Hiking holiday in Sønderjylland

A hiking holiday in Sønderjylland can involve a huge range of different experiences, depending on whether you choose to walk in the hilly and fertile area running alongside Flensburg Fjord on the Gendarmstien hiking trail or whether you choose a route through the unspoilt and flat marshland around Tønder on Marskstien – The Marsh Trail.

If you wish to hike on one of the routes, but also wish to make things as easy and convenient as possible, then it’s a good idea to read the following. We’ve put together different packages in which breakfast, a packed lunch and sometimes an evening meal are included. Transfer of your baggage is also taken care of, and where necessary there’s also personal transport from the place that you’re staying overnight.

Have you booked your overnight stays yourself, but would still like baggage transfer? Take a look at our Transport page, where you can find baggage transfer on both Gendarmstien and Marskstien. 

Gendarmstien

Gendarmstien runs from the Danish-German border at Padborg through Kollund, Gråsten, Broagerland and Vemmingbund, past Dybbøl and on to Sønderborg and Høruphav on the island of Als before ending in Skovby. Most of the route follows the coast and runs through a varied landscape of woodland, bogs, meadows and beaches.

Marskstien

The Marsh Trail is a 54 km brand-new hiking path that takes you through the largest marsh area in Denmark, known as Tøndermarsken.
You will encounter a very special landscape formed by human habitation and man’s attempts to control water. This living historical landscape is also home to outstanding birdlife with areas of particular international value. Part of the area is a National Park, and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In August 2021 Marskstien - The Marsh Trail - received the honor of being Leading Quality Trail - Best of Europe from the European Ramblers Association.

Around the fringes of the marsh are a number of highly characteristic towns. Tønder, Møgeltønder and Højer stand on what is known as the “geestrand”. This is a slightly elevated ridge on which people could live, safe from the water. Rudbøl and Nørremølle are the only villages built on dykes in Denmark.

Along the way you will experience the unique marshland – low-lying ground that was originally completely covered by the sea. The clay particles in seawater settled, building up the fertile clay soil of the marsh. Today, the sea and river are kept at bay using dykes.