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World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour

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World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour
From $1,050USDBook Now
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8 Days from $1,050USD
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World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour
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The Danube is even more beautiful here in the Wachau area, Austria than anywhere else, making the self-guided, eight-day World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour a must-do! The mild climate and steep hills make it ideal territory for orchards and vineyards.

Your hiking week leads through the long-distance trail World Heritage Trail Wachau along the ridges of the Danube valley. On the varied walking routes, you can enjoy magnificent views of one of Austria's oldest cultural landscapes with characteristic vineyards, apricot gardens and the impressive Danube stream in the valley. A varied walking tour leads past steep rocks, soft hills, and aromatic vineyards. Little hamlets dot the landscape, and apart from the famous wine, delicious apricot delicacies belong to the unique regional specialties.

You start your hiking week with your individual arrival at Krems. The UNESCO World Heritage city features winding streets and wineries. Your hiking holiday begins the very next day with the first hike to Dürnstein. The route takes you via Weißenkirchen and Spitz to Melk, before returning to Krems by boat on the Danube. Every day you hike between 12 and 14 kilometres and climb several Wachau peaks, which are not high but steep. Surefootedness is therefore an advantage in certain sections.

Side note: One of the best parts about this tour is that it is dog-friendly!

*You can also book a shorter or ‘charm’ version of this same tour*

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World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour

Discover Austria’s Wachau Valley by walking the World Heritage Trail
4.70
(133 reviews)
8 Days from $1,050USD
Easy quote
Duration
8 Days
Season
Apr-Oct
Activity
Walking
Type
Self-guided, Private
Accommodation
Hotels
Difficulty
Moderate (3/5)
From $1,050USD (see prices for this tour)
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National Geographic
Guardian
World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour
Personalized Service
Let our experienced travel advisors plan your perfect adventure

The Danube is even more beautiful here in the Wachau area, Austria than anywhere else, making the self-guided, eight-day World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour a must-do! The mild climate and steep hills make it ideal territory for orchards and vineyards.

Your hiking week leads through the long-distance trail World Heritage Trail Wachau along the ridges of the Danube valley. On the varied walking routes, you can enjoy magnificent views of one of Austria's oldest cultural landscapes with characteristic vineyards, apricot gardens and the impressive Danube stream in the valley. A varied walking tour leads past steep rocks, soft hills, and aromatic vineyards. Little hamlets dot the landscape, and apart from the famous wine, delicious apricot delicacies belong to the unique regional specialties.

You start your hiking week with your individual arrival at Krems. The UNESCO World Heritage city features winding streets and wineries. Your hiking holiday begins the very next day with the first hike to Dürnstein. The route takes you via Weißenkirchen and Spitz to Melk, before returning to Krems by boat on the Danube. Every day you hike between 12 and 14 kilometres and climb several Wachau peaks, which are not high but steep. Surefootedness is therefore an advantage in certain sections.

Side note: One of the best parts about this tour is that it is dog-friendly!

*You can also book a shorter or ‘charm’ version of this same tour*

rating
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
Trip highlights

Discover unforgettable views along the long-distance World Heritage Trail Wachau, punctuated by the Danube river and hills steeped with orchards and vineyards.

Spend time exploring quaint, storied towns along the Danube, such as Durnstein, Spitz, and Krems.

Walk past the largest apricot growing area in Austria as you meander old tracks, catching stunning views of the Alps lining your sightline.

Follow the wine trail to catch glimpses of the iconic wine cellars, then head through a forest and toward a platform with panoramic vistas—enjoy a wine tasting!

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Trip map

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Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
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Arrive in Krems
Discover Krems and get comfortable in your hotel!
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in Krems
Included Meals None
Day 2
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Walk to Durnstein
Walk up into the vineyards to the tower with a view over the ‘blue’ river Danube, the city Krems and the magnificent monastery Göttweig. Cross the hills to the cozy Fesslhütte and reach the Dürnstein ruins on a trail with great views before reaching the banks of the Danube.
Distance 12km, ascend 510m, descend 500m
Overnight Location Hotel in Durnstein
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 3
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Head to the Heart of Wachau
Take the ferry from Dürnstein to Rossatz. Continue past Austria's largest apricot growing area on old tracks up to Seekopf, with stunning views of the Alps. Optional: take a walk along the Danube through orchards to the ferry.
Distance 16km, ascend 480m, descend 480m
Overnight Location Hotel in Weißenkirchen
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 4
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Explore Weißenkirchen
Surrounded by sunny vineyards and green forests the mighty gothic parish church of Weißenkirchen is a remarkable sight. The wine grower villages Joching, Wösendorf and St. Michael form together with Weißenkirchen the biggest wine grower community of Wachau. Visit museums, beautiful walking trails or take a boat tour on the Danube. Enjoy a glass of Wachauer wine in one of the wine taverns. Or do a short hike on the Achleiten circuit to stop by the winegrower!
Distance 4km, ascend 100m, descend 100m
Overnight Location Hotel in Weißenkirchen
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 5
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Discover Spitz
The wine trail leads you out of Weißenkirchen, past small cellar alleys and up into the unique wine landscape high above the Danube. On the World Heritage Trail, you hike through the heart of the Wachau. At the landmark of Spitz, the “Red Gate”, you descend into the famous wine village beside the Danube.
Distance 11km, ascend 340m, descend 330m
Overnight Location Hotel in Spitz
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 6
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Head from Spitz to Melk
Cross the Danube by ferry to Maria Langegg. Here you follow St. Jacob’s trail to ruin Aggsbach. Visit the fortress with scenic views across the Danube valley and stop for a snack. Down you walk to Aggsbach where you catch the coach to Melk.
Distance 15km, ascend 640m, descend 640m
Overnight Location Hotel in Melk
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 7
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Boat Cruise to Melk
Visit the impressive monastery with beautiful grounds before you board the Danube boat. During the cruise to Krems you pass the highlights of the week, see all the vineyards as well as Spitz and Dürnstein.
Distance 15km, ascend 640m, descend 640m
Overnight Location Hotel in Krems
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 8
See more
Depart the tour
Soak in your last sights of Krems before heading on your next adventure.
Distance None
Overnight Location None
Included Meals Breakfast

Why book with 10 Adventures?

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Experience the trip of a lifetime organized by a team of travel specialists who combine knowledge and passion for adventure travel.

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With over 600 tours across 30+ countries, we specialize in self-guided tours.

Combine the freedom of travelling on your own with the confidence that all of your logistics are taken care of.

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Get everything you need for your next vacation with one easy booking.

We take care of accommodations, luggage transfers, gear rentals, and more - so you can focus on making memories.

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4.70 (133 reviews)
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Dates and prices

This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only, where the pricing depends on your travelling dates, as well as the types of rooms that you need.

2025 Departures:
The departures are available daily, from March 29th to October 12th, 2025.

  • Single room: from $1,375USD*
  • Sharing a double room: from $1,050USD*

*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates. The prices listed are per person.

What’s included

Meals

7 breakfasts are included. Wine tasting on day 4 is also included.

Accommodations

Accommodations for 7 nights are included.

Transportation during the Tour

Transportation for your luggage is included, however, you will be walking from accommodation to accommodation yourself. 1 Boat trip from Melk to Krems is included. Please note that some public transport transfers will be required that are not included in this tour.

Also Included

  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • App for Navigation and GPS-data available
  • Service hotline

Not included

  • Flights to and from Vienna
  • Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
  • Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
  • Transfers to and from the trailhead

Optional Extras

  • Additional nights before or after the tour
  • Single occupancy upgrades
  • Optional activities or excursions

Accommodation for World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour

This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 2 and 4-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms may have fireplaces or access to amenities such as hot tubs, steam rooms, or private decks to lounge on.

In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.

Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour?

We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. You walk mainly on good trails and some paved vineyard paths. Depending on the route, you can make the stages more comfortable or more challenging. The peaks in the Wachau region are not high, but steep in places. Surefootedness therefore is required in some places.

Do I need a visa to travel to the World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

Are meals included on the World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour?

7 breakfasts and one wine tasting are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your travel insurance.

How do I get to Krems to start this tour?

Fly into Vienna International Airport (VIE). You will have to take a bus to Krems.

Can I bring my dog on the World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour?

Yes, the tour is dog-friendly.

Where does the World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour end?

The World Heritage Trail Wachau Walking Tour ends in Krems, Austria. You can take the train back to Vienna.

Do I need special vaccines to travel to Austria?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Austria?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

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Why travellers choose this tour
At 10Adventures, it’s easy to make memories with the following six optional inclusions on this tour:
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