Hiking trip Moselsteig: In 10 days from Trier via Cochem to Koblenz

Journey to Trier

Individual arrival to Trier. Output of the tour information. Unguarded parking payable on site.

Trier, the oldest city in Germany attracts visitors with numerous historical sights. You should not miss the famous Porta Nigra, Roman excavations of all places, the Emperor’s Herem, Constantine’s Basilica or the amphitheater and the magnificent St. Peter’s Cathedral . A stroll through the lively old town is perfect to get in the mood for the hiking week ahead.

Hike Trier – Schweich, ~ 16 km, 430 m↑↓, ~ 6 h
Train ride Schweich – Bullay

To begin your journey, cross the Moselle River and climb up to the colorful sandstone cliffs at Trier’s city forest.

On a magnificent high trail with a deep view of the Moselle and distant views as far as the Hunsrück, the route leads to Biewer and the foothills of the Eifel. You hike through extensive forests and plateaus to the Ehranger Kanzel and down to the river Kyll. The trail continues through the Eifel forests to Schweich.

Afterwards, please take the Mosel Valley Railway to the charming Mosel village of Bullay with its numerous Straußwirtschaften. They are on the road for about half an hour. Trains usually run twice an hour. Timetable and tickets can be found eg. At: www.moseltalbahn.de.

Hike Bullay – Traben-Trabach – Bullay, ~ 19 km, 550m ↑↓, ~ 6 h

Please take the Moseltalbahn one more time today – now in the opposite direction > Trier one stop to Traben-Trabach. Regional trains of Deutschan Bahn usually run twice an hour. You will be on the road for about 20 minutes and cross Germany’s longest hillside viaduct by train to the start of the hike in the art nouveau town of Traben-Trabach.

Steeply uphill you hike to the imposing ruin Grevenburg. The Franzosensteig leads you over spiral staircases and steps through the middle of the ruin. Spectacular is the deep view opens to the river.

An alpine hiking section along the Kirster ridge leads you to Enkirch with a great view. Neat half-timbered houses line the streets between the vineyards and the Moselle. Through vineyards and vineyards it goes to Bullay. In the evening, a tasting of the best Moselle wines awaits you.

Hike Bullay – Ediger-Eller – Cochem, ~ 18 km, 520 m↑↓, ~ 6 h

Beautiful paths lead you high above the river to the Petersberg, where the summit cross offers impressive deep views of the Moselle loop.

After descending and crossing the river at Neef, you climb the Calmont on the other side. You will discover the steepest vineyard in Europe, where the vineyard slopes up to 55°.

Via a Roman hilltop settlement with a view of the rocky needle of the “Eller Todesangst” you climb past the Galgenlay pavilion to the Ediger-Eller train station and by Mosel Valley Railway one stop through the tunnel to Cochem.

Circular hike Cochem – Beilstein – Cochem, approx. 13 km, 400 m↑↓, ~ 5 h

In the morning you will take the bus to Beilstein. Take a little time for this ‘Sleeping Beauty, the most beautiful of all Moselle villages’ with its lovely half-timbered houses and the Carmelite monastery.

Continue following the Moselle to the Fankel barrage and cross the village of Bruttig. On the banks of the Moselle, a short rest is worthwhile before you hike back up through the gorge of the Kabainerbach.

In the middle of the vineyards you will cross the rocky mountain flanks of the Brauselay, which towers over the river as a legendary black cliff. In the afternoon, admire the Cochem Imperial Castle from the water during an enjoyable boat trip.

The boat ride is included in the price.

Hike Cochem – Treis – Karden, approx. 23 km, 750 m↑↓, ~ 8 h

On foot or by chairlift to the Pinnerkreuz, a magnificent rocky pulpit overlooking Cochem. On forest paths high above the river, the route leads to the legendary “Wingerts Budche” rest hut. The Dortebach Valley nature reserve, the Pomeranian Forest and the trail through the Schilzer Ditch promise pleasantly shady freshness.

Through green vineyards you will reach the Martberg Archaeological Park, where an excellently restored Roman temple complex invites you to visit. Narrow paths wind through dense forest down into the valley and the finish in Treis-Karden.

Hike Treis Karden – Eltz Castle – Hatzenport, approx. 20 km, 500 m↑↓, ~ 6 h

The impressive boxwood trail welcomes you with evergreen forests and steep rocky steps. From Müden, you will hike along historic pilgrimage trails into the highlands to the legendary Eltz Castle.

After a stop in the beer garden up to the Maifeld and along the steep edge over small climbing passages to Hatzenport. Those who still have strength climb over slate rocks to the Rabenlay.

Hike Löf – Kobern-Gondorf, approx. 14 km, 500 m↑↓, ~ 5 h

Today you will cross the Moselle twice. From Alken to the impressive Spornburg Thurant and over rocky paths down to the more than 1000-year-old Michaelskapelle, one of the oldest churches on the Moselle.

Then hike through the vines to the pilgrimage church on Bleidenberg. Best views up to the Volcanic Eifel accompany you on the magnificent high trail to Oberfell. Across a sunny plateau to the panoramic cliff of the Hitzlay – enjoy the view before you hike down to Niederfell and reach your stage destination today via the Moselgoldbrücke.

Hike Kobern-Gondorf – Koblenz, approx. 16 km, 430 m↑↓, ~ 5 h

At the end, numerous highlights await you once again: the castle ruins of the Koberner Niederburg, the Romanesque Matthias Chapel and again and again panoramic high-altitude paths. The Blumslay lookout opens up spectacular views of the massive construction of the 136m high Moselle Valley Bridge.

One last time you will pass through the lush vineyards until you reach Koblenz – Güls, the official end of the Moselsteig.

By train to the center of Koblenz, where you will enjoy your impressive hiking tour at the “German Corner”, the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers.

Koblenz

You have reached the ancient capital of the Rhenish Republic, the Romans, Chur-Trier, the Prussians, the Germans. Koblenz is probably the most underrated city in Germany. The banks of the Rhine and Moselle, the three fortresses, the fortress garden, the promenades, the beautiful old town. Koblenz is worth an extra day.

Stay or go and come back again. Maybe a Rhine tour next year?

Please book extra nights or make your way back to Trier with the Mosel Valley Railway every (half) hour.