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  • Balanceakt © Harzer Tourismusverband, M. Gogler

    Balanceakt © Harzer Tourismusverband, M. Gogler

  • Wanderung im Harz © Robert Michalk Photography

    Wanderung im Harz © Robert Michalk Photography

  • Aussicht vom Brocken

    Aussicht vom Brocken

  • Brockenherberge, Sendeanlage und das Brockenhaus mit dem Museum auf dem Brocken © TV Harz

    Brockenherberge, Sendeanlage und das Brockenhaus mit dem Museum auf dem Brocken © TV Harz

  • Einkehrmöglichkeit zwischen Altebrak und Thale

    Einkehrmöglichkeit zwischen Altebrak und Thale

  • Bach im Harz

    Bach im Harz

  • Marktkirche Clausthal-Zellerfeld

    Marktkirche Clausthal-Zellerfeld

  • Kleines Schlösschen Altenbrak und Thale

    Kleines Schlösschen Altenbrak und Thale

  • Harzer-Hexen-Stieg Start/Ziel

    Harzer-Hexen-Stieg Start/Ziel

Harz Witches Trail incl. Brocken ascent

Classic Tour at the Harz-Region


One of the most beautiful and popular hiking regions – the Harz Mountains – is located right in the middle of Germany. Famous medieval towns with half-timbered houses make a fascinating cultural contrast to the mystic forests of the Harz Mountains. Already back in medieval times, the region had advanced into a hiking paradise due to well-signposted hiking routes thousands of kilometres in length.

One of the most famous hiking trails of the Harz region is the Harz Witches Trail. This trail leads you from West to East, crossing the entire Harz Mountains and winding 100 kilometres on old trade trails through the upper Harz region. Along the way, you will also climb the highest mountain peak of the area – the "Brocken". For the third time, the Harz Witches Trail has received the certificate "quality trail" by the German Hiking Association in 2014.

Navigation

Duration
8 days/ 7 nights
Travel period
01.04.2024 - 31.10.2024
Anreise: Daily
Bookable from
1 person(s)
Total length of tour
105 km
Characteristics of the tour
Level of difficulty: easy – averagePlace-to-place tourAugustusTours Original Tour (organized by AugustusTours)Top-Tour (popular tour)Travel with dog
© Robert Michalk Photography © Robert Michalk Photography
Your Contact Persons

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Individual arrival in Osterode
    Surrounded by the well maintained city walls, the historic center of Osterode offers a beautiful setting for a leisurely stay with coffee and cake. In the old town of Osterode you find the historic market square, many half-timbered houses, churches and a pedestrianized area.
    Overnight stay at Osterode
  • Day 2: Osterode – Clausthal-Zellerfeld (approx. 16 km, walking time: approx. 4 hrs)
    Today, you start your hike uphill along the Harz Witches Trail following old trade routes, where you can see the first parts of the "Oberharzer Wasserregal". This water system, which has been established in the 16th century, serves to detour and store water. You then reach the university city of Clausthal-Zellerfeld and can visit Germany’s largest church, the Marktkirche zum Heiligen Geist.
    Overnight stay at Clausthal-Zellerfeld
  • Day 3: Clausthal-Zellerfeld – Altenau (approx. 17 km, walking time: approx. 5 hrs)
    Leaving Clausthal-Zellerfeld, a town in the mountains, you mainly walk along forest paths and narrow trails without descending or ascending significantly and follow the fascinating dyke ditch of this region. Passing the chaly beate spring the Harz Witches Trail will then reach the city of Altenau with its herb park.
    Overnight stay at Altenau
  • Day 4: Altenau – Brocken (approx. 20 km, walking time: approx. 6 hrs)
    Today, as the highlight of your walking holidays, you will climb up to Harz’ highest mountain taking the Goethe Trail. The trail, which is named after the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (who – by the way – undertook many trips to this region), leads you through the upland moor and up the mountain peak of the Brocken Mountain, which is located in the center of the Harz National Park. If the weather is on your side, the magnificent view of the Harz Mountains will compensate for the challenging ascent. After enjoying some refreshment on the plateau, you will then start the more comfortable part of the day. The Harz narrow-gauge railway with its steam engine brings you down numerous curves until you reach the train station of Schierke.
    Overnight stay at Schierke


    Bookable ExperiencePACKAGE:
    Make it even more eventful!
    Ride on the Harz narrow-gauge railway
  • Day 5: Schierke – Rübeland (approx. 21 km, walking time: approx. 6 hrs)
    On the 5th day of your walking holidays along the Harz Witches Trail, you pass the "Trudenstein" mountain, which has a beautiful distant view in store for you. You then hike downhill to reach the waterfall in Königshütte. Afterwards, you follow the Bode river where you can recognize the landscape changes because of the limestone quarries that are still used today. Hiking through Tiefenbachtal you can enjoy a fantastic view on your milestone Rübeland with its worth seeing stalactite caves from the viewpoint Hoher Kleef.
    Overnight stay at Rübeland
  • Day 6: Rübeland – Treseburg (approx. 20 km, walking time: approx. 5.5 hrs)
    In today’s section of the Harz Witches Trail you wander along idyllic forest – and meadow paths through the area of "old mining" with its numerous geological features. You walk along the Bode river following small, wide and high paths. Passing the dam in Wendefurth, you reach the town of Treseburg.
    Overnight stay at Treseburg
  • Day 7: Treseburg – Thale (approx. 10 km, walking time: approx. 3 hrs)
    During the last day of your walking holidays, you hike through the Bodetal, which steeped in legends. High granite rocks line along the small path at the river. Your today’s destination is Thale. For a nice ending of your tour, we recommend you visit either the fairy ring or the granite rock "Rosstrappe2. From your hiking destination Thale you reach Quedlinburg within very short time via train or bus. There, you can alternatively stay overnight.
    Overnight stay at Thale
  • Day 8: Individual departure
    Take your time to review your memories of the journey along the Harz Witches Trail before departure. You have the possibility to prolong your walking holidays with some additional nights, e.g. in Quedlinburg or other towns along the Harz Witches Trail from Osterode to Thale. We will gladly book further overnight stays for you so please do not hesitate to ask us!

Experience PACKAGES: Put the crown on your holiday!

  • Ride on the Harz narrow-gauge railway from Brocken to Schierke

    Make it even more eventful!

    ... book the journey (duration approx. 40 minutes) from the highest peak in northern Germany to Schierke in advance.

    Price: 37 € p.p.

Services

Services included

  • 7x overnight stays in hotels and guesthouses with 3-star-standard
  • 7 x continental breakfast
  • Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during your walking tours
  • GPS data on request
  • 1 package with maps and information material per room (in English language)
  • Telephone-service-hotline during your hiking holidays

Additional services

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your walking holidays throughout the Harz Mountains:

Accommodation categories

We book well-maintained hotels, guesthouses and inns for you, mainly with a 3-star standard.

Further information

Please note that in some cities accommodation taxes, visitor's taxes, etc. apply. Unless otherwise stated, these are not included in the tour price and must be paid locally.

This cycle trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.

Arrival & Departure

How to get to the tour

Tips on how to get to Osterode

Arrival by train:
Osterode am Harz has two train stops (Osterode Mitte and Osterode Leege). The regional train Braunschweig-Seesen-Herzberg stops here. From Herzberg you have connection to the connection Göttingen-Herzberg-Nordhausen.
From the station you can reach your hotel in a short time by foot or we recommend to take a cab (depending on the location of your hotel).
Current timetable information and prices can be found at www.bahn.de.

Arrival by car and parking facilities:
Osterode am Harz can be reached comfortably from many directions. Through the B248 you are well connected to the highway network.
On www.parkopedia.de you will find a good overview of public parking lots and parking garages.

Prices

  • Prices for services included
    incl. luggage transfer
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Price validity: 01.04.2024 to 05.05.2024
    689.00 € per person
    879.00 € per person
    Price validity: 06.05.2024 to 05.10.2024
    725.00 € per person
    915.00 € per person
    Price validity: 06.10.2024 to 31.10.2024
    689.00 € per person
    879.00 € per person
  • Prices for additional nights
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Osterode
    76.00 €
    90.00 €
    Clausthal-Zellerfeld
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Altenau
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Schierke
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Raum Rübeland
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Treseburg
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Thale
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Quedlinburg
    80.00 €
    106.00 €
  • Prices for transfer services
     
    Price
    Thale oder Quedlinburg - Osterode
    Individualtransfer, 1-7 Personen (pauschal)
    180.00 €
  • Experience packages
     
    Price
    FlexPLUS
    39.00 € (DZ), 39.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Fahrt mit der Harzer Schmalspurbahn vom Brocken nach Schierke
    37.00 € (DZ), 37.00 € (EZ)
    per person

As always...

5% Early Bird Discount
on all active holidays

until 29/02/2024 (upon the basic package price)