Led by the principle that the journey is the destination, European self-guided walk operator On Foot Holidays has launched a new version of its Rhine River hike in Germany.
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The Castles of the Rhine route offers easier walking and includes more stays in epic castle hotels perched on cliffs high above the Rhine.
To mark the launch, On Foot Holidays is offering Australians and New Zealanders a free, four-course dinner in one of Germany's grandest castle hotels where hikers spend one of the nights during the walk.
The Rhine Gorge is a World Heritage site which inspired Romantic painters, poets, authors and composers in the 19th century, including Mary Shelley, who holidayed in the area and went on to write Frankenstein.
The new walk offers hikers more castles per square kilometre than anywhere else in Europe. The spectacular route from Bacharach to Koblenz leads through picturesque villages, woodlands and vineyards and past a string of majestic, cliff-top castles that loom high over the meandering Rhine.
The seven-night journey includes memorable stays in three magnificent castle hotels - the rambling Burg Schoenburg at Oberwesel, the imposing Schloss Rheinfels at St Goar and the smaller medieval Burghotel Liebenstein at Kamp-Bornhofen. Other nights are spent in quaint family inns along the Rhine.
Each day's walk is 11-20 kilometres (three to five hours), with shorter options available using local trains, buses and ferries). The walk is available from April to November.
The Castles of the Rhine walk includes seven nights' accommodation, all breakfasts, a dinner at Burghotel Liebenstein, one picnic, route maps and directions and daily luggage transfers so that walkers only carry a small backpack each day. Prices start at about $2060 per person, twin-share depending on exchange rates.
Australians and New Zealanders who book before August 31 will receive the exclusive bonus of a free, four-course dinner at the grand Burg Schoenburg castle at Oberwesel (Wed-Sun only, set menu, wine not included).
On Foot Holidays offers 34 self-guided walking tours across Europe. Accommodation and information packs are provided for all the routes, while walkers select their departure dates.
