Alsace Wine Route Short Break
- Discover the treasures of the Alsace wine region in north-eastern France.
- Walk between picture-perfect villages of Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé and Eguisheim
- Enjoy extensive views over rolling landscapes dotted with medieval castle ruins
- Try Alsatian delicacies like Tarte Flambée and Kugelhopf
- Relax at the end of the day on a sunny terrace with a glass of aromatic Riesling
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in RibeauvilléArrive at Sélestat train station (20 mins by train from Strasbourg) from where you will be transferred to Ribeauvillé (30 mins). Ribeauvillé is a lively, picturesque town brimming with pretty half-timbered houses, medieval towers and churches. Why not visit the ‘Cave de Ribeauvillé’ to learn more about the local wine production?
Hotel de la Tour is a bright and cheerful hotel faithful to the generous Alsatian traditions of hospitality. The hotel has 31 individually decorated rooms, a small bar, sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi and even a tennis court.
The Hotel le Menestrel has a very large private car park, which is secure. You will be able to enjoy their comfortable terrasse or our bar, sitting immediately in front of the vineyard. Wellness center (sauna et jacuzzi) available free of charge.
Nestling in a historic building dating back to 1500, the hotel offers 19 rooms. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TV and bathroom. Free WIFI connection is available in rooms and public areas. There is an outdoor terrace, equipped with a SPA and sauna.
Today you’ll be walking through the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. The trails are undulating and the scenery beautiful; surrounded by lush green vineyards and picturesque villages whose spires dot the horizon. Arrive in Riquewihr, a walled medieval town which has been amazingly preserved. Half-timbered and brightly coloured buildings host a range of shops, restaurants and museums. Continue through vineyards and onto a balcony path above Kayserbserg which leads to the Chateau de Kaysersberg. Descend into the town which was voted ‘France’s Favourite Village’ in 2017.
Elevation Gain/Loss:+293m/-292m
Within walking distance of the historic old town the Hotel Les Remparts offers you calm and comfort. The hotel has 44 modern rooms, a sauna, games rooms and dozens of excellent restaurants within strolling distance.
Located in a former house of a wine-grower in the heart of the charming village of Kaysersberg. Staying here is a culinary experience, there is a traditional Alsatian vaulted cellar which is open from breakfast-time until evening. It's the ideal opportunity to discover what the region has to offer, from the fine selection of Alsatian wines to the locally-grown produce.
Follow the Chemin de Compostelle through vineyards and some shady forest sections. Walking through the authentic villages of Ammerschwihr, Katzenthal and Niedermorschwihr give a glimpse into the everyday lives of the Alsatian inhabitants. Evidence of the wine production and trade is prevalent, and the vineyards you walk through will likely be being tended by the winemakers.
Arrive in Turckheim, another historical delight. The nightwatchman makes his rounds through the town every night at 10pm (May-October) as in the olden days, singing in the Alsatian dialect. Keep an eye out for nesting storks on the tops of the half-timbered houses.
Elevation Gain/Loss: +185m/-204m
This hotel is one of the most beautiful buildings in Turckheim, dating back to the 15th century and is full of tradition and charm. Enjoy a refreshing glass of Riesling in the peaceful garden terrace.
A quaint Family run hotel with warm, country-style rooms with wood furnishings in a residential neighborhood is a 10-minute walk from the town center and 8 km from the Château du Hohlandsbourg.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast including French classics such as pain-au-chocolat and croissants. Here in Alsace, you will also find "Kugelhopf" in the breakfast buffet, a soft sponge cake with sultanas and nuts which the locals like to dunk into their morning coffee.
A steep but short incline takes you out of Turckheim and into the woods. The rest of the day’s walk is spent between calm forest trails and open vineyard paths. On a clear day, enjoy views of Germany’s Black Forest on your left and on your right a smattering of ruined castles perched high on the hills. Eguisheim is one of France "Plus Beaux Villages" and it's easy to see why. Beautifully ornate, its fountains, traditional houses and colourful flower boxes are a real treat.
Elevation Gain/Loss: +168m/-199m
A friendly and warm welcome is waiting from Phillipe and his team at this charming 3* hotel. The hotel benefits from a fantastic location in the main square in Eguisheim, next to the former Château (now a church) and its ubiquitous nesting storks. Rooms are individually decorated.
Located at the gate of the charming village, this hotel is in a beautiful building which has a traditional feel to it and a restaurant worth trying.
Located at the edge of the charming village of Eguisheim, this hotel is located in a building from the 16th century with modern interiors and a restaurant which serves Alsactian specialities.
From Eguisheim, a private transfer to Colmar train station is included (10 mins). From Colmar, you can reach a number of French and European destinations by train. If you have more time to explore the area, why not consider one of our adventures in the nearby Black Forest?
This trip has a carbon score of 6kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 6kg is equivalent to 4.5 ham and cheese sandwiches from the store. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This tour is ideal for those looking for a classic hotel to hotel itinerary which combines interesting walks with charming towns and villages. It is especially suitable if you are short on time, or would like to combine this itinerary with other tours. The walks are relatively short but undulating, so be prepared this along the way. The length of the walks allow plenty of time to explore and enjoy the gastronomic delights of Alsace. Stay in comfortable, family run 3 star hotels.
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 10 Years
This trip is graded ‘easy-moderate’ overall. The walking days are fairly short, but the trails are undulating with some steep sections. The optional loop walk from Orbey (Day 4) could be considered moderate-strenuous due to the ascent/descent and length. The second optional loop walk (Day 7) could be considered moderate, due to the ascent. You should be in good shape to get the most from this tour. The terrain is a mixture of forest trails, grassy vineyard paths, and paved country lanes and quiet country roads.
How fit do I need to be?
This tour is graded easy to moderate. The trails are a combination of dirt trails, gravel tracks and tarmac country roads. The walking routes are a mix of surfaces, but please note that there will be tarmac walking at times as it is unavoidable. This tour is suitable for walkers with good physical fitness. There are rolling hills in this area and it will also be necessary to walk up some short but steep stretches.
Spend 7 nights in high-quality, handpicked 3* hotels. We regularly use the following properties but may accommodate you elsewhere if these are not available. However, they will be of a similar standard.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. We also welcome solo walkers on this tour, again a supplement is payable.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and Dinner are not included, but there are plenty of local restaurants to choose from. On some of the walking days it will be essential to take a packed lunch as there are no cafes or restaurants en route (your route notes will give you these details). However it will be very easy to buy a baguette, fruit, drinks, etc from a local bakery or a sandwich shop.
The routes are waymarked to varying degrees. We also provide you with detailed turn-by-turn route notes and maps. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS so you will have no problems finding the way. You can simply download the GPX tracks to your phone for offline use and off you go!
- 4 Nights accommodation in 3* hotels and B&B’s
- 4 Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Train station transfers on Day 1 and Day 5
- Detailed information pack, route notes and access to our App
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- Travel insurance
- Lunches
- Drinks and snacks
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during and after the walk
You can start this walking tour anytime between the beginning of April and the end of October. Please be aware that the loop walk from Orbey may not be walkable in April/May or October. Due to its altitude, there may still be snow on the trail.
There are a number of different options available when getting to Sélestat. You can fly into Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Strasbourg Airport or even Paris. Take a train from any of the above airports to Sélestat; approx. 1.5 hours from Basel airport, 1 hour from Strasbourg airport and 3 hours from Paris CDG. From Sélestat, you will be collected by taxi and taken to your first hotel in Thannenkirch. Train timetables and ticket prices can be found at www.sncf.com/en Please check the SNCF website for more details on schedules and prices.
You will be collected from your last hotel in Eguisheim and taken by taxi to Colmar train station. From Colmar, you can take the train back to the above mentioned airports, or a wide range of other French/European destinations.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
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Why Macs
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Founded in 2003
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Positive Impact
At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided hiking or biking adventure.
This is active travel led by you.
You choose your departure date and who you travel with, we do the rest.
We sort accommodation and luggage transfers and provide your route in an easy-to-use app.
We give you everything you need to travel independently but we're here 24/7 if you need us.
Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.