying to mistakenly cram all of them into one day. We recommend booking in Mikulov, a town famous for its wine, this way you can dedicate a day, or two, to touring wineries and sampling, while also retiring in comfort after a busy day of cycling. The triangle is roughly 60 km in total, so if you are not a regular cyclist, break up the tour into a multi-day trip for a more relaxed and leisurely ride.

Lednice and Valtice are both UNESCO world heritage sites and contain rich historical, botanical and architectural beauty. Lednice has a stunning Renaissance & Neo-Gothic style palace, comprised of several different sites open for tourists, including the largest park in the country, complete with English style gardens, and a massive glass domed greenhouse. Valtice, not to be outdone by the splendor of Lednice, also has a palace done in the Baroque style, and was created to be the ruling seat for the princes of Liechtenstein. Both palaces are massive in scale, and to be truly appreciated deserve an afternoon of exploration.

Lastly, but certainly not the least, Mikulov and the Wine Trail! An 84km sign posted trail through the wineries and vineyards of Mikulov, where you can taste, marvel, and savour the best this region has to offer. You can choose to cycle, drive or book one of the many winery tours there are in this region, depending on how much you would like to see, and taste in a day! Many of the wineries also have restaurants to stop and refuel at, with bicycle accommodations, and we saw plenty of eager cyclists taking full advantage of all this fabulous region has to offer.

Through lakeside forests, winding hills of vineyards, palaces, cheateaus, and trail-side wine shacks, the heart of Moravian wine country truly beats for nature and wine lovers alike. We were certainly not disappointed, not by the beauty, nor by the wine! It’s hard to compare the rustic beer brewing north, to the idyllic and dreamy wine country of the south, because the Czechs have mastered both.

Things-to-do in Moravian wine country: cycling, hiking, swimming, wine touring, wine tasting, castle & palace touring, small town exploration, historic churches.

In mid-eastern Czechia, north of Brno in Moravia, you’ll find the Macocha Abyss. A huge sinkhole, 138.7 meters (455 ft) deep, part of the Moravian Karst cave system. This haunting gorge definitely gives you a different perspective when you stare down in to it from the high cliff above. You can take a small train, a cable car, or walk the scenic forest path to the top of the mountain, where you’ll not only find the mouth of the gaping chasm, but also a small spot where you can grab a pint, and a delicious Smažený sýr (Fried cheese) sandwich.

The view deep in to the heart of the Macocha Abyss in this picture does not do justice to the magnitude of the gaping chasm!

The Macocha Abyss is part of a larger cave system, that spans roughly 6500 meters of abysses and underground chambers. Many have contained ancient remains among the fragile and awe inspiring stalagmite formations. These fascinating archaeological sites are not only host to pieces of history, and famous legends, but are also used for concerts owing to their unique acoustics! Multiple caves are open to the public, and each one contains its own fascinating history, including previous occupation by the German and Czechoslovakian armies. One of the most popular things to do in the Punkva Cave system, is to take a romantic underground boat ride along the Punkva river.

You won’t find the Macocha Abyss on any popular “top 10 things to do in the Czech Republic” lists owing to the fact that this incredible site, amazingly, still remains a local secret. That being said, it is highly popular among the locals, so make sure to book your tickets in advance, especially during the peak summer months. You can inquire about booking tickets at info@caves.cz or call them directly at+420 516 413 575 for more details click here. Make sure to arrive early, and plan to spend the day taking in as much as you can of this unique outdoor experience. As always when venturing outdoors, be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks, but rest assured there are restaurants on site as well.

Things-to-do at the Moravian Karst: explore the wide array of caves (always with a guide, they are dangerous), concerts, hiking, boat ride, dining, trolly rides and cable car rides.

While these are our top 5 nature hikes that we got to experience, there are truly so many others out there. One such place we didn’t get to experience is the Dolni Morava Sky Walk, a 1097 meters above sea level, mountaintop sky walk providing stunning views and a 100 meter slide down afterwards. You are high enough up that you can even walk amongst the misty clouds if the weather is just right! The Czech republic is truly a country after an outdoor adventurer’s heart, with plenty to see, taste and experience the question isn’t if you should travel there, but when.

Our Top 5 nature hikes in the Czech Republic with spectacular views!

Written by: Katelyn Marnoch & Taylor Holmes

Tales by Travel