Exploring the food & culture of Tuscany, Italy
September 27 to October 4, 2027
This walk includes two stages of the Alsacian Camino.
Join us as we walk in the Alsace, a special and less know corner of France
August 31 to September 8, 2027
Walking in the Alsace region of eastern France offers a unique blend of natural beauty, gently rolling hills, and picture-perfect villages comprised of brightly painted, half-timber houses. Every path feels steeped in history.
Stretching along the foot of the Vosges Mountains, the landscape is defined by a gentle terrain of sun-drenched vineyards that tumble down toward the fertile plain of the Rhine River. Walking here is characterized by terraced vineyards and manageable inclines that invite leisurely exploration rather than strenuous exertion.
The crown jewel of a walking trip in Alsace is the legendary Route des Vins d’Alsace, a network of agricultural paths and quiet vineyard tracks that lace together some of France's most picturesque medieval villages.
The area also hosts sections of the Camino de Santiago as it runs south from Germany towards Spain. This little-know section of the trail offers great views and visits to historic villages while maintaining the spirit of the Camino, called the Chemin de Saint-Jacques in France.
Leaving the vineyards behind, we will also walk some of the forested trails of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park. Here, the paths wind through dense stands of pine and beech, crossing high-altitude meadows known as chaumes that open up to panoramic vistas stretching across the Rhine Valley toward the Black Forest in Germany. These paths are exceptionally well-marked and provide access to a network of peaceful forest tracks, crystalline streams, and hidden glacial lakes that provide a contrast to the vineyards below.
About the Alsace
The Alsace is tucked away in the northeastern corner of France, between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine River. Its unique character is a fusion of French and German influences, a direct result of a history that has seen it change hands between the two nations multiple times.
This dual heritage is the heart of Alsatian identity, evident in its architecture, its distinct dialect (Alsatian), and a culture that blends French joie de vivre with German efficiency and tradition. For the traveler, this creates an experience of stepping into a place that feels both familiar and entirely new; a corner of France with a soul all its own.
What truly elevates an Alsatian walking experience is the seamless integration of walking with regional culinary and cultural traditions. Every walk passes welcoming wine cellars offering tastings of crisp local vintages, and rustic roadside winstubs that serve hearty Alsatian specialties like tarte flambée, choucroute, and local muenster cheese.
This is a walking trip, but certainly we will do more than just walk. A local guide will provide insights into the area’s history and culture. And indeed we will eat well. The Alsace’s reputation for hearty fare is well deserved and the local restaurants take their work in the kitchen quite seriously.
We will pass through such wine-producing towns as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Eguisheim, where half-timbered houses, cobblestone lanes, and flower-filled window boxes create an almost storybook setting.
These paths offer sweeping views across endless rows of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris grapes, with ancient castle ruins—such as the imposing Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg—keeping watch from forested heights above.
While we will walk in many directions from our home base in Riquewihr, we remain at one hotel throughout the entire walking tour.
Dates: August 31 to September 8, 2027
Location: Riquewihr, France
Cost: $4850 (see below for details)
Maximum group size: 14
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This trip is run in partnership with the OLLI chapter at the University of Vermont. The trip is open to UVM OLLI members. More Information about UVM OLLI including information on how to join.
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Receive a $350 credit on a future trip when you refer a friend. Learn More.
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Walking on the Camino in the Alsace
The Camino de Santiago that winds through the Alsace is known locally as the Voie d’Alsace or the Chemin de Saint-Jacques. It serves as a vital historical bridge that connects Northern and Eastern Europe to the well-known pilgrimage network heading toward Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.
The full path in the Alsace runs from the German border down to Belfort (spanning roughly 300 kilometers across 12 to 14 distinct stages). This branch of the Camino offers a remarkably distinct pilgrim experience.
Because Alsace sits at a unique cultural crossroads, walking this route exposes pilgrims to a fascinating blend of French and Germanic influences—evident in the Gothic and Romanesque architecture of local churches, roadside shrines, and centuries-old wayside crosses that have guided travelers for generations. And of course the path is marked by stylized scallop shells.
Here are the two stages of the Camino we plan to walk:
Stage 10: Sélestat to Ribeauvillé
Highlights: We will skirt the foot of the Vosges, with views of the three castles of Ribeauvillé perched on the crags above. The town features cobblestone streets and medieval towers.
Stage 11: Ribeauvillé to Kaysersberg
Highlights: We pass through Riquewihr, one of France's most perfectly preserved medieval wine villages, before reaching Kaysersberg which is dominated by its ruined hillside castle.
Trip Details
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August 31 to September 8, 2027 (8 nights - 9 days)
Total cost of the tour: $4850
Supplement for single occupancy: $550
Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $600
(Places in the tour are limited to 14 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!)Payment schedule
$600 deposit is due when you make your reservation.The remainder of the cost will be due in 4 installments on:
December 15, 2026
February 1, 2027
April 1, 2027
June 1, 2027
Each installment payment will be $1062.50. The cost of a single room is additional and will be due February 1, 2027. You can pay in fewer installments if more convenient for you.
Cancelation Policy:
If you cancel up to 90 days prior to the trip’s start, any payments you’ve already made will be held for you so that it can be applied to a future trip. If you are within 90 days of the trip’s start, we’ll have already incurred substantial costs related to your reservation and so we won’t be able to offer you a credit. Instead, you will need to file a claim through your travel insurance. More information is found in our FAQ.If we need to cancel a trip for another reason, such as a natural disaster at the trip’s destination, the trip will be rescheduled. You will also have the option to apply the payments you’ve made to another trip.
** Receive a $350 credit on your next trip when you bring or refer a friend. Read More.
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Daily walking guide throughout the tour
Excursions and special activities throughout the week
Pick-up and drop-off at designated airport at designated times
Guided exploration of Riquewihr
8 nights lodging
8 dinners with appropriate amounts of alcohol and 8 breakfasts
4 lunches
Local transportation by minibus and driver
What’s not included:
Airfare & Travel Insurance
3 lunches
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For our time in the Alsace we’ll be staying in the Hôtel De La Couronne in the town of Riquewihr. This small, family-run hotel will make us comfortable in the oldest part of the town.
The hotel boasts its own bar and both a covered and uncovered outdoor terrace, not to mention an extensive breakfast buffet. Double rooms, double rooms with twin beds, and single rooms are available
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Dinners will be taken at local restaurants throughout the trip. Breakfasts are included and will be at our hotel. Appropriate amounts of beer or wine are included with dinners. On some days, we may have our main course of the day at lunch, rather than at dinner.
Several picnic lunches are also included.
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To extend your trip, and take some time to catch up on your sleep before the tour begins, you may wish to arrive early in France or elsewhere in Europe..
You can also extend your trip with a longer visit to Europe.
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Yes, you may cancel your trip if you need. Up to 90 days prior to the trip’s start, any payments you’ve already made will be held for you so that it can be applied to a future trip. If you are within 90 days of the trip’s start, we’ll have already incurred substantial costs related to your reservation and so we won’t be able to offer you a credit. Instead, you can file a claim through your travel insurance.
Contact Us as soon as you know you must cancel and going forward, let us know what future trip you’d like to join and we’ll set it up for you.
You will not be responsible for any payments that have not yet been made.
Any credit you have with Travel Fever Tours may be applied to a different person’s account, if you like. Credits are valid for a period of three years.
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.
Questions about payments, costs, our cancelation policy and more? Consult our Frequently Asked Questions.
What we’ll do
There is no shortage of things to entertain us in the Alsace. Some of our activities will include a:
Walk each day through the gently rolling vineyards
Take a guided walking tour of the town of Riquewihr
Sample local Alsatian dishes at leading restaurants
Tour small wineries and sample the local white wines
Taste local cheeses
Sample pastries from Alsatian bakeries
Visit surrounding villages
Activities are subject to change.
We will do more than just walk
Alsatian cuisine blends French and German traditions into robust, comforting peasant-style fare centered on cabbage, potatoes, a variety of meats, and regional white wines. Meals emphasize richness and substance.
Key savory specialties include:
Tarte Flambée (Flammekueche): A thin, wood-fired flatbread topped with crème fraîche, onions, and bacon lardons.
Baeckeoffe: A marinated, slow-cooked casserole of potatoes, onions, beef, lamb, and pork braised in white wine.
Choucroute Garnie: Slow-cooked sauerkraut topped with smoked sausages, pork knuckles, salted pork, and potatoes.
Coq au Riesling: Chicken simmered in a creamy Riesling wine sauce.
Munster Cheese: A pungent, soft cheese often served warm with potatoes and cumin.
Baked goods feature Kougelhopf, a ring-shaped brioche with raisins. The region produces crisp, aromatic single-varietal white wines—primarily Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc.
Vegetarians and Vegans can be accommodated on this trip.
Group Leader Edwin de Bruijn
Trip Leader: Edwin de Bruijn
A native of the Netherlands and longtime Brattleboro, Vermont, resident, Edwin brings extensive European walking, hiking, and cycling experience to Travel Fever Tours.
Drawing on his background as a veteran soccer coach, Edwin is an encouraging group leader skilled at tailoring routes to match both group capabilities and changing weather conditions. Over the past three years, he has led walking tours for Travel Fever Tours in Austria, Scotland, and Germany.
Edwin has become a favorite among Travel Fever walkers. He is also leading a Walking Trip in September 2027 in Austria.
“Edwin led us to many fascinating and beautiful places. It was well managed and we look forward to joining another tour soon. Thank you!”
“What a wonderful, fun, and scenic trip! The leaders were supportive and enjoyable to be with. The group was fun and friendly and friendships were built in the days we were together. I highly recommend Travel Fever!”
Is this trip for me?
This is a walking trip and we will walk. The longest day is approximately 10 miles, but most days are in the 6-8 mile range.
This is not a hiking trip. We have selected paths that are relatively level and free from rocks and roots. There will be a few rough spots, but they are few and we can work with you to provide alternative routes or plans, if needed.
We will stay at a single, central hotel, so there is no need to carry anything on our walks other than a day pack, some extra clothes, and water.
Because of the location of our routes, it generally won’t be possible to shorten most of our walks, but we will work with you on this whenever possible. There won’t be a chase van so you should be prepared to walk the length of each route most days (or take the entire day off), although taxis and Ubers are available.
Vegetarians and Vegans can be accommodated on this trip.
Where we’ll stay:
For our time in the Alsace we’ll be staying in the Hôtel De La Couronne in the town of Riquewihr. This small, family-run hotel will make us comfortable in the oldest part of the town.
The hotel boasts its own bar and both a covered and uncovered outdoor terrace, not to mention an extensive breakfast buffet.
Visit the Hôtel De La Couronne Website.
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Reserve this trip today:
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