Mária-út, M01-33 (Mád – Rakamaz)

The Mária-út M01-33 is a 23 km point-to-point pilgrimage trail in northeastern Hungary, running from the historic wine village of Mád through the UNESCO-listed Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region to the Tisza River town of Rakamaz, gaining approximately 280 m of elevation. Rated moderate, it combines vineyard-draped volcanic hillsides with wide river-plain horizons on a single memorable walking day that rewards both pilgrims and independent hikers alike.

About the Mária-út, M01-33 (Mád – Rakamaz)

The Mária-út M01-33 is the 33rd named walking stage of the M01 main route — Hungary's Via Maria — a trans-national pilgrimage network stretching roughly 1,350 km from Mariazell in Austria through Budapest and Máriapócs into Transylvania. Stage 33 covers 23 km between Mád, one of Hungary's most celebrated wine villages, and Rakamaz, a market town on the western bank of the Tisza. Managed by the Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület and registered in the International Walking Network (IWN), the route is waymarked with blue-and-white M markers and the distinctive pilgrimage shell shared with other European long-distance paths.

The landscape along M01-33 is a study in contrasts. The first half of the stage winds through the Tokaj-Hegyalja, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape since 2002, where volcanic basalt and rhyolite tuff underlie some of the world's most storied wine terroirs. Rows of Furmint and Hárslevelű vines climb steep hillsides between Mád and Tarcal, offering sweeping views over the Bodrog River valley and the dark-wooded volcanic cone of Tokaj Hill. The second half drops to the Great Hungarian Plain — flat, wide, and horizon-filling — where the path traces field edges, protective dike paths, and riverside levee tracks toward Rakamaz.

This is not a technically demanding trail: most of the 280 m total elevation gain is concentrated in the first 9 km, and the remaining distance to Rakamaz is essentially level. What the route lacks in alpine drama it compensates in cultural depth. Wine cellars carved into volcanic tuff, Baroque churches at the heart of every village, an atmospheric Tokaj wine tasting at the halfway mark, and the spiritual continuity of walking a path trodden by pilgrims for over four centuries — these are M01-33's genuine selling points.

For pilgrims connecting the full M01 route, stage M01-33 arrives from Erdőbénye (M01-32) and continues to Tiszaladány (M01-34), positioning Rakamaz as an important overnight waypoint on the eastward journey toward Máriapócs, Hungary's most visited Marian shrine, still roughly 60 km away. Hikers wanting to experience the Tokaj wine region at walking pace without a multi-week commitment will find this single stage richly rewarding. At a steady 4 km/h, the full 23 km takes approximately 6 hours of walking, making it viable as a long day hike from a Tokaj base. Carry a small picnic — there are few shops between Mád and the outskirts of Tokaj town.

Route Overview & Stages

M01-33 runs point-to-point from west to east: Mád → Tarcal → Tokaj → Rakamaz. The official trailhead in Mád begins at the village church square (templomtér), where the waymark post also intersects the National Blue Trail (Országos Kéktúra). Rakamaz is the endpoint, where the Mária-út joins the Tisza flood-levee path heading north toward stage M01-34.

Waymarking throughout M01-33 is reliable; the blue-and-white M blazes appear on trees, fence posts, and roadside marker posts at intervals of no more than 500 m. GPS tracks for all Mária-út stages can be downloaded free from the official Mária-út association website, where the pilgrim credential (útlevél) is also available.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Mád Synagogue (Mád Zsinagóga): One of the finest Baroque-Neoclassical synagogues in Central Europe, built in 1795 and extensively restored in 2004. The building anchors the trail's western start and sets an immediate cultural tone for the walking day ahead.
• Király Vineyard (Királydűlő): Directly above Mád, this premier single-vineyard plot is one of the most storied first-growth sites in Tokaj-Hegyalja. The path skirts its terraces, offering a ground-level view of the volcanic clay soils that produce legendary Furmint and Aszú wines.
• Tarcal Village & Cellar Street (Pincésor): At the 9 km mark, Tarcal is a compact wine village whose cellar street tunnels deep into volcanic tuff. The Dereszla and Patricius estates both maintain tasting rooms open on weekdays, making Tarcal a natural mid-morning rest stop.
• Tokaj Hill (Tokaj-hegy, 514 m): The basalt volcanic cone that gives the wine region its name is a constant companion throughout the middle section of the route. M01-33 does not summit the hill, but its unmistakable silhouette frames the descent from Tarcal to Tokaj town.
• Tokaj Town — Bodrog and Tisza Confluence: Where the Bodrog meets the Tisza is one of the most atmospheric river scenes in Hungary. The wine town holds the 18th-century Rákóczi Cellar — 1.5 km of vaulted underground galleries beneath the main square — and the Tokaj Wine Museum in a restored salt-trading house on Bethlen Gábor utca.
• Tokaj Wine Museum (Tokaji Múzeum): Four centuries of winemaking documented in the historic sóház building. The museum provides essential context for the landscape walkers have just crossed and is worth the 45-minute detour before the flat second half of the stage.
• Tisza Flood-Levee Path: The final 9 km from Tokaj to Rakamaz follows the top of the protective earthen levee built along the Tisza. The elevated perspective reveals a mosaic of oxbow lakes, willow-lined backwaters, and alluvial meadows — prime habitat for white stork, grey heron, and common kingfisher.
• Rakamaz Reformed Church (1784): The Baroque Reformed church on Rakamaz's Fő tér marks the official stage endpoint. The adjacent town square café is the most reliable post-hike refreshment stop before catching the regional train back toward Tokaj or onward to Nyíregyháza.

Best Time to Hike the Mária-út, M01-33 (Mád – Rakamaz)

Spring and autumn offer the most rewarding conditions on M01-33, and both sit comfortably within the Mária-út association's active pilgrim season.

April – May is ideal for the hill section. Temperatures in the Tokaj-Hegyalja range from 12–20 °C, the vines begin to bud, and the volcanic hillsides carry wildflowers through the Mád to Tarcal climb. Paths dry quickly after winter, and the wine region is pleasantly uncrowded compared with summer weekends.

September – October rivals spring for total experience. The grape harvest (szüret) in Tokaj-Hegyalja typically runs from late September through the first week of October, and walking the route while harvest crews work the Furmint terraces is genuinely memorable. Morning mist over the Tisza lowlands and turning vine leaves create dramatic light on the levee section. Daytime temperatures average 16–22 °C in September, dropping to a brisk but comfortable 10–16 °C in October.

June – August is warm but manageable in the forested upper vineyard sections; the fully exposed flood-levee stretch from Tokaj to Rakamaz can feel punishing in full afternoon heat. Carry a minimum of 2.5 litres of water for the complete stage during summer months.

November – March: the trail remains open year-round but the Tisza lowland section holds standing water after sustained rain; waterproof boots and gaiters are advisable. Frost on the exposed levee path makes footing treacherous in December and January.

Best single month: October. As of 2026, the Mária-út association deploys active waymark maintenance and volunteer wardens between April and October, with the warmest community atmosphere concentrated around harvest time. The combination of harvest colour, cooling temperatures, and fully open guesthouse accommodation in Tokaj makes October the single best month to walk the Mád–Rakamaz stage.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Tokaj town, roughly at the midpoint of M01-33, has the widest range of pilgrim-friendly options and serves as the natural overnight base for walkers splitting the stage or arriving from the west.

• Guesthouses in Tokaj (panzió): Several family-run panzió on Rákóczi utca and Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca offer 35–55 EUR per night for a double room with breakfast. Luggage storage is typically available for walkers who day-hike the stage from a Tokaj base.
• Tisza Camping, Tokaj: The municipal campsite on the Tisza bank accepts tents for 8–12 EUR per person per night. Open May–September.
• Mád Vendégház: Two guesthouses operate in Mád village at approximately 40–50 EUR per night. Booking is essential during harvest season (late September – early October); contact details are listed in the pilgrim accommodation database maintained by the Mária-út association.
• Rakamaz: Basic accommodation is available at 25–35 EUR per night, better suited as a departure point than an overnight base given the limited restaurant options.

Getting There & Back

To the trailhead in Mád: Mád is served by regional bus from Tokaj (approximately 20 minutes) and from Miskolc (60 minutes via route 37). The nearest railway station is Mád-Rátka on the Miskolc–Nyíregyháza line. From Budapest Keleti station, a direct MÁV-Start regional train reaches Tokaj in approximately 2 hours 40 minutes; connect to Mád by local bus or taxi (roughly 15 EUR).

From the endpoint in Rakamaz: Rakamaz Alsó station sits on the Nyíregyháza–Tokaj branch line. Trains back to Tokaj run approximately every 2 hours and take 12 minutes. The nearest regional airport is Debrecen International (DEB), approximately 60 km southeast of Rakamaz; a taxi or bus-and-train combination is required. The nearest major international airport is Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD), approximately 210 km to the southwest — the best connection is a direct intercity train to Tokaj from Budapest Keleti.

Permits & Fees

The Mária-út is free to walk and no permit or registration is required. The Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület offers a voluntary pilgrim credential (útlevél) — a stamped passport booklet available from the association's webshop and from participating parish offices along the route. Each village church and several wine estates along M01-33 hold an official stamp. Completing the credential across enough stages earns a printed certificate of pilgrimage upon reaching Máriapócs. There is no trail fee; a voluntary donation at the trailhead boxes supports ongoing waymark maintenance.

Gear & Packing List

M01-33 is a single-day stage on well-maintained vineyard tracks, tarmac village roads, and a compacted earthen levee. A pack in the 25–40 litre range is appropriate; there is no need to carry camping equipment for this stage alone. Use the HikeLoad gear list tool to track total carry weight and balance before you leave home.

Backpack: The Osprey Aether 65 is more volume than a single day stage needs but comes into its own for walkers tackling multiple M01 stages back-to-back with camping gear. For a self-supported day hike from Tokaj, the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 offers an excellent load-bearing hip-belt system without excess weight. Ultralight walkers fitting out for the full M01 pilgrimage should consider the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L, which keeps pack weight under 600 g even at full multi-week pilgrimage capacity — a meaningful edge over 60 days of walking. Our tested ultralight backpack guide compares these and six other packs with real trail data.

Footwear: Low-cut trail shoes are sufficient from May through August. Waterproof mid-cut hiking boots are the sensible choice from October onward, when the Tisza levee section can hold standing water after autumn rain.

Water: Carry at least 2.0 litres from Mád; the only reliable public refill point before Tokaj is the tap at Tarcal's village hall square (Polgármesteri Hivatal). Full resupply is available in Tokaj town before the flat final 9 km to Rakamaz.

Nutrition: A 23 km day at moderate hiking pace burns 1,800–2,400 kcal depending on body weight and terrain. The Tarcal and Tokaj stops offer food options, but packing a full day's provisions from Mád ensures flexibility. Our guide on how many calories you need on a full hiking day walks through the calculation by body weight and pace.

Navigation: The M waymarks are reliable but a downloaded GPX track loaded on a phone or GPS watch adds useful distance-to-go data, particularly on the featureless levee section after Tokaj. Free GPX files for all M01 stages are available from the official Mária-út website.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If M01-33's blend of cultural pilgrimage, wine-country landscape, and open river-plain walking appeals to you, several Hungarian and European trails share similar character. The Camino Benedictus (Tihany–Pannonhalma–Mosonmagyaróvár–Rajka) is Hungary's other major waymarked Catholic pilgrimage route, crossing Transdanubian hills between Lake Balaton and the Austrian border. For river-plain and floodplain hiking in the Danube region, ST202a Čunovo–Lipót and ST203a Lipót–Győr both follow Danube-side levees with outstanding bird-watching potential, very similar in character to the Tokaj–Rakamaz section. Expert-rated Great Plain variants ST307 Nagylók–Mezőfalva and ST311 Kalocsa–Bóni-fok suit walkers who want longer, more remote lowland stages. For something entirely different in terms of terrain, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania delivers high alpine passes and dramatic glacial valleys — everything M01-33 deliberately leaves out.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Mária-út M01-33?
October is the outstanding choice, coinciding with the Tokaj grape harvest and comfortable walking temperatures of 10–18 °C. Spring (April–May) is an excellent alternative, with wildflowers on the volcanic hillsides and dry trail conditions after winter. Both seasons fall within the Mária-út association's active maintenance period. Avoid mid-January through February when the Tisza levee section can become frozen and hazardous underfoot.

How difficult is the Mária-út M01-33?
The stage is rated moderate. The first 9 km from Mád to Tarcal involves roughly 230 m of ascent through terraced vineyards — steady climbing but nothing strenuous or exposed. The remaining 14 km from Tarcal through Tokaj to Rakamaz is essentially flat. A reasonably fit walker with no prior long-distance hiking experience can complete the full 23 km in 6–7 hours including rest stops. Trail shoes or light hiking boots are recommended; road runners and sandals are not adequate in wet conditions on the levee section.

How far is it and how long does it take to walk per day on the full Mária-út M01?
Individual stages on the M01 main route average 20–25 km per day, designed for a single walking day with overnight stops in villages or small towns. The full M01 from Mariazell, Austria, to Máriapócs and beyond covers approximately 1,350 km in roughly 60 official stages — around two months at one stage per day. Many walkers tackle only the Hungarian section (approximately 700 km) over 30 days as a standalone pilgrimage.

What accommodation is available along M01-33?
Tokaj town at the midpoint has the widest selection: family guesthouses at 35–55 EUR per night, a riverside campsite at 8–12 EUR per person (May–September), and several boutique wine hotels. Mád offers two guesthouses at 40–50 EUR; book ahead during harvest season. Rakamaz has budget rooms at 25–35 EUR. The UNESCO Tokaj-Hegyalja Cultural Landscape listing underlines why Tokaj town draws accommodation investment — and why rooms fill fast in October.

Do I need a permit to hike the Mária-út M01-33?
No permit is required and the trail is completely free of charge. The route crosses the UNESCO-listed Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region Cultural Landscape, but access on foot via public rights of way and the waymarked path is unrestricted. The Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület offers a voluntary pilgrim credential (útlevél) that can be stamped at parish churches and participating wine estates along the route; completing it earns a certificate of pilgrimage upon reaching Máriapócs, roughly 60 km east of Rakamaz.