Expats – Saxon Switzerland II: Famous Bastei bridge, castles & nature

Discover a picture-postcard stone bridge, a 13th century castle & hike through misty canyons, breathtaking rock formations & wilderness.

When and where

Date and time

Saturday, July 29 · 6am – 11:30pm CEST

Location

Berlin Central Station Europaplatz 1 10557 Berlin Germany

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Eventbrite’s fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

17 hours 30 minutes
Mobile eTicket

Basteibrücke

WHY GO?

Saxon Switzerland is the mystical German wonderland you read about in storybooks. Filled with stunning cliffs and jaw dropping valleys, this hike will keep you guessing what awaits around the next bend. Maybe you will squeeze past stunning rock formations, maybe you will mount a fairytale stone bridge with amazing views of the valley, or maybe you will find your way through beautiful forest foliage. Who knows! Join us on this surreal and majestic landscape and we guarantee a laughter and excitement filled day, traversing wild canyons framed by sandstone stacks, fairytale forests, and medieval castles.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS?

Bastei: Bastei is the most famous rock formation in Saxon Switzerland national park, towering 194 meters over the Elbe river with the rocks almost going up vertically from the valley below.
Bastei Bridge: This man made stone bridge “Bastei Bridge” is a sight to behold and spans the Mardertelle gorge built to reach the rock castle Neurathen on the other side.
Schwedenlöcher: Schwedenlöcher or Sweden holes is a special gem where rocks tower meters above you making for an impressive jaw dropping sight.
Wolfsschlucht: Wolfsschlucht or Wolf’s gorge is a narrow & beautiful canyon with steel steps to make this walk adventurous & walkable and also a delight for photographers.
Hohnstein Castle Town (time – permitting): The medieval castle is the symbol of the town with the castle built around 1200 and offering great views of the Polenz river below. The picturesque town is on the edge of the Saxon Switzerland National Park surrounded by incredible beauty and is also famous for its renowned puppet shows.

TRIP DETAILS:

Meeting location & time:

Option A – Meet in Berlin Central train station @ 6:00 am on Sat, 29 July. Note: Exact platform to be advised the day before event in the whatsapp group for this event.
Option B – Meet outside Kurort Rathen train station @ 11am on Sat, 29 July.
Note: Kurort Rathen is the starting & finishing point of our hike.

Finishing location & time:

Option A – Berlin Central Station @ 11:30pm on Sat, 29 July
Option B – Kurort Rathen train station @ 6:30pm on Sat, 29 July

Hiking Distance & duration: 15 km, elevation gain/loss 500m, 7 hours from start to closing, multiple break times

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Difficulty: Intermediate to Hard – sometimes steep paths and stairs, moderate elevation, sure-footedness & good fitness required.

Price: Starting from 35 Euros.

Included:

Community Leader & guide for the entire duration (Guide speaks English & Portugese). Note: English is the main language spoken on this trip.
Guided hike
All public transportation for the entire trip starting from the meeting location to the finishing location.
Access to google photos album dedicated for this event.
Access to whatsapp group dedicated for this event where you can chat with other participants.
Note: Email us immediately if you do not have whatsapp & we can make alternate arrangements from our end to ensure you do not miss out on any communication.

Buy your tiket online

Other Things of Note & Items to pack:

Weather is temperament and can vary between raining & sunny weather. Would recommend the following at a minimum:

Packed lunch for break during hike.
Suitable footwear for hike (hiking shoes if possible, else any other good shoes).
Rain jackets
Rain trousers
Hiking Shoes
Suitable day pack,
Sun protection.

WHAT IS NEXT ?

WhatsApp Group: In the ticket confirmation page, you will find a link to a whatsapp group dedicated to this event. This group is where you can connect with trip mates, coordinate arrival options & stay in touch.
Google Photos Album: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to the shared google photos album where you can upload & view all shared photos & videos from the trip.

Hohnstein Castle

Check out pics below from our previous trips

Beer garden for lunch

WHAT IS THE PLAN?

6:00 am – Meet in Berlin central train station

6:23 am – Catch train for Kurort Rathen starting with RE 2 to Cottbus.

11:00 am – Arrive in Kurort Rathen and start hiking

12:30 pm – Arrive in Bastei brucken and have a short break to explore the area.

12:45 pm – Continue hike

2:00 pm – Stop for lunch break at beautiful beer garden.

2:30 pm – Start hiking after lunch

6:00 pm – Finish hike and get back to Kurort Rathen. Time permitting, grab a quick bite.

6:50 pm – Catch train back for Berlin starting with S1 to Dresden-Neustadt

11:30 pm – Arrive back in Berlin

HOW DO I CONTACT YOU FOR ANY QUERIES / CONCERNS?

WHATSAPP: Reach out to us directly by clicking here: https://ExpatsTravelTogether.com/Questions

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TRANSACTION FEES?

Transaction fees apply only when you use the ticketing system available on this page (EventBrite). If you prefer to avoid these fees, we offer the option of paying via bank transfer. To arrange a bank transfer or if you have any questions, please reach out to us directly by clicking here: https://ExpatsTravelTogether.com/Questions

WHAT ARE YOUR REVIEW'S LIKE FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS?

To go through our amazing reviews by participants, please click on the links below:

WHAT IS NEXT?

WhatsApp Group: In the ticket confirmation page, you will find a link to a whatsapp group dedicated to this event. This group is where you can connect with trip mates, coordinate arrival options & stay in touch.
Trip Briefing: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to a detailed trip briefing document providing details on what to expect, how to prepare etc.
Google Photos Album: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to the shared google photos album where you can upload & view all shared photos & videos from the trip.

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Free cancellation up to 7 full days before the start of the trip. After that, cancel up to 5 days before the trip to get a 50% refund.
If the event is cancelled on our end, you will get a full refund.
Please note that the program, as well as the venue is subject to change due to extreme weather conditions, as well as to the characteristics and size of the group.
Urbanature Travel (UNT) needs a minimum of 5 participants for this trip to take place, else we may cancel this trip.
UNT reserves the right to cancel the trip, modify the route, change the accommodation or re-schedule hikes and without prior notice.
UNT is not responsible for any loss, theft, damage or personal injury that occurs during the trip.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Organized by Urbanature Travel

Welcome my fellow travellers! We are looking to provide you with options to travel to amazing places with our like-minded community guides. Our trips would involve a mash-up of urban exploring and comfortable nature trails & hikes planned & designed by us to ensure that you have a great time & have a more holistic experience.

Looking forward to seeing you on our trips!!!