Day 1: Arrival and walk to Bad Wiessee, warm-up walk

Individual arrival by car or train to Gmund or Bad Wiessee on Lake Tegernsee.

If you plan to walk today, drop your luggage at the local railway station (by 13:00 at the latest); if arriving later, make your own way with your luggage to the hotel (by bus or taxi).

Your Alpine crossing adventure begins on arrival day: After starting the tour — we recommend setting off on the first stage around midday — in Gmund, this first half-day walk follows the Tegernseer Höhenweg, which runs about 100 metres above the north shore and offers wonderful views, to the intermediate goal of Tegernsee (the town; introductory stage). A visit to the Brauhaus right on the lake shouldn’t be missed. After a short crossing on the unique rowing ferry to Rottach-Egern (no dogs), walk along the lakeshore to your overnight stop, Bad Wiessee, on the south side; alternatively, a Lake Tegernsee boat trip is possible. There are plenty of options around Lake Tegernsee for dinner.

Day 2: From Wildbad Kreuth to Achenkirch

In the morning a transfer takes you to the start of today’s walk, the second stage, at Kreuth-Siebenhütten. After a few metres on a forest track, a good mountain path leads through mixed woodland to the first alpine pasture area at the unserved Gaisalm. Following signs towards Schildenstein/Blaubergalm along a gentle ridge, you finally reach the Bavaria–Tyrol border crest with its characteristic dwarf pine vegetation. Majestic panoramas open up from the Lake Tegernsee foothills to the Karwendel and the Zillertal Alps. After a little over 3 hours of walking, we recommend a bite to eat at rustic Blaubergalm (the only refreshment stop on this stage) before the descent on easy paths through the former Habsburg hunting grounds to Achenwald or Achenkirch (17 km, 820 m ascent, 770 m descent).

Day 3: From Achenkirch to Maurach on Lake Achensee and on to Fügen

Often called Tyrol’s most beautiful walking path, today’s stage enchants along the west shore of Lake Achensee. From your hotel in Achenkirch, follow the well-built trail with gentle ups and downs — including short sections with steps and handrails — to the Gaisalm. The path to Tyrol’s only alpine pasture reachable solely on foot or by boat impresses with a fascinating mix of waterfalls, varied vegetation and moraine cones above this Tyrolean fjord. There are places to swim, though at 1000m above sea level Lake Achensee rarely warms beyond 18 degrees, so it takes a little nerve. Continue via Pertisau and then along the lakeside path to the southern end of the lake at Maurach, also the departure point of the nostalgic Achenseebahn (steam rack railway). From there take train and bus to the stage destination Fügen in the Zillertal (14 km, 120 m ascent, 100 m descent).

Day 4: From Fügen over the Spieljoch to Hochfügen

After breakfast, take a short stroll to the Spieljoch cable car, then glide effortlessly by gondola up to the Spieljoch at just under 1.850m to enjoy fantastic panoramic views of the Zillertal mountains, the Karwendel and the Rofan range, and even as far as the Kitzbühel Alps and the Kaiser Mountains. A delightful path between dwarf pines, alpine roses, stone pines and granite boulders leads via the Gart Alm (we recommend the Kaiserschmarrn) to the Loassattel and on to the Alpengasthaus Loas. After a break and refreshment, amble along a partly shaded trail to today’s stage destination, the wintersports hub of Hochfügen (14 km, 350 m ascent, 740 m descent).

Day 5: From Hochfügen to the Melchboden and into the Zillertal

A walk through an alpine pasture landscape now only seen here in the Alps, offering fascinating insights into historic alpine farming. Accompanied by rocks polished by ancient glaciers, you reach the Sidanjoch. The nearby Rastkogelhütte affords superb long-distance views over the Inn Valley, the Karwendel and the Tux Alps. After a short climb to the Mitterwandskopf, a picturesque trail leads past traces of the Ice Age, little tarns and along a ridge to the Melchboden. From there, spare your knees by taking the public bus down the Zillertaler Höhenstraße. Depending on your overnight location, continue by bus or on the Zillertalbahn to Aschau or Mayrhofen (11 km, 840 m ascent, 300 m descent).

Day 6: Mayrhofen/Aschau - Schlegeis - main Alpine ridge - Pfitschtal

Today’s the day: you cross the main Alpine ridge! In the morning take the bus along the toll road to the Schlegeis Stausee (1800 m high) and the start of today’s stage. The impressive dam — built in the early 70s for energy and water supply — holds back one of Austria’s largest reservoirs, fed by the glaciers behind it. Rushing streams and imposing waterfalls, scree and moraine fields characterise the moderate ascent on the well-maintained trail to the Pfitscherjoch through this almost otherworldly landscape. Just before the serviced Pfitscherjochhaus you cross the border into Italy/South Tyrol at 2275 m, the highest point of the day — the main Alpine ridge is crossed. The path then leads, sometimes steeply, down through gentle pastureland and later shade-giving mixed forest into the Pfitschtal and on to your accommodation in St. Jakob (13 km, 480 m ascent, 820 m descent).

Day 7: From the Pfitschtal to Sterzing in South Tyrol

The final stage runs along the valley floor of the Pfitschtal on a gently descending path — always accompanied by the Pfitscher Bach — with shady woodland sections, lush meadows beside picture-book farmhouses and stone churches. To finish, there’s a short climb at Flains before you stroll straight into the picturesque centre of Sterzing. That’s the Tegernsee–Sterzing Alpine crossing completed. Bravo, congratulations!! (20 km, 140 m ascent, 640 m descent).

Day 8: Return transfer and departure

Organised return transfer by shuttle bus from Sterzing to Lake Tegernsee (car parks, railway station)

An Alpine crossing from Lake Tegernsee via Lake Achensee, the Ziller Valley and the Pfitscherjoch to Sterzing, approx. 90 km over seven stages. Accommodation in hotels and guesthouses with half board, luggage transfer from Bad Wiessee to Sterzing.

Transfers to Kreuth and to the Schlegeis-Stausee, as well as the return transfer to Lake Tegernsee, are included. GPS data are available to download. No dogs are allowed on the rowing boat ferry on Lake Tegernsee.

Public transport fares are extra.