Alpine Beauty

Group members gather for the transatlantic overnight flight to Munich.

Upon arrival in Munich, we are met by our guide before settling into our motorcoach and enjoying a picturesque drive south to the Alps. We leave Germany and enter Austria, where we check in at our hotel in Salzburg. In the evening we meet for our welcome dinner.

Hotel Untersberg (4 nights)  

In the morning, we will set off on our guided city stroll through the centre - a pedestrian zone where we visit many historic sites related to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salzburg, which is also known as the “Rome of the North,” has many magnificent monuments from both the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Salzburg was ruled for centuries by Prince Archbishops. Highlights of our walk will include Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg Cathedral, and the Fortress of Hohensalzburg. The afternoon offers free time to explore Salzburg further on your own.

Today we will venture into the Bavarian Mountains to the Berchtesgaden area. On our first hike, we will walk through an enchanted forest to Hintersee. The “Zauberwald” (magic forest) is a pristine mountain forest. Created by a dramatic rockfall thousands of years ago, nature has formed a wild, romantic landscape with huge boulders. Our bus will pick us up at the quaint village of Ramsau and bring us to the Obersalzberg. Afterwards, we take the shuttle bus up to the peak, the “Eagle’s Nest”. Located at an elevation of 1,834 m, on a clear day the “Eagle’s Nest” offers a magnificent view across the Bavarian Mountains and the Salzburg Alps. From the bus drop off you have the chance to either take the elevator for the last 124 meters of elevation change, or you can walk a short panoramic way up which takes about half an hour. Of course, you can take the way down as well instead. In the afternoon we head back to Salzburg for dinner and overnight. (6.4 km, 2 hours, easy hike, 120 m elevation change)

In the morning we board our boat and sail across the crystal clear waters of Lake Konigssee to visit the church St. Bartholomew, located at the foot of Mount Watzmann. After 1810, St. Bartholomew became one of the favourite places for Bavarian kings. From here, we enjoy some free
time to explore the various walking trails that dip into the
National Park. Afterwards, we continue to Berchtesgaden and visit a salt mine before returning to our hotel.

This morning we leave Salzburg for Munich, Germany and have a guided city tour. Discover well-known sights such as the world-famous Hofbräuhaus, Marienplatz, and the Viktualienmarkt with its colourful outdoor stalls. Visit the Nymphenburg Palace, the former summer residence of the Bavarian elector princes and kings, with its beautiful and spacious gardens, and the site of the Olympic games. In the evening we arrive in Oberammergau and check in at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel Alte Post (3 nights)

We start our day with a visit to Ettal Monastery where we can catch glimpses of the lives of the Benedictine monks residing here. Dating from 1330, the building has been maintained and restored through the dedication and hard work of the residents and, at times, the knights. After that, we will explore one of King Ludwig II's dreamy castles, the Linderhof Palace. We discover King Ludwig’s safe haven within the mountains before we take a leisurely walk for 1 hour (about 5 km) to Graswang where we meet our bus again that brings us back to Oberammergau, or walk (another 6 km).

Our hike this morning brings us along the Ammer River north to Unterammergau. We walk through the Pulvermoos nature reserve. On a slight incline, we walk along Romanshöhe to Christuskreuz, which offers a magnificent view over the Ammer Valley. We stop at the mountain lodge Romanshöhe for lunch. In the afternoon continue along Gregorichapel back to Oberammergau. (11 km, 4 hours, easy hike, 143 m elevation change)

This morning we leave Oberammergau. Our first stop is the Wieskirche, a pilgrimage church and one of the most beautiful Rococo churches in southern Germany. Next, hidden in the seclusion of the mountains, is Neuschwanstein, a grand castle that epitomizes the architectural brilliance and vision of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II. We will explore this extraordinary structure before crossing into Austria in the afternoon. Our destination is a hidden secret, the enclave Kleinwalsertal, an Austrian high valley that can only be entered from German territory. After, check in at a privately owned hotel well-known for its delicious cuisine.

Hotel Almhof Rupp (5 nights)

Our day starts with a cable car ride to the top of the mountain right next to our hotel, the Kanzelwand. Within 10 minutes we cover 870 meters of elevation change, reaching almost 2,000 meters above sea level. Enjoy a lovely walk to the neighbouring peak Fellhorn, which takes about an hour to go up. Afterwards, follow the way down the mountain and stop in the quaint mountain lodge “Adlerhorst” for a refreshment. Take your time to learn more about the mountain between the two countries. Later you decide whether you want to follow the hiking path further down the mountain back to Riezlern where we cover 870 meters of elevation change in about 2 hours or you can walk 15 minutes back to take the cable car. Dinner in the evening at Almhof Rupp.

After breakfast we discover a magical place within the Alps, a natural monument. We walk through a canyon, a small creek that is bordered by high cliffs. The Breitachklamm is the deepest gorge in Middle Europe. We walk for about 1.5 hours at the edge of the Breitach Creek and have fantastic views of the raging stream. After almost 3 km we end in Tiefenbach. Our bus brings us to the mountain resort of Oberstdorf for lunch and time on our own. In the afternoon, back to Riezlern.

Today we cross back into Germany to catch a cable car to the top of Mount Sollereck. At the top, we follow a trail for about two hours, on a gradual decline, back across the border into Austria. Midway, we will pause at the Mittelalp mountain lodge, where you can enjoy a beer, fresh milk from the nearby grazing cows, or some fresh, handmade Austrian snacks. The hike ends next to our hotel. [6 km hiking / 300 m elevation change]

Enjoy a free day today in the beautiful landscape of the Austrian Alps. Local buses and cable cars are included. Take the cable car to Walmendinger Horn for an incredible view of the surrounding mountains. Or take the bus to Oberstdorf, the first village in Germany after leaving the Austrian enclave, for some shopping. In the evening we meet for the farewell gourmet gala dinner.

All too soon we have to say goodbye to the mountains and leave Riezlern for Munich, where we catch our flights back to Canada.