Backcountry backpacking in Europe?

I want to take my boyfriend on a backcountry backpacking trip this summer, for a week or two.

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic.

The Sumava/Bavarian Forest joint national park is close, and if you go in June or September it is not too overrun with tourists. You can take the train or the bus directly into the national park (bus from Passau or train from Cesky Budovice). IIRC you can rent canoes in Cesky Krumlov. There is some good hiking and swimming around the Lipno lake.

Another area with decent hiking I know of would be south of Dresden up to the Czech border along the Elbe river. There are some good trails there (search for “Malerweg”) and wild camping is permitted in the “Saxon Switzerland” national park. Unfortunately it is quite overrun with tourists because it is so easily accessible by train and halfway between Prague, Dresden and Berlin.

And one very good option if you like flying Ryanair: Consider hiking in the Hunsrück, maybe following the Hunsrückhöhenweg. Fly into Frankfurt-Hahn and then start hiking right at the airport. As you know Ryanair’s airports are in the middle of nowhere – make use of it for once.

http://www.magicmaps.de/produktinfo/touren/deutschland/rheinland-pfalzsaarland/wandertouren/hunsrueckhoehenweg.html

If you include a visit to the Moselle region you’ll get some of the highlights of Germany. Just avoid Frankfurt am Main – not really interesting.

Alternatively look at some of the long-distance hiking trails in Europe.

Hope this gave you some ideas.

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