World Heritage Wachau Hiking Trail. The Centerpiece

This 5-day tour with 3 days of hiking in the Wachau, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Region, is a delight for the senses. High above the free-flowing Danube River and centuries-old stone terraces in the winegrowing area of Wachau, the World Heritage Trail takes you to some of the most eminent vineyards in Austria, numerous apricot orchards, dreamy wine villages and a host of heurige, those typically Austrian wine taverns.

Immerse yourself in a 2000-year-old cultural landscape, passing by legendary castles and traveling back to the Middles Ages and the Renaissance. Enjoy the beautiful and pristine natural settings and the captivating panoramic views of the unique river landscape. These are just some of the highlights that await you on this hike from Dürnstein via Weissenkirchen to Spitz, Rossatzbach and back to Dürnstein.

Your host provides hiker’s bag lunches for on the trail and transfers your luggage to the next accommodation.

Day 1 – Arrival
Travel on your own to Dürnstein
Overnight stay in Dürnstein, breakfast included.

Day 2 – Dürnstein - Weissenkirchen
Distance 17 km – Duration 6 h
The first day of hiking begins in Dürnstein, where you can explore this medieval town on a stroll of your own. Then you climb the medieval stairs known as Eselsteig up to the Dürnstein castle ruins. Legend has it that King Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom here. You proceed to the Starhemberwarte lookout tower and then to the Fesslhütte, a forest tavern. After that, you follow the Höhenweg trail past the most famous vineyards in the Wachau with magnificent views of the river landscape below until reaching Weissenkirchen, the final destination of the day.
Overnight stay in Weissenkirchen, breakfast included.

Day 3 – Weissenkirchen – Spitz
Distance 10,5 km – Duration 3 h 30 min
Today the hike starts in Weissenkirchen. The route leads via Teisenhoferhof, a Gothic fortress, through famous vineyards to the Michaelerberg natural monument. Then through Miesling Valley and the town gate (Rotes Tor) to the best vineyard in Spitz, Ried Singerriedel, and the Baroque-style church square in Spitz an der Donau.
You can look forward to an afternoon wine tasting session at a winery in Spitz.
Overnight stay in Spitz, breakfast included.

Day 4 – Spitz - Rossatzbach
Distance 21 km – Duration 6 h 30 min
The next day, a cable ferry takes you from Spitz to Arnsdorf on the south bank of the Danube. The hike continues through a valley called the Kupfertal along the historical Roman road (Römerweg), by the Seekopfwarte lookout tower to the panoramic trail and ends in Rossatzbach. The cable ferry takes you back over the river to Dürnstein.
Overnight stay in Dürnstein, breakfast included.

Day 5 – Departure
You depart whenever you wish.

Package price per person starting from € 389.00 in a double room, local tax not included 
Package price per person starting from € 459.00 in a single room, local tax not included
 

Services included:

• 4 overnight stays in selected accommodations, breakfast included
• 3 daily hiker’s bag lunches for on the trail, with regional products
• 3 luggage transfers by the selected accommodation (max. of 1 piece of luggage per person)
• 1 wine tasting session, samples of three wines at the winery
• 1 set of hiking information

Services not included and to be paid on-site:

• local tax of € 1.60 per person/night (age 15 and up)
• fees for the ferries from Spitz – Arnsdorf and from Rossatzbach - Dürnstein
• parking fee in Dürnstein if you come in your own car

Organizer:
Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH, A-3620 Spitz an der Donau, Schlossgasse 3, GISA-Zahl: 13091941.
The general terms and conditions of Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH apply. These can be found under www.donau.com/impressum.