Itinerary at a glance

The extraordinary landscapes of Saxon Switzerland include attractions like the Kleinhennersdorf Caves, the Bastei Bridge, and the impressive Leichtenhainer Waterfall. The Königstein Fortress is also among the cultural attractions in the region.

We recommend you seize the afternoon and enjoy a little stroll through this tranquil spa resort.

After your first ascent on today’s tour you get to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view. Onwards via the ‚Brandstufen’ to the ‚balcony’ of Saxon Switzerland, the so-called ‚Brand’. Past Hohnstein castle and Lake Amselsee you reach the spa resort Rathen.

Today you start with the ascent onto Mount ‚Basteifelsen’ with its well-known bridge ‚Basteibrücke’. You continue via the ‚Höllengrund’ and the ‚Wehlener Grund’ to the town of Wehlen. Via the Rauenstein table mountain you hike back to Rathen or on to Königstein (depending on hotel availability).

After spending the night in Rathen, you climb via Weißig to Königstein Fortress, the largest fortress complex in Europe. After passing through the village of Königstein, you walk on comfortable hiking trails towards the famous rock needle Barbarine. We recommend a short break and refreshment in the ‚Pfaffenstein Baude’. Enjoy a beautiful view onto the well-known Mount Lilienstein. Via the path ‚Muselweg’ you soon reach the pretty spa resort Gohrisch, situated in a quiet, arboreous area.

The region around Gohrisch is called the ‚Realm of Rocks’. After a gentle start across the plateau you then head up towards Mount Gohrisch and afterwards ascend Mount Papststein. You walk past the caves ‚Kleinhennersdorfer Höhlen’ and reach the Liethener-valley with its old mill shortly before Krippen.

Today the route takes you to a rock formation called ‚Schrammsteine’. Here you have to overcome in parts steep ascents and metal strairs. You walk on forest paths along the ‚Affensteig’-trail and afterwards follow the ‚Malerweg’-path all the way to the ‚Lichtenhain waterfall’. Return journey to Bad Schandau by the long-standing railway ‚Kirnitzschtalbahn’.

Hikers with a view of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains on the Malerweg

Hikers in front of Elbe sandstone rocks on the Malerweg

Hikers in the direction of the Knigstein Fortress

Hikers on the viewing platform on the Malerweg

View over the city of Wehlen on the Malerweg

Route information

Walking

Easy to moderate walking tours past sandstone formations and through gorges. A good basic fitness level and in parts surefootedness is required.

Prices & Dates

Category A: very beautiful 3***- and 4****hotels, 3x 5*****-hotel (Bad Schandau)

Category B: beautiful 3***-hotels and guesthouses

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Services

Included

Accommodations as already mentioned
Breakfast
6x dinner (category A)
2x dinner (category B)

Luggage transfer
Admission Toskana Therme Bad Schandau (category A)
Carefully elaborated route description
Detailed travel and tour documents 1x per room (German, English)
Service-Hotline

Information

Arrival / Parking / Departure

Arrival by train via Dresden to Bad Schandau. From the train station by ferry to the Elb-pier, only a few minutes walk to the hotel from there.
Dresden Airport.
Parking: Public car park on the Elb-pier, approx. EUR 8 per day.

Things to note

Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
Ride Kirnitzschtalbahn to Bad Schandau, approx. EUR 6 per person
In exceptional cases, there will be another overnight stay in the spa town of Rathen on the 3rd day and in Bad Schandau on the 5th day. The necessary transfers are organised and included.
If you arrive on Friday or Saturday in category A, you will stay overnight in Bad Schandau on the 1st and 2nd day. The hike to the Lichtenhain waterfall will then be scheduled for the 2nd day instead of the 6th day. Transfers are free of charge with included guest card.
Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
This tour is a partner tour.