Walking and Wellness in the Black Forest
- Walking and relaxation in Germany’s peaceful Black Forest
- Unwind in a comfortable 4* hotel complete with an extensive spa area
- Follow part of the Black Forest Gorge Trail; the ‘Schluchtensteig’
- Hike contrasting landscapes of rocky gorges, dense forest and lakeside paths
- Enjoy Black Forest Gateau while resting on the banks of Schluchsee lake
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive TodtmoosYour short break is based in the charming small town of Totdmoos in the south of Germany’s Black Forest. You will be spending 4 nights in the charming 4* Natur-Park Hotel Rößle which offers fantastic spa facilities as well as being in a dreamy location, surrounded by beautiful scenery and peaceful nature.
Fly into Basel Euro airport, then take a train to Bad Säckingen, from where you can catch a bus to Todtmoos (twice daily). Alternatively we can organise a transfer from Basel airport directly to Todtmoos (approx. 45 mins)
This traditional 4* hotel is set amongst the stunning natural scenery of the Todtmoos-Strick. It has been known for centuries for its Black Forest hospitality and has been family-owned since 1670. Here in this quiet and idyllic location, with a cosy dining room, great food, and extensive wellness/spa offerings, you can find peace and relaxation after your hikes.
Enjoy a relaxed morning lingering over the extensive breakfast buffet before setting off on the Todtmooser ’Lebküchlerweg’ or Lebkuchen Trail. Lebkuchen are a German speciality, small gingerbread biscuits especially popular at Christmas, and are an important part of Todtmoos’ culinary history. Â
The trail starts directly at your hotel and takes you on a narrow path through a unique landscape dotted with narrow gorges and beautiful waterfalls.  We have booked the culinary hike on the Lebküchlerweg for you, which combines the 12 km circular hiking trail with culinary surprises.
Ascent/Descent:Â 553m/557m
Please note:
The culinary hike is organised from the beginning of May to the end of October, in April and November you can of course also explore the Lebküchlerweg on your own.
If day 2 of your trip falls on a Wednesday or Thursday, the culinary hike must be postponed to another day due to the rest days of the restaurants en route.Â
This traditional 4* hotel is set amongst the stunning natural scenery of the Todtmoos-Strick. It has been known for centuries for its Black Forest hospitality and has been family-owned since 1670. Here in this quiet and idyllic location, with a cosy dining room, great food, and extensive wellness/spa offerings, you can find peace and relaxation after your hikes.
This morning, take a local bus to St. Blasien; a small town famous for its imposing and picturesque cathedral. From here you will be following a section of the ‘Schluchetensteig’ or Black Forest Gorge Trail. The Schluchtensteig is one of Germany’s best loved long distance walking trails and has been nominated as one of the most beautiful. Start your walk accompanied by distant views to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in Switzerland.
Take a short detour to the viewing tower on the Lehenkopf before continuing on the trail through changing landscapes of open meadows, shady forests, past isolated farms and finally through a forest gorge. Arriving back at your hotel, why not treat yourself to a sauna or a jacuzzi, brilliant for relaxing tired muscles.
The walk can also be shortened by public transport if desired.
Ascent/Descent:Â 693m/582m
This traditional 4* hotel is set amongst the stunning natural scenery of the Todtmoos-Strick. It has been known for centuries for its Black Forest hospitality and has been family-owned since 1670. Here in this quiet and idyllic location, with a cosy dining room, great food, and extensive wellness/spa offerings, you can find peace and relaxation after your hikes.
Today we recommend one of two walks around Schluchsee, a reservoir lake located at 930m above sea level. It is the highest reservoir in Germany, the largest lake in the Black Forest, and is a popular recreation spot with the locals.
Take a bus to Schluchsee where your hike on the 'Jägersteig', one of the Germany's most scenic trails, begins. Ascend to the scenic viewpoint of Bildstein for extensive views over the area. Why not enjoy a piece of traditional Black Forest Gateau at one of the cafés ideally situated on the banks of the lake? When you are ready to return, take the bus back to Todtmoos where you can once again relax in the hotel wellness area.
Alternatively you can enjoy a more relaxed loop walk around the lake. There are various different trails around the lake, and you are able to shorten any of them as you wish by using the convenient MS Schluchsee ferry.
Walk 1: Bus to Seebrugg Staumauer, Walk the Jäger Trail, 11.3km, 3.5 Hours Ascent/Descent: 235m/235m
Walk 2: Bus to Schluchsee and Loop Walk, 17.7km, 4.5 Hours Ascent/Descent: 57m/57m
This traditional 4* hotel is set amongst the stunning natural scenery of the Todtmoos-Strick. It has been known for centuries for its Black Forest hospitality and has been family-owned since 1670. Here in this quiet and idyllic location, with a cosy dining room, great food, and extensive wellness/spa offerings, you can find peace and relaxation after your hikes.
Enjoy one final leisurely breakfast before checking out of your hotel and starting your onward travel. You can of course extend your trip with extra nights at the hotel, just let us know this at the time of booking.
This trip has a carbon score of 14kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 14kg is equivalent to 7 bottles of champagne. That’s a lot of bubbles!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you’re looking for a few days of relaxation surrounded by a wonderful natural environment then this tour is perfect for you. Experience the perfect mix of comfort and wellness with a stay at the 4* Spa Hotel Roßle and daily exercise in the fresh forest air. You’ll also get to experience what the Black Forest has to offer in terms of culinary excellence. You’ll quickly see that the area has so much more to offer than just cuckoo-clocks and cake!
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Single Centre Walking | Stay in one location throughout your trip, exploring the region with a mix of loop and point-to-point walks and with time to discover an area, town, or village in-depth.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 5 Years
This tour involves some easy and sometimes more difficult sections, which is why we have classified it as moderate overall. The walk by the Schluchsee is relatively short (10km) and completely flat, so is pretty easy going. On the walk from St. Blasien to Todtmoos, there is a lot of undulating terrain which is more demanding and the distance is considerable (20km). However you will be rewarded with panoramic views for your efforts! The loop walk around Todtmoos is again relatively short (12km), but there is significant ascent and decent involved (around 500m up and down). Generally you should be in good shape to get the most from this tour. You will be walking on a mixture of narrow trails and wide forest tracks.
You should be in good shape to get the most from this tour. All walks are optional and since this is a single centre trip, therefore it is ideal if some people in your party want to walk and some don't. Those not wanting to walk can spend the day relaxing and using the hotel's facilities.
Stay 4 nights in the high-quality, friendly 4* Spa hotel, the Hotel Rößle. Your hosts, the Maier Family, are waiting to welcome you. This modern hotel offers traditional hospitality and a special atmosphere. The quiet and idyllic location, the cosy dining room, great food, and extensive wellness/spa offerings all combine to make this an unforgettable stay. Please be aware that German ‘twin rooms’ (Doppelzimmer in German) are typically 2 single mattresses side by side in one double bed frame with two separate duvet covers and pillows.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is available to solo walkers and a supplement is payable. Single rooms are available should some of your party wish to have their own room and again, a single supplement is payable.
Wellness and Spa
For the duration of your stay you have free access to the wellness/spa area of the hotel. Called the ‘Black Forest Wellness Village’, the spa area is 350m2 in size and includes a Finnish sauna, a Roman steam bath, jacuzzi, experience shower, sunbed, relaxation room and an indoor swimming pool. In case you would like any special spa treatments, massages, for example, these can be arranged and paid for directly at the hotel.Â
Wellness Area Opening Times
Sauna area: 2pm-8pm
Indoor pool: 7-8.30am & 10am –10pm
Meals
4 continental breakfasts are included. This is in buffet form and there are many filling breakfast items available which are perfect for hikers; e.g. boiled eggs, ham, cheese, fresh bread and muesli. Lunch is not included and can be picked up at local supermarkets or ‘Backerei’ along the way. Your accommodation will also be able to provide you with a packed lunch for the day, be sure to book the night before (payable locally, approx. 5 euros per person). Dinners are not included, leaving you free to choose from the various options each day. Your hotel also has an onsite restaurant. In Germany, traditional food is hearty and filling. In the region of the Black Forest you will likely find the following ubiquitous food everywhere you go! ‘Käsespätzle’ is a kind of eggy pasta (made from flour, eggs, water and salt) topped with melted cheese and sometimes crispy fried onion– it’s the ultimate comfort food! April to June is asparagus season and you will find this vegetable on just about every menu during this time. It is often served with Kartoffeln (potatoes), Schnitzel and/or a rich cheesy sauce. Schwarzwälder Schinken is the locally produced smoked ham and is matured usually for at least 3 months, leading to its rich and strong flavour. Black Forest gateau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte) has to be the food that is most associated with the Black Forest. This deliciously moist cake is made up of layers of chocolate sponge, spread with whipped cream and cherries between each layer, topped with even more cream, cherries and chocolate. The recipe varies from café to café ensuring you’ll never get bored of it.
The chosen walks are very well way-marked, and together with our maps, route notes and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS, you will have no problems finding the way.
- 4 nights in a 4* Spa Hotel
- 4 breakfasts
- Welcome drink
- Use of the Spa area (massages and other treatments to be paid locally)
- Culinary hike on the Lebküchlerweg
- Route notes, maps, GPX tracks, access to our GPS app & info pack
- 24-7 Emergency telephone support from our German and UK offices
- Flights and travel to and from Todtmoos
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc
- Any items not specifically mentioned in the program
- Additional nights during the holiday
This walk is available to start on any day of the week from May to the end of October. Any time within this period is ideal for walking.
The weather in the Black Forest is changeable. Very hot days are often followed by rain and thunderstorms. Therefore you should be prepared for all weather eventualities. Check the weather report each day locally before setting off for your hike.
Fly into Basel Euro Airport and then take a taxi to Basel Badischer Bahnhof (approx. 10 minutes). Basel has two train stations, the Basel SBB services Swiss and French destinations whereas the Basel Badischer Bahnhof services German destinations. From Badishcer Bahnhof, take a train to Bad Säckingen (approx. 30 mins). From here take bus no. 7320 or 7328 to Todtmoos (twice daily). Alternatively, we can organise a private transfer direct from Basel Airport to Todtmoos (approx. 45 mins, prices on request). Check train and bus timetables at the following website: www.bahn.de
Use one of the options mentioned above to return home. If you have more time to explore Germany, why not take a look at one of our other Germany Walking Adventures? Just ask us for more information.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all the necessary items, for example, proper rain gear, sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. This includes good waterproof gear, walking shoes/boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs.
In your information pack you will find a detailed packing list which includes walking boots, walking poles and waterproof clothes amongst other things.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
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