Grand Tour
From Vienna to Istanbul in 120 days
Our Trail Coordinator is planning to walk the entire trail in 2022 as a promotional tour. The purpose of this trip is to promote the trail and talk to as many local stakeholders as possible. The 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. You are welcome to join us. Please contact max@sultanstrail.com.
The tour is scheduled to take place in two periods:
part 1: Vienna – Sofia in April – June 2022
part 2: Sofia – Istanbul in September – October 2022
Of course, this will only take place when the risks of COVID-19 can be minimalized and travel restrictions have been lifted.
Due to the persistent Covid pandemic, it seemed unlikely that this plan could go through as planned in in 2021, the reason to postpone the project by one year, to 2022.
Travel plan
| Part 1 | Vienna- Sofia 1546 km – 83 hiking days – duration 12 weeks |
| Travel to Vienna | |
| Mar 27, 2022 Sun | Overnight stay at: Vienna |
| Leg 1 | Vienna Centre- Budapest 351 km – 21 hiking days – duration 3 weeks |
| day 1, Mar 28, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Kahlenberg to Vienna Centre (17,3 km) Overnight stay at: Vienna |
| day 2, Mar 29, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Vienna Centre to Rauchenwarth (22,8 km) Overnight stay at: Bauer Karin |
| day 3, Mar 30, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Rauchenwarth to Trautmansdorf (13,3 km) Overnight stay at: *Hotel Rumpler (Bruck/Leitha) |
| day 4, Mar 31, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Trautmansdorf to Bruck/Leitha (12,9 km) Overnight stay at: *Hotel Rumpler |
| day 5, Apr 1, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Bruck/Leitha to Petronell-Carnuntum (18,2 km) Overnight stay at: *Hotel Marc Aurel |
| day 6, Apr 2, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Petronell-Carnuntum to Hainburg/Donau (9,3 km) Overnight stay at: *Gasthof zu den 3 Raben |
| day 7, Apr 3, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Hainburg/Donau to Bratislava (16,2 km) Overnight stay at: Bratislava |
| day 8, Apr 4, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Bratislava to Čunovo (19,9 km) Overnight stay at: Santino |
| day 9, Apr 5, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Čunovo to Cikolasziget (21,1 km) Overnight stay at: Hesperus Camping |
| day 10, Apr 6, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Cikolasziget to Lipot (14,3 km) Overnight stay at: Pension Lipót |
| day 11, Apr 7, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Lipot to Györ (29,7 km) Overnight stay at: City apartman és camping |
| day 12, Apr 8, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Györ to Gönyű (18,2 km) Overnight stay at: Duna Panoráma Panzió |
| day 13, Apr 9, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Gönyű to Àcs (13,6 km) Overnight stay at: Harry’s Pub (in Komarno) |
| day 14, Apr 10, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Àcs to Komárno (13,1 km) Overnight stay at: Harry’s Pub |
| day 15, Apr 11, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Komárno to Dunaradvány /Radvaň nad Dunajom (20,3 km) Overnight stay at: *Penzión Mlyn |
| day 16, Apr 12, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Dunaradvány /Radvaň nad Dunajom to Mužla (22,2 km) Overnight stay at: Montanara |
| day 17, Apr 13, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Mužla to Esztergom (13,7 km) Overnight stay at: *St.Adelbert Hotel |
| day 18, Apr 14, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Esztergom to Dobogókő (20,9 km) Overnight stay at: Báró Eötvös Lóránd Menedékház |
| day 19, Apr 15, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Dobogókő to Csillaghegy (21,6 km) Overnight stay at: Irisz Panzió |
| day 20, Apr 16, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Csillaghegy to Budapest (12,3 km) Overnight stay at: Budapest |
| Apr 17, 2022 Sun | Day of rest in Budapest Ottoman Tour with Csilla |
| Leg 2 | Budapest- Belgrade 663 km – 34 hiking days – duration 4,9 weeks |
| day 21, Apr 18, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Budapest to Ófalu (24,5 km) Overnight stay at: Centrál Borház Étterem és Panzió in Érd |
| day 22, Apr 19, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Ófalu to Százhalombatta (6,5 km) Overnight stay at: Oktán Szálló |
| day 23, Apr 20, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Százhalombatta to Tordas (24 km) Overnight stay at: Szép Napot Vendégház BB |
| day 24, Apr 21, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Tordas to Nadap (17 km) Overnight stay at: Walzer Étterem és Panzió |
| day 25, Apr 22, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Nadap to Székesfehérvár (21,1 km) Overnight stay at: *Hotel Platan |
| day 26, Apr 23, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Székesfehérvár to Tác (19,3 km) Overnight stay at: Vénusz Panzió |
| day 27, Apr 24, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Tác to Nagylók (25,1 km) Overnight stay at: Fenyves Vendégház-Nagylók |
| day 28, Apr 25, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Nagylók to Mezőfalva (15,8 km) Overnight stay at: Dunaúváros:Álom Szálló |
| day 29, Apr 26, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Mezőfalva to Dunaföldvár (20,3 km) Overnight stay at: *Rozmaringos Udvarház |
| day 30, Apr 27, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Dunaföldvár to Dunapataj (24,5 km) Overnight stay at: *Bringa Panzió |
| day 31, Apr 28, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Dunapataj to Kalocsa (20,3 km) Overnight stay at: *Alice Panzio Gold |
| day 32, Apr 29, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Kalocsa to Bóni-fok (28 km) Overnight stay at: Veránka Sighet Hotel |
| day 33, Apr 30, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Bóni-fok to Pörböly/Baja (21,6 km) Overnight stay at: Baja:*Ciszterci Ház |
| day 34, May 1, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Pörböly/Baja to Dunaszekcsö (19,7 km) Overnight stay at: Marika Guest House |
| day 35, May 2, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Dunaszekcsö to Mohács (16,8 km) Overnight stay at: *Révkapu Panzió – Hotel |
| day 36, May 3, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Mohács to Hercegszántó (H) (26,2 km) Overnight stay at: *Locomotiv Vendégház |
| day 37, May 4, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Hercegszántó (H) to Bezdan (16,8 km) Overnight stay at: *Anna Caffe |
| day 38, May 5, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Bezdan to Bački Monoštor (8 km) Overnight stay at: *Pansion Marija |
| day 39, May 6, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Bački Monoštor to Sombor (26,5 km) Overnight stay at: *Bike Camp LongTour |
| day 40, May 7, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Sombor to Apatin (23 km) Overnight stay at: *Čarda Zlatna kruna |
| day 41, May 8, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Apatin to Bogojevo (29,3 km) Overnight stay at: Apatin:*Čarda Zlatna kruna |
| day 42, May 9, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Bogojevo to Bač (22,6 km) Overnight stay at: *Jakic |
| day 43, May 10, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Bač to Bačka Palanka (30,2 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Fontana |
| day 44, May 11, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Bačka Palanka to Neštin (14,1 km) Overnight stay at: House & camp “Skelica” and Casa Castellum |
| day 45, May 12, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Neštin to Fruška Gora/Andrevlje (24,2 km) Overnight stay at: Andrevlje |
| day 46, May 13, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Fruška Gora/Andrevlje to Stari Ledinci (24,3 km) Overnight stay at: Podrum Miljević |
| day 47, May 14, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Stari Ledinci to Novi Sad (12,5 km) Overnight stay at: Novi Sad |
| day 48, May 15, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Novi Sad to Sremski Karlovci (13,3 km) Overnight stay at: Apartmani Sunflower |
| day 49, May 16, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Sremski Karlovci to Beška bridge (14,7 km) Overnight stay at: *Pansion Sidro |
| day 50, May 17, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Beška bridge to Stari Slankamen (17,9 km) Overnight stay at: *Prenoćište Kej |
| day 51, May 18, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Stari Slankamen to Stari Banovci (25,2 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Village |
| day 52, May 19, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Stari Banovci to Zemun (22,4 km) Overnight stay at: Hostel Kavala |
| day 53, May 20, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Zemun to Belgrade (6,9 km) Overnight stay at: Belgrade |
| May 21, 2022 Sat | Day of rest in Belgrade Visit underground tunnels beneath Kalemegdan |
| Leg 3 | Belgrade- Niš 341 km – 19 hiking days – duration 2,7 weeks |
| day 54, May 22, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Belgrade to Vrčin (24 km) Overnight stay at: *Hotel Hedonic |
| day 55, May 23, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Vrčin to Grocka (14,3 km) Overnight stay at: Smederevo:Nikolas Grand Apartments |
| day 56, May 24, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Grocka to Smederevo (26,3 km) Overnight stay at: Nikolas Grand Apartments |
| day 57, May 25, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Smederevo to Mihajlovac (19,6 km) Overnight stay at: Smederevska Palanka:*Konaćište Kao Kod Kuće |
| day 58, May 26, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Mihajlovac to Smederevska Palanka (24,9 km) Overnight stay at: *Konaćište Kao Kod Kuće |
| day 59, May 27, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Smederevska Palanka to Markovac (25,6 km) Overnight stay at: *Motel Stari hrast |
| day 60, May 28, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Markovac to Svilajnac (9,7 km) Overnight stay at: *Grand |
| day 61, May 29, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Svilajnac to Despotovac (28,3 km) Overnight stay at: Motel Kruna |
| day 62, May 30, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Despotovac to Ravanica (??? km) Overnight stay at: Ravanica |
| day 63, May 31, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Ravanica to Ćuprija (29,1 km) Overnight stay at: BB Plava Laguna |
| day 64, Jun 1, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Ćuprija to Paraćin (14,5 km) Overnight stay at: *Hotel Petrus |
| day 65, Jun 2, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Paraćin to Varvarin (21,4 km) Overnight stay at: *Dejana Perinog – sobe za izdavanje |
| day 66, Jun 3, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Varvarin to Kruševac (21,6 km) Overnight stay at: City Hotel |
| day 67, Jun 4, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Kruševac to Veliko Golovode (7,9 km) Overnight stay at: Krusevac:City Hotel |
| day 68, Jun 5, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Veliko Golovode to Ribarska banja (25,8 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel vila di Lusso |
| day 69, Jun 6, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Ribarska banja to Cesma Grebac (12,4 km) Overnight stay at: Zeleni Raj |
| day 70, Jun 7, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Cesma Grebac to Lalinac (23,8 km) Overnight stay at: Zeleni vir |
| day 71, Jun 8, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Lalinac to Niš (11,5 km) Overnight stay at: Nis |
| Jun 09, 2022 Thu | Day of rest in Niš Visit Cegar hill, Mediana, look for remains of Roman Aquaducts |
| Leg 4 | Niš- Sofia 192 km – 10 hiking days – duration 1,4 weeks |
| day 72, Jun 10, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Niš to Niška Banja (13,1 km) Overnight stay at: Pansion Velickovic |
| day 73, Jun 11, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Niška Banja to Bojanine Vode (19,3 km) Overnight stay at: Loggers hut |
| day 74, Jun 12, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Bojanine Vode to Bela Palanka (27,7 km) Overnight stay at: *Villa Festina N&J |
| day 75, Jun 13, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Bela Palanka to Pirot (28 km) Overnight stay at: Apartman Marija |
| day 76, Jun 14, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Pirot to Dimitrovgrad (25,4 km) Overnight stay at: Saraj, privatni Smestaj |
| day 77, Jun 15, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Dimitrovgrad to Dragoman (23,4 km) Overnight stay at: Dragoman Hotel |
| day 78, Jun 16, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Dragoman to Slivnitsa (16,1 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel-mehana Gergana |
| day 79, Jun 17, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Slivnitsa to Bankya (24,2 km) Overnight stay at: Family Hotel Emaly 1 |
| day 80, Jun 18, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Bankya to Sofia (14,9 km) Overnight stay at: Bon-Bon Hotel |
| End of Grant Tour | Part 1 (Vienna – Sofia) |
| Jun 19, 2022 Sun | Return home |
| Part 2 | Sofia- Istanbul 800 km – 44 hiking days – duration 6 weeks |
| Flight to Sofia | |
| Sep 16, 2022 Fri | Overnight stay at: Bon Bon Hotel |
| Leg 5 | Sofia- Plovdiv 209 km – 13 hiking days – duration 1,9 weeks |
| day 81, Sep 17, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Sofia to Studenski grad (4 km) Overnight stay at: Black and White City Home |
| day 82, Sep 18, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Studenski grad to Gorublâne (14 km) Overnight stay at: Boutique Hotel L do Rado |
| day 83, Sep 19, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Gorublâne to Red Cross School (14,7 km) Overnight stay at: Red Cross School |
| day 84, Sep 20, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Red Cross School to Krushovitsa (21 km) Overnight stay at: Guest houses Krushovitsa |
| day 85, Sep 21, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Krushovitsa to Paunovo (14,4 km) Overnight stay at: Horizon Guest House |
| day 86, Sep 22, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Paunovo to Ithiman (16,9 km) Overnight stay at: Motel Ihtiman |
| day 87, Sep 23, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Ithiman to Pchelini bani (16 km) Overnight stay at: Pchelin Garden |
| day 88, Sep 24, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Pchelini bani to Kostenets (12 km) Overnight stay at: Khotel Restorant “Diani” |
| day 89, Sep 25, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Kostenets to Septemvri (28,9 km) Overnight stay at: Pension |
| day 90, Sep 26, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Septemvri to Pazardzhik (21,1 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Trakiya |
| day 91, Sep 27, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Pazardzhik to Stambolijski (23,2 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Corner |
| day 92, Sep 28, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Stambolijski to Plovdiv (23,1 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Trakia |
| Sep 29, 2022 Thu | Day of rest in Plovdiv visit the mosque and Roman sites |
| Leg 6 | Plovdiv- Edirne 246 km – 13 hiking days – duration 1,9 weeks |
| day 93, Sep 30, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Plovdiv to Brestnik (14,3 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel – restaurant “BUNARA” |
| day 94, Oct 1, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Brestnik to Asenovgrad (15,7 km) Overnight stay at: Cosmos Hotel |
| day 95, Oct 2, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Asenovgrad to Bryagovo (30 km) Overnight stay at: Guest House Donna |
| day 96, Oct 3, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Bryagovo to Bryagovo (24,6 km) Overnight stay at: Guest House “At the Leader” |
| day 97, Oct 4, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Bryagovo to Haskovo (23,4 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Trakia |
| day 98, Oct 5, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Haskovo to Lyubenovo (22,1 km) Overnight stay at: ?? |
| day 99, Oct 6, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Lyubenovo to Harmanli (20,6 km) Overnight stay at: Hotel Olympia |
| day 100, Oct 7, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Harmanli to Lubimets (22,6 km) Overnight stay at: Maritsa Hotel |
| day 101, Oct 8, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Lubimets to Svilengrad (15,9 km) Overnight stay at: Guest House Radi |
| day 102, Oct 9, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Svilengrad to Dakia (19,2 km) Overnight stay at: Orestiada:Hotel Alexandros |
| day 103, Oct 10, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Dakia to Kastanies (30,1 km) Overnight stay at: Karaağaç:Adres Apart Otel |
| day 104, Oct 11, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Kastanies to Edirne (7,8 km) Overnight stay at: Taşhan Hotel |
| Oct 12, 2022 Wed | Day of rest in Edirne Visit palace and Wrestling area |
| Leg 7 | Edirne- Istanbul 344 km – 17 hiking days – duration 2,4 weeks |
| day 105, Oct 13, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Edirne to Kavakli (25,5 km) Overnight stay at: ?? |
| day 106, Oct 14, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Kavakli to Süloğlu (15,2 km) Overnight stay at: Edirne:Taşhan Hotel |
| day 107, Oct 15, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Süloğlu to Kiklareli (32,7 km) Overnight stay at: Line Suite Hotel |
| day 108, Oct 16, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Kiklareli to Üsküpdere (19,6 km) Overnight stay at: ?? |
| day 109, Oct 17, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Üsküpdere to Pinarhisar (17,3 km) Overnight stay at: Akkus otel |
| day 110, Oct 18, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Pinarhisar to Vize (28,8 km) Overnight stay at: *Trak Otel |
| day 111, Oct 19, 2022 Wed | Hiking from Vize to Saray (23,3 km) Overnight stay at: *Elit Hotel Saray |
| day 112, Oct 20, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Saray to Binkiliç-Fatih/Atatürk (29,7 km) Overnight stay at: ?? |
| day 113, Oct 21, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Binkiliç-Fatih/Atatürk to Gümüşpinar (21 km) Overnight stay at: ?? Catalca? |
| day 114, Oct 22, 2022 Sat | Hiking from Gümüşpinar to Dağyenice (27,5 km) Overnight stay at: ?? Catalca? |
| day 115, Oct 23, 2022 Sun | Hiking from Dağyenice to Dursunköy (23,2 km) Overnight stay at: ?? |
| day 116, Oct 24, 2022 Mon | Hiking from Dursunköy to Sazlibosna (8,8 km) Overnight stay at: *Homestay Fikri Bekbaş |
| day 117, Oct 25, 2022 Tue | Hiking from Sazlibosna to O-6 Motorway (26,4 km) Overnight stay at: ?? |
| day 118, Oct 26, 2022 Wed | Hiking from O-6 Motorway to Sultangazi (18,8 km) Overnight stay at: Selahaddin Eyyubi Uygulama Oteli |
| day 119, Oct 27, 2022 Thu | Hiking from Sultangazi to Eyüp (18,3 km) Overnight stay at: Bayrak Hotel & Restaurant |
| day 120, Oct 28, 2022 Fri | Hiking from Eyüp to Süleymaniye Mosque (8,1 km) Overnight stay at: Anadolu Hotel |
| Oct 29, 2022 Sat | Day of rest in Istanbul Visit the cisterns |
| End of Grant Tour | Part 2 (Sofia – Istanbul) |
| Oct 30, 2022 Sun | Return home 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