Embarking on a multi-day hiking trip with little companions is always a huge challenge. That’s why the Lužnice Trail with kids became our main goal for this year’s family adventure. Over four days, we experienced extreme efforts, tears of missing home, but also a huge dose of genuine joy.
The First Kilometers from Planá to Historic Tábor
Our D-Day had begun. While walking our dogs in the morning, I stopped by the shop and bought drinks for the kids and myself for the journey. We quickly had breakfast at home, packed the last things, and set off towards the Main Train Station before 9 AM. The train to Planá nad Lužnicí was about ten minutes late. However, it didn’t spoil our mood, and right after getting off, we headed towards Tábor.
We devoured the first part of our snack in the train compartment, and the second part during one of the stops. The kids also munched on an apple. In Sezimovo Ústí, we discovered a restaurant where we went for ice cream – it was a real treat! Next to the restaurant was a huge playground where the children went wild. Meanwhile, I restocked our supply of fresh water. The sun was beating down more and more, so choosing hats instead of regular caps turned out to be a brilliant idea.
Searching for Accommodation in Tábor
In Tábor, a challenging climb from the river awaited us, as we were staying right in the historic center. On the way, we spotted a Billa supermarket. We bought yogurts, drinks, and more ice cream to cool down. Finding accommodation near Žižkov Square gave us a bit of a hard time because we initially missed it. We had to go back a few houses and finally found it.
A large room with windows facing the street awaited us, and it was incredibly hot inside. The clock showed past 4 PM, and we had an impressive 14.2 km under our belts. We dropped our backpacks, changed into comfortable sandals, and set off to explore the surroundings.
Memories of Times Past
During our walk, it suddenly hit me that I had been here before. Back then, my daughter, a friend, and his children were with me. I took photos of them by the fountain, though it was much colder at that time. My daughter, however, didn’t remember it. Before heading back, we popped into Billa again for fresh bread, cheese, and other small items. We ate dinner in the shared kitchen. After a shower and brushing our teeth, we went to bed. I pushed the beds together, which the kids greeted with enthusiasm. I, on the other hand, was terribly hot.
Day Two: Via the Snake Spring and with Smiles on Our Faces
Last night was simply strange, and I’m not even sure if I slept at all. The heat, street noise, and constant trips to the bathroom plagued me. But we managed in the morning. For breakfast, the kids had yogurt and a special thin yogurt drink, which they didn’t like at all. Afterward, we packed our backpacks to leave.
Fortunately, at that moment, my daughter expressed a desire to brush her teeth again. Thanks to her return to the room, I noticed a forgotten charger in the socket. I had the cables with me, but the adapter itself would have been left behind otherwise. We continued for a great breakfast at a place called Kávová zastávka.
The Magic of the Snake Spring
Right after breakfast, we joined the hiking trail. The path went smoothly as we caught the ideal morning coolness. When it warmed up in the afternoon, the dense trees above us provided pleasant shade. As we descended towards the river, we passed the Snake Spring. I dutifully smeared everyone with this water. I told the children that we would turn into snakes by morning, or at least snakes would consider us friends and move out of our way.
Interesting fact from the route: The Snake Spring apparently really works! Shortly after smearing ourselves with the water, we encountered a live slow worm on the path, which obediently slithered into the grass before us. And there were several of them throughout the day.
However, the route surprised us a bit with its length. According to Mapy.cz, the hike to our accommodation was supposed to be 11 km. But at the end of the day, my watch uncompromisingly showed 18 km. I have no idea where the mistake happened, but it was a lot of fun with the kids. We laughed a lot, chatted, and sang. My daughter tried incredibly hard, and both little hikers were absolutely wonderful.
Evening Crisis and Starlink in the Wilderness
However, in the evening, fatigue set in, and with it, sadness. Yesterday, my daughter cried; today, my son shed tears due to missing his mom. Today, we have accommodation secured, including breakfast. The staff informed us that they usually serve food from 8 AM, but someone arrives as early as 7:45 AM, so we can come earlier.
There’s no mobile signal in the entire valley. Fortunately, the accommodation has Starlink internet. Thanks to this, Wi-Fi works in several places, so I could send a message home that we are okay. The room with its own bathroom also offered great comfort. So, I can only recommend this guesthouse.
Day Three: Extreme Effort and Blueberry Dumplings in Dobronice
Although the building felt chilly at night, we slept fantastically. The third day brought an absolutely extreme performance from my children. I felt like I was in a dream when we successfully reached Bechyně. My watch showed an incredible 24.8 km. I take my hat off to them; I am immensely proud of my little companions. The path constantly went up and down, but we always agreed and kept moving forward.
During the day, we crossed the historic chain bridge and visited a beautiful viewpoint above Dobronice near Bechyně. Afterward, we descended to the river to have lunch at a local buffet. My daughter had been wishing for blueberry dumplings the whole way, and to our great joy, they had them there. We arrived in Bechyně just before 6 PM.
Sweet Reward in Bechyně
From the river, the final ascent to the town center awaited us. We wanted to reach the Coop store and buy ice cream. We were almost at our destination, just needed to turn left, when suddenly, soft-serve ice cream appeared before us. We didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately indulged.
After this luxurious treat, we descended to the river again to our guesthouse. On the way, we stopped at the information center to find out how to get cards for a local regional game. We learned that we would need to attend either a monastery tour or a city tour in the morning. Our attic room was quite warm, but after those 24.8 km, we didn’t care at all.
Day Four: Change of Plans and a Well-Deserved Swimming Pool in Týn
The fourth night was absolutely terrible because I haven’t felt this bad in a long time. I probably pinched a nerve in my cervical spine. First, my daughter woke me up at night. We didn’t sleep together for a while and finished some things, after which my son also woke up. At breakfast, we played Ludo to improve our mood.
To get the coveted cards for the regional game, we had to tour the local monastery in Bechyně. Right after the cultural experience, we headed for a second breakfast at the pleasant Kavárna 146.
Complications on the Route and Bus Transfer
It was oppressively hot outside. Moreover, we discovered that the hiking trail was largely closed. Unfortunately, the alternative route led along the road in direct sunlight. I wasn’t sure yesterday how we would manage. In the end, I opted for a quick change of plans, and we took the bus. After all, the children had walked enough deservedly, so a more relaxed day wouldn’t hurt anyone. The 11:10 connection didn’t run at all, so we had to wait until the 12:10 bus. That successfully transported us to Týn nad Vltavou.
In Týn, we immediately headed to the Kik store so I could buy swimsuits for the children and myself, so we could go to the local swimming pool. Then we set off to find our accommodation for the day. To my surprise, it turned out to be a regular apartment in a housing estate. After a quick lunch, we immediately headed to the local swimming pool.
A Rainy End to the South Bohemian Adventure
The swimming pool was absolutely great. I also used my Multisport card, so admission was completely free. After swimming, we stopped at Lidl to buy ingredients for dinner. As soon as we left the store, heavy rain started. We waited out the worst downpour and returned home dry after 6 PM.
A warm shower and a hearty dinner followed. The children are currently happily drawing, we called mom, and we are slowly getting ready for bed. I’ll turn on the TV for a little while longer and then go to sleep too. We ended today’s day with 7 km on the pedometer. Tomorrow, the journey home awaits us.
Every multi-day trek with family brings unexpected challenges, but the shared experiences are absolutely worth it. The Lužnice Trail with kids tested our resilience but also incredibly bonded us. Are you also planning a similar family trek? How do your children handle longer distances, and what games do you enjoy playing most on the trail? Write your tips in the comments below the article!
Trail Summary
- Total distance on the Lužnice Trail: 64 km
- Highlight of the Day:
- Day 1: Giant playground in Sezimovo Ústí
- Day 2: The magic of the Snake Spring and encountering a slow worm
- Day 3: Children’s extreme hike to Bechyně (24.8 km) and blueberry dumplings
- Day 4: Well-deserved swimming pool in Týn nad Vltavou after a blocked trail.
- Weather: Scorching sun and high heat for the first three days, oppressive heat on the fourth day ending with heavy rain.
- Interesting Encounters: Live slow worms on the trail that cleared the path for us after being smeared with water from the Snake Spring.
A Few Photos from the Trip
