Alsace Mountains & Vineyards

7 days (Eguisheim)

Destinations visited: France, Alsace

Grading:

moderate

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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Discover the picturesque Vosges mountains and the vineyards of Alsace on foot

Well marked paths and quiet country back roads provide the perfect setting to explore one of the most picturesque regions of France. There is plenty of opportunity to wander the cobblestone streets of quaint villages and marvel at the impressive Romanesque and Baroque churches. Gastronomic delights are plentiful and you can sample some of Alsace's finest produce as you travel through undulating farmland, orchards and vineyards. You will be able to discover the summits of the Vosges, unusual and stunning 'balloons' or round topped hills as you trek through the valleys of this spectacular region.

Highlights

Walking through the heart of the Alsatian vineyards
Exploring the authentic villages which are full of historical intrigue
Experiencing the timelessness of the Vosges balloons
Enjoying the culinary specialties such as Munster Cheese
Sampling some of the many excellent wines in local ‘caves’

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Eguisheim

Eguisheim is one of the most beautiful villages on the wine route, just 8 km from Colmar. Wine making has been an important industry in the area since the middle ages and was largely developed by the Bishops of Strasbourg. During the afternoon you can warm up your legs with a walking tour of the old town where remnants of a fortified castle, constructed in the 13th century, are visible, or relax and sample some of the great wines of the region in one of the many café’s in town.

Day 2 Walk to Turckheim via Munster (4-5hrs/18km)

Following breakfast at the hotel, the walking day begins. The first ascent leads to three chateaux in Eguisheim (600m) and later on to Hohlandsbourg Chateau, which offers a panoramic view over Colmar and the Alsace Plain dotted with numerous villages. You then rejoin the valley that leads to Munster and spend the night in the extremely beautiful city of Turckheim where each evening, in the winter, a night watchman in traditional 16th Century costume sings as he switches the streetlights off.

Day 3 To Kaysersberg (4-5hrs/15km)

The walk takes you from Turckheim to Kayserberg, the birthplace of Dr Albert Schweitzer, the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Kaysersberg is dominated by a high fortress which stands as a reminder of the strategic importance of the town and its turbulent past. There will be time in the afternoon to explore or relax with a local vintage.

Day 4 To Munster via Labaroche and the Croix de Whor Pass (6-7hrs/25km)

This morning you leave the wine region to ascend the Vosges. From Kaysersberg (250m) you climb to the village of Labaroche and the summit of Petit Honack (927m). After the Croix de Whor Pass (840m), the path leads to Munster, right at the heart of the Vosges Massif. The Munster Valley is the home of the famous Munster Cheese made with cow's milk. It is claimed that the distinct flavour of the cheese is obtained from the flora in the Vosges pastures, and the ancient methods of production which have varied little over the years.

Day 5 Ascend towards Wassenberg and the village of Soultzmatt (4-5hrs/15km)

You leave Munster and ascend in the direction of Wassenberg (746m). You pass the summit of Mühlenkopf (805m) and descend further down in the valley to discover an area with vineyards and the village of Soultzmatt.

Day 6 Walk through the Rhine Valley and return to Eguisheim (4-5hrs/15km)

Taking an extremely beautiful terraced path dominating the Rhine Valley, you walk in the direction of Gueberschwihr (a medieval town with numerous 16th to 18th Century wine-growers homes made of timber and stone). During this walk you will have the opportunity to view Celtic religious sites and an abbey before reaching Eguisheim, the village from which the walk started.

Day 7 Trip concludes Eguisheim

Arrangements conclude after breakfast.

Additional Information

Inclusions

6 breakfasts, 6 dinners (does not include drinks) – continental breakfasts are served and usually consist of breads, jams, cheese, occasionally eggs and meats, coffee, tea and juices. Dinner will consist of 3 to 4 courses which include regional specialties
4 nights in 3 star hotels and 2 nights in 2 star hotels on a twinshare basis. All rooms have private facilities.
Transfer of luggage between hotels
Road book
Map and travel documentation

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Wet weather gear, sunscreen, walking boots or shoes and sun hat. A comprehensive gear list is included in the pre-departure information provided on booking.

What You Carry

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