Take a boat ride through the bowels of the Punkya Caves

Photo: Steve Woodhall

The Czech Republic is rich in art and culture (and beer, of course); but it also has its share of natural attractions.

An outing to the Punkva Caves makes for a enjoyable day and isn’t in the least strenuous. Take a vlak (train) from Brno to Blansko, and then take the bus to Macocha. (Double check your connections: it is not fun to be stuck in the tiny town of Blansko for a couple of hours on a Sunday.)

Once there, you’ll be riding up and down in cable cars (always a treat) and taking a little boat on a ride through the streams running through the bowels of the caves – sometimes dark and spooky – captained by genial guides. When you come out, you can quite literally look into the abyss: the dramatic Macocha Abyss has two viewing platforms.

If you’re feeling energetic, this area is criss-crossed with pleasant mountain bike and “nature foot trails”.