Across the Alps: Bavaria to South Tyrol
- Stay in carefully selected 3 and 4 * hotels, and benefit from daily bag transfer
- Discover this unique, less demanding trans-Alpine route from Füssen to Merano
- Take in beautiful mountain views of the Ötztal, Lechtal and Tyrolean Alps
- Explore three countries in one tour - Germany, Austria and Italy
- Walk on well-built, straightforward paths - no high mountain passes or tricky terrain
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive FüssenFüssen is easily accessible by train from Munich airport (just over an hour journey time). Füssen is a quintessential Bavarian town nestled at the foot of the Alps. Take a wander through the scenic old town. We recommend adding an extra night here if you would like to visit the nearby Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.
This 4* hotel has lots of character with individually decorated rooms. Located in the centre of pedestrian-friendly Fuessen and offering a comprehensive breakfast buffet, this is a great hotel to begin your Alpine crossing adventure.
The hotel is conveniently located and a great place to finish your adventure. From your room, you will either have a forest- or mountain view. Moreover, the hotel has its own restaurant, bar, and Spa section.
This traditional, 3-star hotel dating from 1908 is set in a grassy valley in the Allgäu region. It is located in front of a beautiful, quiet backdrop in the Allgäu Alps, only a 15-minute walk from the center of Füssen.
Starting in Füssen’s old town, follow the Lech River Trail (one of Europe’s premier hiking trails) over Kalvarienberg to the Alpsee. A short ascent brings you to the German/Austrian border followed by a descent to the Reuttner basin. From here, it’s a flat walk alongside one of the last truly wild Alpine river landscapes in Europe. Catch a train to Ehrwald, a small town at the foot of the Zugspitze mountain range (approx. 30 mins).
Ascent/Descent: 830m/774m
A family-run hotel located in the centre of Ehrwald. You can look forward to friendly Tyrolean hospitality, spacious rooms and a small ‘wellness’ area.
Located in Ehrwald amidst the Zugspitz Arena Ski Resort and 900 yards from the Ehrwalder Alm Cable Car, Hotel zum Urviech offers a restaurant, free WiFi, and free private parking on site. The restaurant offers original Tyrolean cuisine.
Surrounded by a sprawling garden, this relaxed hotel in a villa overlooks the mountains. The center of Ehrwald is only a few minutes' walk away.
Today you will experience the Fernpass (1,212m) from its lesser-known side. A historic and important mountain pass, the landscape is dotted with a series of lakes. A leisurely trail through sparse mountain forest takes you from Ehrwald to Weissensee, Mittelsee and the idyllic Blindsee. From the pass, follow a panoramic trail to Samerangersee and finally to Fernsteinsee. Spend the night at a glorious hotel on the shores of the lake.
Ascent/Descent: 462m/521m
The 4* Castle-Hotel Fernsteinsee lies at the foot of the Fernpass. It benefits from a lakeside location, and guests have exclusive use of the hotel’s two privately owned emerald lakes. Perfect for a relaxing swim.
Morning transfer at 09:30 with luggage from Hotel Fernsteinsee to start of hike in Nassereith. Ascend to the viewpoint over the Gurgl Valley. Continue to Schloss Starkenberg; a restaurant and brewery. Enjoy a locally brewed, refreshing beer in the garden before continuing on the final 3km to the Alpine town of Imst. Sitting at 826m above sea level, this traditionally Austrian town is a delight.
Ascent/Descent: 803m/828m
Offering recently renovated rooms and a spacious spa area, this is a great hotel to relax in at the end of the day. It is family-run and has a great central location in Imst.
In ruhiger Lage am Eingang des Gurgltals empfängt Sie das Hotel Stern mit modernem Komfort und gemütlicher Atmosphäre in traditionellem Tiroler Stil. Genießen Sie den herrlichen Blick vom blumengeschmückten Balkon, erholen und entspannen Sie sich in der Panoramasauna und im Dampfbad auf der 3. Etage und schlemmen Sie auf der Gartenterrasse oder in der alten Tiroler Stube Spezialitäten aus der österreichischen und internationalen Küche.
Take a local bus to Huben in the Ötztal valley (1 hour). Follow pleasant alpine paths, forest tracks and quiet country roads on the recently established Ötztal Way. The route snakes its way through scenic and peaceful hamlets high above the valley. Enjoy fabulous views over the Ötztal mountains, before descending to the chic town of Sölden.
Ascent/Descent: 623m/460m
The family-run Pension Sportalm with its own spa area enjoys a quiet location, just 200 meters from the Gaislachkoglbahn Cable Car. Rooms are decorated in a modern Alpine style and are spacious and comfortable.
Claudia, Sebastian and their friendly team offer a warm welcome to their traditional Alpine ‘pension’. Located in central Sölden, it also includes an on-site restaurant offering superb local dishes.
Available as an upgrade
The cosy Hotel Grauer Bär awaits you in a quiet area, just 100 meters from the Gaislachkogel cable car. It is located a few minutes from the centre of Sölden.
Start today’s walk directly from the hotel in Sölden. Hike through the narrow Kühtrainschlucht Gorge to Zweislstein, where you will join the E5 Trail. Ascend to the ’Sahnestüberl’, a rustic mountain hut and the ideal spot for a break. Indulge in some homemade Kaiserschmarrn - chopped, fluffy, warm pancakes served with icing sugar and home-made jam or compote– absolutely delicious! Follow the rushing Gurgle Ache river through Alpine pastures to the small and exclusive ski resort of Obergurgl.
Ascent/Descent: 851m/295m
Hotel Enzian is located on a hillside, a 5-minute walk from the centre of Obergurgl. It is decorated in Alpine style with lots of wood, tiled stoves and stained glass. The modern spa area with saunas, a steam bath, a hot tub and water beds is a great place to relax after a day in the Ötztal Alps.
Enjoy beautiful mountain views and a quiet and peaceful location at this family-run, 3* hotel. Rooms are clean, comfortable and modern. There is also a lovely sauna area in which to relax.
Located just a 5-min walk from the centre of Obergurgl, this comfortable hotel boasts panoramic views over the Otztaler Alps.
Morning 09:30 transfer over the spectacular Timmelsjoch pass into Italy. From here follow the E5 trail steadily downhill into the Passeiertal valley. Walkthrough the pretty hamlets of Rabenstein and Moos. Continue through the dramatic Passer Gorge Trail to St. Leonhard. Catch a bus to the typically South Tyrolean town of Merano, where you can relax and celebrate your Alpine crossing with a delicious dinner and drink in the town centre.
Ascent/Descent: 322m/1355m
A place of relaxation and well-being in Merano's greenest and most beautiful area between the botanical garden of Castle Trauttmansdorff and the old town with the thermal baths. Rooms are carefully furnished, television, telephone, safe, bathroom with shower, bidet, hairdryer, 2 floors with private balcony.
The modern and family-run boutique hotel Aurora is located on the waterfront in the heart of the spa town of Merano.
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and begin your onward travel. From Merano, you can travel to other Italian destinations and airports by train. If you have more time to explore, why not consider one of our walking adventures in Italy? Just ask us for more information.
This trip has a carbon score of 12kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 12kg is equivalent to 5 small bouquets of flowers (grown in the Netherlands). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This Alpine crossing is perfect for those new to Alpine walking. Rated moderate, no Alpine experience is required to complete this tour, just a good level of fitness. You should be happy walking 13-19km and 500-1000m of ascent/descent a day. However, almost all the walks can be shortened if required. Stay in high-quality 3 and 4* hotels, and your bag will be transferred each day, giving you the freedom to walk with just a small day pack.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens, Groups > 10
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This tour is rated moderate and is suitable for hikers with little to no Alpine experience. The trails are mainly on well-developed and marked paths, as well as on non-technical mountain trails. There are no steep Alpine passes to cross, so the tour is suitable for those who are not keen on heights or exposure, but still want to experience the Alps. However, you should have a good level of fitness to manage the daily distances and ascents/descents (13-19km distances and 500-1,000m ascent/descent a day).
A good level of fitness is required to get the most from this tour, while there are no technical demands, there is still significant ascent and descent each day.
Spend 7 nights in 3 & 4* hotels. All of our accommodations are hand-picked and offer a warm welcome to walkers. You will find an example of the accommodation we normally use below. If these accommodations are not available we will use a hotel of a similar or better standard than those described. Please be aware that twin & double rooms in Austria and Germany (Doppelzimmer in German) are typically 2 single mattresses side by side in one double bed frame with two separate duvet covers and pillows.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is available to solo walkers but a solo walker supplement is payable. You should have previous Alpine experience to undertake this trip solo. Single rooms and double rooms for single occupancy are available should someone in your party wish to have their own room, again a supplement is payable.
Meals
7 breakfasts are included in the cost of your trip. Breakfast is always buffet-style with various options available. Expect a continental breakfast with bread, jams, pastries, yogurt and muesli available. Usually, there are also local meats and cheeses, eggs and fruit on offer. You also have 1 dinner included in your overnight stay in Obergurgl. Outside of this dinner and lunches are not included so you have the freedom to choose from what’s on offer each day. You may be able to order a packed lunch at your accommodation for the following day, or you can find bakeries and shops in each town to stock up on food for your hikes. There are plenty of options for dinner each night, either at your hotel or in nearby restaurants. Food in this part of the Alps is hearty and traditional, with meat and cheese being some of the dominant ingredients! Tyrolean specialties include ‘Tiroler Gröstl’, a bacon, onion and potato fry-up topped with a fried egg, or ‘Kiachl’ a fried yeast dough pastry that can be served sweet or savory. Kaiserschmarrn (translates as Emperor’s mess, named after Franz Joesph the first) is another ubiquitous Tyrolean dish. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know at the time of booking.
All of the walks are way-marked and we also provide you with turn-by-turn instructions for each walk, maps and access to our GPS smartphone navigation app, so you will have no problem finding your way.
- 7 nights accommodation in 3 & 4* hotels
- 7 breakfasts (and 1 dinner in Obergurgl)
- Daily bag transfers
- Detailed information pack, route notes, maps and access to our navigation app
- 24/7 support from our German and UK office
- Transfer from Obergurgl over the Timmelsjoch Pass
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Füssen and from Merano
- Public transport costs
- Dinners & Lunches
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the holiday.
This walk is available to start on any day of the week from the end of June to the middle of September.
On your Alpine Crossing, you will hike through completely different climate zones and weather in the Alps can change very quickly, particularly at altitude. You should be prepared for all weather eventualities as even snow can fall in the summer in the mountains, regardless of the time of year.
We recommend checking the local weather forecast every day before starting your hike. Your hosts are usually well informed about the current weather situation and will be happy to help you.
Fly into Munich airport from where you can take a train to Füssen (3 hours) We can also organize private transfers from the airport to the start point, just ask us for more information. Information on trains in Germany can be found in English here: www.bahn.de/en.
From Merano, you can travel by train to any other Italian destination, or to Venice or Milan airports (both about 5 hours). You can also travel to Munich airport by train which takes about 5 hours in total. The national railway of Italy is Trenitalia and information can be found in English on their website.
Bag transfer is included in the cost of this tour. Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Travel During the Trip
Some walks can be started directly at your hotel, and some require short transfers by public transport. These journeys are not included in the cost of the trip and are payable locally. Tickets can be bought in the bus (price varies depending on journey; from 4-9 euros). Additional costs for public transport come to about 35 euros per person. You will receive all the information you will need regarding public transport connections in your information pack.
In your information pack, you will find a detailed packing list which includes walking boots, walking poles and waterproof clothes amongst other things.
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