A pounding heart, rapid breathing and the wind in your hair – that’s the real adrenaline rush

Do you love that feeling when your palms get sweaty, you can hear your own heart pounding, you feel the wind in your hair, but above all, you feel free? If you’re longing for moments just like these, we’ve got a few tips for you that are sure to set your adrenaline-loving heart racing.

Push the limits of what you can do right to the very top

Few climbing areas can boast such a long and significant history as the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. As early as 1888, a group of formidable Saxon climbers heroically scaled the Pevnost tower. Gradually, the Elbe Valley – both the left and right banks – became the epicentre of climbing in the region, attracting climbers from all over Europe. This is down to a wider selection of better-secured routes, stunning views, but above all, the unique atmosphere of the place. Believe me, there is nothing more beautiful than climbing against the backdrop of the glistening River Elbe, towering rock faces and monumental table mountains. With over 6,000 routes to choose from, there is something for everyone – from experienced climbers to families with children.

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains include several rock formations that you shouldn’t miss on your climbing trip. These are the Tiské stěny, Rájec, Ostrov and Jetřichovice. If you’re feeling a bit nervous, make use of the services of the Do lesa agency, which will provide you with professional training and lend you equipment.

Modern bouldering takes place on the rocks around Děčínský Sněžník. Via ferratas have experienced a huge boom in recent years. And it’s no wonder – moving in the vertical world is highly addictive. The Děčín via ferrata on Pastýřská stěna has become the number one in the Czech Republic in the eight years since it opened. It offers the widest range of routes, which are among the longest in the whole of the Czech Republic. The via ferrata is also unique due to its location, situated right in the heart of the town, literally within sight of Děčín Castle. Entry is completely free. You can hire suitable equipment at the start from Active Point.

Tip: If you’re on a trip to neighbouring Saxon Switzerland, visit the Häntzschelstiege and Zwillingsstiege via ferratas. If you don’t feel confident tackling them on your own, you can hire an instructor; we can recommend, for example, the adventure agency Do Lesa.

Discover the beauty of nature with a paddle in hand

When paddling on the Elbe in a canoe or on a raft, you can admire the landscape of Bohemian Switzerland or the Bohemian Central Mountains from a completely different perspective – it’s up to you which direction you head in from Děčín. You can hire suitable equipment from Active Point, which offers several options for where to go. You’ve got nothing to worry about – the river is completely calm in this section, there are no weirs and the traffic isn’t particularly heavy.

Tip: You can also try stand-up paddleboarding on the calm Elbe. You can paddle 10 kilometres along the calm waters from Děčín through the romantic Elbe Valley.

Racing against the wind

The highest flat-topped mountain in the Czech Republic, Děčínský Sněžník, doesn’t just attract visitors with its breathtaking views of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland, the Bohemian Central Mountains, or the Ore Mountains. Adventurous souls can make use of scooter hire, which will have them back at their car in no time. Scooters let you experience the unique sensation of the wind in your hair and enjoy the sheer joy of the ride down.

There are plenty of places to go scooter-riding. Why not try riding down from the top of the Jedlová observation tower to the ski lift’s lower station? And whilst you’re there, don’t miss out on a swing on the giant swing. Or hire scooters at Tokán and ride to Doubice, or whizz down from Panská skála to Česká Lípa. You can also seek advice from Event Time, who will organise more than just a scooter trip for you.

Get pedalling

Cycling trips are just as interesting an alternative to walking or scooter trips. In this case, Bohemian Switzerland offers countless cycle paths. Among the routes we highly recommend are the Elbe Cycle Path and the ‘Cesta k sousedům’ (Path to the Neighbours), which connects Nový Bor with the Saxon village of Oybin.

Service stands are often available to cyclists along the signposted cycle paths, and if you’re not feeling up to it and are worried you won’t be able to keep up with the rest of the group, you can take advantage of the bike hire services and ride an e-bike. Hire one from Rent your ebike and don’t worry – there are plenty of charging points along the way.

Tip: The Elbe Cycle Path is also ideal for inline skating, which you can use to reach places such as Meissen in Germany.

The first football golf course in the Czech Republic

However, if you want to try something truly unconventional – something that will entertain both golf connoisseurs and football enthusiasts – head to the Dymník observation tower. Below the tower, near Rumburk, lies the first football golf course in the Czech Republic. Is this the first time you’ve heard of football golf? This relatively new sport combines – as the name suggests – elements of football and golf. The game is played on a course similar to a golf course, except for the size of the holes. It is played with a football, which must be kicked – rather than struck with a club – into the hole. The number of kicks it takes a player to get the ball into the hole is what counts. This unusual game is guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

Tip: The course is situated near the scenic stone ‘Star of Life’. The Rumburk Stonehenge is built from 22 granite obelisks, which form a labyrinth.

Still wondering what to do in Bohemian Switzerland?