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Packrafting: Adventure on Land and Water in the Eifel
Packrafting in the Eifel: A Microadventure in Nature
Eifel National Park, just across the border
Just a few hours’ drive away lies Germany’s Eifel National Park: a rolling landscape of deep forests, tranquil rivers, and challenging hills. Here, we’ll experience the ultimate micro-adventure: packrafting! This sustainable form of Slow travel combines hiking, biking, and paddling. With a lightweight inflatable raft (everything fits in the special backpack) and a food pack for the journey, we’re setting off on a three-day packrafting adventure.
Luxury glamping tent
Upon arrival at the campground, the Packrafting signs lead us to “base camp”; a section of the campground is reserved for packrafters. A charming “village” of dome tents, glamping tents, and a large “living room tent” form a cohesive whole. The glamping tent we rented is more spacious than expected, tastefully decorated, and equipped with everything you need—except for a toilet and shower, but the restroom building is nearby. That way, it still feels like real camping.
What is packrafting?
Packrafting is a form of microadventure in which you travel on foot, by bike, and on the water using an ultralight inflatable raft. You carry your gear, including the boat and accessories, in a specially designed backpack. It allows for active travel through areas where trails and rivers alternate. Sustainable, adventurous, and surprisingly versatile.
Hike-rafting: walking and floating
The first day of packrafting begins with a hike of about 16 kilometers through the southern part of the Eifel. Right after breakfast, there’s a short briefing on the equipment, and then the real adventure begins. A challenging climb follows shortly after, but the reward is well worth it: panoramic views, tranquil forests, and unexpected encounters—including a (harmless) snake on the trail.
Along the way is a well-preserved castle, Burg Hengebach, a lovely spot for a break. Around noon, we reach the river, where we inflate the raft with its lightweight air bladder. It takes a while, but then the raft is all set in the water. With no significant current and a light headwind, the paddling is intense, but the silence on the water and the birdsong more than make up for it. After bobbing along among the greenery for about four kilometers, a well-deserved terrace awaits for an ice-cold drink.
Then comes the final leg: a five-kilometer walk back to the campground. After a refreshing shower, we wrap up the day in good company around a crackling campfire with fellow packrafters.
Bike-rafting: pedaling and floating
The next day’s packrafting trip starts early. On our rugged mountain bikes, the route takes us uphill again. The first ten kilometers are the toughest, with steep sections that really put our legs to work. Every now and then we walk uphill for a bit to slow down the muscle soreness, but once again, the panoramic views and the feeling of freedom more than make up for it. After the climb, we’re rewarded with the best part: the descent. Winding trails, speed, and the wind in your face.
Eventually, we reach the boarding point for the bike-rafting trip again. Now the bike is going on the raft, too. It’s a logistical challenge, but thanks to the thorough briefing this morning, the bike is securely fastened. Unfortunately, there’s quite a bit of headwind on the river, so it’s tough going; stopping means drifting backward, and there’s no chance to give our arms a rest. The trip does, however, provide stunning views of an intensely green riverside landscape.
After the boat ride, we pack everything up again and cycle the last stretch back to the campground. Tired but satisfied, it’s all over. What a fun little adventure this was. Two days of completely immersing ourselves in the nature of the Eifel, cycling uphill while sweating and paddling silently through a green valley. We felt almost every muscle in our bodies, but every kilometer was worth it. We had fantastic weather, great people around us, and the feeling that we’d truly gotten away from it all for a while.
Practical Tips for Packrafting in the Eifel
You can stay overnight in a basic tent or a glamping tent. Of course, you can also bring your own tent.
You can park at the organization’s base camp.
There are 2- or 3-day trails starting at €129 per person.
You can go packrafting in Germany, Luxembourg, or Austria.
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A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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