Hiking the Alps of Bavaria and Tyrol, Germany and Austria

The Trip

The German and Austrian Alps feature pristine lakes and rivers, high mountains, green pastures, and thundering river gorges. The hilly countryside, dotted with quaint villages and small farms, is home to famous castles and ornate rococo churches. The locals are fun-loving people who take pride in their laid-back lifestyle, capacity for enjoyment, and efforts to preserve their environment. If you enjoy both hiking and visiting interesting places, this is the trip for you.

Based in comfortable, family-owned hotels, we'll set out each day to explore this breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. Our hikes will range from relaxing strolls on groomed country paths to awe-inspiring and exhilarating hikes in mountainous terrain. Some hikes will begin with a boat or cable-car ride. We'll visit King Ludwig II's fantasy castle, cruise on fjord-like Lake Königssee, and take walking tours of local historical and cultural sites.

Day 1: We will meet after breakfast and board our comfortable, air-conditioned bus for a scenic ride to beautiful Berchtesgaden, located at the foot of impressive Mt. Watzmann. After arriving at our centrally located hotel, we'll take a guided walking tour of Berchtesgaden’s well-preserved town center, including the castle square and medieval marketplace. We will walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner, followed by an orientation meeting back at the hotel. Overnight: Berchtesgaden.

Day 2: Today will begin at Lake Königssee in Berchtesgaden National Park. Our electric boat will glide silently past sheer mountain walls and emerald green forests to Salet, at the far end of the lake. We will meet our local guide who will lead us on a short trail to Lake Obersee, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Our hike continues on an up-and-down lakeside trail to an idyllic mountain pasture and hut, where we'll stop to rest. Cold beverages are available at the hut, perhaps the only such spot in Bavaria where very locally sourced buttermilk is a more popular choice than beer. Overnight: Berchtesgaden.

Day 3: We'll begin today's hike at Maria Gern Pilgrimage Church, often described as the loveliest church in the Berchtesgadener Land. Our trail leads up to the Ettenberg plateau, where we'll enjoy panoramic views of the region before continuing down through the Almbachklamm, a deeply cut chasm with rock overhangs, thunderous waterfalls, and clear pools. The hike concludes at the Kugelmühle, Germany's last remaining marble grinding mill. In the evening we will take a short bus ride into Austria to attend a dinner concert at Salzburg's 806 C.E. Peterskeller, where Charlemagne is said to have dined. Between meal courses, we’ll be treated to selections of Mozart's works performed in the elegant Baroque dining room. Overnight: Berchtesgaden. 

Day 4: Today is a cultural-historic tour day. Following breakfast at our hotel, we’ll depart for a walking tour of historic Salzburg. There will be free time to visit the Mozart Museum, the Mirabell Gardens and palace, or the old city fortress. Chocolate lovers may prefer to stop by the Sacher Hotel to sample the famous Austrian torte. Re-boarding our bus, we’ll return to the Berchtesgaden area, riding up the mountain to our tour of Dokumentation Obersalzberg. This museum offers an intelligently presented, sobering consideration of the causes and consequences of Nazism. Then we’ll explore the fascinating and bizarre network of fortified command bunkers carved into the mountainside by the Third Reich, concluding our tour with an unforgettable elevator ride up to the historic mountaintop Eagle's Nest. Tonight we'll conclude our day of cultural and historical contrasts, enjoying a special dinner with folk music. Overnight: Berchtesgaden.

Day 5: This morning we leave Berchtesgaden for Mittenwald. After riding the Karwendelbahn gondola to the top station, our short alpine loop hike will begin. If the weather is clear, we can expect far-reaching views over Mittenwald and the Karwendel range. In the afternoon we’ll have free time to explore Mittenwald, a particularly attractive Bavarian town noted for its ornately hand-painted shops, homes, and churches. It’s also the center of German violin making, proudly on display at the Geigenbau Museum. After leaving Mittenwald we travel a short distance across the Austrian border into the province of Tyrol to our cozy hotel in the village of Seefeld. Overnight: Seefeld.

Day 6: After breakfast, we will depart for a pleasant daylong loop hike. Our local guide will lead us on a brief tour through the town as we head up to the trails. Our first stop will be Wildmoosalm, a beautiful meadow surrounded by forest and peaks. Along the way we will identify wildflowers and maybe even see some chickadees. We continue on our gentle path to Lottensee Hütte, a beautiful alpine hut located on the shores of a seasonal lake. We continue in the forest, taking a short uphill trail to another lake, and then back to town. We will pass ski jumps used in the winter Olympics and may see a number of Austrians training on their roller skis. Back in town we’ll have time to relax and maybe enjoy a sauna before the sun sets. Overnight: Seefeld.

Day 7: Our day begins with a short bus ride to the nearby village of Leutasch. There we’ll begin our loop hike from the Salzbach River up to the Wetterstein hut, a 1,500-foot elevation gain. After a refreshment break with great views of the surrounding mountains, we’ll continue on, stopping again for lunch before returning via Hammermoosalm. Overnight: Seefeld.

Day 8: Today we have a daylong hike that covers varied terrain and, weather permitting, culminates in a glorious mountain summit. Seefeld sits on a sunny plateau that's cooled by mountain breezes and rimmed by rocky crests. The Tyrolean Wetterstein and Karwendel mountain ranges form dramatic backdrops to the north and east. We’ll begin with a ride on a funicular train up to the Rosshütte, where we’ll board a cable car and ride to the top station at 6,725 feet. Next we’ll hike uphill for approximately an hour to reach the summit of the Reither Spitze (elevation 7,635 feet) for spectacular views of the region. Finally, we’ll wind our way down to Nördlinger Hütte for lunch and perhaps some yodeling practice before we head down the mountain and back to our hotel. Depending on the weather conditions and time, we may opt to shorten the hike by taking advantage of a cable car connection that traverses back over to the Rosshütte for a quicker return to Seefeld. Overnight: Seefeld.

Day 9 Following breakfast, we’ll take a short drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a winter sports mecca and home to Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze. We'll hike just above the torrent rushing through narrow Partnachklamm gorge, walking on a pathway cut into the side of the canyon wall. Hiking up out of the gorge, we’ll cross back over the top of the gorge on the “Iron Bridge” before coming to a pleasant refreshment stop. After lunch, we’ll return to the bus and continue on to King Ludwig II's beautiful Linderhof Palace. After touring the palace, we’ll have time to explore the palace grounds and walk in the elegant gardens, modeled after Versailles. We'll see the Venus Grotto, constructed by King Ludwig II as a private theater where he could listen as his friend Richard Wagner conducted his operas. The main chamber contains an artificial lake, complete with a shell-shaped, gilded boat. Continuing our journey, we’ll make a brief stop at the gloriously decorated Wieskirche or "Church in the Meadow," a UNESCO World Heritage site regarded as the world’s best example of late rococo church architecture. Arriving in Füssen, the southern terminus of the famous Romantic Road, we’ll check into our interesting, antique-filled hotel near the River Lech. Overnight: Füssen.

Day 10: This morning our bus takes us to nearby Hohenschwangau, where we’ll begin our day’s adventure by walking up the carriage road 30 minutes to Ludwig’s fantasy castle of Neuschwanstein, everyone’s (including Disney’s) archetype for a medieval castle. After a guided tour of this totally over-the-top dream home, we’ll head up the short path to the Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge), which spans the ravine above Neuschwanstein for an unforgettable castle view. Leaving the tourist crowds behind and continuing our hike, we’ll walk for about three miles, gaining 2,300 feet to arrive at the Tegelberg viewpoint, where we’ll stop for refreshment on the terrace of this mountain restaurant. We may see hang gliders and paragliders launch from this mountaintop site, before riding the cable gondola down to Hohenschwangau and taking the bus back to our hotel. Overnight: Füssen.

Day 11: We'll board our bus for the two-hour trip to Munich, where we'll drop off our bags at the hotel before beginning a guided bus and walking tour of the city. After viewing the famous mechanical carillon in Marienplatz square, we’ll walk over to the nearby Viktualienmarkt (a bustling outdoor food market). We’ll choose from the many options available for our picnic table lunch. There will be free time this afternoon for last-minute shopping before we return to our hotel to check in and have a short rest. Tonight we’ll walk from our hotel to a festive farewell dinner at one of Munich's traditional beer-hall restaurants. Overnight: Munich.

Day 12: The trip will end at our hotel following breakfast.

Getting There

Our trip begins and concludes in Munich. Our meeting point hotel is a short walk or quick taxi ride from the main train station. The S-Bahn provides convenient train service from the Munich airport to center city. Our meeting point hotel is a short taxi ride from the main train station. The leader will provide specific information well in advance. If possible, it’s a good idea to arrive a day or two early to enjoy Munich and to recover from jet lag. Hotel information will be provided for those wishing to stay at the rendezvous hotel before the trip begins. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Our accommodations are in small and charming Bavarian and Tyrolean hotels. Rooms are double-occupancy, with a roommate of the same gender assigned for solo travelers. Participants who prefer to have a single room and are willing to pay the extra cost should inform the leader of their preference well in advance of the trip.

Our hotels serve buffet breakfasts. Typical spreads include coffee, tea, juices, muesli, eggs, and a variety of homemade breads, sausages, and cheeses. On hiking days we will either picnic along the trail or purchase lunch at a mountain hut. For dinner in the hotels expect hearty local cuisine with braised or roasted meat dishes. Vegetarian options are always available. For added variety we'll have several meals in local restaurants, and some of these meals will be at restaurants of your own choice. One item you shouldn’t expect to find is peanut butter; it’s just not part of the Bavarian or Tyrolean diet. If you require peanut butter you’ll definitely want to bring your own supply.

Please note that while most meals are included in the trip price, drinks at lunch and dinner (including coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, bottled water and soft drinks) are not, since participants’ preferences vary so greatly in this regard. Bavaria is especially renowned for world-class beer, while the wines of both Austria and Germany are excellent and varied.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is suitable for adults of all ages who are in good health and who exercise regularly. Participants need to be comfortable hiking up to ten miles a day up and down over varied terrain. As with all hiking trips, your enjoyment of the trip will be greatly enhanced if you are fit and well prepared. The hikes on this trip are all below an elevation of 8,000 feet and follow maintained trails, but some sections are quite steep and rocky. Our last major hiking day includes an overall elevation gain of 2,850 feet, and depending on weather conditions that could affect route choices, our hikes may involve a descent of as much as 2,500 feet. Most of our hikes are quite moderate and average seven miles. Our hikes will be at a comfortable pace, with ample opportunities to rest, take pictures, and enjoy the views.

Though mountain weather conditions are often unpredictable, it's common to experience moderate to warm temperatures with occasional afternoon rain showers. Cooler weather is always possible in the mountains, so appropriate clothing is important.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent to all participants well in advance of the trip. Comfortable, quick-drying hiking clothes, well-broken-in hiking boots, and a lightweight, breathable rain jacket and pants are essential. Hiking poles are strongly recommended.

References

Books:

• Di Duca, Marc and Christiani Kerry, Lonely Planet's Munich, Bavaria & the Black Forest. 6th edition. 2019.
• Galicka, Izabella, Munich & the Bavarian Alps. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2018.
• McIntosh, Christopher, Ludwig II of Bavaria: The Swan King, 2012.
• Porter, Darwin and Danforth Prince, Frommer's Munich and the Bavarian Alps. 8th edition, 2011.
• Rick Steves' Germany 2020. Avalon Travel.

Participants will receive pre-departure information on the Berchtesgaden National Park and its conservation efforts. The leader will bring alpine wildflower guides available for group use.

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Bavarians have a long and committed history of protecting their natural environment. German alpine clubs serve as guardians of the mountain pathways, balancing the enjoyment of nature with erosion prevention and watershed conservation. Recycling is well established here, and leaded petroleum products are banned.

Berchtesgadeners are actively involved in preservation efforts. Since 1983, the Berchtesgaden National Park has been involved with UNESCO in a scientific project called "Man and the Biosphere." The UNESCO project's goals are, first, to teach each generation to use nature in a sustainable way, and second, to study the ways in which nature provides for its continued existence. In 1990, the area bordering the park, which includes Berchtesgaden's villages and hamlets, was included in the biosphere reserve. This buffer zone is subject to strict regulation in order to reduce pollution of every kind. Garbage has to be sorted before being thrown away and there are separate containers for paper, glass, aluminum, plastic, and compostable matter. No chemical or polluting industry is permitted in the buffer zone and even visual pollution is avoided, thanks to strict building rules and regulations. Farmers generally use natural fertilizers and people are not allowed to use detergent when washing cars.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.