Day 1: Arrival

Make your own way to the hotel in Padborg any Monday to Friday (not Sat + Sun); free parking at the hotel for the duration of your walk. If arriving by train, travel to Padborg station, then take a short taxi ride to the hotel (approx. 2½ km, payable locally).

EU citizens only need an identity card to cross the border; travellers from other countries require a passport (check with the consulate).

Day 2: Walk from Padborg to Sønderhav

From the hotel, first make your way to join the Gendarmstien in Padborg (approx. 2½ km); a sign at the railway underpass points the way. Then follow the Gendarmenpfad, clearly waymarked with the blue gendarme. For the first few kilometres the trail runs along the Danish–German border, occasionally switching from one country to the other, over wooden bridges and up and down through Kollunder Wald, and finally along the Baltic Sea to Sønderhav. Pick-up and transfer back to the hotel (17 km, 240 metres of ascent).

Day 3: Walk from Sønderhav to Marina Minde / Rendbjerg

Today’s stage often runs right by the water, first to Rinkenaes and Egernsund, where a lifting bridge takes you over the Egernsund, then on to the Marina Minde marina (approx. 1 km before Rendbjerg). Pick-up and transfer back to the hotel (15 km, 110 metres of ascent).

Day 4: Walk from Marine Minde to Kragesand and Frydenlund rest area

The Gendarmstien leaves the Baltic and heads inland to Broager; the 12th-century church with its two mighty Gothic towers is impressive. The trail then leaves Broager and follows the fjord to the fishing village of Brunsnaes (6 km), reached via a road lined with handsome old fishermen’s and brick houses. After Brunsnaes the Gendarmenpfad switches several times from beach to inland, passes Gammelgab, leads through a reedbed and, with views across to the other side of the fjord, reaches the Kragesand rest area. Continue through the Liebestunnel, then over a short but stony stretch of beach to the Frydenlund rest area. Pick-up and transfer back to the hotel (17 km, 220 metres of ascent).

Day 5: Walk from Frydenlund rest area to Sønderborg

Briefly along the water, then alternating woodland and beach to the Spar Es rest area (5 km). From there follow the Sensigmose-Hochuferweg to the Dynt Strand rest area (8 km, under German administration). After a break, continue along the shore and in a wide arc to Dybbeler Mark (in the German–Danish War of 1864 the Dybbeler Schanzen were stormed here by the Prussians), then cross the Als-Sund on a lifting bridge to Sønderborg, the Old Castle and the nearby hotel (18 km, 110 metres of ascent).

Day 6: Walk from Sønderborg to Høruphav and on to Skovby

This long stage can be split (extra day). If you have booked the 6 walking days option, call Allan-Taxi in Høruphav for pick-up!

6a = Sønderborg - Høruphav (11 km)

From the hotel, head down to the seafront promenade and follow it towards Høruphav, walk the entire length of the promenade; now on lovely paths, partly along the clifftop, partly through extensive woodland, the trail leads to the Høruphav marina (11 km, 90 metres of ascent). Pick-up here if booked with 6 stages; otherwise keep walking!

6b = Høruphav - Skovby (12 km).

After a well-earned break, continue right along the fjord shore, then for longer across meadows and fields; you even pass a vineyard (!), finally you reach your destination Skovby and the Gendarmenpfad is done (23 km, 180 metres of ascent or 12 km, 90 metres of ascent).

The taxi is already waiting (if not, call) and takes you back to Sønderborg to the familiar hotel.

Day 7 or

Day 8: Return transfer to Padborg and departure

In the morning you will be picked up by taxi and transferred back to the starting point of the walk in Padborg; drivers are taken to their car, train travellers to Padborg station.

On the Gendarmenpfad you walk from Padborg along the Flensburg Fjord via Sønderhav, Marina Minde and Broager to Sønderborg, then on to Høruphav and Skovby. Coastal paths, woods and views of the Baltic Sea, plus traces of history at Dybbøl. Daily transfers from/to the hotel, luggage transfer included. Easy tour with no major ascents. Option to split the long final stage Sønderborg–Skovby into two days. Arrival Mon–Fri in Padborg, free hotel parking. An EU ID card is sufficient; otherwise a passport. Return transfer to Padborg at the end.

Any public transport fares are extra.