Escapardenne: The Lee and Eislek Trail through the Ardennes

The best and most beautiful trails of Europe are not expected to be found in one of the smaller countries. However, this is nothing but the truth, in Luxembourg and Belgium you will find two of the ‘Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe’, namely the Lee Trail and the Eislek Trail. These two hikes together are called the Escapardenne Trail. This 159 kilometer long hike is divided into the relatively short Lee Trail. This hike is only 53 kilometers, which can be hiked in 3 days. The remaining 106 kilometers are part of the Eislek Trail.

When hiking the Lee Trail, you will start and end in Luxembourg, while the Eislek Trail will guide you to Belgium. Both hikes are qualified as ‘Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe’, and that is one of the things that makes these hikes so special.

I can hear you think, ‘Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe’, what exactly is that? The German Hiking Association is ranking each hike in Europe to see if it qualifies for this title, but of course, none of the hikes is just getting this title, and the conditions that need to be met are not mild. At least 35% of the hike must consist of natural paths and no more than 3% of busy roads. In addition, there must be at least two changes in the landscape within 8 kilometers, there must be good public transport connections, and finally, there must be a possibility of having luggage transported along the way.

It may not immediately come to mind, and many end up for a hike in the Belgian Ardennes. Yet it's more than worth the travel a little further to be amazed by the Luxembourg Ardennes. In approximately 3 to 4 hours by bus from Brussels, you can find the Escapardenne Lee Trail.

Lee in Luxembourgish means a "lei," or, the foothills and rocky cliffs you find a lot in this area. So you won't be surprised to find many of these rocky outcroppings on this hike.

The Lee Trail is the first section of the Escapardenne Trail. This 3-day hike starts in Ettelbruck, and ends in Kautenbach, and is thus located entirely in Luxembourg. This trail leads you through the dense forest landscape of the Luxembourg Ardennes, encountering quiet river valleys and following bits of railroad tracks. With just under 2,000 meters of elevation gain, this route is intended for adventurous, athletic hikers and nature lovers.

The Escapardenne Eislek Trail is probably the best-known trail in the Benelux among hikers who want to train for a real hut hike in the Alps, and is even sometimes compared to the GR20 on Corsica. Indeed, the deeply incised valleys provide a good number of altimeters in one of the rougher parts of the Ardennes.

The Eislek Trail is the second part of the Escapardenne Trail and runs from Kautenbach to La Roche-en-Ardenne, in 106 kilometers. This is a long-distance trail that connects the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with the Walloon province of Luxembourg. So it crosses borders, and not just literally!

In this hike you will again find a lot of variation in the surroundings and you will have considerable ascents and descents. In addition, in this route you will find a compelling history, and the dream of William of Orange is vividly told. It is also possible to take the via ferrata here, if you dare.

This is the first hiking trail in the Benelux that was designed according to the strict European standards for a 'Leading Quality Trail'.

As a true hiking enthusiast, you obviously want to do both trips, completing the entire Escapardenne Trail. Do you have to choose? Then below you can find a handy overview of the differences, so you can choose the right route for you.

A hiking pass? Yes, that is correct. On the Escapardenne Trail you can collect stamps and a full card means a nice reward!

So how does this work? In cooperation with the hiking associations of Belgium and Luxembourg you can collect stamps along the Escapardenne Trail. You do this after each stage, at a designated stamping post. You show your hiking pass and stamp it. At the end of the hike, go to the Tourist Info in La Roche-en-Ardenne with your full hiking pass. Here you will receive your certificate and a fabric badge. How nice is that?

So the Escapardenne Trail consists of two long-distance trails in Luxembourg and Belgium and are fine to hike year-round. Of course, there is a high season and it is also no surprise that it is in the summer. Then keep in mind that some villages along the route attract not only hikers but also a lot of other tourists. Consequently, between May and October, some of the hot spots along the Escapardenne Trail can be extremely busy. The most colorful seasons for the Escapardenne Trail are in spring and fall. Temperatures are mild, but always allow for the occasional rain shower. In winter you can hike the Escapardenne Trail, but luggage transport is not available during this time, and between November and March the trails can be slippery.

On the Escapardenne Trail you can either spend the night at a cozy hotel in a small town or camping in one of the several camping sites along the way. The accommodation options, however, can be a bit limited at times. The thing with the Escapardenne Trail is that the stages start and end mostly in very small towns, where there usually are only 1, 2, or maybe 3 accommodation options. The Escapardenne Trail is one of the most popular treks in the Ardennes and it welcomes thousands of trekkers every year. Arranging the stages and booking the accommodation should not be taken lightly, since the hotels get fully booked months in advance. Wild camping along the hike is strictly forbidden.

The Escapardenne Trail is a popular trek and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Thanks to its popularity, a large tourism industry has developed around it and there are numerous services that will make your hike easier and lighter. One of these services is luggage transport. This service is also very popular on other treks in Europe, such as the Malerweg in Germany. There are several agencies that offer luggage transfers during the Escapardenne Trail, and most offer their service for the entire trek for about €150. All you have to do is make sure your bag is ready at the lobby, weighing no more than 15 or 20 kilos. While you are enjoying a wonderful day of hiking, your luggage will be taken to the next place and will be ready when you arrive in the afternoon. Pretty convenient, right?

The Escapardenne Trail starts in Ettelbruck and ends in La Roche-en-Ardenne. No matter where you start and what your end point is, the public transport connections are very well arranged. In Luxembourg, they are even free.

By plane:

It is the easiest to fly out to Brussels or Antwerp, and take public transportation from here. From Brussels, you can travel to Ettelbruck in approximately 4 hours, from Antwerp, this trip will take you 4 to 4.5 hours. From La Roche-en-Ardenne, you can easily travel back to Brussels, which takes you about 3 hours. To get to Antwerp from La Roche-en-Ardenne will take you approximately 3.5 hours.

By car:

You can easily leave your car in both Ettelbruck and La Roche-en-Ardenne, at one of the accommodations or at a parking lot nearby. Ettelbruck is about a 2.5 hour drive from Brussels, and a 3-hour drive from Antwerp. La Roche-en-Ardenne is about a 2-hour drive from Antwerp or Brussels.

An amazing hike in the Ardennes really doesn't have to be expensive. Accommodations along the trail are usually basic, but offer everything you need to recharge your mental and physical batteries for the next hiking day(s). For 3 days on the Lee Trail, you can count on about 100 to 110 EUR per hiking day. For 5 days on the Eislek Trail you can also count on about 100 to 110 EUR per hiking day.

This includes route description, navigation help, your accommodation in a hotel or guesthouse, and breakfast if possible. In addition, your luggage will be transported from accommodation to accommodation, so all you need to bring yourself is a daypack with some food and drinks for the road. In addition, we recommend bringing 60 to 80 EUR pocket money per day. This is for lunch, dinner and your drinks. Most of our pocket money usually goes toward that ice cold beer at the next accommodation.