Bavaria and the Tyrol

Discover a hiker’s paradise of soaring limestone mountains, spectacular rock faces, alpine meadows strewn with wildflowers, deep blue lakes, and picture-perfect villages where chalets are bedecked with geraniums. Our journey cuts a swath across this glorious landscape from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, nestled at the foot of the mighty Zugspitze in the heart of the Bavarian Alps, to beautiful Innsbruck in Austria’s Tyrol, with its medieval center of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. With multiple Trip Leaders, we have flexible hiking options that allow us to experience this splendid realm at moderate or challenging levels. Fine dining and overnights in outstanding 4- and 5-star traditional hotels (and one atmospheric mountain lodge) top off each unforgettable day.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany / Bavarian Alps

Superbly situated beneath the amazing Zugspitze (9,721'), Germany’s highest mountain, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a great base for hiking in the surrounding foothills and mountains. One of our options includes a breathtaking hike on narrow paths hewn in the spectacular Hollentalklamm Gorge, and all the while we hear the thunderous roar of the river as it twists and tumbles through its rocky constraints. Another hike leads to the summit of a nearby mountain and two beautiful alpine lakes, with the afternoon free to explore Mittenwald, an old market town on the Isar River known for its beautifully painted houses with overhanging eaves and elaborate fresco paintings.

Days 4-5
Seefeld, Austria / Tyrolean Alps

Hiking through picturesque remote valleys, we cross the Austrian border and arrive at the Seefeld Valley, with its traditional mountain hamlets of small wooden chalets and tranquil meadows where cattle graze. Nearby are the impressive Wetterstein and Karwendel Mountains, the setting for more exhilarating hikes. One of our challenging hiking options includes an ascent of the remarkable Hohe Munde (8,550'), with its stunning 360-degree views from the Austrian and Italian Alps in the south to the Karwendel and Zugspitze ranges in the north and east.

Days 6-8
Hallerangerhaus Lodge / Tyrolean Alps / Innsbruck, Austria

We hike up a magnificent valley nestled between towering mountains, passing through a serene landscape of Tyrolean farms and alpine meadows as we follow the Adlerweg (the Eagle’s Path), a long-distance hiking trail across the Tyrol. Our destination is the Hallerangerhaus, a traditional alpine lodge in the heart of the Tyrol where we can relax and enjoy the ambiance with other hikers and sample the local cuisine, including the delicious desert called sachertorte. The next day we continue on a high-level trail with breathtaking views as we hike to the summit of the Hafelekar-Spitze (7,700'), perched high on a sheer north face above Innsbruck. Boarding a cable car, we make a vertical descent of some 5,600 feet directly into Innsbruck, Tyrol’s capital, where we explore its medieval city center before departing on Day 8.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 4+. Good hiking experience is essential. Most hiking is between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is 8,650 feet (on an optional strenuous hike). There is a good bit of up-and-down during the 6-8 hours of daily hiking, with 2,000- to 3,000-foot elevation gain and loss per day. On most days there are easier hiking options, though, and since there is a support vehicle, trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination (except for the day we hike to the Hallerangerhaus Lodge). Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the U.S. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 PM.

You'll carry just a daypack on most days, but the day we stay in the Hallerangerhaus chalet with no road access, you must be able to carry your overnight needs in your daypack (a toothbrush, soap, towel, and a fresh T-shirt, underwear, and socks suffice for most people).

Explanation of Trip Levels