For 2020 departures our trip inclusions are changing - please contact us for full details
Mrs Whitehead says...
This was our first foreign walking holiday and we loved the self guided holiday we had and would look to do another. From booking through to returning ...
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This seven night holiday starts with 2 nights in the UNESCO recognised World Heritage city of Regensburg, famous for its beautiful 13th century Gothic cathedral, the oldest boy's cathedral choir in the world and also the longest continually serving sausage kitchen in the world (since the 12th century and still serving around 6,000 sausages a day!). It's well worth spending time strolling around Regensburg to discover this Bavarian gem.
Bavaria, as a region, is simply stunning - criss-crossed by beautiful rivers that meander through deep valleys and contrasting dark Alpine forest, pretty towns and villages are home to quaint traditional inns and eateries, and onion-domed church towers peep above lush green meadows.
This walking holiday takes you on a stunning journey, following the well-marked Jurasteig path, through the rich Bavarian countryside, covering riverside paths, flowering meadows, and pine-scented forests. Your walk follows the Altmuhl river with its steep valleys rich with castles and pretty towns, crossing Europe's longest wooden bridge to arrive at the confluence with the mighty Danube. After visiting the spa town of Bad Abbach, you'll leave the Danube behind and climb into the lower German Jura Mountains to arrive at Eilsbrunn, finishing at the world's oldest inn.
En route you'll marvel at the fascinating flora and fauna: eagles and hawks swoop overhead, whilst deer and wild boar roam the forests. A mix of northern European and Mediterranean flora lines the route and springtime brings out an abundance of flowers. Later in the year, a mix of fruit and grapes come in to season.
Traditional German favourites - bratwurst and beer - are on most menus along the way but you'll also find fresh foods made using the local produce from fresh seasonal vegetables to superb grilled meats. Look out for the local pasta, Spatzle, served with a rich cheese sauce and deep fried onions.
You'll stay in a mix of hotels: a modernised town house in Regensburg, a lovely 4 star boutique hotel in the centre of Kelheim and a small aparthotel ran by the extremely welcoming Simone in Bad Abbach.
Walks are on well marked paths - a mix of tarmac, stone and woodland paths.
Arrive in medieval UNESCO World Heritage Regensburg and maybe head to a local beer garden for dinner.
You stay at the Hotel Jakob (breakfast included)
Today, discover the delights of medieval UNESCO World Heritage Regensburg. stroll around the narrow cobbled streets to discover the Dom, the 13th century Gothic cathedral of St Peter, founded in 1275, with it's famous boys choir - the Regensburger Domspatzen (literally 'cathedral sparrows'), the world's oldest boys choir that dates back as far as 975AD. Other sights include the 12th century stone bridge, used by the 2nd and 3rd crusades to cross the Danube, the 12th century Romanesque Basilica of St James, the botanical gardens of the University of regensburg and the famous riverside sausage kitchen. Located right next to the Danube this remarkable little restaurant has been open for business since the 12th century and with queues normally coming out of the door, they serve in the region of 6,000 sausages a day!
You stay at the Hotel Jakob (breakfast included)
Today's route leads over the slopes at the side of the Altmuhl to the enchanting rocky compound of the Klamm nature reserve (gorge). On its highest point you have a most impressive view of the castle of Prunn on the opposite side. Crossing the bridge across the Altmuhl near Einthal you'll reach the other side of the river, where the trail leads up to the castle of Prunn and an inn of the same name. You are rewarded for the strenuous ascent with a spectacular view of the Altmuhl valley. Continuing, with a view of the massive Jura walls above Essing, you cross the Altmuhl for a last time on one of the longest wooden bridges in Europe, the so-called Tatzlwurm (winged dragon). Soon, you reach the ascent to the Keltenwall (Celts' rampart) which leads over the hill down into the valley of the Danube.
You stay at the Hotel Dormero (breakfast included)
Kelheim sits in the confluence of the Danube and Altmuhl rivers. You can wander around the pleasant town or take a boat trip along the Danube to the 7th century Benedictine abbey Kloster Weltenburg. Complete with its own brewery and brewery museum, from here you can walk back on a lovely route passing the Weltenburger Enge, or take the boat back. Alternatively, take a trip up to the Hall of Liberation (Befreiungshalle) of King Ludwig I or to the Archeological Museum.
You stay at the Hotel Dormero (breakfast included)
The Jurasteig trail leads up to the Goldberg. Shortly before you reach Kapfelberg, there is a gorgeous view over the Danube valley with the Devil's Rock (Teufelsfelsen) near Bad Abbach, before the Jurasteig crosses the Danube near Poikam to the river's other side. The route follows a scenic pathway through an idyllic sloping forest directly into the spa park, where in former times Emperor Charles V bathed in the salubrious waters of Bad Abbach.
You stay at the Parkresidenz Bad Abbach (breakfast included)
Maybe take a spa to refresh the muscles from the previous days or relax in the lovely park. There are a series of well-marked circular trails you can follow, including an easy path along the Danube. You can also take the local bus to Regensburg to spend the day there.
You stay at the Parkresidenz Bad Abbach (breakfast included)
Today you follow the idyllic Danube shores to the pedestrian bridge north of Bad Abbach, after which the Jurasteig follows the route through the nature preserve of the slopes above Oberndorf. The route ascends through the settlement of Kalkofenring, following a changing woody landscape with beautiful views of the Danube valley. In Matting, a cable ferry boat takes you to the other side of the Danube. With its steep rocky walls, the nature preserve of the slopes of Mattinger Hange offers impressive scenery and the opportunity to watch the peregrine falcon hunt. On top of the slope, a pathway leads to a marvellous viewpoint that offers a last outlook over the Danube valley. Passing the Zuylen chapel, you will reach Alling in the valley of the Schwarze Laber. Scenic beech forests nature trails lead to Eilsbrunn, and after having a beer in the world's oldest inn (closed Tuesdays) you take a bus back to Regensburg for your last night.
You stay at the Hotel Jakob (breakfast included)
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: First Room.
First rooms are bigger than the standard rooms and have a seating area within the room.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Superior Room.
The superior room is a larger room offering some seating.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Junior Suite.
The junior suite offers a separate living area and a terrace to the garden.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: First Room.
First rooms are bigger than the standard rooms and have a seating area within the room.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
This was our first foreign walking holiday and we loved the self guided holiday we had and would look to do another. From booking through to returning home all was very straightforward. We are already looking at a cycling option next time!
We enjoyed the walks and found the instructions easy to follow. As the weather was warm we started walking early. Stephen the rep was clearly familiar with the walks and area and gave us good advice . Regensburg was fascinating. From the tourist office we booked a walking tour in English which I would recommend. On our rest day at Kelheim we took the river trip to the monastery were we enjoyed lunch and a beer in the beer garden. At Bad Abbach we enjoyed a couple of hours at the spa. All round an enjoyable holiday with good scenery, interesting places to visit and very friendly people.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
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For 2020 departures our trip inclusions are changing - please contact us for full details.
This 7 night self-guided walking holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels
All buffet breakfasts
Services of your local Headwater Representative
Headwater Beer Collection Service
Route directions and maps
Standard transfers at the start/end of the trip (if booking inclusive flights)
Luggage transfers between hotels
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided walking Managed locally by Headwater appointed rep.
Departures
Meals
All buffet breakfasts
Other details
Please call for details and prices
Tour only
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Regensburg train station at 16:11 and back to Regensburg train station at 11:30.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Bavarian Rivers Walk. Simply complete the form below (fields marked * are mandatory) and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.
Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 to discuss your requirements in more detail.
