Our Trail Coordinator, Max Smits (72), is walking the Sultans Trail this summer, 2500 km from Vienna to Istanbul. He left Vienna on the 4th of April 2022. Below you will find his proposed itinery per country, which may vary according to circumstances.
The purpose of this trip is to promote the Sultans Trail and to organize support and involvement of local stakeholders like municipalities, accommodationholders, tourist offices, hiking – and cycling clubs.
Hiking enthusiasts are always welcome to join him for a while.
Walking days are kept relatively short (20km max.) to allow plenty of time to talk to people, visit municipal offices, see a museum, check out sights along the trail and have a meet-and-greet at the end of the day.
For more information or to make an appointment, contact grandtour2022@sultanstrail.com
From Vienna to Istanbul in 120 days
Hiking Plan Grand Tour 2022
The tour is scheduled to take place in two periods:
part 1: Vienna – Sofia in March – June 2022
part 2: Sofia – Istanbul in September – October 2022
The Spring Walk will take place from the 11th to the 24th of May. It is a yearly returning event during which a group picks up the trail where they left it the year before. This year, the Spring Walk is embedded in the Grand Tour.
Part 1 : Vienna - Sofia - Spring 2022 - 120 days of walking
Austria - 03/04 - 09/04
03-04 | Travel to Vienna Location in Vienna
04-04 | Hiking day 2: from Vienna Centre to Rauchenwarth (23 km)
Overnight stay at: Bauer Karin
05-04 | Hiking day 3: from Rauchenwarth to Trautmannsdorf (13 km)
Overnight stay at: *Hotel Rumpler (Bruck/Leitha)
06-04 | Hiking day 4: from Trautmansdorf to Bruck/Leitha (13,3 km)
Overnight stay at: *Hotel Rumpler
07-04 | Hiking day 5: from Bruck/Leitha to Petronell-Carnuntum (18,2 km)
Overnight stay at: *Hotel Marc Aurel
08-04 | Hiking day 6: from Petronell-Carnuntum to Hainburg/Donau (9,3 km)
Overnight stay at: *Gasthof zu den 3 Raben
09-04 | Hiking day 7: from Hainburg/Donau to Bratislava (16,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Bratislava
Slowakia - 09/04 - 11/04
Overnight stay at: Bratislava
XXX | Sightseeing Bratislava
10-04 | Hiking day 8: from Bratislava to Čunovo (20,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Santino
11-04 | Hiking day 9: from Čunovo to Cikolasziget (20,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Hesperus Camping
Hungary - 11/04 - 10/05
11-04 | Hiking day 9: from Čunovo to Cikolasziget (20,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Hesperus Camping
12-04 | Hiking day 10: from Cikolasziget to Lipot (14,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Pension Lipót
13-04 | Hiking day 11: from Lipot to Györ (28,9 km)
Overnight stay at: City apartman és camping
14-04 | Hiking day 12: from Györ to Gönyű (19,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Duna Panoráma Panzió
15-04 | Hiking day 13: from Gönyű to Àcs (13,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Harry’s Pub (in Komarno)
16-04 | Hiking day 14: from Àcs to Komárno (13,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Harry’s Pub
17-04 | Hiking day 15: from Komárno to Dunaradvány /Radvaň nad Dunajom (20,3 km)
Overnight stay at: *Penzión Mlyn
18-04 | Hiking day 16: from Dunaradvány /Radvaň nad Dunajom to Mužla (22,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Montanara
19-04 | Hiking day 17: from Mužla to Esztergom (13,6 km)
Overnight stay at: *St.Adelbert Hotel
20-04 | Hiking day 18: from Esztergom to Dobogókő (20,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Báró Eötvös Lóránd Menedékház
21-04 | Hiking day 19: from Dobogókő to Csillaghegy (21,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Irisz Panzió
22-04 | Hiking day 20: from Csillaghegy to Budapest (12,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Budapest
23-04 | Sightseeing Budapest
Ottoman Tour with Csilla
24-04 | Hiking day 21: Hiking from Budapest to Érd-Ófalu (25,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Centrál Borház Étterem és Panzió in Érd
25-04 | Hiking day 22: Hiking from Érd-Ófalu to Százhalombatta (6,5 km)
Overnight stay at: Oktán Szálló
26-04 | Hiking day 23: Hiking from Százhalombatta to Tordas (13,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Szép Napot Vendégház BB
27-04 | Hiking day 24: Hiking from Tordas to Nadap (16,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Walzer Étterem és Panzió
28-04 | Hiking day 25: Hiking from Nadap to Székesfehérvár (20,7 km)
Overnight stay at: *Hotel Platan
29-04 | Hiking day 26: Hiking from Székesfehérvár to Tác (19,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Vénusz Panzió
30-04 | Hiking day 27: Hiking from Tác to Nagylók (24,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Fenyves Vendégház-Nagylók
01-05 | Hiking day 28: Hiking from Nagylók to Mezőfalva (16,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Dunaúváros:Álom Szálló
02-05 | Hiking day 29: Hiking from Mezőfalva to Dunaföldvár (20,4 km)
Overnight stay at: *Rozmaringos Udvarház
03-05 | Hiking day 30: Hiking from Dunaföldvár to Dunapataj (24,7 km)
Overnight stay at: *Bringa Panzió
04-05 | Hiking day 31: Hiking from Dunapataj to Kalocsa (18,9 km)
Overnight stay at: *Alice Panzio Gold
05-05 | Hiking day 32: Hiking from Kalocsa to Bóni-fok (29,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Veránka Sighet Hotel
06-05 | Hiking day 33: Hiking from Bóni-fok to Pörböly/Baja (24,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Baja:*Ciszterci Ház
07-05 | Hiking day 34: Hiking from Pörböly/Baja to Dunaszekcsö (19,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Marika Guest House
08-05 | Hiking day 35: Hiking from Dunaszekcsö to Mohács (16,7 km)
Overnight stay at: *Révkapu Panzió – Hotel
09-05 | Hiking day 36: Hiking from Mohács to Hercegszántó (H) (26,2 km)
Overnight stay at: *Locomotiv Vendégház
XXX | Hiking day 37: Hiking from Hercegszántó (H) to Bezdan (17,2 km)
Overnight stay at: *Anna Caffe
Serbia 10/05 - 21/06 (Croatia - 14/05)
XXX | Hiking day 37: Hiking from Hercegszántó (H) to Bezdan (17,2 km)
Overnight stay at: *Anna Caffe
XXX | Hiking day 38: Hiking from Bezdan to Bački Monoštor (8 km)
Overnight stay at: *Pansion Marija
XXX | Hiking day 39: Hiking from Bački Monoštor to Sombor (18,5 km)
Overnight stay at: *Bike Camp LongTour
10-05 | Day 40: Arrive in Apatin
Overnight stay at: *Čarda Zlatna kruna
11-05 | Hiking day 41: Spring Walk Hiking from Apatin to Bogojevo (29,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Apatin: *Čarda Zlatna kruna
12-05 | Hiking day 42: Spring Walk Hiking from Bogojevo to Bač (22,4 km)
Overnight stay at: *Jakic
13-05 | Hiking day 43: Spring Walk Hiking from Bač to Bačka Palanka (30,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Fontana
14-05 | Hiking day 44: Spring Walk Hiking from Bačka Palanka to Neštin (13,7 km)
Overnight stay at: House & camp “”Skelica”” and Casa Castellum
15-05 | Hiking day 45: Spring Walk Hiking from Neštin to Fruška Gora/Andrevlje (22,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Andrevlje
16-05 | Hiking day 46: Spring Walk Hiking from Fruška Gora/Andrevlje to Stari Ledinci (20,5 km)
Overnight stay at: Podrum Miljević
17-05 | Hiking day 47: Spring Walk Hiking from Stari Ledinci to Novi Sad (12,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Novi Sad
18-05 | : Sightseeing Novi Sad Cultural – Capital of Europe
19-05 | Hiking day 48: Spring Walk Hiking from Novi Sad to Sremski Karlovci (13,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Apartmani Sunflower
20-05 | Hiking day 49: Spring Walk Hiking from Sremski Karlovci to Beška bridge (14,8 km)
Overnight stay at: *Pansion Sidro
21-05 | Hiking day 50: Spring Walk Hiking from Beška bridge to Stari Slankamen (18,3 km)
Overnight stay at: *Prenoćište Kej
22-05 | Hiking day 51: Spring Walk Hiking from Stari Slankamen to Stari Banovci (28,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Village
23-05 | Hiking day 52: Spring Walk Hiking from Stari Banovci to Zemun (19 km)
Overnight stay at: Hostel Kavala
24-05 | Hiking day 53: Spring Walk Hiking from Zemun to Belgrade (6,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Belgrade
25-05 | : Sightseeing Belgrade
Visit underground tunnels Kalemegdan
26-05 | : Sightseeing Belgrade
27-05 | : Sightseeing Belgrade
28-05 | Hiking day 54: Hiking from Belgrade to Vrčin (26,1 km)
Overnight stay at: *Hotel Hedonic
29-05 | Hiking day 55: Hiking from Vrčin to Grocka (14,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Apartman Enigma
30-05 | Hiking day 56: Hiking from Grocka to Smederevo (25,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Nikolas Grand Apartments
31-05 | Hiking day 57: Hiking from Smederevo to Mihajlovac (19,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Smederevska Palanka:*Konaćište Kao Kod Kuće
01-06 | Hiking day 58: Hiking from Mihajlovac to Smederevska Palanka (25,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Smederevska Palanka:*Konaćište Kao Kod Kuće
02-06 | Hiking day 59: Hiking from Smederevska Palanka to Markovac (25,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Smederevska Palanka: *Motel Stari hrast
03-06 | Hiking day 60: Hiking from Markovac to Svilajnac (10,5 km)
Overnight stay at: *Grand
04-06 | Hiking day 61: Hiking from Svilajnac to Despotovac (27,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Motel Kruna
05-06 | Hiking day 62: Hiking from Despotovac to Ravanica (25? km)
Overnight stay at: Ravanica
06-06 | Hiking day 63: Hiking from Ravanica to Ćuprija (20? km)
Overnight stay at: BB Plava Laguna
07-06 | Hiking day 64: Hiking from Ćuprija to Paraćin (15,5 km)
Overnight stay at: *Hotel Petrus
08-06 | Hiking day 65: Hiking from Paraćin to Varvarin (18,6 km)
Overnight stay at: *Dejana Perinog – sobe za izdavanje
09-06 | Hiking day 66: Hiking from Varvarin to Kruševac (21,8 km)
Overnight stay at: City Hotel
10-06 | Hiking day 67: Hiking from Kruševac to Veliko Golovode (4,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Krusevac:City Hotel
11-06 | Hiking day 68: Hiking from Veliko Golovode to Ribarska banja (25,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel vila di Lusso
12-06 | Hiking day 69: Hiking from Ribarska banja to Cesma Grebac (12,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Zeleni Raj
13-06 | Hiking day 70: Hiking from Cesma Grebac to Lalinac (23,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Niš
14-06 | Hiking day 71: Hiking from Lalinac to Niš (11,5 km)
Overnight stay at: Zeleni vir
15-06 | Sightseeing Niš
16-06 | Hiking day 72: Hiking from Niš to Niška Banja (20? km)
Overnight stay at: Pansion Velickovic
17-06 | Hiking day 73: Hiking from Niška Banja to Bojanine Vode (19,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Loggers hut
18-06 | Hiking day 74: Hiking from Bojanine Vode to Bela Palanka (27,6 km)
Overnight stay at: *Villa Festina N&J
19-06 | Hiking day 75: Hiking from Bela Palanka to Pirot (28 km)
Overnight stay at: Apartman Marija
20-06 | Hiking day 76: Hiking from Pirot to Dimitrovgrad (25,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Saraj, privatni Smestaj
21-06 | Hiking day 77: Hiking from Dimitrovgrad to Dragoman (23 km)
Overnight stay at: Dragoman Hotel
Bulgaria 21/06 - 26/06
Overnight stay at: Dragoman Hotel
22-06 | Hiking day 78: Hiking from Dragoman to Slivnitsa (16,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel-mehana Gergana
23-06 | Hiking day 79: Hiking from Slivnitsa to Bankya (23,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Family Hotel Emaly 1
24-06 | Hiking day 80: Hiking from Bankya to Sofia (15 km)
Overnight stay at: Bon-Bon Hotel
25-06 | Sightseeing Sofia
26-06 | Summerstop in Netherlands
Part 2 : Sofia - Istanbul Autumn 2022 - 40 days of walking
Bulgaria 16/09 - 09/10
17-09 | Hiking day 81: Hiking from Sofia to Studenski grad (4 km)
Overnight stay at: Black and White City Home
18-09 | Hiking day 82: Hiking from Studenski grad to Gorublâne (14 km)
Overnight stay at: Boutique Hotel L do Rado
19-09 | Hiking day 83: Hiking from Gorublâne to Red Cross School (14,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Red Cross School
20-09 | Hiking day 84: Hiking from Red Cross School to Krushovitsa (21 km)
Overnight stay at: Guest houses Krushovitsa
21-09 | Hiking day 85: Hiking from Krushovitsa to Paunovo (14,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Horizon Guest House
22-09 | Hiking day 86: Hiking from Paunovo to Ithiman (16,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Motel Ihtiman
23-09 | Hiking day 87: Hiking from Ithiman to Pchelini bani (16 km)
Overnight stay at: Pchelin Garden
24-09 | Hiking day 88: Hiking from Pchelini bani to Kostenets (12 km)
Overnight stay at: Khotel Restorant “Diani”
25-09 | Hiking day 89: Hiking from Kostenets to Septemvri (28,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Pension
26-09 | Hiking day 90: Hiking from Septemvri to Pazardzhik (21,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Trakiya
27-09 | Hiking day 91: Hiking from Pazardzhik to Stambolijski (23,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Corner
28-09 | Hiking day 92: Hiking from Stambolijski to Plovdiv (23,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Trakia
20-09 | Sightseeing Plovdiv – visit the mosque and Roman sites
30-09 | Hiking day 93: Hiking from Plovdiv to Brestnik (14,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel – restaurant “BUNARA”
01-10 | Hiking day 94: Hiking from Brestnik to Asenovgrad (15,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Cosmos Hotel
02-10 | Hiking day 95: Hiking from Asenovgrad to Bryagovo (30 km)
Overnight stay at: Guest House Donna
03-10 | Hiking day 96: Hiking from Bryagovo to Bryastovo (24,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Guest House “At the Leader”
04-10 | Hiking day 97: Hiking from Bryastovo to Haskovo (23,4 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Trakia
05-10 | Hiking day 98: Hiking from Haskovo to Lyubenovo (22,1 km)
Overnight stay at: ????
06-10 | Hiking day 99: Hiking from Lyubenovo to Harmanli (20,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Hotel Olympia
07-10 | Hiking day 100: Hiking from Harmanli to Lubimets (22,6 km)
Overnight stay at: Maritsa Hotel
08-10| Hiking day 101: Hiking from Lubimets to Svilengrad (15,9 km)
Overnight stay at: Guest House Radi
09-10 | Hiking day 102: Hiking from Svilengrad to Dikaia (19,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Orestiada:Hotel Alexandros
Greece 09/10 - 11/10
Overnight stay at: Orestiada:Hotel Alexandros
10-10 | Hiking day 103: Hiking from Dikaia to Kastanies (GR) (30,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Karaağaç:Adres Apart Otel
11-10 | Hiking day 104: Hiking from Kastanies to Edirne (7,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Taşhan Hotel
Turkey - 11/10 - 30/10
Overnight stay at: Taşhan Hotel
12-10 | Sightseeing Edirne – Visit palace and Wrestling area
13-10 | Hiking day 105: Hiking from Edirne to Kavakli (25,5 km)
Overnight stay at: ???
14-10 | Hiking day 106: Hiking from Kavakli to Süloğlu (15,2 km)
Overnight stay at: Edirne:Taşhan Hotel
15-10 | Hiking day 107: Hiking from Süloğlu to Kirklareli (32,7 km)
Overnight stay at: Line Suite Hotel
16-10 | Hiking day 108: Hiking from Kiklareli to Üsküpdere (19,6 km)
Overnight stay at: ???
17-10 | Hiking day 109: Hiking from Üsküpdere to Pinarhisar (17,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Akkus otel
18-10 | Hiking day 110: Hiking from Pinarhisar to Vize (28,8 km)
Overnight stay at: *Trak Otel
19-10 | Hiking day 111: Hiking from Vize to Saray (23,3 km)
Overnight stay at: *Elit Hotel Saray
20-10 | Hiking day 112: Hiking from Saray to Binkiliç-Fatih/Atatürk (29,7 km)
Overnight stay at: ????
21-10| Hiking day 113: Hiking from Binkiliç-Fatih/Atatürk to ?? ( km)
Overnight stay at: ????
22-10 | Hiking day 114: Hiking from ?? to Dağyenice (27,5 km)
Overnight stay at: ?? Catalca?
23-10 | Hiking day 115: Hiking from Dağyenice to Dursunköy (23,2 km)Overnight stay at: ????
24-10 | Hiking day 116: Hiking from Dursunköy to Sazlibosna (8,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Homestay Fikri Bekbaş
25-10 | Hiking day 117: Hiking from Sazlibosna to O-6 Motorway (26,4 km)
Overnight stay at: ????
26-10 | Hiking day 118: Hiking from O-6 Motorway to Sultangazi (18,8 km)
Overnight stay at: Selahaddin Eyyubi Uygulama Oteli
27-10 | Hiking day 119: Hiking from Sultangazi to Eyüp (18,3 km)
Overnight stay at: Bayrak Hotel & Restaurant
28-10 | Hiking day 120: Hiking from Eyüp to Süleymaniye Mosque (8,1 km)
Overnight stay at: Anadolu Hotel
29-10 | Sightseeing Istanbul – Visit the cisterns
30-10 | Return to Netherlands from Istanbul
Conditions
Travel companions on this Grand Tour agree to the following:
– to endorse the purpose of the tour;
– to participate under their own responsibility;
– to arrange their own transportation to the rendezvous point and their return;
– to share in collective costs, pro rata;
– to solve their own problems.
The travel plan may change.
The tour is cancelled when the Trail Coordinator is not available.
COVID-19 may introduce additional restrictions or conditions.
See also Travelling with friends