Self Guided Walking Holidays Tours & Trips in Austria and Italy

This challenging trek follows the famous E5 trail from Oberstdorf to Merano over six stages, each taking around 4-6 hours through high alpine terrain. You'll cross into Austria at Mädelejoch pass and walk the spectacular chain bridge in Holzgau before reaching the tour's highest point at Pitztaler Jöchl (2,990m) with glacier views. Nights are spent in 3-4 star hotels like Sporthotel St. Anton and Hotel Viktoria, plus mountain huts including Braunschweiger Hütte, with luggage transfers handled for you. The final descent uses a cable car from Hirzer summit down to Merano.

Walk through Partnachklamm gorge near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where waterfalls drop 80 meters through rock tunnels, then climb into the Karwendel mountains to Hafelekar at 2,269 meters above Innsbruck. Cross the Alpine ridge at Sandjöchl pass (2,165 meters), once used by smugglers, and take the Dolomieuweg trail to Rosskopf summit at 2,189 meters before riding the cable car down to medieval Sterzing.

Take the cable car up to Ehrwalder Alm and hike the Koatigen Weg to Igelsee, stopping at alpine pastures for Kaiserschmarrn in Austria. Cross into Italy at the Dreiländerstein where Austria, Switzerland, and Italy meet, then head down to Lake Resia to see its famous sunken church tower. Walk the high-altitude trail to Rescheralm, cross the suspension bridge over Tisser stream to Kastelbell Castle, and catch Val Venosta Railway rides to Merano.

Cross from Austria into Italy via the Timmelsjoch pass on historic smugglers' routes, then descend through the upper Passeier Valley with towering rockfaces and alpine meadows. In Austria, hike to the Leutkircher Hütte in the Lechtal Alps and ride the Venet cable car to 2,000m for beautiful ridge walks.

This 8-day self-guided hiking adventure takes you along the famous E5 Alpine trail from Imst in Tyrol to Merano in South Tyrol. You'll walk the Venet High Trail at around 2,000 meters with incredible 360° views, check out the peaceful Piburger See, and cross the historic Timmelsjoch pass at 2,500 meters.