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Hiking break with a view

Rennsteig Trail, Eisenach – Blankenstein

Enjoy pure natural experiences on the high-altitude trail

11 Days / 10 Nights
Walking
Hiking break with a view

The Rennsteig high-altitude hiking trail in German Thuringia combines a fascinating mixture of nature, history and tradition. A legend surrounding the trail says: The true hiking friend takes a stone from the river at Werra and carries it in his pocket to the end at the Saale. There he throws it back in the water.

The Rennsteig, which runs through central Germany, is not only one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails, but also one of the oldest. It begins in the Hörschel district of Eisenach on the banks of the Werra and finally ends in Blackenstein at the Selbitz Bridge. The Eurohike route is similar and takes a total of eleven days.

Stephanie Erbschwendtner
Stephanie Erbschwendtner
Get in touch

Hiking at high altitude and walking over the crest of the Thuringian Forest on the more than 100-year-old trail of the Rennsteig, makes the hearts of hikers beat faster. Always at your side: pure nature and the rivers Werra and Saale. The route leads around 170 kilometres through central Germany. For tired hiking feet, however, the route can also be shortened if necessary. In between, a train or bus ride here and there, and you’ve covered a few kilometres.

  • Grenzadler and DKB ski arena: The centuries-old boundary stone in Oberhof, which today marks the DKB ski arena, is above all a popular winter sports resort. The small town of Oberhof is also popular with hikers. Here you can relax and give tired calves a break with sufficient wellness options.
  • Centre of the Rennsteig: On day six you will reach the centre of the 170-kilometre high trail. The Rennsteig Museum is also located here. Interested people can read documents and maps in the approximately 72,000 pages.

With numerous vantage points the Rennsteig mountain trail lies before you, through the calm untouched nature of Thuringia. Moderate stages that lead through the landscape on mostly good hiking trails await you on this Eurohike hiking tour. In this way, longer daily stages can be mastered without major difficulties. Hike the unique Rennsteig through central Germany and feel the inner peace grow with every step!

Book now
To the online version
Hiking break with a view

Rennsteig Trail, Eisenach – Blankenstein

Pure adventure and nature in Thuringia

11 Days / 10 Nights
Walking
Hiking break with a view

For more than 100 years  Rennsteig is fascinating numerous people, as it represents a unique connection between nature, history and tradition and the rivers Werra and Saale. The myth about the ridgeway says: the real rambler takes a stone from river Werra at the beginning of the tour and carries it to the end at river Saale to throw it there in the water again.

Stephanie Erbschwendtner
Stephanie Erbschwendtner
Get in touch

Hiking at high altitude and walking over the crest of the Thuringian Forest on the more than 100-year-old trail of the Rennsteig, makes the hearts of hikers beat faster. Always at your side: pure nature and the rivers Werra and Saale. The route leads around 170 kilometres through central Germany. For tired hiking feet, however, the route can also be shortened if necessary. In between, a train or bus ride here and there, and you’ve covered a few kilometres.

  • Grenzadler and DKB ski arena: The centuries-old boundary stone in Oberhof, which today marks the DKB ski arena, is above all a popular winter sports resort. The small town of Oberhof is also popular with hikers. Here you can relax and give tired calves a break with sufficient wellness options.
  • Centre of the Rennsteig: On day six you will reach the centre of the 170-kilometre high trail. The Rennsteig Museum is also located here. Interested people can read documents and maps in the approximately 72,000 pages.

With numerous vantage points the Rennsteig mountain trail lies before you, through the calm untouched nature of Thuringia. Moderate stages that lead through the landscape on mostly good hiking trails await you on this Eurohike hiking tour. In this way, longer daily stages can be mastered without major difficulties. Hike the unique Rennsteig through central Germany and feel the inner peace grow with every step!

Itinerary at a glance

Picturesque places like the Werraquelle (source of the Werra River) and the Drachenschlucht (Dragon's Gorge) complement the greenery of the Thuringian Forest. The tour takes you to the Sommerrodelbahn (summer toboggan run) in Ernstthal and to the midpoint of the Rennsteig trail, where a museum awaits those interested in its history.

Explore Luther city Eisenach with its fortress during a stroll through the city.

Short train journey to Hörschel. In accordance with old tradition, this is the trailhead of the Rennsteig trail. The route takes you into the little mountain town of Ruhla, renowned for its historic watch manufacturing tradition. You continue on tranquil paths via the ‚Hohe Sonne’ and reach Ruhla-Ascherbrück. We definitely recommend a detour to the impressive dragon gorge.

Past Ruhlaer Häuschen you walk to mountain Großer Inselsberg, which measures 912 m at his highest point. From there a steep climb is awaiting you, but you will be rewarded with a fabulous view. This popular section leads down to Grenzwiese, Dreiherrenstein and on to Ebertswiese with its mountain meadows and lakes. 

You start at 730 m above sea level and walk comfortable across the Rennsteig through the Thuringia Forest, past Krämerrod and Wachsenrasen, and on to the climatic health resort Oberhof. In the near, the Grenzadler, a centuries-old landmark is awaiting you, today it is marking the DKB-skiing arena. The popular winter sports resort is inviting you for relaxation and offers many wellness treatments for tired legs.

Today the highest point of the Rennsteig is awaiting you. You walk up onto 973 m. The walking tour leads past idyllic meadows with huts and springs, which invite you for a break. Before you reach Frauenwald you pass train station Rennsteig, where special trains go into the nature.

From Frauenwald you pass mountain Großer Dreiherrenstein. The roads from Illmenau, Neustadt, and Allzunah are meeting here. In Neustadt the centre of the Rennsteig is located in the Rennsteig museum. From Thuringia Forest you continue into the Thuringia Schiefergebirge (shale mountains). You cross the Schwalbenhauptwiese and meet a hollow way, which has been formed through elution and usage.

You walk from the Rennsteig lookout to Friedrichshöhe. The village is imbedded in deep Thuringia Forest and well known as smallest independent village of the German Democratic Republic as well as for its absolute silence. A detour to the spring of river Werra is worth is before you continue your tour via Limbach to Neuhaus.

Today you walk to Steinbach. The alpine slide in Ernstthal is inviting you for a ride. Afterwards the tour leads you to Spechtsbrunn. Who wants to learn more about the Thuringia Forest should visit the nature park information centre.

Enjoy the diversified lookouts onto Lauenhain and the slaty fractures of Lehesten for instance during this day. You will be accompanied from landmarks. They are the reason that this path is named “Schönwappenweg”. Presentation boards inform about the region, before you continue along the Rennsteig to Grumbach.

On your last walking tour you visit the hamlet Rodacherbrunn, it is located at the former “Mittlere Handelsstraße” (trading route). Already Napoleon was passing by with a huge army to the battle at Jena and Auerstädt. Past the three “Stephanseichen” (oak trees) you walk down to stage finish Blankenstein.

Day
11
Departure or extension

Difficulty level

Walking

The level of the hiking tour is easy to medium. You walk mainly on good walking paths and ridgeways, which offer beautiful views as well as in silent and untouched nature. If you are in a good shape the daily tours can be managed without difficulties.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in beautiful 3*** hotels, guesthouses and pensions
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Transfers according to program
  • 1 Train fare Eisenach - Hörschel
  • 1 Rennsteig Hikingpass
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel and tour documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • Service-Hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer to Eisenach (min. 2 people), costs per person from Blankenstein EUR 148, reservation required, payable locally.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • By train to Eisenach and a short walk (approx. 10 minutes) to the hotel.
  • Frankfurt airport
  • Car park: limited number of hotel car park, approx. from EUR 7 per day, no reservation required. Free car park near the hotel or public parking garage for approx. EUR 70 per week.
  • Back to the starting point by train or bus, duration approx. 3.5 hours from Blankenstein.

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: 2 people
  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in beautiful 3*** hotels, guesthouses and pensions
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Transfers according to program
  • 1 Train fare Eisenach - Hörschel
  • 1 Rennsteig Hikingpass
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel and tour documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • Service-Hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer to Eisenach (min. 2 people), costs per person from Blankenstein EUR 148, reservation required, payable locally.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Train jurney to Eisenach and a short walk (approx. 10 minutes) to the hotel.
  • Frankfurt airport
  • Parking: hotel parking spaces, approx. EUR 7 per day.  Public parking spaces near the hotel or public parking garage for approx. EUR 70 per week.
  • Back to the starting point by train or bus, duration approx. 3.5 hours from Blankenstein.

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: 2 people
  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Stephanie Erbschwendtner

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Stephanie Erbschwendtner
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