Tyrolean Alps: Garmisch to Innsbruck
- Walk from Germany to Austria through the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps
- Discover Germanic Alpine culture in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the heart of Bavaria
- Enjoy a true high-mountain experience with one night spent in an Alpine hut
- Feast on regional specialities like Pretzels, Wurst and Kaiserschmarrn
- Explore the historical old town of Tyrol’s capital, Innsbruck
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Garmisch-PartenkirchenEasily accessible from Munich airport (2 hours 20 mins), Garmisch is a hiker’s heaven, due to its proximity to the Zugspitze and various other peaks and trails in the area. Considered the Alpine capital of Germany, the town centre is traditional yet vibrant, with lots of restaurants and activities on offer.
This 3-star hotel is 700 meters from Garmisch Partenkirchen's town hall and offers great views of the Zugspitze.
The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten welcomes you in the heart of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the foot of the Alps.
This imposing, historic hotel is located in the center of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Take the cable car to the summit of Vank at 1,780m above sea level (payable locally). Follow a loop walk around the mountain which offers continuously beautiful views of the surrounding peaks.
Alternatively, explore the 150m deep gorges of the Höllentalklamm. Follow this adventurous, circular route over paths and bridges passing countless waterfalls up to the Höllentalanger Hut.Â
Vank Mountain Walk:Â 13kms/8mi, Ascent/Descent:Â 267m/1,273m
Hollentalklamm Walk: 11kms/7mi, Ascent/Descent: 928m/928m
This 3-star hotel is 700 meters from Garmisch Partenkirchen's town hall and offers great views of the Zugspitze.
The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten welcomes you in the heart of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the foot of the Alps.
This imposing, historic hotel is located in the center of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
From Garmisch, ride the Eckbauer cable car (payable locally) to the start of today’s walk at 1,237m. Continue on foot to one of Germany’s highest altitude villages; Wamberg. With only 27 inhabitants and a story-book location, it seems as if time has stood still here. Ascend Kramberg mountain (1,391m) for impressive views over the towering peaks of the Karwendel, and descend to the spa town of Mittenwald; tonight’s overnight location.
Ascent/Descent:Â 241m/558m
Alpenhotel Rieger is a traditional, family-run mountain hotel in a quiet, central location in Mittenwald is surrounded by a beautiful Alpine landscape in Upper Bavaria.
The hotel, which is still run by the Rademacher family, is located in a former Taxis station, at the foot of the Karwendel Mountains.
This lovely, bright, family-run wellness hotel is just a 4-minute walk from the spa gardens and 50m from Mittenwald's pedestrian zone.
A short taxi transfer (included) brings you to the trailhead. Follow a steadily steep path alongside the Isar river, all the way to its source. Stop at the Kastenalm; where you can refuel on sandwiches and homemade cake before tackling the final meters of ascent. Spend the night in the Hallerangerhaus (1,768m) and enjoy a hearty evening meal with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Â
Ascent/Descent:Â 856m/52m
The Hallerangerhaus is a hut belonging to the German Alpine Club. Sitting at an altitude of 1768 meters, the hut is located in the heart of the Karwendel in Tyrol.
A spectacular day of walking awaits. Ascend on a steep trail to Lafatscher Joch (2,080m). On clear days you will be rewarded with views of the Grossglockner - Austria’s highest mountain. A long descent brings you to the Isstal valley and the Berggasthof St Magdalena, an ideal rest spot. Continue downhill through the Halltal valley to Absams. From here, you will be transferred to the town of Hall; an historical Tyrolean market town.
Ascent/Descent: 373m/1,358m
This comfortable inn is located in a former bathhouse from the 17th century. It is close to the center of Hall's old town, right on the Inn river banks with a wonderful view of the Karwendel Mountains.
UPGRADE
Set in a park, the modern Parkhotel Hall in Tirol is a 2-minute walk from Hall's centre with its famous Hall Mint Museum. Each room boasts views of the mountains, over the Inn Valley or the town of Hall, and offers time out in the 580-square-meter spa area.
Seit fast 700 Jahren gibt es das Gasthaus, das in den letzten Jahren liebevoll zu einem 4 Sterne Hotel renoviert wurde und seit 1954 in der 3. Generation geführt wird.
Dieses Hotel kann als UPGRADE gebucht werden. Es wird ein Aufpreis fällig.
After two challenging days hiking in the Karwendel, today’s walk is much more relaxed, but doesn’t compromise on spectacular mountain views! Take a bus and cable car (payable locally) to Glungezer mountain station (2,000m). From here, follow the popular Zirbenweg panoramic trail with fabulous views over Innsbruck, the Karwendel and the Nordkette mountain range. Descend by cable car and take a bus (payable locally) to Innsbruck ; Austria’s Alpine capital.
Ascent/Descent: 115m/209m
The family-run Hotel Zach is quietly located in a side street in the center of town and is only a 5-minute walk away from Innsbruck's old town.
UPGRADE
The stylish 4-star Hotel Central is located in the heart of Innsbruck, in a corner building with an artistic facade. It combines tradition with modern comfort and ambience.
UPGRADE
This historic 4-star hotel, built in 1870, adorns a colorful facade. It is located in the center of Innsbruck.
Spend the day exploring Innsbruck’s cultural and historical treasures. Wander the streets of the late-medieval old town, stopping at cafés between visiting the Habsburg Palace and the Baroque cathedral.Â
Alternatively, take the Nordkettenbahn up to Haferlekar (2,300m) where the popular Goetheweg begins, an exciting panoramic trail with amazing views of Innsbruck and the surrounding valleys. Hike to the cosy Pfeishuette and have a hearty meal of home-made sausage and sauerkraut.
Ascent/Descent: 671m/675m
The family-run Hotel Zach is quietly located in a side street in the center of town and is only a 5-minute walk away from Innsbruck's old town.
UPGRADE
The stylish 4-star Hotel Central is located in the heart of Innsbruck, in a corner building with an artistic facade. It combines tradition with modern comfort and ambience.
UPGRADE
This historic 4-star hotel, built in 1870, adorns a colorful facade. It is located in the center of Innsbruck.
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and begin your onward travel. If you have time to spare, we highly recommend adding an extra night or two in Innsbruck to really get a chance to explore. Just ask us!
This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. 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?Are you looking for a varied walking holiday which involves a mixture of moderately strenuous and more relaxed hikes? Stay in lively cultural hubs such as Garmisch and Innsbruck and walk in a rugged mountain range. Graded moderate, there are some significant ascents and descents involved, perfect for working up an appetite for some hearty local cuisine! Optional walks allow a rest day if preferred. If you are looking for the best of both worlds, then this is the tour for you!
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 in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle 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
The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years
This tour is rated moderate to strenuous. Distances vary from 12– 18km, and the ascent/descent is considerable, ranging between 300-950m each day. Some days are more on the strenuous side (Day 4 & 5, for example) and some on the easier side. To get the most from this tour you should be in good physical shape, be sure-footed and comfortable using cable cars. The terrain is alpine, and paths are a mixture of woodland trails, rocky mountain paths, gravel tracks, boulder-strewn paths and faint, narrow grassy trails.Â
To get the most from this tour you should be in good physical shape, be sure-footed and comfortable using cable cars.
Spend 6 nights in 3* hotels and guesthouses and 1 night in a mixed-sex dorm in a mountain hut. 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 of a better standard than those described.Â
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is not available to solo walkers due to the remote nature of the terrain. 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.Â
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, yoghurt and muesli available. Usually, there are also local meats and cheeses, eggs and fruit on offer. 6 Dinners and all 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. Dinner is included at the mountain hut. Food in Austria and Bavaria is hearty and traditional, with meat and cheese being some of the dominant ingredients! Tiroler specialities include ‘Tiroler Gröstl’, a bacon, onion and potato fry-up topped with a fried egg. In Bavaria, sausage is king so be sure to try one of their specialities like ‘Weisswurst’. ’Käsespätzle’ is a kind of eggy pasta topped with melted cheese and sometimes crispy fried onion– it’s the ultimate comfort food. Bavarian beer is world-famous and for good reason! Enjoy a refreshing ‘stein’ after a day of walking– delicious.
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.
- 6 nights in 3 star hotels and guesthouses
- 1 night in a mixed sex dorm in a mountain hut
- 7 breakfasts
- 1 dinner
- Transfers and bag transfers as per the itinerary
- Detailed information pack , route notes, maps and access to our navigation app
- 24/7 support from our UK and German offices
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Garmisch and from Innsbruck
- All lunches and 6 dinners
- Public transport (including cable cars)
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk
- Single Room Supplement(s)
You can start your Alpine adventure on any day between mid June and start of October. Please keep in mind that the weather can be changeable at high altitudes, and cold fronts can occur even in the summer (snowfall in the Alps at the height of summer is not unheard of). Any time during this period is ideal for walking, mid-July to mid- August is high season and the towns along the way will be busy with local holiday makers. June and July is the ideal time to catch the Alpine wildflowers in full bloom.Â
Please keep in mind that the weather can be changeable at high altitudes, and cold fronts can occur even in the summer (snowfall in the Alps at the height of summer is not unheard of)
By Air: Fly into Munich airport where you can take a train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (approx. 2.5 hours with one change). Alternatively, fly into Innsbruck Airport from where you can take a bus to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (2 hours 45 mins). We can also organise private transfers from either airport to the start point, just ask us for more information.
From Innsbruck, simply take the train back to Munich airport (approx. 1 hour 45 mins, direct) or depart from Innsbruck airport, which is just a 10 minute taxi ride from the centre of Innsbruck. Train times and more info can be found in English at www.bahn.de/en
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. Please note that there is no bag transfer to the Hallerangerhaus (day 4) due to its remote location. On this day, you will carry a few overnight necessities in your day pack, and you will be reunited with your luggage the following day at the next accommodation (day 5).
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and trousers), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which ncludes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Travel During the Trip
Some walks can be started directly at your hotel, and some require short transfers by local bus or cable car. These transfers are not included in the cost of the trip and are payable locally. Instructions and information concerning public transport will be given in your trip route notes.
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
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