The Czech Republic is ideal for walking tours and mountain tourism, which is given by the diversity of natural scenery. The visitors can use network of well marked tourist routes, which are set up even in the most remote areas of the Czech Republic. Popular tourist routes for mountain tourism can be found in the regions of the Krkonoše Mountains, Šumava, Jizerské hory, Jeseníky, Beskydy and other mountainous areas surrounding the territory of the CR.
Walking tours
Thanks to the diversity of landscapes the Czech Republic offers ideal conditions for walking tours. An unusual rich network of well-marked footpaths evenly covers the whole territory and disables to lose one’s way even in the remote areas of the country. Among the most popular tourist regions are Krkonoše and Šumava. Walking tours fans should not miss the romantic sandstone rock “towns” in Český Ráj (Czech Paradise), or some of the wild river valleys, e.g. the valley of the Dyje River in Moravia, the Vydra River in Šumava, the Střela River in western Bohemia. Many of the marked footpaths run through the areas near the borders. Many of them cross the borders and continue in the neighbouring countries. Detailed tourist maps can be purchased in information centres, bookshops and at small vendors in the whole country. Klub českých turistů (Club of Czech tourists) is organizing interesting tourist programs.
Mountain climbing
There are not any high mountains on the territory of the Czech Republic, which would offer conditions for alpinism and difficult high mountain tours. On the other hand there are plenty of interesting localities (sandstone, limestone, crystallic rocks – granite, gneiss) with rock walls and towers, where climbing of various grades of difficulty can be realized. Majority of the rocks suitable for climbing are located in protected landscape areas. Only registered mountain climbers are permitted to climb in these areas independently; beginners need an instructor’s company. The Nature and landscape protection law restricts climbing in the protected landscape areas; in the national parks and national reserves (especially in Krkonoše and Šumava) climbing is prohibited. In case of other types of protected areas – such as national natural sight, natural reserve, natural sight and preserved landscape area – authorities dealing with nature preserve state the conditions for activities on the territory. In every region mountain climbing is individually restricted by rules, which reflect the concrete character of the rock and the need of fauna and flora protection. The most popular climbing places are situated in the protected areas:Labské pískovce (Labe sandstones)
Tiské stěny (Tiské walls), Ostrov, Rájec, Labské údolí (Labe valley), Hřensko, Jetřichovice
Location: the Ústí nad Labem region
Český ráj (Czech paradise)
Prachovské skály (Prachovské rocks), Drábské světničky (Drábské little chambers), Hruboskalsko, Suché skály (Suché rocks), Klokočské skály, Betlémské skály
Location: north-eastern Bohemia
Teplicko-adršpašské skály (Teplicko-adršpašské rocks)
Teplické skály (Teplické rocks), Adršpach, Křížový vrch (Křížový hill)
Location: the Broumovsko area, the Hradec Králové region
Moravský kras (Moravian Karst)
The Macocha and Klenba abysses, the massifs Koně, Beran, Rorejsy
Location: the Blanensko area, the south Moravian region
Český kras (Czech Karst)
Karlštejn, Srbsko, sv.Jan pod Skalou
Location: the Berounsko area, the central Bohemian region
Křivoklátsko
Vraní skála (Vraní rock), Dehtická skála, rocks in Chlum near Zbiroh
Location: the Rakovnicko area, the central Bohemian region
Slavkovský les (Slavkovský forest)
Svatošské skály (Svatošské rocks) – the valley of the Ohře River
Location: the Sokolovsko area, the Karlovy Vary region
