The most beautiful river-bends between Eifel and Hunsrück.
Totally captivated! That's what many visitors tell us about their feelings after a holiday in the Moselle Valley. It's like diving into a slightly different world. Relaxed and idyllic - and yet full of superlatives. Not only do you find the steepest vineyards in Europe, but also the oldest city in Germany, Trier. Hike along the Moselsteig, where there are 24 stages to discover over a length of 365 kilometres.
Details of the 8-day tour "Best of Moselsteig"
On our journey from Trier to Koblenz, you will hike around 116 kilometres in seven stages. In the old town of Trier, one sight follows the last, nine of which have made it onto the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - first and foremost the Porta Nigra.
With Bullay, Cochem and Treis-Karden, several gems await along the Moselle on the following days. Castles, palaces and monasteries line the paths and the steep vineyards rise imposingly into the air. Via sunny Löf, the last stage finally leads to Koblenz. Where the Moselle and Rhine flow together, you should definitely explore the old town, nibble an ice cream at "e Gel o Sia" and dare to take a cable car ride to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
Highlights of the hiking tour with Eurohike
Fantastic viewpoints: The hilly terrain has its advantages, as you can enjoy great views from the riverbanks to the mountain ranges and even better panoramas from above into the valley. On day 7, for example, the Blumslay awaits, from where you can look down on the mighty Moselle Valley Bridge, which in turn rises 136 metres into the air.
Vineyards & traditional winegrowers' taverns: Did you know that the winegrowing region on the Moselle is the oldest in Germany? The special craft goes back to the ancient Romans, lost its reputation after two world wars and one or two scandals, and has regained world fame through a lot of effort, tradition and innovation. Cheers!
Tranquil villages with half-timbered houses: Stop in at the great pubs and enjoy the view of the enchanting market squares and alleyways while enjoying the region's excellent delicacies.
Imposing castles, fortresses and palaces line the daily hiking stages. Eltz Castle is certainly one of the most famous Moselle buildings, but Cochem Imperial Castle, Grevenburg Castle or Koberner Niedernburg Castle also have their charms.
Unique boxwood forest: Even the Romans had a fondness for the beautiful wood of the boxwood that grows in the Moselle region. Boxes and boxes were made from it. But the plant was also appreciated as a garden plant and still is today.
Useful information about the tour on the Moselle
The Moselle flows in numerous loops and the route follows the same course. The advantage is that the stages can be shortened by taking the train if desired. Hiking in this region is pure enjoyment, not least because of the first-class trails.
Hiking in Central Germany is not only varied, but also a high-quality travel experience - especially with Eurohike. More information about the Moselsteig can be found here.
Trier, Germany’s oldest city, entices you with numerous historic sights. We highly recommend you visit the famous ‚Porta Nigra‘, Roman excavations and the opulent St. Peter’s Cathedral. A stroll through the bustling historic centre is the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming hiking week.
To start off your holiday you cross the river Mosel and ascend to the colorful sandstone rock located at the Trierer Stadtwald-forest. Along a marvelous high-altitude path with views into the depth onto the river Mosel and views into the distance all the way onto the Hunsrück-mountain range you proceed to Biewer and the Eifel-foothills. You hike through extensive forests and plateaus all the way to the ‚Ehranger Kanzel‘ and downhill to the river Kyll, onwards through the Eifel-forests onwards to Schweich. By train you reach the charming village on the river Mosel Bullay with its numerous inns called ‚Straußwirtschaften‘.
You reach the start of the tour via the legendary Mosel wine railway and cross Germany’s longest hanging viaduct in the art-deco town Traben-Trabach. You ascend on steep terrain to Grevenstein castle and proceed on the ‚Franzosensteig‘-trail via spiral staircases and via ferratas straight through the ruins. Spectacular too is the view into the depth down to the river. An alpine hiking section along the ridge Kirster Grat leads you accompanied with great views to Enkirch, where we highly recommend you visit the historic half-timber houses. Onwards through wine growing areas and the vineyards you proceed to Bullay, where a wine tasting of the best Mosel wines awaits.
Beautiful paths lead you high above the river up Mount Petersberg, where the summit cross offers stupendous views down onto the Mosel river bend. After the descent and the river crossing near Neef you ascend Mount Calmont on the other side. You hike up Europe‘s steepest vineyard, where grapes are grown on an incline of up to 55 degrees. You proceed via a Roman high-altitude settlement with a view onto the rock spire ‚Eller Todesangst‘ past the ‚Galgenlay-Pavillon‘ and reach Cochem by train.
You ascend to the Pinner-cross, a marvelous rock pulpit located above Cochem, either on foot or by chair lift. Along hiking paths high above the river you proceed to the legendary refuge ‚Wingerts Budche‘. The Dortebachtal-nature reserve, the Pommerer Forest and the via ferrata through the Schilzer-basin provide pleasant walking conditions in the shade. Through green vineyards you reach Mount Martberg, where you can visit a nicely restored Roman temple complex. Narrow trails snake their way through dense woodland down into the valley and into the Day Finish Treis-Karden.
The impressive boxtree-trail welcomes you with evergreen forests and steep rock steps. You start from Müden and proceed along historic pilgrim trails into the highlands to the legendary Eltz castle. After a break in the beer garden you continue uphill to the Maifeld-area and along the steep edge via little climbing sections to Hatzenport. If you have energy left, you can climb over slate rocks up Mount Rabenlay.
For the finale again numerous highlights await: the castle ruin of Kobern Niederburg-castle, the Romanesque Matthew-chapel and again and again high-altitude paths with panoramic views. The Blumslay-viewpoint spoils you with spectacular views onto the mighty construction of the Mosel-valley bridge with a height of 136 metres. You continue for a final time through the lush vineyards all the way to Güls-Koblenz, the official end of the Moselsteig-trail. After a short train journey you reach the centre of Koblenz, where you enjoy the end of your impressive hiking week at the so-called ‚Deutsches Eck‘ (German Corner), the confluence of the rivers Mosel and Rhine.
You mainly walk on well-maintained hiking paths and trails, on graveled vineyard paths and remote forest paths. The panoramic paths featuring great views lead you in parts across steep terrain and rocks, here surefootedness is a prerequisite. The ascents and descents of the mountain ranges of the Mosel river valley are mastered easily with a good basic fitness level. Daily tours can easily and comfortably be cut short by train any time.
Abwechslungsreiche und teilweise anspruchsvolle Wanderung.
Fast mediterrane Pfade durch Eichenwälder mit Blicken zur Mosel wechseln sich mit Wegen durch das Hinterland und die Weinhänge ab. Der Moselsteig ist sehr gut ausgeschildert, an schönen Aussichtsstellen stehen Moselbänke für eine Rast. Am Calmont ist die Abweichung Klettersteig zu empfehlen (Stöcke verstauen). Die Wanderstrecken waren manchmal ziemlich lang, können bei Bedarf gut mit der Bahn abgekürzt werden. Für Trier und Koblenz Zusatztage einplanen, um die Städte zu erkunden. Die Hotels lagen alle sehr zentral. Für die Wanderungen Proviant einplanen, im Herbst und wochentags gibt es wenig Einkehrmöglichkeiten unterwegs.
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5 stars
Sue K. |20.10.2022
Moselsteig
Excellent trip. Very well marked route with lots of variety. Autumn is a good time with amazing Autumn colours and grape harvesting. One of the best organised trips we have done. This tour does require a good head for heights. There were not many good restaurants which surprised us, its easier to get a glass of wine than coffee and cake!
JuliaWinklhoferanswered:
Dear hiking guest, thank you very much for your nice feedback, we are very happy that you had a great time on the Moselsteig! With the restaurant recommendations in our route notes, we try to recommend the best restaurants that are available on spot.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 stars
Thomas Hübner |20.07.2022
Best of Moselsteig (Trier - Koblenz)
Unsere Wanderung begann in Trier und endete in Koblenz. Die Unterlagen haben wir im ersten Hotel empfangen. Alle Transfers unseres Gepäckes funktionierten tadellos. Die Wanderrouten waren detailliert und wurden merkbar vom Verfasser vorab selbst durchgeführt (hat uns einer der Hotelliers verraten :-) ). Die vielen Hinweise auf die Beschaffenheit und das Finden der richtigen Wege waren sehr hilfreich. Trotzdem haben wir uns drei mal verlaufen (passiert, wenn man nicht aufpasst, war aber nicht schlimm). Die Aussichten, die diese Wanderung geboten hat, waren unglaublich. Die Hotels waren individuell, schön und in der Regel zentral gelegen. Die Möglichkeit mit der Bahn "abzukürzen" haben wir zweimal genutzt. Wichtig: Bargeld mitnehmen. Viele Restaurants und einige Hotels akzepierten nur Bargeld. Auch sollte man beachten, dass unterwegs sehr wenig "Einkehrmöglichkeiten" vorhanden sind (Ruhetag, Öffnungszeiten passen nicht oder für immer zu gemacht). Daher immer genug Verpflegung mitnehmen. Unser Fazit: Eine perfekte Reise. Danke für diese wunderbare Wandertour.
JuliaWinklhoferanswered:
Liebe Wandergäste, vielen herzlichen Dank für das ausführliche Reisefeedback. Wir freuen uns sehr zu hören, dass Ihnen die Wanderreise am Best of Moselsteig so gut gefallen hat. Vielen Dank auch für den Hinweis zu den Öffnungszeiten der Einkehrmöglichkeiten. Viele Betriebe haben wegen Personalmangel kurzfristig neue Öffnungszeiten beschlossen, dies war in vielen Regionen in der Saison 2022 ein großes Problem. Wir werden diese Informationen auf jeden Fall überarbeiten und für die neue Saison anpassen. Wir freuen uns, Sie bald auf Ihrer nächsten Wanderreise begrüßen zu dürfen!