WinneTour III: 3-Day Canoe & Camp Klassenfahrt on the Altmühl River

Three days on the Altmühl River make for a compact, activity-packed Klassenfahrt that balances paddle time, camp chores, and classroom-sized doses of geology. The WinneTour III runs in the Naturpark Altmühltal, paddling in two day stages from Treuchtlingen past Solnhofen to Dollnstein in Bayern, Germany. Students aged eight and up learn basic canoe skills on a river whose slow current and broad, shallow channel keep the pace relaxed and the scenery close at hand. The route threads under towering limestone bluffs and through shallow gravel bars carved from Solnhofen limestone—rock that made this valley famous for Jurassic fossils, including the Archaeopteryx finds. Guides from Aktiv Mühle provide certified instruction, oversee safety, and manage boat transfers; the program supplies boats, paddles, PFDs, and a waterproof container so teachers can focus on supervision and learning. On arrival the group sets up the INSEL CAMP on the riverbank; tents (two‑ to four‑person loaned tents) stay in place for both nights while the MÜHLENWIRT handles full board with hearty breakfasts, lunch packs, and cooked dinners. Days alternate paddling and field time: morning launches, short classroom-style talks on local geology and ecology, swims from quiet bends, and evening campfire debriefs where students dry gear and practice low-impact camping. The Altmühl’s low gradient keeps technical demands low, but the itinerary is intended as "sportlich"—expect long paddling blocks, group logistics, and hands-on campsite work. The package assumes participants can swim and that at least twenty students form a group. Why book WinneTour III? For schools it’s an efficient outdoor curriculum: paddling, outdoor living skills, and natural history in one contained excursion. The setting is singular—the limestone cliffs and fossil beds around Solnhofen give lessons in deep time you can point to from the river, and Dollnstein’s old town and quiet valleys provide a contrast to the exertion of the day. Certified guides and included equipment lower the barrier for teachers who want a real expedition without organizing gear and menus. Practical notes: sleeping nights can be cool and damp in the valley—pack warm sleep layers and extra dry clothing. Transfers and train tickets are not included; check your school’s regulations on water activities before booking. For an immersive, hands-on introduction to Bavaria’s fluvial landscapes, the WinneTour III is compact, safe, and distinctly local. Meeting happens at Ausgabeort Aktiv Mühle, and the program is built for groups (Ab 20 Teilnehmenden) with a minimum age of 8. Included are 24/7 emergency contact, boat transfers (not person transfers), and full supervision from certified guides. The operator can send a detailed schedule on request. Teachers should confirm transportation and sleeping-gear requirements—sleeping bags and mats are not provided—and verify school and Kultusministerium rules for water-based trips before booking. Pack layers and optimism.