Gendarmstien from Gråsten – home of the Royal Family’s summer residence
4 nights – Between 1920 and 1958 the Gendarmes patrolled along the border. Today, you can experience the 84-kilometre Gendarmsti from Padborg at the Danish/German border to Skovby on the island Als.
On this trip you walk from Padborg in the west to Skovby in the east and along the way to stay at local hotels in Gråsten and Sønderborg. Breakfast and packed lunch as well as transports for you and your luggage are included. Dinner is on your own, but you will find plenty of restaurants in both Gråsten and Sønderborg. When you arrive at the first hotel you will receive a welcome package which includes maps and contact information for your driver.
Day 1
Arrival at Hotel Egely in Gråsten. Check-in between 3 and 6 pm and collect your key at Den Gamle Kro which is just a few hundred meters away. You find parking by Ahlmannsparken right next door. Parking is unlimited and you can leave your car here while you are on your trip.
On your arrival day we recommend visiting the Palace Gardens at Gråsten Palace (please note: the park is closed when the Royal Family stays at the castle – usually in July) and the Royal Vegetable Garden. The Royal Vegetable Garden is open until 5 pm during the summer, but during the off-season it closes when the gardeners go home around 3 pm. The shop and café is only open during the summer.
Dinner is not included, but it is possible to make a reservation at Den Gamle Kro from monday to saturday. Please call in advance to make a reservation.
Day 2
Breakfast is served at Den Gamle Kro where you will also collect your packed lunch. You arrange with the driver when he should pick you up and how far you want to hike. If the driver takes you to the beginning of the trail you have a hike of about 27 kilometres ahead of you. If you prefer a shorter hike, you can shorten the trip with about 6 kilometres by starting in Kruså instead. You hike back to Hotel Egely in Gråsten, where you will spend the night.
Day 3.
Breakfast is once again served at Den Gamle Kro where you also collect your packed lunch. You leave your luggage at Hotel Egely, the driver collects it during the day. Today, you hike from Gråsten to the area around Kragesand, a trip of about 22 kilometres. In Kragesand the driver will pick you up in the parking lot at a time that you have agreed upon ahead of time. The driver takes you to Sønderborg, where you will stay at Hotel Arnkilhus.
Day 4
Breakfast is served and you prepare your own packed lunch. In the morning the driver takes you back to Kragesand where you continue the hike towards Sønderborg, a hike of about 20 kilometres. In Sønderborg you stay at Hotel Arnkilhus again.
Day 5
After breakfast and preparing your packed lunch, you walk from Sønderborg to Skovby, a trip which is about 20 kilometres. The driver picks you up in Skovby and takes you back to Gråsten, where you find your car. If the driver does not have your luggage with him, you can collect it at the reception in Den Gamle Kro.