Rhine Valley Trail (Mainz-Koblenz)
€1245
per person
This impressive self-guided hiking tour between the cities of Mainz and Koblenz will fascinate you with wonderful views of mountains overarching the Rhine River, endless vineyards, and romantic castles. Rhinegau is a district famous for its delightful wine taverns where you can immerse yourself in this unique atmosphere and taste some of the finest local brands. You will have the exceptional opportunity to explore the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape abundant in romantic historic towns, castles, and vineyards. An inspiration to the great German poet Heinrich Heine and many other writers, painters, and composers, the Rheinsteig walking trail is one of the most beautiful hiking routes in Germany.
Level 3/4
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Destination
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Duration11/8/5 Days I Level: 3/4 (of 5)
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What is includedAccommodation in middleclass hotels incl. breakfast (en-suite rooms); Luggage transfers; 1x Ferry trip from Mainz to Biebrich; 1x Wine tasting; Detailed route notes and maps in English (1 set per room); GPS tracks access through navigation app; Emergency hotline
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What is not includedDrinks and other meals, public transportation, entry fees.
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Best periodApril, May, June, July, August, September, mid-October
FROM OUR GALLERY
Rhine Valley hiking trail (Rhinegau) from Mainz to Koblenz (self-guided hiking tours in Germany)
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Day 1: Arrival in Mainz
The charming town of Mainz is the capital of the German district of Rhineland-Palatinate. Depending on your arrival time, we recommend you take a walk in the old town and choose among the many wonderful sites to visit such as St. Martin's Cathedral and the beautiful Electoral Palace. *Easiest arrival via Frankfurt (30min train ride) and Köln/Bonn (1,30hrs train ride) airports.
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Day 2: Mainz - Schlangenbad (17km, 4,30hrs, +390m/-190m)
Your independent hiking tour will start with a boat ride along the Rhine River from Biebrich Palace in Wiesbaden to the Schierstein harbor. From there, the route will take you through a natural reserve along the Rhine River bank until you reach the charming historic village of Walluf. After a short break, you will advance towards the mineral spring town of Schlangenbad, passing through picturesque vineyards and serene woods. Do not miss the curious natural phenomenon of Grauer Stein you will encounter along the way.
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Day 3: Schlangenbad - Oestrich-Winkel (24km, 6hrs, +510m/-700m)
The self-guided walking route will take you through forests, meadows, and vineyards past the Scharfenstein castle ruin and towards the beautiful Eberbach monastery complex. Your destination for today is the delightful wine village of Oestrich-Winkel where you can relax and enjoy the serene atmosphere with a glass of exquisite local wine.
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Day 4: Oestrich-Winkel - Rüdesheim (17km, 5hrs, +370m/-370m)
After a healthy breakfast, you head towards the infamous vineyard residence of Palace Vollrads. Next, you will continue walking to the Marienthal Monastery, famous for being a pilgrimage site. Onward you will follow your route through the wonderful vineyard valley of Blaubach where you will contemplate a rustic landscape towards the outstanding abbey of St. Hildegard. Your overnight stay will be in the historic wine town of Rüdesheim where you can enjoy the remarkable architecture of the old half-timbered houses and, of course, the magic of the traditional wine taverns.
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Day 5: Rüdesheim - Lorch (21km, 5,30hrs, +660m/-680m)
Today you will do some mountain hiking as you follow your self-guided route across the mountain chains overarching the Rhine River and towards the Middle Rhine Valley. Prepare your camera for the beautiful panoramic views as you advance towards the Niederwald hunting lodge. Your hiking route will take you further to the captivating town of Assmanshausen where you can contemplate the traditional half-timbered houses, the rustic vineyard charm, and taste some of the finest red wines in Germany. Your overnight stay will be in the town of Lorch where you can continue immersing yourself in the local atmosphere and charm.
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Day 6: Lorch - Dörscheid/Kaub (13km, 4-4,30hrs, +460m/-460m)
Today’s hiking route will take you up the mountains for some wonderful panoramic views of the iconic Rhine Valley landscape and towards the small historic shipping town of Kaub or the scenic mountainous Dörscheid. The most significant sites for today include the Nollig castle ruin, Gutenfels castle, and, of course, the unique Pfalzgrafenstein toll-fortress situated on a small island in the middle of the Rhine River.
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Day 7: Dörscheid/Kaub - St. Goarshausen/surroundings (19km, 6hrs, +590m/-620m)
Today you will explore the Middle Rhine Valley, walking along winding paths leading to spectacular viewpoints and beautiful castles. The infamous Lorelei Rock is a highlight on today’s itinerary along with a visit to the three amazing castles, playfully named Katz, Maus, and Rheinfels.
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Day 8: St. Goarshausen/surroundings - Kamp Bornhofen (21km, 6hrs, +690m/-700m)
This part of the itinerary takes you off the beaten track through wonderful landscapes and passing by historic castles. Two of them you will find particularly interesting, Liebenstein castle and Sterrenberg, also known as the ‘hostile brothers. Enjoy your day of walking across one of the most astonishing natural reserves in this part of Germany, the Filsener Lay, and don’t forget to seize any photo opportunity.
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Day 9: Kamp Bornhofen - Braubach (17km, 5,30hrs, +620m/-620m)
On your way to Braubach, you will follow the independent hiking route past the castles Liebeneck and Marksburg. We recommend you take the time to visit the latter as it is one of the main attractions of the Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your overnight stay will be in the absolutely gorgeous historic village of Braubach, enchanting to its visitors with its local wine production, well-preserved half-timbered buildings, and historic town wall.
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Day 10: Braubach - Koblenz (20km, 5,30hrs, +690m/-680m)
We have carefully planned the last day of this iconic self-guided walking tour in Germany, so you are left with the most memorable experience. Brace yourselves for scenic natural reserves with beautiful forests, castles, and, of course, the colorful Bienhorn valley. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas and some daring hiking through rocky, yet gorgeous, Ruppertsklamm. You will be crossing the Rhine River via the oldest bridge in the area, now a road bridge, Pfaffendorfer Brücke. The final destination is the Deutsches Eck (or German Corner), a headland where the river Mosel joins the river Rhine in the city of Koblenz.
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Day 11: Departure day
Thank you for sharing this memorable independent walking experience with us and we hope to see you again soon!
TOUR LOCATION
Price
1245 Euro per person in twin/dbl room (29/03-27/04; 22/09-12/10)
1295 Euro per person in twin/dbl room (28/04-01/06; 11-31/08)
1385 Euro per person in twin/dbl room (02/06-10/08; 01-21/09)
Single room & Solo Traveler supplement
Single room supplement: 550 Euro
Solo traveler supplement (incl. also sgl. room supplement): 640 Euro
Tips
Daily arrivals between the beginning of April till the beginning of October. Best airports to use: Frankfurt/Main or Köln/Bonn airport. River ships provide an option to return to Mainz along the Rhine. Wine-grower paths, solitary walking paths and old bridle paths ensure varied walking. Basic fitness and sure footedness is required for uphill/downhill sections on the mountain ridges of Middle-Rhine valley. Walking times of up to 6 hrs. And distances of up to 24 km are to be reckoned.
Accommodation
Middleclass hotels and country inns incl. breakfast (en-suite rooms throughout). Samples of the inns we would normally book (subject to availability), or similar category: Day 1: Mainz - Hotel Intercity; Day 2: Schlangenbad - Hotel Residenz Hotel am Kurpark; Day 3: Oestrich-Winkel - Hotel Ruthmann; Day 4: Rüdesheim - Hotel Altdeutsche Weinstube; Day 5: Lorch - Hotel Im Schulhaus; Day 6: Dörscheid/Kaub - Hotel Loreleyhotel Fetz; Day 7: St. Goarshausen/surroundings - Hotel Café Herrmanns Mühle; Day 8: Kamp Bornhofen - Hotel Anker; Day 9: Braubach: - Hotel Maaß; Day 10: Koblenz: Hotel Brenner;
Send an enquiry about this tour
The reservation confirmation you will get right after placing an order only confirms that your booking is received and an agent has started working on it. It doesn't mean your tour is guaranteed! Wait to hear from us with final confirmation before booking flights or making any other arrangements, related to your holiday. The dates as listed below do not correspond with real-time availability!
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