Across the Alps: Bavaria to South Tyrol - 8 days

This Alpine crossing is rated moderate to strenuous but is suitable for beginner Alpine hikers. No prior Alpine experience is needed, just a good fitness level. The daily hikes cover a distance of 8 - 13 miles (13 - 20km) with an ascent/descent of 1968ft/3937ft (600/1200m). Most of the hikes can be shortened with public transport if necessary. You will be accommodated in high-quality 3 and 4-star hotels, ensuring a comfortable stay. Your luggage will be transferred each day, allowing you 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 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, Families with Teens, Groups > 10

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This tour is rated moderate to strenuous 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 (8-13 miles and 1600-3200ft of ascent/descent a day). There are a few exposed sections on the Merano High Mountain Trail that are secured with handholds and rope fastening.

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. The stages can also be shortened with public transportation. You should have a certain level of sure-footedness and no issues with height.

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. Important: Please be aware that both 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 Hikers

This trip is available to solo hikers but a solo hiker 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. 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 hikes are way-marked and we also provide you with access to our GPS smartphone navigation app with maps and route notes, so you will have no problem finding your way.

This hike is available to start on any day of the week from the beginning of July to the beginning of September.

On 31 August 2025 the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon will take place in the Ötztal. We will not be able to book accommodation in Sölden and the surrounding area from 28 August to 1 September. In addition, roads will be closed and bus services will be irregular. We are therefore unable to confirm any trips with accommodation in Sölden during this special weekend, as you will not be able to complete your tour as planned.

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. 

This tour starts in Füssen. Fly into Munich airport from where you can take a train to Füssen (3 hours) We can also set up private transfers from the airport to the starting point, please inquire with your Sales Specialist. Information on trains in Germany can be found in English here: www.bahn.de/en.

This tour ends in Merano. 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. One bag per person will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 44/lbs20kg per person.