Overview
Discover numerous fairy-tale hilltop castles as you follow the Rheinsteig hiking trail on an eight day, self-guided walking holiday along the Rhine Valley. Walk from the quaint wine village of Rüdesheim on panoramic footpaths through vineyards, deep gorges and mystical forests where the legend of Lorelei still lives and reach the old town of Koblenz. Along the way, numerous wine taverns called Straußenwirtschaften invite you to sample the first-class local Riesling wines.
- Rhineland castles and palaces
- Romantic vineyards, first-class Riesling and wine taverns
- Idyllic villages with timber houses
- Lorelei rock at the narrowest point of the Rhine
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Rüdesheim
Your journey begins in Rüdesheimglass. Sip a glass or two of local Riesling in one of the taverns on the lively Drosselgasse, a cobbled street filled with wine bars, shops and restaurants.
- Accommodation: Trapp or similar
Day 2: Rüdesheim – Lorch | 21km
Today you will first reach by cable car the high hills of the Middle Rhine Valley and enjoy a breathtakingly beautiful panorama over the Nahe estuary. Walk past the hunting lodge of Niederwald, then continue to Assmanshausen, renowned for its exquisite red wines and the beautiful timbered houses . Overnight in Lorch.
- Accommodation: Im Schulhaus or similar
- Walking for the day: 6h, 21km, ↑660m ↓680m
Day 3: Lorch – Dörscheid/Kaub | 13km
On panoramic hilltop paths with fantastic panoramas over the Rhine valley, the route leads into the historic port town of Kaub or across the mountain to Dörscheid. Today’s highlights are the ruins of Nollig castle, Gutenfels castle and the impressive Pfalzgrafenstein castle, built on an island on the Rhine.
- Accommodation: Fetz – Das Loreley Hotel or similar
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 13km, ↑460m ↓460m
Day 4: Dörscheid/Kaub – St. Goarshausen | 19km
The heart of the Middle Rhine Valley awaits you today with serpentine-tracks, fabulous views and legendary castles. The best-known rock on the Rhine, the Loreley Rock, is also part of your itinerary, as well as the Katz castle, Maus castle and Rheinfels castle.
- Accommodation: Hotel Café Herrmanns Mühle or similar
- Walking for the day: 6h, 19km, ↑690m ↓520m
Day 5: St. Goarshausen – Kamp Bornhofen | 21km
Today you will walk on quaint paths along amongst fantastic scenery and past defiant castles whilst crossing the Filsener Lay, one of the most beautiful nature reserves of the region. The highlights include Liebenstein castle and Sterrenberg.
- Accommodation: Hotel Rheingraf or similar
- Walking for the day: 6h, 21km, ↑690m ↓700m
Day 6: Kamp Bornhofen – Braubach | 17km
Along the route to Braubach, you will pass by the Liebeneck castle, the Dinkelhold Mills and the impressive castle Marksburg castle. The wine-growing village of Braubach welcomes you with its impressive town wall and numerous timbered buildings.
- Accommodation: Hotel Maass or similar
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, 17km, ↑620m ↓620m
Day 7: Braubach – Koblenz | 20 km
During the final walking stage, several highlights await you: castles, nature reserves, enchanted forests, the Ruppertsklamm ravine and the blooming Bienhorn valley. The walk offers panoramic views and amazing nature. You cross the Rhine via the impressive Pfaffendorfer bridge before you finally end your week of hiking in Koblenz, set at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine. At the headland of Deutsches Eck, you can admire the difference in colour as the rivers meet. Koblenz welcomes you with several castles, the imposing equestrian monument of Emperor William I, historic town houses and the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with its cable car that takes you high above the Rhine. Enjoy exploring the quaint old town with its many restaurants and wine bars.
- Accommodation: Hotel Brenner or similar
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, 20km, ↑690m ↓680m
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own or extension upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in a mix of 3-star hotels, country inns and traditional guesthouses. All places have been carefully hand-picked by us, and their quality is regularly monitored. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Central / Trapp (Rüdesheim am Rhein)
- Gästehaus Rößler / Im Schulhaus (Lorch)
- Fetz – Das Loreley Hotel (Dörscheid)
- Hotel-Restaurant Christian / Hotel Café Herrmanns Mühle (Sankt Goarshausen)
- Hotel Rheingraf (Kamp-Bornhofen)
- Hotel Maass (Braubach)
- Hotel Brenner (Koblenz)
Note that hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel (from the ones pictured above) is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. Packed lunches are available from your accommodation (order the night before) or you can stop on the way; there are plenty of wine taverns and small shops to satisfy your thirst and appetite! Dinners are available at all overnight accommodations or close by.
Difficulty and terrain
The walking sections require good fitness level; there are no steep descents and ascents, but the terrain is hilly and accumulated daily elevation gain can exceed 600m. You will walk mainly on walking paths or forest trails. Daily walking times are not more than 6h (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from early April till early October. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season.
The climate in the region is continental, cold and temperate. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but, in the June-September period, the daily averages are 20 – 25C. Spring and autumn are cooler with occasional rain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Frankfurt.
By train or bus
- From Frankfurt, there are regular train connections to your starting point (1.5-2h). For further information, visit the website of Deutsche Bahn for timetables and tickets.
- Limited parking is available at the starting hotel, approx. EUR 15 per day. No reservation in advance possible/needed. Paid parking is about EUR 20 per day. A scenic return from Koblenz to Rüdesheim by river ship takes about 6 hours. You can check schedules here. Return by train takes one hour.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnight stays in private en-suite double or twin rooms
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers on walking days
- Detailed route descriptions, travel and tour documents (one set per room)
- GPS-data to use via our smartphone app
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Local tourist taxes
- Any items not specifically mentioned in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights
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