Northern Hikes: An Adventure In Czech Republic

*Guest Post By Ildiko Siklodi*

Pine forests, labyrinths, deep valleys, majestic hiking trails… All things I wasn’t expecting when planning a trip to the Czech Republic. You see, like most first-time visitors, I had my heart set on Prague. And while the capital city mesmerized me with its history, intricate architecture and colourful buildings, I quickly realized the country is home to a mystical landscape that has captivated the hearts of many: Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Attracting outdoor enthusiasts, artists, locals and tourists alike, the park (which happens to be the youngest of Czech Republic’s four national parks), is truly a hiker’s dream…

Which meant that we just had to include it in our itinerary. For that, we connected with Northern Hikes, a tour company that is passionate about hiking (the team grew up in the region), has a deeply entrenched love for nature (they offer small, eco-friendly tours) and clearly supports the local community. With them we embarked on the Bohemian Switzerland From Prague tour, which is a 15 km hike in the national park. Don’t worry, it’s not as intense as it sounds!

We were picked up at 8:00 am in Prague by our lovely tour guide, Pavla, and whisked off to the mouth of the hiking trail (this took approx. two hours). Our group of seven — six hikers and one tour leader — walked through a very unique area. I felt like we were at a much higher altitude based on the vegetation we saw. During the first part of the day, we wandered around sandstone formations, steep rock walls and towering trees. But the most magnificent sight was the famous Pravčická Brána: Europe’s largest sandstone arch! Standing at 52 feet high and 26 feet wide, it is the most recognized natural wonder in the park…

About midway through the hike, we had a pit stop to fuel up with lunch and beer at U Forta. Nestled in the mountains, the restaurant offers traditional Czech meals so it felt like we were taking a break just like the locals would. As a vegetarian, it can be challenging to find options while travelling (especially through Eastern Europe), but this restaurant had some great dishes. I ordered the chickpea puree with grilled vegetables and was so happy with my decision – the meal was delicious, healthy and super flavourful!

After lunch we began our descent into the Gorge of the River Kamenice — thankfully this was the easy portion of the hike since we were all still digesting! Our surroundings became increasingly more lush (it reminded me of a rainforest): the cool air caressed my skin and the sound of the flowing river filled my ears. It was so breathtaking that I had to stop to take it all in.

Our journey ended with a beautiful gondola ride (20 min) that allowed us to experience the surroundings in a different way — we spotted many statues and even had a chance to see some waterfalls!

Overall, I thought the hike was extremely well-designed and the trails were very well kept. The tour featured a variety of different landscapes and had plenty of stops for everyone to take in the scenery, munch on snacks and enjoy local fare. In my opinion, it’s a great way to explore the enchanting national park and is something I’d highly recommend for anyone who wants to see some of Czech Republic’s natural beauty.

If you do end up embarking on this adventure, here are a few tips:

• Make sure to book in advance as these small tours fill up fast, especially during high season!
• Wear layers as the temperature continuously fluctuates depending on where you are on the trail. Definitely bring a jacket for the second portion of the hike — it can get chilly!
• Visit the park all year round! Each season has its own beauty.
• Bring a backpack with all of your essentials. Northern Hikes provides snacks and water.
• Wear runners and sportswear so you can easily hike the trails.
• Northern Hikes offers tours every day (even in the winter) at varying levels of difficulty so review the website and book the one that is right for YOU.
• And lastly, bring a camera so you can capture all of the beauty!

A special thanks to Northern Hikes for hosting me for this experience! All reviews and opinions are entirely my own.