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There is a tip, how Central European could use low cost flights and extend the climbing season across winter (or for skiing in Dolomites). As an employee I have limited amount of vacation and for other free time I have only weekends. So the ideal is to depart from Prague, Czech Republic, on Friday evening and be back on Sunday night or Monday early in the morning.  And then of course somewhere to the south, where the probability of good weather is higher then in Czech Republic.  That demand match to the fly with Sky Europe from Prague to Milan, Bergamo.  You can purchase it for about 60 euros including luggage and all other costs.

From there it is about  130 km to Arco (European top climbing resort), or 250 km to Finale Ligure (another superb climbing close to Genoa on Mediterranean) , as some kind of insurance if the weather in Arco would be really bad.  In Bergamo you can rent a car for two days for 60 euros. Gasoline to Arco and back would cost about 30 euros, from 3 to 9 euros you will pay for highway (according to which way will you go). The accommodation would be in some apartment in price about 50 euros per 2 persons and night (allegedly there should be some cheaper for 30 euros, but we did not find any). Camps are closed from mid of November.

Arco, Massone in winter (click on pictures)

The weather was ideal for climbing in 2nd half of November and the first half of December 2008, sun and temperature about 8 degrees of Celsius in shade and perhaps over 20 degrees on sun. Ideal friction, we belayed in dawn jackets and climbed in t-shirts. A plenty of local climbers and also some Austrian and German were on crags at Massone, Arco .  One day we climb with the famous Italian climber Christian Brenna and his Czech girl friend Jana.

Some specifics tips: You can bought the flights via internet on www.skyeurope.com (I hope that the company will survive some economical problems reported in newspapers). Couple months in advance you can buy in quite better price, later it could be more (I joint my friend who bought it for about 60 Euros, a month later my price was almost 120 euros, but the flight for the end of January 2009 cost me 68 Euros) .  Departure from Prague is on Friday on 19:00, arrival to Bergamo airport Orio al Serio is at 20:25. Than you should quickly go to car rentals directly on the airport. It is necessary to book car via internet in advance. Two days before flight we rented mostly the smallest car (category A) at Hertz (www.hertz-europe.com), afternoon before flight we did on line check in with filling up your driving license etc,  to try to shorten the on desk procedure. In about 10 minutes you will get car keys and can take the car in 1 km far away parking site reachable by airport free bus. Besides car rentals Hertz there is also Avis and perhaps some others. Hertz was slightly cheaper but more important it is longer open till night (till 00:30, but Avis only till 20:00). On the car parking spot you will find your car and can go.

Joseph in Massone, Arco in 7b+ in December in t-shirt

We go to Arco via western side of the lake Lago di Garda which is about 130 km long and lasts about 2,5 hours. As the way back we use more east side highway longer (about 180 km, also 2,5 hours) but quicker than the east way in the Sunday afternoon heavier traffic through the lake west side towns.

Apartment house Verdeblu

We book the accommodation by phone from Prague just before departure. We like apartments house Verdeblu. This know how I learned from my friend Joseph, who studies Italian and personally call to the accommodation. Other way I recommend to search some accommodation via google and book it in advance.

Then climbing is the main program, but is another story. About it you can learn more on the specific climbing web www.czechclimbing.com, where you can besides download free of charge climbing topos of the areas in Arco or others, also Massone (Arco) or look at climbing maps on google base with pointed climbing areas.

The flight back is on Sunday at 20:55. It is necessary check in not later that 40 minutes before departure.  You have to tank gasoline on the last gas station on the highway and return car. The arrival to Prague is at 22:20. You can take some public bus e.g  No. 100 to metro B, Zlicin, the interval is 15 minutes and the way takes about the same time.

• Recapitulation:

• Flight: 68 euros/person

• Car: 60 euros

• Gasoline: 30 euros

• Highway: 12 euros

• Accommodation : 50 euros/person/two days

Arco: Chrismas market

If you will go just two: It can cost 169 euro that is 4225 CZK (I paid for one weekend 5500 CZK,  a bit more, because I was late) if  you will be four people it could be 143 euros for one (3600 CZK). There are situations you can reach tickets in lower price during some actions etc. You can spare money if only one of the pair people will pack only one luggage (limit 20 kg) which safe 20 euros (500 CZK) for one bag and then the flight costs 58 Euros for one.  A then you can look for cheaper accommodation or sleep in sleeping bag somewhere under crags. It can cost 82 euros or 2050 CZK for one person. You can find the flight tickets cheaper, when I booked the tickets for the end of Januray 2009, on the morning the price was 10 Euros cheaper, than the finel price on the evening where I did the final purchase.

Arco mountains under snow

I did not count the cost for food but it could be on same level as you would eat home. If you would like to cook on stove remember you cannot take gas stove to plane, so some metaldehyd tablets stove could be the solution. Or to take your own gas stove and buy gas cartridge in Arco climbing equipment shops.

So there were my experience with low cost flights from Prague to warmer climbing. The destination Bergamo is naturally super suitable for skiing in Alps. But it may be in some next time and trip and article. And you, do you have some similar or different experience with cheap flights escapes?  Write your comment or correction if I did not make anything wrong, please.

Airport Bergamo