Active Journeys Germany SelfSelf----GuidedGuided Hiking Tour

Tour description

Day 1 Black Forest Hiking Trail Arrive Freudenstadt The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) stretches 200 kms/125 miles, from Karlsruhe in the Day 2 23 km To Seewald north to Basle in the south. It is essentially composed of two densely wooded ranges, the Feldberg and the Grand Ballon. The Black Forest has the freshness of the woods, Day 3 16 km streams and springs, the quiet valleys with typical alpine-like houses with long slanting To Enzklösterle roofs, and the colorful folklore that give the region its unique character. This walk, in the Day 4 25 km northern Black Forest starts and finishes in Freudenstadt, with its beautiful market To Schwarzenberg place, glassblowing workshop, twin-nave church and parks. Situated on a high plateau in Day 5 18 km the centre of the northern Black Forest, this is a great place to start your holiday. To Hinterlangenbach The walking route follows part of two long distance walking route – the Mittelweg and Day 6 20 km To Obertal the Westweg – and takes one around the mysterious small dark lake of the Mummelsee, across meadow, mixed forest and moorland. You will receive a warm and cordial wel- Day 7 13 km To Kniebis come and you can enjoy some of the best food in Germany (including delicious breads and honey and jams or preserves) and drink fine beers and wines, as well as delicious Day 8 Back to 14 km fruit juices. Freudenstadt On an independent holiday you explore this part of Germany at liberty. Hike long dis- tance paths through changing scenery. These holidays offer all the pleasure of hiking Tour Details point to point. Arrive at a new destination each day without the hassle of carrying a large backpack. We transfer the luggage for you every day. Hiking distances are moder- Daily: May to early October ate which allows you to travel at your own pace and enjoy the countryside. Cost: $1795 per person Single Room Upgrade: $325 Fast Facts  Includes hotels with breakfast and al- ways with private facilities Length: 8 days / 7 nights  Easy access to all hiking trails & shorter Grade: Moderate / Intermediate routes Starts: Freudenstadt  Luggage transfers, route notes and maps Ends: Freudenstadt  The home of Black Forest Cakes, mmm

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ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive Freudenstadt Arrive and settle into your hotel in Freudenstadt. Take time to enjoy the fresh air and discover this lovely market town before returning to your hotel for dinner.

Day 2 To Seewald - Besenfeld 23 km The walk follows the route of the Mittleweg through fir for- est with magnificent views of the valley of the River Murg. Overnight Seewald-Besenfeld

Day 3 To Enklösterle 16 km The route continues along the long distance path the Mittel- weg through meadows and into ancient forest to Kaltenback Lake. From here walk down to the Brook Enz and continue along open country to the picturesque village of Enzklösterle.

Day 4 To Schwarzenberg 25 km Climb to the Hohlohsee wetlands nature reserve until you come to the long distance path – the Westweg. Follow the Westweg, shortly arriving at the Mittelweg to cross the Schramberg plateau and passing the ‘Dead Man’ (at 3002 feet) until you arrive at Schwarzenberg.

Day 5 To Hinterlachenbach 18 km After breakfast the route follows water meadows to Schoenmuenzach and then along the valley of the Schoenmuenz river (the Langenbachtal valley) to Hinterlang- erbach. Continue past a game reserve until you reach the beautiful dark lake of the Mummelsee.

Day 6 To Obertal 20 km Continue to follow the Westweg to Seibelseckle, enjoying the fine views from the Steigerskopf and Saukopf over the Wildsee lakes. Walk on through Ruhestein until you arrive at Obertal for overnight.

Day 7 To Kneibis 16 km After breakfast climb up to the Buhlbachsee lake and over the Black Forest ridge to Zuflught. Follow the Westweg through Alexanderschanze and Wolfursprung and through forest to Kniebis, famous in the area for winter sports.

Day 8 To Freudenstadt 16 km After breakfast the last day’s walk is an easy relaxing hike back to Freudenstadt with visits along the route to Kastel- stein and enjoying more beautiful views in Kegelköpfle and Hahnenhütte.

What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? The daytime temperature will be warm and sunny. In September, you can expect By plane: nearest airports are Baden high 70’s (high 20’s C), and cooler evenings. Sunscreen is a must during the day, Baden, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Strasbourg. as is a sweater for the cooler nights. It may rain, so it is recommended to bring some rain gear and good hiking boots (preferably waterproof). There are regular train connections from each city to Freudenstadt. How many hours of walking a day? Be prepared to walk between 4 to 6 hours daily, rarely on flat terrain. The Ger- man Alps can be hilly however, these are shorter rolling ascents and descents. You can always take short cuts using buses, trains and cable cars. Taxi phone numbers are provided in your daily notes.

How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, and some hiking experience is recommended but not re- quired. This is a moderate to intermediate tour for those already hiking as part of there fitness routine. There are some steep ascents and descents on the route.

What are the hotels like? We use 3-4* accommodations, with twin-bedded rooms, all with private facilities. Lunches and dinners are not included in the tour cost. However, picnic materials can be readily bought on weekdays in each of the towns and villages we stay at. Packed lunches are available from the hotels if requested the evening before. In the towns there are numerous inns and cafes along the way, which serve lunch- es. In towns, there will be many choices for dinner.

How to book your holiday

 Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the en- tire booking process.

 Download the reservation form from our website and send in completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and a pre-departure pack- et will be sent immediately.

 Deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Terms & conditions are out- lined on the back of our Reservation Form.

 Plan your air travel as soon as possible.

 We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through us or directly a travel insurance provider.

 Ensure that you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us for more information on vaccinations, inocula- tions, and fitness requirements.