Liberec region Active Winter Holiday Apart from the downhill and cross-country skiing, winter resorts in the Liberec Region offer also a number of less conventional adventures. Visitors may race against time on the sledge tracks in the towns of Špindlerův Mlýn and Janské Lázně, while fans of snowboarding may try one of the many snowparks. Ski touring is also available, although only in a designated area and with a permit from the Krkonoše National Park authority; hiking can be complemented by walking on snowshoes. Other attractions include the adrenaline events of skijöring where a person on skis is pulled by a horse or a dog, and mushing with a dog team through which visitors to the Jizerské Hory Mountains can experience the feelings of the Arctic explorers and gold diggers. Children will definitely enjoy snow tubing – riding on inflated tubes within specially modified snow tracks. The Krkonoše Mountains also offer the new and exciting snow kiting, where skiers or snowboarders are pulled by a kite ride on snow-covered plains. Cross-country skiing Thanks to the quality and diversity of winter sports that are available, the Liberec Region ranks among the favourite destinations for winter holidays in the Czech Republic. There are four mountain areas within the region – Jizerské Hory, Ještědský Hřbet, Lužické Hory and Krkonoše – that are perfect both for downhill and Nordic skiing as well as for adrenaline winter sports. The skiing resorts may be often reached by special ski-buses. The Jizerské Hory Mountains are a Nordic skiing paradise. The network of cross-country skiing trails on the plateau forms the Jizerská Magistrála with more than 180 km of maintained tracks for both classic and skating styles, and with 22 starting points. Winter sports enthusiasts may use tracks not only in the frequented resorts of Bedřichov and Jizerka, but also in other starting points such as Oldřichov v Hájích, Nové Město pod Smrkem, Desná, Horní Polubný or Martinské Údolí in Kořenov. Skiers may also extend their journey to the tracks in the Krkonoše Mountains or to the maintained tracks in Poland. Each year the region hosts Jizerská Padesátka, a skiing race from the prestigious Worldloppet skiing marathon series. The Krkonoše Mountains offer a 71-km backbone skiing track stretching from Harrachov to Žacléř – the Krkonošská Magistrála. The backbone track branches off to more than 500 km of local skiing tracks and routes. Cross-country skiing tracks with stunning views of the Krkonoše landscape can be found both in the central mountain area and on the foothills. They lead the skiers to lovely but less frequented and therefore les known places throughout the Krkonoše Mountains. The Lužické Hory Mountains are ideal particularly for the Nordic skiing enthusiasts. The starting point of the tracks is in Polevsko near the town of Nový Bor; tracks are being maintained also in the surroundings of the villages of Kytlice, Svor, Kamenický Šenov - Prácheň, Prysk, and Cvikov, and Luž and Jedlová hills. The Lužické Hory backbone track may be extended to the German side of the mountains along the tracks near the towns of Waltersdorf, Jonsdorf, Oybin and Lückendorf. If climate allows, the Lomnice skiing track following the Golden Route of Bohemian Paradise is maintained near Lomnice nad Popelkou. Downhill skiing The ski resorts in the Liberec Region provide a comprehensive range of services to ensure a pleasant winter holiday: skiing equipment rental services, night skiing, snow cannons on ski slopes, ski schools, accommodation, restaurants and refreshment facilities, and many other amenities. Skiers may use countless numbers of ski lifts, dozens of cableways, and many downhill tracks of various levels, from the longest and most challenging tracks to easy slopes for children and beginners. Major ski resorts also operate ski-buses that transfer skiers between the resorts and their accommodation, usually free of charge. The Krkonoše Mountains are a favourite destination for skiers –numerous ski resorts and ski centres maintain their downhill tracks for thousands of visitors. Well-established resorts include Harrachov, Špindlerův Mlýn, Herlíkovice, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Pec pod Sněžkou, Janské Lázně, Vítkovice, Vysoké nad Jizerou, Paseky nad Jizerou, Benecko, Jablonec nad Jizerou, Velká Úpa, Černý Důl, Vrchlabí, Dolní Dvůr, Svoboda nad Úpou, Poniklá and Žacléř. Favourite ski resorts in the Jizerské Hory Mountains are Ještěd, Tanvaldský Špičák, Bedřichov and Desná. In the Lužické Hory Mountains, the main winter sports centres are located in Jedlová, Horní Světlá and Horní Podluží. i map menu www