In summary
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Sports
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Duration7 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationUpper Rhine / Colmar
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AgeFrom 14 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions100.86 kg CO2
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Type of stayIndependent traveler
In a few words
A road trip staying in 3-star hotels and Logis de Colmar to Mont Saint Odile via medieval villages. An exceptional stay discovering authentic Alsace!
Starting from Colmar, a unique destination in the heart of Alsace, you'll embark on a week of beautiful hikes (approximately 15 to 18 km per day) to discover the most beautiful medieval villages! You'll stroll through these towns and villages, with their undeniable charm of half-timbered houses and colorful facades, such as Eguisheim, Turckheim, or Kaysersberg, before arriving at the end of your journey at Mont Sainte-Odile, a former monastery founded by Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace!
Each day, the route leaves the vineyards and climbs in altitude (approximately 400 to 600 meters of elevation gain per day) to explore the medieval history of Alsace. From the castles overlooking the plain and the vineyards, the landscapes are simply magnificent!
The highlights
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A trip with stages of approximately 18km
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Hostels or *** hotels
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Luggage transport between stages
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 6h
- Average distance/day: 16 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 659 m
- Average daily descent: 565 m
Management
Program
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Colmar - Little Venice
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Check-in from 2 pm at the hotel in Colmar . You are 10 minutes from the city center, perfect for exploring on foot. Discover the first half-timbered houses, the flower-filled alleyways, and the canals of Little Venice !
Alsace is also about gastronomy and a way of life! We'll tell you about our favorite inns for a leisurely dinner in the city of Colmar.
For this first day, we invite you to explore our self-guided itinerary with a personalized roadbook : The Little Venice district and the Unterlinden Museum will be the focus of your first stroll. Then, depending on your interests, you can visit the House of Heads, the Pfister House, the Dominican Church, the Bartholdi House… Continue through the old 17th-century tanners' quarter and the charming Rue de la Poissonnerie (Fish Market Street).Day 1 -
Eguisheim - Turckheim
- Transportation Minibus - 00h15 - 15km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 13 km
- Positive elevation gain 520 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Taxi transfer to get out of town and to the starting point of the hike in Eguisheim .
A medieval city, built around its castle, it unfolds in concentric circles and is located at the foot of the imposing medieval fortress of Hohlandsbourg which dominates the Alsatian plain.We arrived in Turckheim at the end of the day. The village is renowned not only for its rich historical center and the quality of its wines, but also for its night watchman, who continues to make his rounds every evening at 10:00 PM, from May to October.
First free tasting of the famous flammekueche! This famous tarte flambée is accompanied by a glass of Alsatian white wine!Day 2 -
Turckheim - Kaysersberg - Riquewihr
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 670 m
- Negative elevation 620 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
A truly charming village awaits you: Niedermorschwihr! Enjoy this magnificent setting of vibrant colors nestled in the heart of a terraced vineyard. Everything invites you to appreciate the surroundings. Village after village unfolds before you, each more beautiful than the last.
In the late afternoon, you'll travel through the vineyards to Riquewihr : a beautiful medieval town with double fortified walls. Wine tasting at a winemaker's: Today's stop will also be a wonderful opportunity to meet the winemakers!
The Winstub is the perfect place to sample legendary regional specialties : sauerkraut and baeckeoffe , but also kouglof or sorbets drizzled with local liqueurs. The cuisine is generous, reflecting the warm hospitality of the Alsatians.Day 3 -
Riquewihr - Thannenkirch
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 17 km
- Positive elevation gain 900 m
- Negative elevation 680 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Thannenkirch is a typical Alsatian village. It lies below the famous Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle. You reach it after a beautiful hike through the Taennchel massif , a designated quiet zone. Impressive sandstone boulders line the trail before you arrive at your destination: an extraordinary inn overlooking the entire valley!
Seasonal cuisine, slow-cooked dishes in the bread oven and a beautiful shaded terrace combine with the spirit of the times to help you discover a refined and contemporary local cuisine.Day 4 -
The Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 14 km
- Positive elevation gain 410 m
- Negative elevation 700 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Castle visit: Ascent to the medieval castle of Haut-Kœnigsbourg. Standing at nearly 800 meters altitude on a rocky spur, the castle offers a magnificent panorama over the Alsace plain, the valleys and the Vosges mountains, the Black Forest, and on a clear day, the Alps.
Day 5 -
Chatenois - Itterswiller
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 19 km
- Positive elevation gain 570 m
- Negative elevation 520 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Today's stage is marked by Bernstein Castle, which overlooks the village. From there, the route remains along the ridge, offering panoramic views of the surrounding villages, before arriving at the Hering Tower atop the Ungersberg at 901m altitude – the highest point of this hike!
It's not very tall, this tower at the summit of the Ungersberg. It's probably the smallest observation tower in Alsace. But no matter, from the top of this squat structure, there's a beautiful view over the whole region, as far as Mont Sainte Odile, the Climont, the castles of Andlau and Spesbourg.
Arrived at the end of the day at the foot of Mont Sainte Odile.
A room with hushed comfort, a surprising view of the vineyard… Last dinner at leisure, local produce and a menu that changes with the seasons, not forgetting the unmissable duck foie gras, baeckeoffe, sauerkraut, Alsatian-style snails, pork knuckle, game stew, and spaetzle.Enjoy your meal and have a great evening!
Day 6 -
Mount Sainte-Odile
- Transportation Minibus - 01h - 50km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 880 m
- Negative elevation 370 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
A must-see visit to the monastery: Dominating the Alsace plain, Mont Sainte-Odile was for centuries the site of an important monastery. In Celtic times, the mountain was called Altitona , meaning "the high mountain." It was already a place of worship, and they built a fortress there, the perimeter wall of which corresponds today to the famous "Pagan Wall," several kilometers long, whose construction is still the subject of much speculation! The trip ends after the visit to Mont Sainte-Odile, with a taxi return to Colmar at 3:30 pm.
Day 7
Note
Note:
You are undertaking this hike independently. Please note: this route is self-guided and you are entirely at your own risk. We will provide you with all the necessary information for a successful hike, but we cannot be held responsible for any route errors or late morning starts that could cause problems reaching the next stage.
For obvious organizational reasons, once your hike has begun, you must strictly adhere to the program as confirmed to you. It will no longer be possible to change your accommodations or the order of the stages.
Program :
This program and the information provided are for guidance only; we usually adhere to them, however, circumstances beyond our control may necessitate changes to the order or itinerary (accommodation availability, weather, security, etc.). In such cases, we will take the necessary steps to ensure you enjoy your stay to the fullest and in the best possible conditions.
Accommodation
Your itinerary includes two stays in hostels with evening meals included, offering an authentic hospitality experience. In addition, you will spend four evenings in bed and breakfasts with the freedom to choose your own restaurant for dinner.
Access
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- 5 nights in a B&B hotel and lodge
- 1 night with half-board in a "master restaurateur" inn
- Wine tasting at a producer's
- The digital travel journal
- luggage transport
- Private taxi transfer from J2
- The taxi back to Colmar at the end of the stay
- organization and booking fees
- Our assistance throughout your stay
The price does not include
travel insurance
Options
- Paper travel diary : CHF29.27 / unit
- Extra night - Double room - B&B : CHF96.05 / person
- Extra night - Single room - B&B : CHF132.65 / person
- Extra night - Double room - Half board in a winstub : CHF123.50 / person
- Extra night - Single room - Half-board in a winstub : CHF160.09 / person
- Supplement for solo departures (1 person only) : CHF182.96 / person
- Transport of one additional piece of luggage. Price per piece of luggage. : CHF256.14 / unit
- 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
- A 30L to 40L backpack with a flexible frame and a waist belt for carrying daily essentials, and a waterproof backpack cover
- Lightweight flashlight
- 1 waterproof plastic sleeve for your documents
- Minimum 1L water bottle
- Picnic essentials (cutlery, cup, bowl, Opinel-type knife)
Optional :
- Camera
- Pair of binoculars
- Pair of walking sticks
Clothing to bring
- Cotton and/or wool socks
- A pair of previously used, flexible walking shoes (trekking type with high-tops and lug soles)
- A comfortable change of clothes and a pair of lightweight shoes for the stage
- T-shirt or shirt, cotton polo shirt
- A warm sweater made of wool or fleece (very practical: lightweight, it dries quickly and retains a high level of warmth)
- An anorak or windproof jacket with a hood (Gore-Tex type)
- 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 bath towel
- A hat; a scarf (to protect the neck)
- A pair of sunglasses
