Whether you’re young or old, mudflat hikes are suitable for everyone, depending on their length and duration, and are not only a fun experience but also very healthy. The fresh, salty, iodine-rich North Sea air strengthens the heart and circulation and boosts the immune system. At the same time, your feet will enjoy a soothing, natural massage—and believe us: nowhere else can you clear your head quite as well as in the seemingly endless expanse of the Wadden Sea.
Mudflat Hikes in SPO & Eiderstedt
With my feet in the mudflats
Welcome to the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site in St. Peter-Ording and on the Eiderstedt Peninsula! Located right on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, here you can experience the Wadden Sea National Park in all its uniqueness, beauty, and diversity. The Wadden Sea is one of the world’s unique natural treasures and is therefore something truly special that you absolutely must discover. In the Wadden Sea, the tide changes every six hours. The shifting water levels make it possible to experience this unique habitat with all your senses on a mudflat hike.
© Oliver Franke
Beautiful and Healthy
Watt Hiking on the North Sea
Good to Know
Things to Keep in Mind When Hiking on the Mudflats
Before setting out on a mudflat hike, please check the tide schedule and under no circumstances enter the mudflats when the tide is coming in. It’s also important to hike on the mudflats only during the day and when visibility is good. You should also allow enough time for the return trip before you set out, and let someone know when you’re leaving and when you’re back. Ideally, you should take a guided mudflat hike with a local tour guide. You can find all the dates in our event calendar.
For long mudflat hikes, you should pack these items in your backpack:
- Tide calendar
- Sunscreen and sun protection
- Snacks and drinks
- Cell phone
- Camera
- Small binoculars
- Towel for your feet
- Weatherproof clothing and a change of clothes
- Footwear: You can either walk barefoot on the mudflats or wear snug-fitting rain boots or neoprene shoes.
- Accompaniment: Please always be accompanied by someone else and never set out on a mudflat hike alone.
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© TZ-SPO
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© TZ-SPO
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© TZ-SPO
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© TZ-SPO
Guided Mudflat Hikes
Discover the Mudflats
The best way to explore the amazing ecosystem of the Wadden Sea is to go on a discovery tour with a mudflat guide. Whether in a large or small group, you’ll set out with a Wadden Sea expert on an exciting adventure tour, during which the habitat of lugworms, clams, crabs, and plants will be vividly demonstrated and explained to you.
Dates for Mudflat Hikes
At a Glance
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© Oliver Franke
© Oliver Franke
© Oliver Franke
Open Space, Beach, and Mudflats
Watt hiking in St. Peter-Ording
Dunes, salt marshes, beaches, and mudflats—in St. Peter-Ording, a pure nature experience awaits you. On the Südstrand in the local district "Dorf", the Wadden Sea Conservation Station regularly offers guided mudflat hikes through the vast Wadden Sea World Natural Heritage Site. The tour begins at the stilt houses and takes you on a journey to discover the secrets of the seabed.
Discover St. Peter-Ording
© Oliver Franke
A Tour on the Tourist Train
The tourist train "Hitzlöper"
In St. Peter-Ording, even the journey to the mudflat hike is an adventure. Here, the tourist train "Hitzlöper" takes you to the mudflat hikes or to the lighthouse "Westerhever." On a short tour of the town, you’ll learn about its history and unique features. You can book your tour on the tourist train "Hitzlöper" directly online at the Erlebnis-Shop.
© Oliver Franke
© Oliver Franke
© Oliver Franke
With the Lighthouse in Sight
Watt Hiking in Westerhever
With your feet in the mudflats and the lighthouse "Westerhever" in view—there’s simply no better way to experience the North Sea than on a mudflat hike in Westerhever on the Eiderstedt peninsula! Right next to the vast sandbank in front of the famous lighthouse "Westerhever" lies the Wadden Sea National Park, with its vast mudflats, tidal channels, and mud flats. Among other activities, the Wadden Sea Conservation Station offers professional guided tours for all ages.
© TZ-SPO
© TZ-SPO
© TZ-SPO
Aft Diek
Watt Hiking in Vollerwiek
In the tranquil village of Vollerwiek on the Eiderstedt peninsula, you’ll set out from the intersection of Süderdeich and Wagenak on an extensive exploration of lugworms, cockles, and other marine life. In front of the green bathing dike—from which, on a clear day, you can see all the way to "Eidersperrwerk" (flood barrier) and Büsum—lie vast mudflats covered in silt, through which you’ll be guided by the NABU Katinger Watt Center or mudflat guides Rainald Meggers and Kerstin Sötje, among others.
Discover Vollerwiek
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Recreational Activities in St. Peter-Ording and Eiderstedt
©Oliver Franke