DAY 1

You meet your guides in Munich and drive south out of the flatlands of the city and into the mountain range of the Ammergauer Alps, home to two of King Ludwig’s famous fairytale castles. The first stop is Schloss Linderhof, Ludwig’s only fully completed castle built in homage to Louis XIV, where you tour the manmade Venus Grotto (inspired by a scene from one of Wagner’s operas), the interior of the castle, and the extensive gardens.

Following lunch, you travel to the Wieskirche (“Church in the Meadow”). Built in 1746 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the church is considered a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo architecture. Built by the artist Dominikus Zimmerman, it is a renowned destination for traveling pilgrims, who are drawn to a wooden statue of Christ said to cry real tears. Late afternoon you arrive on foot at the outskirts of Mittenwald, a charming Bavarian village nestled in the German Alps. Before settling in at the first hotel, a guided walking tour provides an overview of the town, during which you can admire the colorful wall paintings and adorned wooden balconies of individual homes.

Tonight you reunite for a cocktail and orientation meeting before enjoying a dinner of satisfying regional cuisine on the hotel premises.
Post Hotel, Mittenwald, Germany

DAY 2

You start the day by walking past the picturesque homes of Mittenwald and then begin a gentle ascent beside the Laintal Creek to the Elmau valley. Stretched between the Wetterstein and Karwendel mountains, this valley is lined with pristine timber forests, wildflower meadows, brooks, and lakes.

You stop for lunch at the historic Alpengut Elmau Inn, once a favorite rest stop and telegraph station for King Ludwig while en route to one of his favorite hunting lodges. This afternoon, you have the option of returning to Mittenwald for shopping, or a Kaffee mit Kuchen break. Or, if you wish to continue walking, the route passes the Elmau and Kranzback castles, ending in Klais. This enchanting village adorned with flower boxes is home to Germany’s highest intercity train station, where you board a train for the eight-minute scenic ride back to Mittenwald. Dinner this evening is on your own, and you can choose from restaurants offering Italian, Greek, or Bavarian specialties, all a short walk from the hotel.
Post Hotel, Mittenwald, Germany

DAY 3

Today you cross the German border into Austria and venture south into the Stubaital valley, home to craggy mountain peaks and the mighty Stubai glacier. The drive to the end of the valley takes you past beautiful farm meadows, traditional Tyrolean villages, mountain slopes forested with Larchen (larch) and Latshen (pine), and thundering waterfalls. You enjoy stunning views while riding in a gondola to the Stubai glacier and the “top of Tyrol” before you start the descent on ice to the mid-station (crampons are provided).

After lunch in a traditional Tyrolean alm (a working farm that provides meals for hikers), you travel to Neustift, a classic hiker’s village in the middle of the Stubaital valley. If you prefer an afternoon at leisure you can unwind in the hotel spa facilities, relax in the garden and watch paragliders soar overhead, shop in the town center, or tour Neustift’s remarkable Baroque church and graveyard with its ornate metal headstones. If you wish to continue walking, our route starts on the outskirts of town, passes centuries-old working farmhouses and winds back to the hotel by mid-afternoon, with ample time to relax before dinner at the hotel's cozy restaurant.
Alpenhotel Tirolerhof, Neustift, Austria

DAY 4

The day begins with a short drive to Fulpmes, where you walk to the Schlick 2000 ski area—a mountain bowl with craggy peaks, alpine vistas, wildflowers such as Enzian and Glockenblume, and local wildlife including chamoix and golden eagles. The hike begins in the alpine area and includes short stretches of exposed trail, then continues down through a forest, and finally out into meadows stretched across the valley floor.

You pause to savor a picnic lunch at a spectacular location. Those wishing to continue walking may walk back to Neustift, enjoying gentle terrain and beautiful views of the distant Stubai glacier along the way.

This evening, you drive to the magical city of Innsbruck, appreciated for its combination of urban sophistication and alpine charm. The guided city tour brings you across the Maria-Theresien Strasse, considered one of the most beautiful streets in Europe, and through Innsbruck’s medieval city center. Following this stroll, you dine on Austrian classics such as Wienerschnitzel or cheese dumplings in the heart of the old city.
Alpenhotel Tirolerhof, Neustift, Austria

DAY 5

Today you leave the Stubaital and drive along the wide Inn valley to another Tyrolean side valley, the Alpactal. The walking destination for the day is Alpach, voted Austria’s most beautiful village for its magnificent display of authentic Tyrolean architecture and flowers. Another “hiker's village,” Alpach offers endless walking options with numerous lifts and extensive footpaths. Today’s lunch features Tyrolean fare in an alpine Erbhof, a centuries-old farmhouse that has been in the family for hundreds of years and specifically designed to welcome hikers on their way.

Time permitting, you visit historic Rattenberg, a tiny medieval town on the Inn River famous for its glass-making tradition. Rattenberg offers museums, a pedestrian-only shopping zone, artisans at work, and another opportunity to relax over a refreshing drink.

In the late afternoon you arrive at your hotel in the Berchtesgaden area. Tonight, you dine independently either enjoying your hotel’s excellent cuisine or at one of the restaurants in town.
Alpenhotel Zechmeisterlehen, Schönau am Königsee, Germany

DAY 6

The morning begins with a short drive to the Königsee, a fjord-like lake with emerald green water flanked by the Walzmann mountain. Königsee, literally “King’s Lake,” is right in the middle of Berchtesgaden National Park and was a favorite retreat of Bavarian kings for many generations. Riding in an electric boat, you glide silently for about five miles, stopping along the way at the famous “echo wall” to listen to the Flugelhorn (trumpet) played in a serene mountain setting. The boat also docks at the pilgrimage church of St. Bartholoma. Since the 14th century, pilgrims have visited this church, with its distinctive onion-shaped spires, to offer thanks for being spared by the ravages of the black plague. Reaching the lake’s terminus, you begin a walk to Obersee, a small lake that was once part of the Königsee until it was cut off by a large landslide.

Lunch is served in an idyllic mountain pasture surrounded by a natural amphitheater. After lunch, you retrace the route to board a boat once again for a scenic hour-long transfer back to the lake’s opposite shore. To complete the day’s adventure, you are driven into the Berchtesgaden town center, where there is an opportunity to enjoy cake and coffee, shop, or take a self-guided tour (with maps provided by your guides) before you partake in a Heimatabend, a traditional Bavarian evening of music and dancing.
Alpenhotel Zechmeisterlehen, Schönau am Königsee, Germany

DAY 7

The walk today starts in Ramsau at the Ramsauer Pfarrkirche church, one of the region’s most photographed spots. Many painters, including amateur painter Dwight D. Eisenhower, have captured the beauty of this setting from the opposite side of the stream where you begin the walk. The route takes you through the Zauberwald (magic forest) with its garden gnomes, ancient trees, and moss-covered boulders. The halfway point is Lake Hintersee, a source of inspiration to many German artists at the end of the 19th century.

Nearby, lunch is served at a local inn, and later the remainder of the walk takes you around the lake and into an open meadow with sweeping views of the Reiteralpe, Hochkalter, and Hoher peaks. You enter the forest once more and return to the starting point. There is plenty of time to relax at the hotel and indulge in the spa facilities before reuniting for a final celebratory dinner.
Alpenhotel Zechmeisterlehen, Schönau am Königsee, Germany

DAY 8

A short drive returns you to Austria with a special Sound of Music Tour featuring the history, architectural sights, and cultural highlights of Salzburg, along with some of the main locations used in the film. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city of Salzburg is well known for its association with the arts, in particular with music and its famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Upon completion of this tour, you bid farewell at the central train station, where you may continue your exploration of this fascinating city, or depart at leisure for your next destination.

Itinerary Changes

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks, sites, and accommodations may vary due to season, special events, weather, or transportation schedules. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Nights 1 & 2

Post Hotel Mittenwald
Mittenwald, Germany

A charming Bavarian-style inn located on the main pedestrian street of Mittenwald.

Nights 3 & 4

Alpenhotel Tirolerhof
Neustift, Austria

An elegant Tyrolean family hotel with modern amenities, a swimming pool and spa, only a short walk from the town center.

Nights 5, 6 & 7

Alpenhotel Zechmeisterlehen
Schönau am Königsee, Germany

Located in a peaceful setting this four-star hotel features comfortable accommodations, a spa, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Please note that this is a sample hotel itinerary for this tour. While these exact hotels are featured on most departures, we occasionally reserve other hotels of similar style and quality. If you are currently booked on a Country Walkers adventure, a hotel itinerary has been sent to you for your exact departure date. Please call Country Walkers at 800.464.9255 if you have any questions about the exact hotels selected for any of our tours.

Sherry Kranabitter

Sherry's voracious appetite for knowledge coupled with her love of the outdoors and physical activity are simply contagious. When not continuing her passion for lifelong learning while sharing knowledge gained with guests as a guide, Sherry spends a great deal of her spare time hiking, mountaineering, cycling, and rafting throughout the world.

Rudi Kranabitter

Known as a true man of the mountains, Rudi was born and raised in the Austrian Alps. A fully certified  IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides  Association) mountain guide for over 30 years, Rudi has guided trips around the world and today counts both the Austrian Alps and the Canadian Rockies as home. When not sharing his passion for the mountains on our Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrol tour, Rudi enjoys white water kayaking, photography, and tinkering with his airplane.