Itinerary
- Day 1
Gmund to Tegernsee - Bad Wiessee or Kreuth
Your guide meets you at Gmund train station at 12:30 pm to begin the Alpine crossing. From there, you'll hike the Tegernsee High Trail, which sits about 100 meters above the northern shore and offers panoramic views across the lake and surrounding peaks. After some time on the trail, you'll stop at the lakeside brewery to grab a bite. From there, you have options: take a boat to Bad Wiessee, continue hiking on foot, or hop on a bus to Kreuth where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day hike along Tegernsee High Trail to Lake Tegernsee
- Visit brewery on Lake Tegernsee
Optional Activities
- Foot hike to Kreuth (alternative to boat or bus)
Landmarks Tegernsee Tegernsee High Trail - Day 2
Kreuth to Achenkirch
A morning transfer gets you to the Kreuth-Siebenhütten trailhead to start your day. The hike takes you through mixed forest that gradually opens into alpine terrain as you head toward Gaisalm. You'll walk along a gentle ridge with views stretching from Lake Tegernsee all the way to the Karwendel and Zillertal Alps. After about three hours of walking, there's a break at Blaubergalm where you can rest and have something to eat. From there, the path descends through what used to be Habsburg hunting grounds, eventually bringing you down to Achenkirch.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Kreuth-Siebenhütten to Achenkirch via Gaisalm and Blaubergalm
- Transfer to hiking trailhead
Optional Activities
- Refreshments at Blaubergalm alpine hut
Landmarks Gaisalm Schildenstein/Blaubergalm Blaubergalm Bavaria-Tyrol Border Ridge - Day 3
Achenkirch to Fügen
Starting from your hotel, you'll hike along the western shore of Lake Achensee on a well-maintained trail with gentle ups and downs. The route passes through different landscapes including waterfalls, alpine vegetation, and moraine hills. You'll walk by Gaisalm and then continue through Pertisau along the shoreline to Maurach, where the nostalgic Achenseebahn steam-powered cog railway sits if you want to check it out. Later, you'll travel by train and bus to reach Fügen in the Zillertal for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike along Lake Achensee western shore from Achenkirch to Maurach
- Train and bus journey to Fügen
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Lake Achensee (note: water rarely exceeds 18°C)
- Visit Achenseebahn steam-powered cog railway at Maurach
Landmarks Lake Achensee Gaisalm Pertisau Maurach Achenseebahn - Day 4
Fügen
After breakfast, head to the Spieljoch cable car and ride the gondola up to 1,850 meters/6,070 feet for wide views across the Zillertal mountains, Karwendel, Rofan ranges, and the distant Kitzb͠ühel Alps. The hike takes you through alpine terrain with mountain pines and alpine roses leading to Gart Alm. Keep going to Loassattel and Loas Alpine Inn where you can get refreshments before completing the walk to Hochfügen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Spieljoch (1,850 meters)
- Hiking from Spieljoch to Hochf\u00fcgen via Gart Alm and Loas Alpine Inn
Optional Activities
- Kaiserschmarren pancakes at Gart Alm
- Refreshments at Loas Alpine Inn
Landmarks Spieljoch Gart Alm Loassattel Loas Alpine Inn - Day 5
Hochfügen to Mayrhofen or Aschau
Today you'll hike through an unusual alpine pasture region that's been preserved in its original form, which gives you insight into how historical alpine farming worked. The route passes glacially-polished rocks and reaches Sidanjoch Pass with views of the Inn Valley and surrounding mountains. You'll climb to Mitterwandskopf and follow a scenic ridge path past glacial formations and lakes to Melchboden. From there, a bus takes you down the Zillertal High Alpine Road, then you'll travel by bus or Zillertal Railway to your overnight stop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Hochfügen through alpine pastures to Melchboden
- Bus journey on Zillertal High Alpine Road
- Transfer to Mayrhofen or Aschau
Optional Activities
- Refreshments at Rastkogel Hut
Landmarks Sidanjoch Pass Rastkogel Hut Mitterwandskopf Melchboden - Day 6
Mayrhofen or Aschau to Pfitschtal Valley
This is the main event of your trip, when you actually cross the main ridge of the Alps. A bus drives you along the toll road to Schlegeis Reservoir at 1,800 meters/5,905 feet, an impressive 1970s dam that's fed by glaciers. The hike climbs gradually upward along a maintained trail past rushing streams and waterfalls, crossing scree fields and stone moraines. You'll reach Pfitscherjoch Pass at 2,275 meters/7,461 feet and cross into Italy and South Tyrol. From there, the path descends through gentle alpine pastures and shaded mixed forest down the Pfitsch Valley to St. Jakob.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bus transfer to Schlegeis Reservoir
- Hike from Schlegeis to Pfitscherjoch Pass and descent to St. Jakob
Optional Activities
- Refreshments at Pfitscherjoch Hut
Landmarks Schlegeis Reservoir Pfitscherjoch Pass Pfitscherjoch Hut Pfitsch Valley - Day 7
Pfitschtal Valley to Sterzing
On the final stage, you'll hike gently downhill along the Pfitschtal valley floor with the rushing Pfitsch stream as company. The walk includes shaded forest sections, green meadows with farmhouses, and historic stone churches. Near the end, there's a short climb in Flains that brings you directly into the center of Vipiteno (Sterzing), completing your Alpine crossing from Tegernsee.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Final hike from Pfitschtal to Vipiteno/Sterzing
- Guided city tour in Sterzing
Landmarks Pfitsch Valley Flains Vipiteno/Sterzing - Day 8
Sterzing to Tegernsee
A shuttle bus provides your organized return transfer from Sterzing back to Lake Tegernsee, either to the parking area or to the train station.
Included Activities
- Return shuttle bus transfer from Sterzing to Tegernsee
Landmarks Tegernsee
