In Saxony, naturist days offer hiking in sandstone formations, like walking through a series of theatre sceneries. Steps and ladders enable you to “climb” without being trained to really climb. The nude hiking days in Saxon Switzerland 2019 from 22 to 31 July offered a lot of hikes in the buff to the participants, as well as a nude cycling tour along the Elbe River into the Czech Republic and a nude paddling tour on the Elbe River from Königsstein downstream to Pirna.
The initiators Martin and Torsten could welcome Milt and Dan from the USA as new international participants as well as – like already in 2018 – John from Ireland and Lim from Singapore, who had already taken part in the NEWT (Naked European Walking Tour) in Austria again one week before.
This year, the weather was particularly good, temperature up to 36°C and bright sunshine. So, it was perfectly clear to everyone, that it was best to travel without clothes – clothes would have only absorbed and stored the sweat. With moist sticky textiles on your body, you would have spoiled any hiking fun. So, there was a widespread awareness among the many hikers, who we met dressed up: “You're doing it right!” But, none decided to follow that insight spontaneously.
Sun protection was mainly provided by the canopy in the forest, but due to some sections of the route with unhindered sunlight, sun cream was not to be renounced. Depending on the skin type, a parasol also offered protection against too intensive UV radiation.
Among the hikes, there were tried and tested routes via Schrammsteine and Falkenstein, through the climbing paradise of the Bielatal Valley with Sachsenstein and the Herkulestürme, or through the tranquil Polenztal Valley, where the hikers could stop off nude in a forest restaurant there.
Video HD: Entry into the Breite Kluft
But also routes offered for the first time at the SNW, such as the Panoramaweg, which on the first day offered the hikers* an overview of some of the destinations of the next few days, were on the programme. With a cumulative ascent of 250 metres in altitude, this was the ideal introductory hike for participants used to the quite flat the Münsterland region, especially because the way back through the the Kirnitzschtal Valley could be made by tram to Bad Schandau. Alternatively, with an 8 km additional route, you could also climb back along the Kirnitzschtal Creek with a few climbings in between following the Flößersteig Track.
For the first time we walked a circular path near Cunnersdorf over the Maus and the Katzsteinfels (which is no rock at all but like all stones here made of sandstone). This route was shortened from 11 km to 6 km because of the good weather (sunshine, clear view, pleasant warm air), so that the view to the Czech Schneeberg Mountain did not let us feel cold.
For almost all hikes, there were alternative or additional offers to the easier route for those, who are a little more enthusiastic about climbing or prefer more challenging trails, which usually Andreas guided.
All in all, Martin and Torsten had put together a rich and varied programme, which offered every day special highlights and attractions. For the first time, they made descriptions and track files of the planned hikes available to the participants on the Internet, so that you could find out very precisely in advance about the course and requirements of the planned activity.
At the end of each day, the local gastronomy provided us about 30 (at weekends around 40) participants with local and international dishes as well as urgently requested, cool drinks.
Martin reports on the website Sächsische Nacktwanderfreunde about naktivities in Saxon Switzerland in-depth. Also, regional newspaper Sächsische Zeitung likes to inform its readers.
Also, regional daily newspaper Sächsische Zeitung 
was able to report on the nude activities in the Elbe Valley and Saxon Switzerland thanks to the attentive photographer Daniel Schäfer, who was able to get his camera in position quickly enough on the banks of the Elbe in the town of Stadt Wehlen to photograph nude cyclists riding by.
Translation of the press article:
“Oops, who's cycling through Stadt Wehlen? At the weekend, a group of nude cyclists attracted everyone's attention. Perhaps, not everyone is used to see free-range naktiv naturists. However, the topic is nothing new for Saxon Switzerland. It is not only nude cyclists, who are out and about here in summer, nude hikers have also been spotted.
Photo: Daniel Schäfer”
In the region, naturist ventures on foot, by bike, and by boat are not a new development, but the continuation of a good, old tradition.