Attractive mediaeval walled villages await, as you walk through the vineyards and rolling hills of Alsace, with their ornate houses- coloured by flower filled wooden balconies, old fortifications and lots of charming landscapes and sites of historic interest. There are a number of castles (Haut Koenigsbourg, Ribeaupieere, Ramstein and Ortembourg) and old abbeys (Mont Odile) along the trail. A good area for lovers of food and wine: Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Blanc are all produced in this region and there are many opportunities to sample them at caves along the route. The walking occurs at altitudes of between 400m and 760m.
This route is unquestionably the finest available on the flanks of the Vosges Massif. Between the mediaeval village of Turckheim (where you can still find the last nightwatchmen in France), the fortified villages of Dambach, with its mediaeval centre and Obernai: you will visit the villages of Niedermorschwihr, Ammerschwihr, Kaysersberg with its castle overlooking the plain of Alsace and the village which retains most traces of its rich history, Thannenkirch. Riquewihr has a mediaeval centre and a perfectly preserved double city wall. There are fortifications dating from the 13th and 14th centuries at Ribeauville, Barr, and Ottrott. You will climb to the summits of Steinkoepfel, Schaentzel, Odilienberg or Mont Saint Odile (an ancient monastery perched proudly on a rocky spur). You can explore the 12th century fortresses of Haut Koenigsbourg, Haut Ribeaupierre (overlooking the village of Ribeauville), Ramstein and Ortembourg.

Travel Information

Season: Any date April to end of October.

Arrival: Between 4pm and 6pm on first day.

First hotel: At Turckheim 5 km from Colmar (car parking available free of charge).

Travel: Flights to Basel Mulhouse from London Heathrow with British Airways; or self-drive with Le Shuttle to Calais then a 623km drive to Strasbourg; or taking the train via Paris to Strasbourg. Alternatively you can book land only and use low cost flights to Basel Mulhouse (Easyjet).

The starting point of the tour is at Turckheim. This is a train and bus journey of about 1.5 hours from Basel Mulhouse.

Alternatively, Strasbourg can be reached by TGV train from Paris. There are about 4 services per day and the journey time is 4 to 5 hours.

The onward journey by train, from Strasbourg to Colmar takes around 30 minutes and from Colmar to Turckheim another 12 minutes. You can visit French railways website at www.sncf.com

There is no train service between Colmar and Turckheim on Sundays, but there is a limited SNCF bus service. There is also a more frequent urban bus service between Colmar and Turckheim.

Airport: Basel Mulhouse. Then airport bus to St Louis rail station and train to Mulhouse (30 mins) then train to Colmar (30 mins) and bus to Turckheim (10mins); Colmar is about 5 to 6 hours by train from Paris Gare de l'Est or Brussels.

End of Tour: Obernai after breakfast. Train dep Obernai to Mulhouse approx 1h30 mins and then 45 mins to airport Basel Mulhouse. 
Alternatively Strasbourg throughout the day, journey time approx. 30-40 minutes. Please check times of trains locally.

General Information

Hotels: The hotels described are our usual choice of accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used and if these are of a different standard you will be informed at the time of booking.

Baths/showers: Many rooms with ensuite/private facilities have a shower rather than a bath, usually because of limited space. Some hotels/guesthouses may however have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests.

Breakfast: In countries such as France is usually coffee and toast/bread/croissant, if you want more for breakfast then we would suggest you purchase some food the night before. 

Special Dietary Requirements: It is important for you to tell us if you have any dietary requirements when you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone that you are staying with.

Single Supplements: are payable on most of our tours.  The single supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be small and in some places may not enjoy the same facilities as double/twin rooms. 

Solo Traveller Supplements: are payable when the cost per bag of moving luggage increases.

Language: When travelling in less frequented areas you will not necessarily come across people speaking English. Remember you are experiencing a different culture, buy a phrase book and try to learn a little of the local language!

Luggage: When staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage will have been taken to you room awaiting your arrival. However don’t be surprised if your luggage is waiting for you to take it up to your room. Please politely ask someone if you need assistance.

Route Notes: Please note that one set of route notes per room booked is included in the cost of the holiday. If you require more sets of notes then there is a charge of £25 per set ordered.

Insurance: All clients must have appropriate cover for the activities included for the duration of our trip.

Level of Difficulty

Fitness: This moderately graded walk should present no difficulties for anyone in reasonable condition and accustomed to walking in hilly terrain.

Day Stages: In the region of 15km (9.3 miles) to 20km (16 miles) per day with average altitude gains of 550m. 4 to 6 hours walking per day.

Waymarks: The trails are well waymarked.

Escorted Departure 2012

Research & Development trip

Accommodation & Meals

This is on a half board basis (evening meal and breakfast) in hotels of 2 and 3 star category with private facilities. One hotel is a listed historic monument, and another dates back to the Renaissance. All are hotels of distinctive character.

Please note that if the hotels on nights 1, 2 and 3 are full then a guesthouse located very close by will be used.

Picnic lunches:  Are not included in the tour cost but are available from hotels at a cost of approx. 10 Euros. We indicate in our route notes where there are suitable restaurants or cafes for lunch stops, or recommend you carry food, if there are none convenient.

q       Night 1: Turckheim. This is one of the prettiest 2* inns in Alsace. It has typical Alsatian decor in the Renaissance style.  The rooms are very comfortable and the atmosphere is friendly. The hotel offers traditional cooking with very good wines. The hotel bridges the present and past. 

q       Night 2: Riquewihr. Extremely comfortable, modern 3* hotel with a sauna and terrace. It is situated at the gates of the village and has been chosen for its quietness and cleanliness. Evening meals are arranged in a typical restaurant in the village.

q       Night 3: Thannenkirch. A flower bedecked modern building in a mountain village, but built in the traditional style. 48 rooms with ensuite facilities and phone in room. 3*. The welcome is warm and there is a good restaurant. It boasts a cellar bar where you can sample excellent Alsatian wines.

q       Night 4: Chatenois. A very small, family-run 2* hotel. Comfortable rooms, traditional style. A beautiful dining room. A delightful small typical Alsace village.

q       Night 5: Andlau. 3* hotel pleasantly situated at the mouth of a narrow valley with vineyards and forest on the slopes above.

q       Night 6:  Obernai. Another typical 2* Alsatian hotel, all rooms are very comfortable with en suite facilities.

Outline Itinerary

q       Day 1: Arrive in Turckheim, a mountain village set above the vineyards. A ski resort in winter.

q       Day 2: 16kms (9 miles), 676m ascent/4 to 5 hours, via Katzenthal, Ammerschwir, and Kaysersberg. We descend at the end of the day through forest and vineyards to Riquewihr, a medieval museum of a town with fortifications dating back to the 13th century. Many of the old buildings have dovecots and are built round central courtyards.

q       Day 3: 11 kms (7 miles), 460m ascent/4 to 5 hours, via Hunawihr, Ribeauville, the 3 chateaux of Ribeaupierre and Dassenberg mountain. We enjoy wide views today over the plains of Alsace as we climb to 645 metres past the ruined chateaux of St. Ulrich and Gisberg to the small mountain village of Thannenkirch.

q       Day 4: 12.5 kms, 257m ascent/ 4 to 5 hours walking, via Haut Koenigsbourg, Vick (the monkey mountain). There is a wonderful chateau at Haut Koenigsbourg with panoramic views of the valleys below. There is also the chance to visit the Eagle Centre before descending through the vineyards to Chatenois.

q       Day 5: 19kms, 575m ascent/6 hours walking. Chatenois to Andlau, via Ortembourg Chateau and on to Dambach, a medieval town surrounded by ramparts. The route then goes on to Neue Matten, Bernardville, it takes us along wooded paths and through vineyards until you reach your overnight stop at Andlau.

q       Day 6: 20kms, 693m ascent/6 hours. Andlau to Obernai. From Andlau we start by walking through Mittelbergheim, dominated by the ruins of the Chateau d’Andlau. From here it is hilly walking via Mont St. Odile. Some steepish climbs today offering fine views. You climb to St. Odile - a monastery situated on a rocky promontory. You descend to Ottrot before walking on to Obernai.

q       Day 7: Depart Obernai after breakfast.