Walk the Rheinsteig along the Rhine River in Germany
With Edwin de Bruijn
August 31 to September 8, 2025
Join us for a walk along the picturesque Rhine River
The Rhine River flows from Switzerland to the Netherlands. In Germany, between Mainz and Cologne, there is a particularly picturesque section where the river winds between two ridges, providing a wonderful place to walk.
In 2002, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its beauty and because of the 40+ castles, palaces, and ruins that lie along the banks of this stretch of the river. Indeed, this walking trail is the most popular walking tour in Germany, frequented mostly by Germans but quickly gaining international visitors.
On this tour, we’ll walk the ridge that runs along the East side of the river. The path is well marked and maintained and will provide wonderful views as we cross vineyards, fields, and forest. And at the end of the day, we’ll drop down off the ridge to the banks of the Rhine where we’ll stay in family-run hotels in picturesque towns with timber-frame buildings.
German hospitality is at a very high level, with comfortable hotels and excellent meals.
Your Trip Leader: Edwin de Bruijn
Edwin is a native of the Netherlands but has lived many years in Brattleboro, Vermont. He has walked, hiked, and biked in many places across Europe, including the Rhine River Valley. Edwin selected this stretch of the river for Travel Fever Tours because of its beauty, the availability of quality hotels and restaurants, and for the option of travel by train or bus for anyone looking to take an afternoon or a day off from walking.
A veteran soccer coach, Edwin knows how to support and encourage walkers in his groups.
For the past three years, Edwin has led hiking trips in the Austrian alps for Travel Fever Tours. He has a skill for tailoring walks to suite the capabilities of those in the group (not to mention the weather).
Trip Leader Edwin de Bruijn (right) with Travel Fever Tours co-founder Bob Lawson on a recent trip to Austria.
August 31 to September 8, 2025
Cost: $3950
Maximum group size: 12
More:
See below for more about this trip’s cost and other details.
More about our Walk in Germany
The banks of the Rhine River are a popular tourist destination, especially among German tourists. Each of the charming towns along the river boasts one or more family-run hotels. Standards among German hotels is quite good, with comfortable rooms, private baths, extensive breakfast buffets, and often top-notch restaurants as well.
Our goal for this walk is not to just cover ground. We will visit castles and other historic sites and we’ll be sure to have time each day to enjoy the views and to soak in our surroundings.
The area is a major wine-growing region, known for its excellent Riesling whites.
In addition to walking, we will have the option of covering stages by boat or by hopping on a train. And for our efforts we will be rewarded by a glass of local white wine, a good German beer, or a selection from an excellent bakery.
Where we will stay
This is a through-walk, which means we’ll be staying in a different hotel each night (aside from one rest day which we’ll take in the middle of the trip). Each hotel is different, but generally they are small, family-run establishments located in small towns on the banks of the Rhine. You will have a private room with comfortable beds and your own bathroom with shower or bath.
As German hotels often have restaurants of a high standard, we’ll eat many of our dinners right in the hotel where we stay. Breakfast buffets in Germany also enjoy a great reputation. Lunches will normally be in the form of a picnic set out for you along the trail.
After a good day’s walk, a shower and a good night’s sleep are always welcome.
Here are some of hotels where we’ll stay: Hotel Berg's Alte Bauernschänke, Hotel im Schulhaus, and Zum Weißen Schwanen,
Is this Trip for Me?
This is a walking tour. We will not be scaling mountain peaks or crossing glaciers. Instead, we will follow well marked and well maintained walking paths that cover between 9 and 13 miles a day. Generally, we will walk up onto a ridge in the morning, follow the ridge during the day (enjoying the view and a picnic lunch), and then descend back to the banks of the Rhine at the end of the day.
While one does not need to be a hardcore hiker to participate on this walk, you should have a reasonable level of fitness. You should be willing to train in advance for the trip and make sure your boots are well accustomed to your feet.
There will be a few steeper sections of the trail, but they are short and infrequent.
You will have the option of skipping a day’s walk, if you like, and travel by boat or train instead.
Contact Us if you have any questions about the difficulty of this trip and we’re happy to put you in touch with our tour leader who can provide more detailed information.
Recent Trip Reviews
These reviews are from participants on other tours led by group leader Edwin de Bruijn
“We really enjoyed the trip which was well organized. Loved the family-run hotel, great hospitality, and delicious food! Our guides were patient with the slower hikers and were very encouraging! This was a terrific trip!!”
“Great travel leaders (Bob and Cicely) who attended to every detail, from hotel to food and beyond. The hotel was a great choice. Edwin is a fabulous person and guide. I would trust and follow him anywhere.”
“Challenging and relaxing at the same time. The food was supreme. Our guides were thoughtful and caring throughout the entire trip, members of the group personable and entertaining.”
Trip Details
(Click + to expand)
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August 31 to September 8, 2025 (8 nights - 9 days)
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Total cost of the tour: $3950
Supplement for single occupancy: $475Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $450
(Places in the tour are limited to 12 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early, as this trip is expected to be popular.)
$450 deposit. The deposit is refundable through May 1, 2025.
$1750 initial payment (Due May 1, 2025)
$1750 final payment (Due July 1, 2025)
All payments are refundable if we need to cancel the trip due to government restrictions or unsafe travel conditions.
** Earn a $300 discount when you bring or refer a friend.
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What’s included in the cost of the trip:
You will be met at arrival at a designated airport and escorted back to the airport at the close of the trip
Guided walking through the Rhine with an experienced guide
8 nights lodging
8 dinners, lunches and breakfasts
What’s not included:
Airfare
Any activity you undertake on your own (outside the group)
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Lodging will be at family-run German hotels with comfortable private rooms with private bathrooms.
After a good day’s walk, a shower and a good night’s sleep are always welcome.
Here are some of hotels where we’ll stay: Hotel Berg's Alte Bauernschänke, Hotel im Schulhaus, and Zum Weißen Schwanen,
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A large breakfast buffet will be available at the hotel each morning. Lunch will generally be a picnic we can eat along the trail. Dinners will be at local restaurants or at our hotel each evening.
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At the start or end of the trip, participants may opt to see other parts of Europe. Indeed, all of Europe is in striking distance if you wish to arrive early or extend your trip.
We can offer advice on how to customize an itinerary to expand your trip.
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Your deposit is non-refundable after May 1, 2025, unless of course the trip is canceled for any reason by Travel Fever Tours. Natural disasters, political instability or low enrollment would form the basis for canceling a trip. Other payments are not refundable once made.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements. In all cases, review of enrollment numbers will not take place any later than the date of the First Installment payment.