Day 1: Arrival and hike to Bad Wiessee

Individual arrival by car or rail to Gmund am Tegernsee.
If you are planning to start your hike, deposit your luggage at the railway station there (by no later than 1 p.m.!!), otherwise in your own direction with luggage to the hotel (by public bus or taxi).

Then the warm-up hike begins on a sloping path ca. 100 m above the lake to Tegernsee. After a visit to the town’s brewery, there is the option to cross the lake by ferry to Rottach-Egern or to continue hiking diraction Wildbad Kreuth, back to Bad Wiessee by publuc bus (ca. 6-19 km, 250 m ascent).

Day 2: From Wildbad Kreuth to Achenkirch

Brief bus transfer in the morning to the starting point behind Wildbad Kreuth, first on a Steig to the Gaisalm, then along a gentle mountain ridge to the Bavarian-Tyrolean divide, with marvellous views of the plains of the Tegernsee and towards the Zillertal Alps.

After a short break and snack, we follow the rustic Blaubergalm through the hunting grounds of the Habsburg Emperors to Achenwald or Achenkirch (ca. 17 km, 850 m ascent, 6 hours).

Day 3: From Achenkirch to Maurach am Achensee

On one of Tyrol’s most beautiful routes along the western shore of the Achensee, a gently undulating walk, well-developed with some steps and handrails, a climb leads to the Gaisalm (can only be reached on foot or by boat), a magnificent landscape with small waterfalls, mixed forests and alluvial cones.

First we reach Pertisau and then, on a hiking trail beside the Achensee rack-railway, the stage destination of Maurach (ca. 13 km, 200 m ascent, 4 hours).

Day 4: From Maurach to Hochfügen

In the morning by public bus or railway to Fügen, short walk thru this village to the valley station of the Spieljochbahn
and ride up to the Spieljoch. Today’s hike offers majestic views of the surrounding mountain scenery of the Zillertal, the Karwendel and the Rofangebirge.

In surroundings with centuries-old Swiss pines, Alpine roses and granite rocks, the hike begins over the Gartlalm to the Loassattel. The Alpine guesthouse Loas – an insider tip – welcomes hikers with Tyrolean specialities, before the hike continues comfortably to the winter sport location Hochfügen (ca. 15 km, 500 m ascent, 800 m descent, 6 hours).

Day 5: From Hochfügen to the Melchboden and on to Mayrhofen

Today’s hike leads through historic mountain villages, which can only be found in the Zillertal. Past rocks polished by the glacier, the route leads onto the Sidanjoch and to the nearby Astkogel hut, and just a short climb to the Mitterwandskopf, before climbing to the Melchboden on the Zillertaler Höhenstraße.

The public bus will save hikers’ knees by taking them down into the Zillertal to Mayrhofen (ca. 11 km, 900 m ascent, 5 hours).

Day 6: Mayrhofen – main Alpine divide – Pfitschtal

Today we cross the main Alpine divide! First by public bus to the Schlegeis Stausee at an altitude of 1,800 metres above sea level, already providing a fantastic view of the light-blue lake and the magnificent glaciers.

A comfortable climb up to the Pfitscherjochhaus just across the Italian border, the highest point of the day at 2,275 metres. After a break and a snack, down to the valley floor of the Pfitschtal and to today’s destination, St. Jakob or Platz (ca. 13-18 km, 500 m ascent, 850 m descent, 5-6 hours).

Day 7: From Pfitschtal to Sterzing in South Tyrol

A stage with ascents of only a few metres, but with many highlights at the end of the Alpine crossing.

Through the broad, picturesque valley floor with its rustic farmhouses and typical South Tyrolean stone churches, at the conclusion via a small hill directly to the Gothic centre of Sterzing, mostly easy paths (ca. 15-20 km, 150 m ascent, 650 m descent, 5-6 hours).

Day 8: Return transfer and departure

Return transfer to the first hotel at Tegernsee, individual departure from there.