Walking Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains

Walking Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains Trip Notes

Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Destination: Germany
Programmes: Walking & Trekking
Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
8 Days: Flight Inclusive
8 Days: Land Only
Ages: 13+
Trip Code: W07BL

Trip Overview

Discover Bavaria’s most beautiful lakes and mountains during a week-long self-guided walking tour between Bad Tolz and Bayrischzell, taking you from Lake Tegernsee to Mount Wendelstein.

You’ll walk on panorama paths through picturesque mountain scenery, and take breaks along the way in pretty little mountain huts where you can enjoy a typical snack (‘Brotzeit’) and a cool glass of beer. In the valleys lakes Tegernsee and Schliersee are perfect for a dip into the refreshing waters.

At a Glance

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
6 days walking
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfers

Highlights

Majestic mountains with extensive views
Sparkling lakes with swimming opportunities
Idyllic flower-filled alpine pastures and grazing animals

Is This Trip for You?

Classification: Self-Guided

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can walk at your own pace.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Group

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. Please note: the walking and luggage transfers included in this tour are subject to a minimum of 2 people (in total) booked on the departure. A supplement (payable in advance) to cover these transfers and sole occupancy of a room will apply if only 1 person travelling on a departure date.

Adult min age: 13

Itinerary

Land Only

Start City: Bad Tolz
End City: Bayrischzell

Flight Inclusive

Start City: London
End City: London

Land Only Itinerary

Arrive at your hotel and head out for a stroll along the Isar River before heading out to a local restaurant.

Take the train to Lenggries from where you will walk along the Via Alpina trail to the Aueralm. Enjoy a break with some Bavarian delicacies before continuing through forests and across meadows, offering long distance views onto Lake Tegernsee. Descend to your overnight stop at Bad Wiessee.

Distance covered: 11mi (18km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you can do a round-trip to Mount Riederstein on paths with amazing views. Head first to the mountain inn Galaun and on to the mountain chapel. Return to the lakeshore where the Tegernseer Bräustüberl awaits with its beer garden in the former monastery before taking a boat ride back to Bad Wiessee.

Distance covered: 6mi (9km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Walk from Lake Tegernsee to Lake Schliersee. Follow a forest path and alpine pastures to the Neureuth beer garden where you can enjoy a break with a view over the lake. Continue to the Gindelalm alp before descending to Lake Schliersee with marina and spa park.

Distance covered: 7mi (12km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Following the lakeside adventure path you reach Fischhausen. Then follow the former forest railway tracks before heading up to the Spitzingsattel col. Continue to Lake Spitzingsee, a popular swimming and boating lake. Walk round this natural idyll and take a break in the historic Wurzhütte chalet before returning by bus to Schliersee.

Distance covered: 8mi (13km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Take the cable car to the summit station at Mount Taubenstein. Follow a high altitude path with fabulous views over the Tyrolean Karwendel-mountain range to the Rotwand House, with the option of continuing to the summit of Mount Rotwand. Onwards via the picturesque cirque Großtiefentaler Kessel to Lake Soinsee with its idyllic location, then along alpine pastures and flowering meadows to your overnight stop at Bayrischzell.

Distance covered: 9mi (15km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today’s walk leads from Bayrischzell up Mount Wendelstein, Bavaria’s most popular panoramic mountain! Taking the King-Maximilian-path you pass a waterfall on the way up to the Wendelstein-Alp. Walk to the summit with its impressive meteorological observatory and take the optional panorama-loop-path to the Wendelstein cave with its accessible underground tunnels. After a snack in the panorama-beer garden, you take the cable car back into the valley and walk back to Bayrischzell.

Distance covered: 3mi (5km)

Meals included: Breakfast

The tour ends in Bayrischzell

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

Bavaria hotels

You will stay in a mixture of 3 star hotels. The hotels are chosen for their excellent facilities and proximity to the relevant local sites. All rooms have en suite facilities.

Single supplement from £ 202

Food & Drink

All breakfasts included.

What is your first thought when you think of German food, Bier und Bratwurst or Beer and sausages, and if this is what you want then you will not be disappointed. However there is much more to Bavarian cuisine. Meat and freshwater fish are heavily used but vegetarians are also well catered for. Germans tend to follow similar eating patterns to the UK, with breakfast, followed by a small lunch, and large evening meal, dinners tends to be taken fairly early and restaurants will start serving from 6pm. Throughout the towns there are a good choice of differing places to eat, the most traditional of these are the beer halls, these are not just places to drink the local brew, they are also offer traditional cuisine, they can be nice for lunch as they offer small plates of tasty morcels, you will also find the local bratwurst in served them. The most social of places are the beer gardens, these offer really good food in an outdoor setting many have indoor eating areas as well, don’t let the name put you off they also normally have a fairly good wine list too. Then there are the restaurants you will find in most towns a good choice of both German and International cuisine.

Weather & Seasonality

Average temperatures in summer are in the region of 25oC-30oC. The warmest month is usually July whilst the coldest is mainly January. Every month has its share of precipitation on an average of 14 days per month.

Weather Charts

Joining Instructions

Transfer Details

The flight inclusive prices for this holiday include our standard transfers. If you are booking a land only package then we can usually arrange transfers for you for an additional charge.

What To Take

Essential Equipment

Walking boots
Water bottle
Daypack
Sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses
Warm jumper
Waterproofs

Optional Equipment

Walking poles
A small umbrella in case of unexpected showers

Practical Information

Visa

Germany

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Germany. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccinations and Health

Germany

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Local Time

Germany's time zone: Europe/Berlin (UTC +02:00)

Electricity

Germany's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz

Money

Germany's currency: Euro (EUR)

ATM Availability

ATMs are widely available, but we recommend taking some Euros cash with you in case you can’t get to a bank at the start of the trip. Cards are widely accepted.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

You will need spending money for meals not included in the itinerary and all drinks. We suggest €25 per day to cover a few drinks if not then €10 per day. On the days where lunch or dinner is not included expect to spend €10-€15 for lunch and €15-€35 for dinner.

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Important Information

Your safe participation

When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

How to Book

Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

After booking

You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.

Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

Trip Note validity

These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Licensing

Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.

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