A guided Wattwanderung — mudflat walk — is the most distinctive outdoor experience in the North Frisian Islands and one of the more unusual things you can do in Germany. At low tide, the Wadden Sea exposes kilometres of tidal flat, and experienced guides lead groups across the mud and shallow channels between islands. The walks vary in difficulty from gentle family strolls to multi-hour crossings between islands.
The guide is essential — the tidal channels shift, the fog can descend quickly, and the tide comes in faster than it appears. Several organisations on each island offer walks throughout the summer season. The experience of walking across a seabed, with the islands visible in the distance and the mud alive with birds and crabs, is genuinely memorable. Wear old shoes or go barefoot; waterproof trousers are advisable for the deeper crossings.