As if created especially for lovers of skiing, the Krkonoše ski resort in the Czech Republic welcomes guests with the cleanest air, amazing nature and excellent tourist infrastructure. So it is not surprising that not only foreigners, but also local residents prefer vacations in this GLC to trips to other Czech resorts.
In addition to the advantages of the resort, its popularity is also facilitated by its convenient location: the resort is located not far from Prague, that is, it is quite possible to combine a cultural program in the capital with active leisure time in the mountains. It makes sense to visit the ski resort both to improve your skiing skills and simply to relax surrounded by fantastic landscapes, see local attractions and climb the highest mountain – Snizhka, whose height is 1602 meters.
Krkonoše can be deservedly called one of those places where respectable businessmen, students, married couples and other categories of tourists are equally comfortable. Those who have been here at least once claim that there is a special sense of peace here and you can not worry about safety while riding on a pleasure ride and spending time in local restaurants.
Scheme of Krkonoše trails
This resort is not a ski complex in the usual sense. This is a center that unites several ski resorts:
Harrahov ;
Karpach;
Shklyarska Poremba;
Yablunytsia-nad-Jizera .
Characteristics
The distance from the capital to the center is about 160 kilometers (3-3.5 hours drive).
Track categories are blue, green, black and red.
Average altitude: from 1100 to 1400 meters.
The length of the tracks is about 100 kilometers (the total length of the tracks of all resorts).
Artificial snow supply system
There is a ski-pass admission system, equipment rental and 7 schools for training in mountain skiing, as well as cable cars and lifts.
The busiest tourist season is from the beginning of December to the end of April.
Track coverage is combined and natural.
The main attractions are the cogwheel railway, the Chapel of St. Elizabeth, the glass museum, the Church of St. Wenceslas, etc.
Weather
The Krkonoše ski resort is located in a moderate-mild climate zone, so the weather in winter is not very cold – up to minus six degrees, while the lowest values are observed in January. The average annual temperature is +11 degrees, and the snow cover varies depending on weather conditions from one to three meters. Going here, you can count on pleasant climatic conditions, which is especially important for those who plan a trip with children.
Tracks
Local ski resorts are a reduced copy of alpine ones. The service is on the same level as them, but the choice of routes and the difference in altitude are less here.
The average height difference is 500-600 meters. “Advanced” skiers and boarders, as well as those who have been to Alpine resorts, this place in terms of tracks may disappoint.
The maximum total length of the tracks of one resort is 25 kilometers. At the same time, it is quite difficult to move from one resort to another. It will not be possible to quickly move to another place in an hour.
For family vacations, the Krkonoše trails are perfect for beginners and those who are not very demanding of skiing. Almost all resorts have all the difficulties of the tracks (but some, for example, may have black in the singular).
There are a minimum of dangerous places on the tracks (cliffs, gorges, etc.). There are tracks with interesting terrain, but not everywhere. Some resorts have a bright town orientation. To come there from afar means to overpay a lot of money.
The condition of the snow on the tracks is highly dependent on the weather. Many resorts have an artificial snowmaking system. But the resorts cannot work fully on artificial snow. There may be little snow, although usually enough of it falls.
There are 8 tracks in Harrahov. The total length is 9 kilometers. The resort itself is considered small. There are springboards for jumping. One is among the largest in the world. Tracks are wasted. Difficulties – blue, red, green.
Spindleruv Mlyn is one of the largest local ski resorts. The total length of the tracks is 25 kilometers. The height difference is about 500 meters. Two skating areas. The resort itself is considered one of the best in the Czech Republic. All the difficulties. By noon, the tracks are broken in some places.
The Karpacz resort is already in Poland. 17 kilometers of trails. 7 tracks. Two half pipes. The height difference is 530 meters. Skiing area from 830 to 1,350 meters.
Shklyarska Poremba is another ski resort. The height difference is about 600 meters. The total length of the tracks is 15 kilometers. The number of tracks is 7. The average length of the tracks is about 2 kilometers, although there is one of 4.5 kilometers. There is artificial snow. There are tracks for slalom.
Rokytnice nad Jizerou is a ski resort in the Czech Republic . Quite a big center. Two separate skating areas. The first is located at heights from 657 to 1315 meters. Contains 14 kilometers of tracks. The main difficulty of the tracks is blue. The second slope is located at heights from 620 to 933 meters. The category of trails is mostly green. There are 24 tracks in total.
Yablunytsia nad Jizerou is a relatively small Czech resort. 9 kilometers of tracks. Height difference from 650 to 1320 meters.
Elevators
Krkonoše is equipped with special chair and cable-type lifts to transport tourists to the beginning of the trails , the number of which is constantly increasing as the hotel base develops and new centers for winter sports enthusiasts are organized. In addition, there are elevators and a rail funicular, but it is worth considering that there are periods when you have to walk to the mountain. Such a situation may arise during regular technical examination and troubleshooting.
You can minimize the cost of paying for the lift by buying a six-day pass, which will cost about two hundred euros and will give you the opportunity to go up and down an unlimited number of times. This option is perfect for both beginners and experienced skiers who spend most of their time on the slopes.
There are long queues everywhere on weekends and holidays.
Hotels
Naturally, in order for a vacation in the Krkonoše to bring maximum positive emotions, you need to choose a suitable place to live, especially since now there are enough hotels on the GLC for tourists with different needs and financial capabilities. It cannot be said that GLC already offers a very wide variety of hotels, but in general there is something to choose from – mainly hotels of the three and four star categories are presented here, accommodation in which varies from 40-50 to 100-120 euros per night in a double room . As a rule, hotels offer accommodation with breakfast, although for an additional fee you can choose a tour with full or half board.
A distinctive feature of the hotels that the ski center offers to guests is a special atmosphere of comfort, which is due to the fact that most of them belong to the category of mini-hotels. A good option from the point of view of saving money would be to settle in Olympie 3, Domovina 3 or Horal Hotel, but we recommend more wealthy tourists to pay attention to Harmony 4 and Montana 3, where, in addition to high-class service, you can count on the presence of a lot of additional entertainment, such as a sauna, billiards and discotheques.
ProFamily TOP Benecko 3-star hotel
The family hotel Profamily TOP Benecko is located in the village of Benecki, 200 m from the town of Macher. It offers a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden. This 3-star hotel offers ski-to-door access, a kids’ club and free WiFi. The hotel has rooms for holding conferences and banquets, as well as a team of animators.
Room amenities include a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.
A buffet breakfast is served every morning at Profamily TOP Benecko.
A terrace is at guests’ disposal. Hiking and skiing are popular in the surrounding area. Ski equipment can be rented at the Profamily TOP Benecko hotel.
Near the hotel are such popular attractions as Kenos, Lyshka and HSC. Profamily TOP Benecko is 94 km from Pardubice Airport.
Chaty Vrchlabí 4 star hotel
The Chaty Vrchlabí holiday home is located in the town of Vrchlabí, not far from the Herlikovice ski resort. The hotel offers a garden, ski equipment rental, ski-to-door access, barbecue facilities and a terrace. Free private parking is available. The area is popular for hiking, skiing, and cycling.
The chalet has 3 bedrooms, a kitchenette with a microwave and a fridge, a flat-screen TV, a living area, and 1 bathroom.
There is a playground for children. Among the amenities of the Chaty Vrchlabí complex is a bicycle rental, a ski pass sales point and a ski storage room.
Popular points of interest near the chalet include the ski lifts Vrkhlaby-Knezicki Peak C, Vrkhlaby-Knesnetsky Peak and Vrkhlaby-Kneznicki Peak. The nearest airport is Pardubice Airport, located 92 km from the Chaty Vrchlabí holiday home.
Orea Resort Sklář 4-star hotel
The resort hotel Orea Sklář is located in a quiet place, next to a dense forest. Guests can visit the large wellness center free of charge. Spa services include a swimming pool, steam room and hot tub.
The resort hotel is located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level in the popular Czech resort town of Harrachov. The city center can be reached in just 5 minutes. Hotel Orea was renovated in 2006 and is the ideal place for a comfortable, peaceful, restorative vacation in a picturesque mountain area.
Aparthotel Svatý Vavřinec 4 star hotel
Apart-hotel Svatý Vavřinec is located in Pecs pod Snežka, Hradec Králové region. It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi.
Some have a kitchen with a dishwasher, a living room and a private bathroom with a spa bath.
In the morning, guests are served a buffet breakfast. Guests can dine in the hotel’s restaurant, which specializes in local cuisine and vegetarian dishes.
Barbecue equipment is available.
The area is popular for skiing and cycling. The complex has a ski storage room.
The Rose Mountain – Sněžka cable car is 1.7 km from Svatý Vavřinec Apart Hotel, while the Portasky cable car is 2.5 km away. Pardubice Airport is 98 km away.
Hotel Flora 3-star hotel
Hotel Horsky Flora is located in Dolna Misechko, only 800 meters from the ski resort Špindlerův Mlýn. In the game room of the hotel you can play billiards, darts and table football. In summer, the hotel has an outdoor heated pool.
The restaurant serves Czech and international cuisine. A bar is at guests’ disposal.
Each room has free Wi-Fi and a private bathroom with a shower. The rooms offer a wonderful view of the natural landscape.
The hotel is located in the Krkonoše Mountains and is perfect for skiing and cross-country skiing. In addition, there are various hiking and cycling routes in the surrounding area.
Rokytnice nad Jizerou is 18 km from Hotel Flora. Harrahov ski resort is 30 km away.
Infrastructure
The small size of this Czech resort does not mean that there is nothing to do here or that there are problems with the infrastructure – rather, on the contrary, optimal conditions have been created for tourists. In particular, there are more than fifty bars and restaurants, there are a couple of museums, fitness centers, swimming pools and, of course, everything you need for skiing. A vacation at this resort will be remembered both by fantastic descents, and a trip on dog sleds and gatherings by the fire – for the most extreme tourists, in the warm season, it is suggested to jump with a parachute. It should also not be forgotten that GLC is an excellent place for learning from scratch and improving skills, as evidenced by the presence of many schools and services of private instructors. To make your vacation varied, you can visit local architectural monuments,
Reviews
Basically, Krkonoše is regarded by tourists as a place for active recreation. Guests of the resort claim that you can have a great time with children here, because there is even a kindergarten and instructors who work specifically with a children’s audience. For many, this cozy ski center has become a place of annual vacation with family and friends, when you can not think about what to entertain the younger generation, but just enjoy skiing. The only thing to pay attention to is the organization of the transfer from Prague. In particular, if you go by bus, you should make sure in advance that it goes directly to your hotel.
Shopping
There are no large shopping centers or supermarkets in the resort. You can buy essential goods, food, personal hygiene products, necessary clothes and shoes in local stores. For branded things, you will have to go to big cities, for example, to Prague.
How to get there?
From the capital of the Czech Republic, you can reach the Krkonoše ski resort by highways No. 16, 295 or D10 / E65. There are toll roads on the route. The distance is about 160 km.