Vineyard Beads, 10 Hours 30

Vineyard Beads, 10 Hours 30, 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.), rated 4.8 across 71 traveller reviews.

Overview

A black minibus pulls out of the bus station at 1 Parc de l'Étoile in Strasbourg at 09:00 and heads for the Alsace wine route. Over roughly 10 hours 30 minutes the day links Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, with a photo stop at Hunawihr's fountain and a tasting of traditional Alsatian wines at a local winemaker along the way. Lunch falls in Riquewihr, in the heart of the vineyard, at a table of your own choosing. Kaysersberg and Eguisheim have each taken top spot in a French favourite-village contest, in 2017 and 2013.

Time in each village is your own, and reviewers regularly credit the drivers with clear directions and useful recommendations. The minibus is air-conditioned, carries WiFi and takes at most 17 travellers, with parking fees covered.

The format suits anyone who wants the wine route without driving themselves, and reviewers recommend it for exactly that. It is a long day on a fixed schedule: the tour is not wheelchair accessible, children under 4 are not accepted, and a moderate level of fitness is expected. Non-alcoholic drinks are available at the tasting for anyone not drinking wine.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet the black minibusThe pickup is the bus station at 1 Parc de l'Étoile, 67000 Strasbourg, where the bus waits in the parking lot. Aim to arrive 15 minutes before the 09:00 departure.
2. Bergheim and RibeauvilléThe first stage is Bergheim, a village on the wine route set within medieval walls, followed by the centre of Ribeauvillé, a onetime stronghold of the Lords of Ribeaupierre. The Ribeauvillé stop lasts 1 hour, admission free.
3. Hunawihr and wine tastingA photo stop in front of Hunawihr's famous fountain comes next, then a tasting of traditional Alsatian wines at a local winemaker, with non-alcoholic drinks available. The listing gives no fixed duration for this stage.
4. Riquewihr and lunchThe village of Riquewihr gets 1 hour 30 minutes, admission free. A midday stop here allows time for lunch, which is not included in the price.
5. Château de KaysersbergOne hour at the Château de Kaysersberg, admission free, in a village that won the French favourite-village title in 2017. En route the minibus passes the town halls of Ammerschwihr and Niedermorschwihr and the old town of Turckheim.
6. Eguisheim village stopThe final village is Eguisheim, 1 hour, admission free. It took the favourite-village title in 2013.
7. Return to StrasbourgThe minibus drops everyone back at the meeting point at Parc de l'Étoile. The full experience runs approximately 10 hours 30 minutes.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, from independent village time to what you pay for yourself.

• Free time in villages. Village time is your own rather than led, and several reviewers describe wandering each place at their own pace within the allotted time. Reviewers also mention clear directions and suggestions for where to eat and what to see.
• Wine tasting. The day includes a tasting of traditional Alsatian wines at a local winemaker, with non-alcoholic drinks available for anyone not drinking. Several reviewers describe the tasting as an enjoyable and informative part of the day.
• Lunch at own cost. Lunch is not included; the midday break in Riquewihr is where you pick a restaurant and pay yourself. Snacks and gratuities are excluded too. The stop lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, which is when the meal fits in.
• Weather and kit. Water bottles are provided on board, something several reviewers appreciated. The villages are explored on foot and outdoors, and the day runs long, so bring clothing and shoes suited to the forecast rather than to the morning departure alone.
• Pace and stamina. The day runs approximately 10 hours 30 minutes, with 1 hour in most villages and 1 hour 30 minutes in Riquewihr. Reviewers often said the time in each place felt enough rather than rushed, though the schedule is fixed. A moderate level of physical fitness is requested on the listing.
• Group and vehicle. The black minibus carries a maximum of 17 travellers, with WiFi on board and parking fees covered at the stops. Reviewers often describe the drivers as friendly and helpful, and mention clear pick-up directions at each stop along with recommendations for where to eat and what to see.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, children under 4 cannot join, and a moderate level of physical fitness is expected. A minimum number of travellers is required, and if it is not met you are offered a different date, a different experience or a full refund. One reviewer found the pickup spot hard to locate without a street address, and another found the minibus seats a bit small. Lunch, snacks and gratuities are not covered, and the day is a long one on a fixed schedule.

Common Questions