The Kořenov area is also the ideal place to go to, as you can decide which way you want to go – one direction will take you to Smědava and Bedřichov, the other to the Giant Mountains. You’ll be captivated by the 60 km of groomed cross-country ski trails so much that you won’t feel like leaving. On top of that, when you find out how irresistibly charming the snow-clad queen of lookout towers Štěpánka is in wintertime, and when you discover the magical ‘skis’ in the Jára Cimrman Museum situated below the Maják Lookout Tower, and when you taste some delicious food in local pubs, you’re sure to be back the following weekend.

How about giving the well-known Jizera Mountain ski centres a pass this year and go to such places as Smržovka, Rádlo, Rychnov u Jablonce, Nové Město pod Smrkem, Albrechtice u Frýdlantu, Kryštofovo Údolí or Břízky in Jablonec nad Nisou instead? Provided the weather conditions are good, you’ll find groomed loop trails in all of these places. They may be shorter, but there will be fewer cross-country skiers there, so you’ll be able to have a more relaxed skiing experience.

And then there are the Giant Mountains, which are densely interlaced with a network of ski trails. Did you know that there are over 500 km of groomed loops here? The main core is the Giant Mountains Main Ski Trail, which will take you from Harrachov up to Žacléř, provided that you can manage 71 km.  That’s why we recommend that you divide the route up into a few sections. The red-graded trail starts at Harrachov and will guide you over Ručičky, Krakonošova snídaně, Vosecká Chalet, Zlaté návrší and Horní Mísečky up to Špindlerův Mlýn. This trail is not really suited for families with children and those who are not in good condition.  They should use the groomed trails near the ski centres.

If you’re not completely exhausted yet, go from Špindlerův Mlýn over to Kopřivník, past Klínové Chalets and Dvorská Chalet up to Liščí hora, from which you’ll have a unique view of Sněžka. A photo of Sněžka in winter will surely win you acclaim on your social media and in the family album alike. Then just a few steps to Žacléř – well, actually you still have to carry on along the route past Hrnčířské Chalets, Javorské Chalets to Pec pod Sněžkou and then over Velká Úpa’s Výsluní, Spálený Mlýn, the Malá Úpa settlement, Horní Albeřice, Rýchorská Chalet and up to Horní Maršov. Just under 25 km long, and you’ve completed the entire Giant Mountain Main Ski Trail.

You’ll find cross-country ski trails offering extraordinary panoramic views of the Giant Mountains in both the central mountain area and below the mountains. They’ll take you to beautiful, and often less busy and therefore still largely undiscovered places in the Giant Mountains. Here you’ll find both easy loops intended for cross-country skiers with lower fitness levels and cross-country ski race loops and trails for cross-country skiers who have good stamina. For what it’s worth, we recommend Benecko and Jilemnice. Superb trail grooming, a great number of trails, views of the countryside and a high altitude – this combination is the reason why Benecko is able to offer some of the best environments for cross-country skiing in the Czech Republic. The trails are also interconnected with other trails leading to Žalý, Vrchlabí, Mísečky and the Giant Mountain ridges – enough to keep you busy throughout the whole winter. And what about Jilemnice? There is a trail boasting a fairly trendy name ‘Keep Fit’, which has been gaining popularity and is truly suitable for everybody: from young children, through fit sporty people, up to senior citizens.

If you find the Jizera Mountains and Giant Mountains too challenging, head to the Lusatian Mountains. The Lusatian Mountains offer skiing to those who’re aiming for trails intended mostly for classic skiing. The entry point is at Polevsko near Nový Bor, and the trails are also groomed around the villages of Kytlice, Svor, Kamenický Šenov-Prácheň, Prysk, Cvikov and the Luž and Jedlová peaks. You can follow the Lusatian Mountain Main Ski Trail up to the German side of the border, to the area around the villages of Waltersdorf, Jonsdorf, Oybin and Lückendorf. You can thus visit two countries in one day and compare whose mulled wine tastes better. We also recommend the Lusatian Mountains to families with children, since you can keep your children occupied in small-scale ski resorts, and many guesthouses and chalets offer reasonable prices.

Do you say to yourself that going to Bohemian Paradise in winter on a skiing holiday would never even cross your mind? Then try to change it this year.  Provided the weather conditions are good, the Lomnice Main Ski Trail near Lomnice nad Popelkou, which traces along the Golden Path of Bohemian Paradise, is groomed for skiing.

If you don’t have your own equipment, there are cross-country ski rental shops in every bigger town. Come on, let’s get started – you don’t want to deprive yourself of the picturesque snowy landscapes and a few hundred duly burned kilocalories!