The start is in the health resort of Hitzacker in the Lower Saxony Elbe Valley, where the Lower Saxony Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve stretches from Hitzacker to Lauenburg.
Characterized by the Elbe and its tributaries, numerous still waters and extensive pastures, the Elbe Valley is one of the last natural river landscapes in Central Europe.
After a few minutes, you're already walking through the narrow half-timbered streets, over the swing bridge and onto the first ferry.
There are several biosphere reserves on the tour:
- Walmsdorfer Werder
- Große Marsch with Bauersee
- Vitico and Achterholz
- Elbe foreland between Radegast and Barförde
If you have some time, take a look around there. I, for example, made a detour to the latter and found a fantastic place to swim and rest.
This route goes a few kilometers behind the dike and I can tell you that behind the dike it mostly looks the same as in front of the dike where we cycle 😄😄😄.
Hitzacker ferry, including bike - €4.50
Tanja ferry, including bike - €3.50
You can find information about the tour and possible construction sites here:
elberadweg.de
Information about the ferries:
faehre-hitzacker-elbe.de
faehrbetrieb-tanja.de
My tips:
- There is only a train from HH to Hitzacker (Elbe) every 3 hours (bahn.de)
- In Hitzacker, pay attention to the opening times of the swing bridge (faehre-hitzacker-elbe.de)
- Take cash 💰 with you for the ferries