Austria & Germany: Bavaria & the Tyrol

Day 1: Arrival in Munich. Transfer to southern Bavaria. Linderhof Castle and Wieskirche visits.

You meet your guides in Munich and drive an hour south out of the valley and into 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 a Wagner opera), the interior, and the extensive gardens.

Nearing lunchtime, a half-hour’s drive brings you to Wies, home to the magnificent Wieskirche (“Church in the Meadow”). Built in 1746 by the artist Dominikus Zimmerman, this secluded UNESCO World Heritage Site is a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo architecture, also a destination for pilgrims, who are drawn to a wooden statue of Christ, said to cry real tears. Arriving at a traditional Bavarian-Swabian restaurant just opposite the church, you enjoy a first lunch of hearty regional specialties, such as Bavarian “Schweinebraten”―roast pork accompanied by potato dumplings and cabbage.

Following lunch and a guided tour of Wieskirche, just over an hour’s drive takes you to the outskirts of Mittenwald, a charming Bavarian village nestled in the German Alps and your home for the next two nights. From the outskirts of the village, you descend into town on foot, your view framed by the mountain backdrop of the Karwendel massif. Described in 1786 by German writer Goethe as a “living picture book,” narrow lanes lead into the historic town center with its elegant shops, open-air cafés, homes adorned with overhanging eaves, flowering balconies, and colorful wall paintings―a local art form called Lüftlmalerei dating from the 18th century. While most of these elaborate frescoes are based on biblical themes, others recount the rich history of the area and portray the peaceful everyday life of mountain folk. At the heart of town stands the 18th-century parish church, one of the finest churches in the Bavarian Alps. Just outside the church is a memorial to Matthias Klotz, who introduced violin-making to Mittenwald in 1684, making the town one of the world’s most important centers of this highly specialized craft.

Arriving at your hotel, a former post office along the town’s main pedestrian street, there is time to unpack and relax before gathering for a welcome cocktail and orientation meeting, followed by a dinner of regional specialties at the hotel.

Dy 2: Mittenwald to Elmau; Elmau to Klais;

Following a buffet breakfast, you set off on foot for the day’s walk into neighboring Elmau Valley. Strolling past the picturesque homes of Mittenwald, you soon arrive at the outskirts of town and begin a gentle, yet steady ascent through the woods alongside the Laintal Creek and past small waterfalls. The narrow trail soon opens up to a wider, packed gravel track and the Elmau Valley. Stretched between the Wetterstein and Karwendel mountains, this scenic valley is lined with pristine timber forests, wildflower meadows, brooks, and lakes.

You break for lunch at the historic Alpengut Elmau Inn, a former rest stop and telegraph station for King Ludwig while en route to one of his favorite hunting lodges. Seated on the outdoor terrace (weather permitting), you may choose from a number of local specialties―perhaps a dish of delicious homemade cheese “spätzle” or “weißwürste” (typical Bavarian sausages) served with savory mustard and a fresh pretzel.

This afternoon, you have the option of transferring back to Mittenwald to relax, browse its many shops, or possibly visit the Geigenbaumuseum (Museum of Violin-Making), housed in one of Mittenwald’s oldest and most charming houses. Alternatively, you may continue on the four-mile afternoon walking option that passes the Elmau and Kranzback castles, ending in the enchanting village of Klais. Arriving at a cozy café, you are welcomed by our friends and bakers, Claudia and Wilfried, onto the panoramic terrace for a Kaffee mit Kuchen break (coffee and cake). Klais 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; you may choose from a range of restaurants or welcoming beer gardens offering Bavarian specialties or international dishes, all a short walk from the hotel.

Day 3: ransfer to Neustift. Stubai Glacier Walk

Today a 1½-hour drive delivers you across the border into Austria where you venture south into the Stubaital Valley, home to craggy mountain peaks and the mighty Stubai glacier. The drive through the Stubaital takes you past tranquil farm meadows, mountain slopes forested with larch and pine, thundering waterfalls, and the traditional Tyrolean villages of Schönberg, Mieders, Telfes, Fulpmes, and Neustift. Reaching the end of the broad valley, you board the Stubaier Gletschebahn gondola for a ride up 10,500 feet to the “Top of the Tyrol.” From the summit observation deck, a stunning panorama unfolds with views of the Ötztal mountains (including the second highest peak in Austria), to the Stubaier Alpen, and the Dolomites. Here you are met by a local glacier guide and begin the descent on ice to the mid-station (crampons are provided). For those not inclined to participate in the glacier walk, there is an option to take a return gondola ride to the base.

Lunch is a short drive away down the valley at an inviting traditional Tyrolean alm (a working farm that provides meals for hikers), where an array of typical sausages and cheeses are laid out, as well as soup with dumplings and a thick berry pancake for dessert. Afterwards, you may decide to continue straight to your hotel in the charming mountain town of Neustift to enjoy the hotel spa facilities or to explore the streets and specialty shops of town on your own. Alternatively, the afternoon walking option begins on the outskirts of town, passing by centuries-old working farms and mountain peaks, and arrives into Neustift by mid-afternoon. A short walk around this classic ski and hiker’s village concludes with a visit to its remarkable Baroque parish church. Tyrol’s second largest church outside of Innsbruck, its rich interior is decorated with frescoes by well-known masters, and ornate metal headstones in its graveyard.

You arrive at your hotel, a lovely Tyrolean property located just on the outskirts of town, with ample time to relax before reuniting for dinner at your hotel’s cozy restaurant.

Day 4: Pinnis Valley and Besinnungsweg trail

Breaking from routine, you leave the hotel without breakfast and drive 20 minutes to the Karalm (a traditional alm) for a hearty country breakfast of eggs, cheeses, sausages, and homemade jams and honey served by your hosts Maria and Armin. Situated on a high plateau in one of the most beautiful side valleys of the Stubai valley—the Pinnis valley—the Karalm sits in the highest pastureland at the foot of the mountain massif of the Habicht or “Hawk Mountain” (10,750 feet), the highest in the eastern Stubai region.

From the Karalm (at an elevation of 5,730 feet), you begin a gentle descent of the Pinnis Valley, surrounded by a panorama of craggy peaks, alpine vistas and, along the smooth path, wildflowers such as Bavarian gentian and bluebells. A golden eagle may pass overhead and, with luck, you may spot mountain goats and marmots. Continuing on for a few hours, you arrive for lunch at the stunningly situated Issenangeralm at about 4,500 feet with breathtaking views from the terrace, and a wide-ranging menu of Tyrolean traditional food, including fresh trout.

Afterwards, from the inn, you continue along the wooded “Besinnungsweg” (Trail of Reflection)—as its name implies, a meditation trail with a series of benches, carvings, and boards inviting visitors to take a seat, breathe, and enjoy the beautiful views. A short (1½ hour) and longer (2½ hour) option are offered, both reaching their endpoint in Neder, on the outskirts of Neustift, where a transfer is provided back to the hotel.

This evening, after some time to relax back at your hotel, a half-hour’s drive brings you to the magical city of Innsbruck, appreciated for its combination of urban sophistication and alpine charm. A guided city tour brings you across the Maria-Theresien Strasse, considered one of the most beautiful streets in Europe, and through Innsbruck’s picturesque medieval city center—other highlights are the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) and Stadtturm (city tower). Following this stroll, you dine on Austrian classics such as Wienerschnitzel or cheese dumplings in the heart of the old city.

Day 5: Transfer to Schönau am Königsee. Alpbachtal

Today you leave the Stubaital and drive along the wide Inn Valley to another Tyrolean side valley, the Alpbachtal (which takes its name from the Alpbach stream that flows through the entire valley). The walking destination for the day is Alpbach, voted Austria’s most beautiful village for its magnificent display of authentic Tyrolean architecture and flowers. Another “hiker’s village,” Alpbach 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 that features museums, a pedestrian shopping zone, artisans at work, and another opportunity to relax over a refreshing drink.

In the late afternoon, returning back to Germany, you arrive at your country-style hotel in the Berchtesgaden area. Tonight, you dine independently either enjoying your hotel’s excellent cuisine or at one of the restaurants in town with guidance and transport from your guides.

Day 6: Lake Königsee and Berchtesgaden National Park

The morning begins with a short drive to the Königsee, a deep fjord-like lake with emerald green water flanked by the Walzmann mountain range. Königsee, literally “King’s Lake,” is in the heart 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 17th-century pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä with its onion domes and red-domed roof, built in baroque style with a floor plan modeled on Salzburg Cathedral. Until the beginning of the 19th century it was the summer seat for the prince abbots of Berchtesgaden, later a hunting castle of Bavarian kings, and today an inn and restaurant. Off the boat, 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. Nearing the end of the meadow, the Hagen Mountains are reflected in the crystal clear waters of the lake. Continuing on for another 45 minutes, you reach the idyllic mountain pasture, Fischunkel, surrounded by a natural amphitheater. Depending on the weather and route chosen, lunch could be authentic Bavarian fare in a traditional alm or a trailside picnic lunch. An additional (optional) 30 minutes brings you to the Röthbach Waterfall―the highest waterfall in Germany―plunging from 1,540 feet.

Retracing the route to the boat, the scenic hour-long ride returns to the lake’s opposite shore. Rounding off the day’s adventure, you drive into the historic center of Berchtesgaden for independent touring and strolling (with maps provided by your guides) before reuniting for a Heimatabend, a traditional Bavarian evening of music and dancing at a favorite and historic local pub. Beer has been brewed here since the 17th century, and it continues to flow accompanied by music, dancing, and huge platters of local specialties—“Prost!

Day 7: Ramsau Countryside and Lake Hintersee

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 in the hotel’s dining room.

Day 8: DAY 8 Transfer to Salzburg. Guided city tour. Farewell

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.