HIKING TOURS IN GERMANY

In Germany, the Bavarian Alps have their own unique heart and mystery. Heavily wooded with rocky summits rising high above the bucolic valley floor, the Bavarian Alps are the mythic home of gnomes and trolls and you can instantly understand why!

Ryder-Walker’s High Peaks of Bavaria and Tyrol hike, available in both guided and self guided variants, straddles the border of Germany and Austria as we circumnavigate Germany’s highest peak, the mighty Zugspitze. Highlights include high alpine lakes, quaint chalets in Mittenwald, and excellent hiking beneath the limestone summits of the Weterstein ridge. On this route, we visit the German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Garmisch is among the most charming villages on earth, with its fairytale buildings colorfully painted with murals and stretching along cobblestone streets where lively pubs bustle with local revelry late into the night.

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German mountain culture is one bound in truly historic tradition. It’s not uncommon to see Bavarian children biking to school dressed in full traditional garb, complete with lederhosen! The German phrase “tracht und trend” or “style in tradition” originated in Bavaria and describes the lifestyle perfectly. In Bavaria it’s cool to wear lederhosen and live like a hermit in the mountains – that’s the traditional way! The Bavaria region of Germany is everything you imagine about the country – it is ridiculously quaint, from the beer halls and lederhosen to the baroque streets of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The neighboring Austrian Tyrol echoes similar cultural sentiments, with massively charming villages that feel as though they haven’t changed in hundreds of years. Meanwhile, the Zugspitze which rises high above both regions reminds us of the majesty of the region’s mountains. Highlights of the Austrian Tyrol include luxurious hotels, the villages of Ehrwald and Weidach, and the Sonnenspitze mountain which rises as an imposing tower over the pastoral villages below. The traditional Austrian architecture, defined by its contrasting baroque and rural stylings, is among the most unique and striking in the Alps. 

Whether you are exploring the high reaches of the Tyrolean mountains or the lakeside forests of Bavaria, hiking in Germany offers a distinct charm and sense of wonder. Experience a bit of everything while hiking in Germany. It’s perfect for beginners and experts alike, with options along the route to tailor your perfect circumnavigation of the Zugspitze.

An onion-domed church in front of Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze.

Fall in love with Germany and Austria during this 8-day village-to-village hiking tour through Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrol. Beginning in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a town with Roman roots and more than 2,000 years of cultural heritage, we hike a counterclockwise Zugspitzeturm—a complete circumnavigation of Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze. Our adventure begins by hopping on a cog wheel train and alighting...

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Price

$5100*

Guided Tour Date

September 5-12, 2024

Self-Guided Tour Date

June-September

COMFORT

EFFORT

TERRAIN

Trip Ratings Explained
High Peaks of Bavaria

Your journey begins in the charming town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Garmisch, located on the west side of town and Partenkirchen on the east side, evolved as separate towns, and still maintain somewhat separate identities, in spite of the modern hyphenated name. This is often overlooked by visitors, but the locals will point out subtleties, such as the color of the stitching...

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Price

$2500*

Guided Tour Date

Sept 5-12, 2023

Self-Guided Tour Date

June-Mid Oct

COMFORT

EFFORT

TERRAIN

Trip Ratings Explained
The Heart of Austria Mini Trek

Scenic valleys, countless lakes, and rolling hills typify the Salzkammergut. For most, the trip will begin in Salzburg. As you travel out of this fabled village the magic of the region is immediately apparent. From the first idyllic lake you come upon, the Wolfgangsee, you know you have arrived in a very special place. After a brief layover in Bad...

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Price

$1725*

Self-Guided Tour Date

Mid June - September

COMFORT

EFFORT

TERRAIN

Trip Ratings Explained

Hear It From Our Guests

“Hikes were perfect! Just the right level of effort and challenge. Every day had its own charm. The inns were great and we enjoyed the fabulous breakfasts and German food was great after long day of hiking!”
Rauni E.

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