ST313 Pörböly - Dunaszekcső

The ST313 Pörböly–Dunaszekcső is a roughly 38-km point-to-point trail in southern Hungary, following the Danube floodplain with only about 120 m of cumulative elevation gain across one to two walking days. Rated expert because of long, waymark-thin forest sections and seasonal flooding rather than steep climbs, it threads the wild Gemenc woodland on one of the most atmospheric stages of the Vienna-to-Istanbul Sultans Trail.

About the ST313 Pörböly - Dunaszekcső

The ST313 Pörböly–Dunaszekcső is a single numbered stage of the Sultans Trail, a 2,500-km cultural long-distance route that links St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna with the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul across nine countries. The full trail commemorates the 1529 campaign of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, who left Istanbul on 10 May 1529 and reached Vienna 141 days later. Today the route is promoted by the Netherlands-based Sultans Trail Foundation as "a path of peace and a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures."

This stage sits deep in the Hungarian section of the trail, between the villages of Pörböly (Tolna County) and Dunaszekcső (Baranya County). It runs almost entirely through the Gemenc, the largest contiguous floodplain forest in Central Europe and part of the Danube-Dráva National Park. Expect oxbow lakes, willow and poplar galleries, grazing red deer, and long stretches where the only company is the river. As part of the International Walking Network (IWN), the corridor is recognised as one of the world's significant long-distance hiking routes, and it overlaps in places with the E8 European path.

Calling the stage "expert" is less about gradient — the terrain barely lifts above the river — and more about self-sufficiency. Waymarking inside the Gemenc is sparse, side channels can flood the path in spring, and resupply between the two endpoints is effectively nil. Walkers comfortable with map-and-compass navigation, GPX tracks, and a 6–8 hour forest day will find it one of the most rewarding flat hikes in Hungary.

Route Overview & Stages

The ST313 is most often split into two half-stages with an overnight near the Danube, though strong walkers complete it in a single long day. Distances below are approximate, measured along the marked floodplain corridor rather than by road.

Because the Gemenc has very few legal road crossings, plan your overnight before you start. The forest-railway halt at Gemenc-Dunapart is the natural midway break and the safest bail-out point if water levels rise.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Gemenc floodplain forest — the heart of the stage, around 18,000 hectares of willow, poplar and oak harbouring one of Europe's densest red deer populations; the autumn rut is a highlight in itself.
• Gemenc forest railway (Gemenci Erdei Vasút) — a narrow-gauge line that has run since the 1920s and offers a relaxed return option from Pörböly into the woods.
• Oxbow lakes (holtágak) — silver-grey backwaters of the old Danube where white-tailed eagles, black storks and kingfishers feed; the trail skirts several.
• Báta pilgrimage church — a Holy Blood pilgrimage site dating to the medieval Benedictine abbey, a quiet cultural counterpoint to the wild forest.
• Danube dyke and meadows — long, open levee walking with wide river panoramas and grazing horses, a relief after enclosed forest.
• Dunaszekcső loess bluff (Várhegy) — a dramatic eroding cliff above the river crowned by the remains of the Roman fort of Lugio, with sweeping views across to the Great Plain.
• Roman Lugio site — Dunaszekcső guarded a Danube crossing on the empire's frontier; pottery and milestones from the 2nd–4th centuries have been found here.
• Dunaszekcső ferry landing — the seasonal car-and-passenger ferry to Dunafalva, a fitting end point on the river the whole stage follows.

Best Time to Hike the ST313 Pörböly - Dunaszekcső

The Gemenc is a floodplain, so timing is dictated by the Danube far more than by temperature. Spring snowmelt and early-summer rain can push water over the lower paths, while high summer brings heat, humidity and mosquitoes in the still backwaters.

The single best month to hike the ST313 is September. As of 2026, late summer into early autumn typically brings the lowest sustained Danube levels of the year, firm trails, mild 18–24 °C days, far fewer mosquitoes than June–August, and the start of the red deer rut, when the forest echoes with bellowing stags. October is a close second for colour and cool walking, though daylight shortens and the first floods can return after autumn rain. April and May are beautiful and green but carry the highest flood risk, so always check the water gauge before committing. Avoid mid-winter, when fog, mud and unmarked frozen channels make navigation through the forest genuinely hazardous.

Practical Information

Accommodation

There are no mountain huts on this stage; you sleep in villages or under canvas. Wild and designated camping in parts of Hungary is tolerated along the Sultans Trail, and a lightweight tent is the most flexible option for the Gemenc midpoint. In Pörböly and the surrounding villages, simple guesthouses (panzió) and rural rooms run roughly €25–45 per night for a double, often including breakfast. In Dunaszekcső, riverside guesthouses and a small campsite charge around €20–35 for a room or €8–12 per pitch. Báta, just off the route, offers additional private rooms if you split the walk into two days. Book ahead in September, as the deer rut draws Hungarian nature tourists.

Getting There & Back

Pörböly sits on the Bátaszék–Baja railway and is about 15 km from Szekszárd, the regional hub. The nearest major airport is Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD), roughly 175 km / 2.5 hours north by car or a train-plus-bus combination of around 3.5–4 hours. From Budapest, take a train toward Bátaszék or Baja and change for the local service to Pörböly. At the far end, Dunaszekcső is served by regional buses to Mohács (about 25 minutes), from where trains and buses run to Pécs and onward to Budapest. The seasonal Dunaszekcső–Dunafalva ferry connects to the trail's continuation on the east bank. Plan a half-day for transfers at each end.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the ST313, and the Sultans Trail itself is free to follow. The Gemenc lies within the Danube-Dráva National Park, where you must keep to marked routes; some strictly protected zones are closed to the public and signed accordingly. Visiting the forest-railway, guided safaris or the wildlife observation points may carry small fees (typically €3–8). There are no border formalities on this stage, as it lies wholly within Hungary's Schengen territory.

Gear & Packing List

Flat does not mean easy here: the challenge is distance, sun-and-shade swings, biting insects and self-supported navigation. A comfortable 40–55 litre pack carries everything for an overnight without strain — the Osprey Aether 65 suits those carrying a tent and extra water, while ultralight walkers doing it in a day favour the Zpacks Arc Blast 55L or the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider. Essentials for the Gemenc: a printed map and a GPX track on a phone or watch (waymarks are unreliable in the forest), at least 2–3 litres of water capacity since the river is not drinkable, strong insect repellent and a head net for the backwaters, and waterproof footwear for soft, sometimes flooded paths.

Because resupply between Pörböly and Dunaszekcső is non-existent, carry all your food for the stage. For tips on fuelling a long flat day, see our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day, and if you are still choosing a pack, our test of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 covers options that handle this kind of multi-day load comfortably.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the ST313 leaves you hungry for more long-distance, culturally rich walking, these routes scratch a similar itch — from another classic hut-to-hut crossing to North America's great thru-hikes. For a wilder, mountainous contrast to the Danube's flatlands, read our walkthrough of how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania, then explore these longer adventures:

• Pacific Crest Trail — the 4,265-km Mexico-to-Canada thru-hike across California, Oregon and Washington.
• Continental Divide National Scenic Trail — 4,988 km along the spine of the Rocky Mountains.
• Half Dome Trail — Yosemite's iconic cable-route summit day hike.
• Angels Landing Trail–West Rim Trail — Zion's exposed, chain-assisted classic.
• Mount Whitney Trail — the route to the highest summit in the contiguous United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the ST313 Pörböly–Dunaszekcső?
September is the single best month. As of 2026 it offers the lowest Danube levels of the year, firm trails, mild 18–24 °C days, far fewer mosquitoes than midsummer, and the dramatic red deer rut. October is a strong second choice for autumn colour, while spring carries the highest flooding risk in the Gemenc floodplain.

How difficult is this stage?
It is rated expert, but not because of climbing — total elevation gain is only around 120 m. The difficulty comes from roughly 38 km of self-supported walking, sparse waymarking inside the Gemenc forest, seasonal flooding, biting insects and no resupply between the endpoints. Confident navigation with a map and GPX track is essential.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?
Most walkers split the ~38 km into two days, covering about 18 km to a Danube-side overnight and 20 km onward to Dunaszekcső. Fit hikers comfortable with a 6–8 hour forest day complete it in one long push. Shorter daily distances let you slow down for wildlife watching and reduce flood-related route-finding stress.

Where can I stay along the route?
There are no huts on this stage. Guesthouses in Pörböly and Báta run about €25–45 per night, and Dunaszekcső has riverside rooms and a small campsite from €8–35. A lightweight tent is the most flexible option for the forested midpoint, where wild camping along the Sultans Trail is generally tolerated. Book ahead during the September deer rut.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?
No permit is required to walk the ST313, and the Sultans Trail is free to follow. The route crosses the Danube-Dráva National Park, where you must stay on marked paths and avoid signed strictly protected zones. Optional extras such as the Gemenc forest railway or guided wildlife safaris carry small fees, typically €3–8.

For the official route, GPX downloads and current trail notices, consult the Sultans Trail Foundation, and check protected-area rules and seasonal closures with the Danube-Dráva National Park before you set out.