Czech Republic Elbe Sandstone Cycling

Prague · Czech Republic

Easy8 daysEurope~£600 est.

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Overview

The Elbe cycle path between Prague and Dresden is one of Europe's great easy rides with a spectacular middle: after rolling out of Bohemia through Litomerice and Decin, the valley narrows into the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, where hundreds of eroded towers and table mountains rise from pine forest on both sides of the Czech-German border. Park the bike at Hrensko and walk up to the Pravcicka brana -- Europe's largest natural sandstone arch, spanning 26.5 metres -- then take the punted boats through the Kamenice gorge before rejoining the river beneath the Bastei crags into Saxony. The riding is flat, largely traffic-free and family-friendly -- eight gentle days of 40-50 kilometres -- with railway stations along the whole valley as bail-outs and shortcuts. Spring and early autumn beat the July crowds at the arch; arrive before 10am regardless (the arch itself has been closed to walkers on top since 1982 -- the classic view is from the Sokoli hnizdo terrace). Czech guesthouses and beer keep costs to around 600 pounds including the odd river ferry.