An Alpakas Eifel patron walks through the countryside with alpacas by his side during a hike in Plütscheid, Germany, April 13, 2025. When the weather is clear, the hike offers stunning views of the western Eifel region's rolling hills. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Like many a peaceful countryside walk, the one my husband and I took on a recent Sunday through quiet farmland near the Luxembourg border had rolling green hills, a cooling breeze and birdsong.
Side by side, we ambled amid the stillness you get by wandering off the beaten path. Of course, most Sunday strolls don’t come with a four-legged, fleece-covered hiking partner.
But that’s the norm at Alpakas Eifel, a small, family-run trekking business in the bucolic village of Plütscheid that invites guests to explore the countryside with a leashed alpaca by their side.
After my booking, owner Dirk Laures sent a GPS pin via WhatsApp, and we found his small family farm, about an hour and 30 minutes from Kaiserslautern and just 20 minutes from Spangdahlem Air Base, without issue.
He greeted us warmly and led us into the corral, where each of us was paired with the alpacas he had chosen for us.
I’ve always had a bad case of the Sunday scaries, and they’ve only intensified since our move to Germany. An alpaca hike seemed to check multiple boxes: a unique outdoor adventure, an easy Instagram flex and top-tier material for Monday’s inevitable “what did you do this weekend?” conversation.
Alea the alpaca is shown during a hike in Plütscheid, Germany, April 13, 2025. Dirk Laures, owner of Alpakas Eifel, takes visitors on hikes in the surrounding countryside with one of his nine alpacas chosen to accompany each customer. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Humans and alpacas take in some fresh air during a hike with Alpakas Eifel in Plütscheid, Germany, April 13, 2025. Owner Dirk Laures offers tailored alpaca hikes to customers and also brings the creatures to senior homes and other events to share their therapeutic presence. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Alea the alpaca stops for a snack break during a hike in Plütscheid, Germany, April 13, 2025. Alpakas Eifel owner Dirk Laures is a believer in the therapeutic benefits of spending time with the sensitive creatures. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Our hike was a little under 3 miles and took just over 90 minutes, but Laures tailors the experience to match each group’s pace and preferences.
The loop wound through open pastures and quiet back roads, not a strenuous trek but a peaceful, meditative stroll while holding the leash of our respective alpaca wingmen walking alongside.
My husband’s alpaca, Pico, was best friends with mine, Alea. The two walked shoulder to shoulder the entire time. Laures told us alpacas are highly social and prefer to move in pairs or groups.
They’re also surprisingly therapeutic. Their calming presence and uncanny sensitivity to human emotions make them ideal therapy animals, Laures explained.
Spending time with alpacas can help ease post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and even dementia, he said. Thirty minutes into the hike, I was a believer.
Alea was hesitant at first, but she warmed up quickly and followed my lead as we wandered through the open fields and winding country paths. There was something quietly affirming about being accepted by such an adorable, intuitive creature.
A recent unpleasant encounter with a camel had me worried the alpacas might be smelly or prone to spitting. Not the case. And once we passed their silent vibe check, they let us pet their thick, soft fleece.
Their wool repels moisture, keeping them warm and dry even in cold or wet weather, which means hikes are offered year-round.
Laures adopted his first alpaca after the death of his wife in 2023 led him to try an alpaca hike of his own. He said the animals have changed his life and those of his three children.
He now shares that joy with others, offering hikes for individuals, families and groups of all sizes. He’s led solo visitors and teams of as many as 40. In addition, he brings the alpacas to senior homes and special events.
Alpacas enjoy the sunny weather at Alpakas Eifel in Plütscheid, Germany. The family-owned alpaca trekking business allows visitors to enjoy a serene walk through the German countryside with a fuzzy alpaca companion. (Alpakas Eifel)
A leash attached to an alpaca allows a hiker to walk alongside the animal in Plütscheid, Germany, April 13, 2025. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Laures currently has nine alpacas, though he’s hoping Alea will soon welcome a new cria, or baby. Pico, still technically a juvenile, is expected to reach adulthood within the next year and start contributing to the herd’s future.
On our drizzly Sunday, we were the only people there, which made the setting feel like our own private petting zoo with a scenic backdrop. Laures walked with us the entire way, sharing stories about his animals and answering all our questions.
By the time we returned to the farm and watched the rest of the herd enthusiastically welcome Pico and Alea back into the corral, I felt lighter. I wasn’t sure I believed in alpaca therapy when I started, but I definitely left with fewer worries and a full heart.
Turns out that a leisurely stroll with Pico and Alea was the Sunday reset I didn’t know I needed.
Alpakas Eifel
Directions: Address: Kehrweg 20, 54597 Plütscheid
Hours: Hikes depart from Plütscheid on Fridays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. The reservation line is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: 20 euros per alpaca, 10 euros per adult, 5 euros per child.
Know before you go: No dogs allowed on hikes.
Information: Phone: +49 173 182 2439; Online: alpakas-eifel.de; Instagram: @alpakas_eifel
