Bohemia is an unspoilt and highly picturesque region situated 50 miles/90 km north of Prague. This Village to Village self-guided walking holiday will take you through intriguing rock ‘labyrinths’, with marvellous view-points, and past evocative castles.
A Village to Village Walking Holiday in the Bohemian
Bohemia is an unspoilt and highly picturesque region situated 50 miles/90 km north of Prague. This Village to Village self-guided walking holiday will take you through intriguing rock ‘labyrinths’, with marvellous view-points, and past evocative castles.The length of the walks is between 15 and 24 km, along well-marked paths. At the end of each day, comfortable hotels and satisfying food. Accommodation in Prague also available on request.
Price:
£650 per person based on two people sharing
£160 Single supplement
£270 Solo walker
Included:
Not Included:
When to Go:
April to October
This holiday can also operate in reverse
Day 1: Arrive Jicín
Accommodation in hotel 4* situated near the centre of town characterised by the three-storey late-Gothic Valdická gate, its Baroque château and its arcaded houses.
Day 2: Jicín to Prachov
Zebín, a protected natural reserve with rare vegetation, is characterised by a distinctive basalt conical peak (399 m) above the village of Sedlicky, surmounted by a chapel of St. Mary Magdalene from around 1700 with a painting of the saint on top. The climb is strenuous but from the chapel there is a splendid panoramic view, including the whole of the Jicín basin, the Bradlec, Kumburk, Mlázovickýchlum, Tábor, Kozákov, Veliš hills and the city of Jicín. Prachov Rocks is an area of labyrinthine rock formations with a network of marked paths leading through them.Hotel *** in Prachov, located in a romantic part of Prachovskéskály (the Prachov Rocks).
Distance: 10-11.25 miles/16-18 km
Jicín – Zebín 3 km – Kbelnice 3 km – Prachov 4 km.
The Prachov Rocks – circuit 2 – 4 km. The Prachov Rocks – Prachov, hotel 2 km.
Day 3: Prachov – Sobotka
Gentle terrain with beautiful views.
At Parez is a ruin of a small Gothic rock castle from the late 14th century and early 15th century, whilst at Mladejov is a classical château from 1769. Sobotka, with its Renaissance town-hall and handsome houses was founded in 1498 whilst at Humprecht is a Baroque hunters‘ chateau from 1666-1672 on a basalt hill, built as an imitation of the Galata tower in Istanbul. Overnight in hotel*** in Sobotka
Distance: 9 miles/14 km or 11 miles/17.5 km if you stay in Libošovice
Prachov – Parez 2 km – Mladejov 4 km – Doly 4 km – Sobotka 3 km – Humprecht 1 km – Neprivec 2 km – Libošovice 1km
Day 4: Sobotka – Hrubá Skála
Gentle walking with beautiful views.
The romantic Klenice valley is flanked by sandstone rocks and pine forests between Kost castle and Strehom. Kost, built in the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries on a sandstone rock in the middle of three valleys, is the best preserved Gothic castle in Bohemia. Podtrosecká Údolí is a system of ponds which today forms a space of extraordinary scenic and natural value. The unique canyon valley is bordered by sandstone cliffs and these also often form the shores of the ponds. At Hrubá Skála, built on a monumentally high cliff, stands the Hrubá Skála château.
Overnight in hotel*** in Hrubá Skála. The hotel is situated in a former château standing on the rocks with an unique view.
Distance: 14.3 miles/26,5 km or 9.5 miles/15 km
Neprivec – Plakánek 3.5km – Kost 2km – Nebákov 8km – Trosky 3.5km – Vidlák 2.5km – Hrubá Skála 5km.
Shorter route: Neprívec – Libošovice 1km – Nebákov 5.5km – Trosky 3.5km – Vidlák 7.5.
Day 5: Hrubá Skála – Turnov
The day begins with a walk exploring Hrubá Skála rock city. The rock city consists of about 400 sandstone towers. Some of them are 60 meters high (380 meters above sea level). The trail leads you through the Bukovina arboretum, the Mouse Hole rock passage, and passes by the cave named Adam’s Bed. You will then reach a spectacular viewpoint called Mariánská vyhlídka, opening Bohemian Paradise’s most beautiful views. The path continues to the upper part of the Hruboskalská Plateau.
You have the option to turn to a unique rock sculpture world around Kopicův statek.
Situated on the plateau is your next stop – the Valdštejn castle, built in the middle of the 13th century. You will then continue to the end of the rock ridge Hlavatice (a lonely rock located at the edge of the Hruboskalská Plateau). You will ascend to the top via stairs with railings to reach an observation point, opening a panoramic view of Turnov, Ještěd hill, and Bezděz.
The trail continues with a descent to Turnov, where you will have the opportunity to visit the museum of the Bohemian Paradise. And discover this town located along Jizera river itself.
Walking for the day: Basic route: 10 km. Extended route 13 km
Overnight in hotel*** in Turnov
Distance: 6.5 miles/10 km or Extended route 8 miles/13 km
Day 6: Circular walk Turnov – Malá Skála – Turnov
First head to Dolánky – the modern museum of Bohemian Paradise nature. Then you will continue to Drábovna (a small rock town). A marked path will take you to the ruins of a castle from the Middle ages – Frýdštejn, after which you will descend to the rock castle Vranov, also known as Pantheon. With its length of almost 400 m, it is considered the most complicated rock castle in Bohemia. The form of the castle was determined by the sandstone cliffs, on which it was built before 1425. It was abandoned during the 16th century. Later modifications transformed the ruins of the castle into a romantic monument available to the public called the Pantheon. Reconstruction was completed in the summer of 1826 when a chapel was built high above the Jizera valley. In total 14 km.
Here you have 3 options – return to Turnov; make a circuit in a rock labyrinth and return to town via train ride; a longer extension where you continue from the rock labyrinth back to the hotel on foot.
Distance: up to 10 miles/15 kms (options to shorten)
Day 7: Departure
Departure this morning following breakfast. We can book a hotel for you in Prague, available on request.
Traditional independent 3* Hotels or equivalent (4* in Jicin) . Rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
By air to Prague airport. There are numerous flights to Prague from across the UK with budget airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet.
There are frequent shuttle buses from the airport to transport stations. Bus to Jicin takes just over 2 hours.
Getting to the start point of Jicin by train which takes approx. 3hrs. and involves changing at Nymburk hl.n
Getting back to Prague from Mala Skala is possible by train, and involves changing at Turnov or a direct bus to Prague.
We can organise private transfers from Prague Airport to Jicin – approx. £80 per journey for up to 4 people.
Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sunblock/cream, compass, torch, first-aid kit.
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
Contact us now to book this walk or make an enquiry.
