In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationGrand Est / Vosges
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions66.75 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Discover the High Vosges Mountains on a grand trek combining comfort and immersion in nature . This exceptional journey takes you from Turckheim to the Grand Ballon , the highest point of the massif, passing through iconic sites such as the Gazon du Faing, the Col de la Schlucht, the Hohneck and the Markstein .
Between deep forests, panoramic ridges, and glacial lakes , each stage reveals a breathtaking landscape. You'll hike between 600 and 1,400 meters in altitude , on trails offering stunning views , sometimes stretching as far as the Alps. On the Hautes Chaumes plateau , gentle slopes contrast with steep rocky cirques , while peat bogs shelter unique flora. The crystal-clear waters of hidden waterfalls punctuate your journey, and in the silence of the ridges , you might even spot a solitary chamois . This trip combines the wild beauty of the Vosges Mountains with the comfort of a well-organized stay , for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of unspoiled nature.
The highlights
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The Great Crest of the Vosges, the most iconic site of the Massif
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Contrasting landscapes, between Alsatian villages and the Vosges mountains
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A comfortable journey with comfortable and ideally located hotels.
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 6h
- Average distance/day: 18 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 664 m
- Average daily descent: 666 m
Management
French
Program
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Turckheim - Turckheim
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Accommodation for one night. Dinner is not included, allowing everyone to explore Turckheim at their own pace. You will meet your guide on Monday morning.
The hotel is located 5 minutes from the center; you can visit the city on foot, a maze of narrow streets and half-timbered houses with flower-filled windows…
Day 1 -
Turckheim - Le Hohnack - Orbey
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 17 km
- Positive elevation gain 790 m
- Negative elevation 530 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Meet with your guide during breakfast.
Leaving Turckheim, we follow the Fecht, a river that rises in the steep slopes above Metzeral. Then we enter the forest and climb to higher ground via a pleasant path that leads us to the summit of Hohnack (982 m), overlooked by the ruins of a medieval castle where we can enjoy our picnic lunch.
Then we descended through meadows and alpine pastures to reach Orbey.
Day 2 -
Orbey - Col de la Schlucht
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 920 m
- Negative elevation 280 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
One of the most beautiful stages of the Vosges crossing, passing by three magnificent glacial lakes and along the ridge trail (GR5), offering splendid panoramas of the Alsatian and Vosges valleys and, in the distance, the Black Forest and the Alps. We'll cross the Schlucht Pass before reaching our mountain chalet hotel located at an altitude of 1100m.
Day 3 -
Col de la Schlucht - Markstein
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 510 m
- Negative elevation 440 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A long stage of ridges and summits, all at altitude, between 1200 and 1316 m, with successive viewpoints over the entire Vosges Massif: sublime!
Along the way, we climbed the Hohneck (1363 m) from where we overlooked the prestigious glacial cirque of Frankenthal, a national nature reserve which contains an exceptional wet and acidic peat bog and a strange pond, with almost black waters...
Day 4 -
Markstein - Large Balloon - Buhl
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 18 km
- Positive elevation gain 440 m
- Negative elevation 1320 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The route resembles a large comma on the ridge of the Grand Ballon which takes us close to the two highest peaks of the Vosges massif: The Storckenkopf 1393 m and the Grand Ballon, culminating at 1424 m.
The summit is visible from the start, through the stubble fields, and the scenery varies between panoramic views and the forest atmosphere of the biological reserve.
Having arrived at the Grand Ballon for the lunch break, we can visually retrace our route for the week before plunging into the famous Alsatian valley of Guebwiller to return to our accommodation.
Day 5 -
Buhl - Hollandsburg - Turckheim
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 660 m
- Negative elevation 760 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
A short transfer to Osenbach (10 minutes). We are in the Florival, the "valley of flowers," and at the gateway to the Noble Valley, the most prized terroir for Alsatian wine lovers. It's a dead end for cars, but not for hikers! We'll be traversing a few small mountain passes towards Hollandsbourg Castle, a promontory overlooking Colmar and a stronghold of the Habsburg family. It is the only one of the 70 castles in Alsace to be partially renovated; only Haut-Koenigsbourg has been completely rebuilt. Since the Belle Époque, these easily accessible valleys and peaks have been a draw for local Alsatians seeking relaxation and hiking.
Day 6
Note
This program is indicative; it may be modified by your guide to adapt to weather conditions.
Accommodation
Access
The last day around 4:30 pm at the Turckheim SNCF train station
Go to the starting point
Train access: Turckheim SNCF train station
Paris Gare de Lyon 14:15 – 18:18 Turcheim (Timetable to be checked with SNCF).
You can reach the hotel on foot; it is 400 meters from the train station.
Return Train:
Turckheim 4:46 PM – 8:47 PM Paris Gare de Lyon
(Timetable to be checked with SNCF). Paris Gare de Lyon 2:15 PM – 6:18 PM Turcheim (Timetable to be checked with SNCF). You can reach the hotel on foot; it is 400 m from the station.
Air access: Basel-Mulhouse Airport (EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg) is 60 km away.
Strasbourg-Entzheim International Airport is 60 km away.
Car access:
You can leave your vehicle in the hotel area (free and unlimited parking) or in one of the secure municipal car parks.
Price details
The price includes
- Organization costs and supervision
- Accommodation in rooms for 2 or 3
- Full board (except dinner on day 01)
- Luggage transport
- Transfer of the day 06
- Tourist taxes
The price does not include
- drinks and personal expenses
- Dinner of the day 01
- transportation to and from the meeting point and departure from the dispersal point
- possible visits
- Cancellation, assistance, repatriation, and trip interruption insurance
- everything not mentioned in the price includes
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- Toiletries + towel; toilet paper
- For picnics: a plastic bowl (airtight Tupperware type); cutlery; a cup; a folding knife (Opinel type);
- A water bottle and/or a thermos (1 litre minimum);
- A headlamp;
- Plastic bags for sorting and storing your belongings;
- A waterproof plastic pouch containing: your National Identity Card or Passport (valid); your travel insurance leaflet (if you have taken out this insurance) or your personal insurance;
- Money: personal expenses (drinks during the hike...). Please note, there are no ATMs on these hikes except in Munster;
- Photographic equipment (camera + film);
- A pair of binoculars
- A pair of telescopic walking poles.
Clothing to bring
- A backpack with flexible frame and a waist belt: 30 to 40 liters minimum (day's belongings: camera, lunch picnic, water bottle, snacks, windproof jacket, sweater, rain gear...)
- A sewn sheet or sleeping bag (1 blanket provided per bed)
- A large plastic bag to protect the contents of your backpack; luggage: don't take too much (9 kg max/person) and choose a soft-sided travel bag (one bag per person) that closes securely and is easy to carry.
- Cotton and/or wool socks. Terry-type socks will often prevent your feet from overheating prematurely.
- A pair of flexible walking shoes that have already been broken in (trekking type with high tops and lug soles). Avoid wearing sneakers; they are not very comfortable for hiking on uneven terrain.
- A comfortable change of clothes and a pair of lightweight shoes for the stage
- Cotton T-shirt; cotton or Rhovyl + Modal or Dunova shirt or polo shirt
- A warm sweater made of wool or fleece (fleece is very practical: lightweight, it dries quickly and retains a high level of warmth)
- An anorak or windproof jacket with a hood (Gore-Tex and Micropore are the best fabrics)
- A cape covering the bag
- Loose-fitting walking trousers in lightweight fabric (cotton or cotton-polyester blend). Avoid jeans, which are relatively uncomfortable for walking.
- Shorts or Bermuda shorts; a swimsuit + a towel
- A hat; a scarf (to protect the neck)
- A pair of sunglasses / protective cream for skin and lips
They traveled with us
