Walking Holidays in the Austrian Alps

Day 2

The Three Lakes, 12km, 4 – 5 Hours Walking,  400m Ascent
A real favourite, this scenic circular walk features 3 mountain lakes, as well as the source of the River Loisach. Have a coffee stop mid‐walk and do some paddling if you fancy it. Tranquil paths wind through pine woodland to a secret bathing spot with enchanting views. The next lake, Blindsee, is a real gem, often enticing walkers to join the scuba divers in its temperate, teal-coloured waters. And the final lake is Mittersee, a Tyrolean spectacle bedecked by wooden cabins. In Biberwier, try the area’s finest apple strudel, before traversing the Moosweg to Ehrwald, or having another slice and taking the bus! 

Day 3

Alpkopf and Berwang Valley, 12 km,  4 – 5 Hours Walking,  250m Ascent
A panoramic summit with sensational views of the Wetterstein and Lechtal mountains. Then a truly idyllic ramble alongside streams and through quaint hamlets. Starting in tranquil Bichlbach, a gondola provides some easy elevation and good access to the summit of Alpkopf, where exquisite views of remote valleys await you. A gradual descent features traditional hamlets, sparkling streams and the gentle clanging of cowbells.

Day 4

The Gams Alm & Ehrwalder Alm Circular, 16 km, 5 – 6 Hours Walking, 700m Ascent
A stunning circumnavigation of the monumental Zugspitz, featuring two of our favourite huts, the Gams Alm and the Brent Alm. This classic walk unwinds on flower-rich tracks and trails. Towering above you are spellbinding rock formations, whilst below, you have the most sensational view of the Zugspitz Arena. It’s a unique bird’s eye experience that reveals most of what you have already hiked and most of what you still have to come.

Day 5

The Höllkopf Peak, 5.2 km,  3 – 4 Hours Walking,  600m Ascent
This is a hike to an inspirational and easily-accessed stand‐alone peak. The walk starts with an ascent to 1600m on 2 chairlifts. It’s a fabulous start to today’s adventure, as you soak up tantalising views with your feet brushing the treetops. It’s a gradual ascent on a well-constructed but tranquil path up to the summit. Remember to sign the summit book! Then savour majestic views to the south, which stretch as far as Italy on a clear day.  

Day 6

Wolfrathauser Hutte & The Hidden Valley, 9.6km,  4 – 5 Hours Walking,  450m Ascent
This walk reaffirms the sheer beauty of the Zugspitz Arena. It is a classic hike in an iconic alpine landscape featuring two enchanting mountain huts and wonderful views of the colossal Zugspitze and the Zugspitz Arena below. You get some initial ascent via a gondola, spilling you out into atmospheric, pine-scented woodland for a few switchbacks. A loving St Bernard is likely to greet you at Wolfrathauser Hutte, as you emerge from the forest. This hut is renowned for the diversity of its schnapps menu. You then descend into a picturesque valley, which has a second, more secluded hut. A fire road completes your descent and then it’s a short bus ride back to Ehrwald.

Day 7

The Höllentalklamm ‐ “Hell Valley”,  10 km,  5 – 6 Hours Walking,  650m Ascent
This is another big favourite, because it is so different. Reluctantly, we feel duty-bound to tell you that this is a real winner in wet weather! Indeed, the more rain, the better! The walk actually starts over the nearby border in Bavaria, where you negotiate a narrow gorge using tunnels and bridges. Simultaneously, below you, a thundering river powers its way down to the valley. Getting close to the waterfalls that follow is irresistible. Walkers submit to the spray, but it’s nothing that a warm drink at the Hollentalklamm Hutte cannot put right. The upper part of the walk is a scenic feast and you will be captivated by the Zugspitze glacier and the sheer walls of its summit peaks.

Day 8 - Depart or extend your stay

Independent onward travel. 

Looking to stay for more than 7 nights?
Guests who book for more than 7 nights will still receive our standard Walk Pack.
You might want to spend your additional days relaxing in the village, visiting nearby places of interest or partaking in other locally-supplied alpine activities.
But if you are simply looking for more walking, our Walks Team will be on hand to support this. They will be expecting you and we have an extended selection of wonderful walks of your chosen grade for you to pick from – all with comprehensive route notes and maps.

Day 2

The Hoher Gang & Coburger Hütte,  15.5 km,  6 – 7 Hours Walking,  950m Ascent
This is surely one of our most popular challenging walks. Venture out from the door into tranquil woodland to panoramic viewing points. Then negotiate an exposed, steep, and cabled section to your reward, the Seebensee, a heavenly glacial lake, before you climb further to your gastronomic prize, the Coburger Hutte, perfect for appreciating inspirational views over a Kaisersmarrn, a hearty Tyrolean dessert, all in the knowledge that it’s an easy walk to a cable car descent back to Ehrwald. 

Day 3

Igels Torl – The “Hedgehog Pass”,  11.5 km,   4 – 5 Hours Walking,  800m Ascent
An off-the-beaten-track moonscape hike of flora, fauna and pristine tarns. A woodland trail spills you out into the Igels Torl, a glaciated rock bowl, where Gams scatter over scree slopes as you traverse their space. A short, steep saddle drops you into more moonscape terrain with views of the remote Brendlsee. Your descent is through woodland and floral-rich valleys and then cable car. 

Day 4

The Three Huts Circuit,  18.5km,   7- 8 Hours Walking,  850m Ascent
This adventure unfolds in a lesser-frequented valley, which accommodates the annual trail running festival on its wondrous trails. There are three fabulous huts on this flower-strewn and wildlife-rich route, each with their specialities, such as schnapps, grostel and Kaisersmarrn. A long but varied day with exceptional views.  

Day 5

The Bichlbacher & Tuftl Alms,  11.5km,   7 – 8 Hours Walking,  900m Ascent
A classic alpine trek with all the ingredients of a memorable mountain day: exquisite upland pastures, tranquil woodland, glacial lakes and tarns and a wild, rocky landscape high above the Zugspitz Arena, where the views are sensational. Plenty of options to shorten the route if you spend too much time appreciating your glorious surroundings. 

Day 6

The Zugspitze Challenge,  11 km,   5 – 6 Hours Walking,  1340m Ascent
A day out on Germany’s highest mountain and Austria’s 14th – the border traverses the summit. Today features lush meadows, craggy spires and the awesome scenery of the Wetterstein mountains. Initially, you ascend by cable car, before lush meadow trails lead you to a saddle between two towering limestone cliffs. A rusty gate with an eagle insignia is your border crossing into Germany’s Bavaria. The traverse of a deep, glaciated bowl brings you to the Knorrhutte, where you can refuel on coffee and cake. Then you ascend a glacial valley of moonscape terrain and snow patches. To avoid the crumbling summit path, a cable car takes you to Germany’s highest point, where the panoramas are spellbinding. A dramatic cable car descent whisks you home.

Day 7

Daniel Peak,  18km,   7 – 8 Hours Walking,  1600m Ascent
Daniel looms large above Ehrwald, an ever-present jewel in the Arena. Now it is time to conquer it on a classic circular trek of two high passes and an overdose of alpine scenery. You start in aromatic pine woodland, emerge into exposed rocky landscapes before a ridge traverse delivers you to the summit. Here, it is yet another panoramic feast, as you survey each of your holiday hikes from this outstanding vantage point. Drop in on the Tuftalm for refreshment on the long descent to Ehrwald and celebrate the joys of the Zugspitz Arena over a well-earned final dinner. 

Day 8 - Depart or extend your stay

Independent onward travel. 

Looking to stay for more than 7 nights?
Guests who book for more than 7 nights will still receive our standard Walk Pack.
You might want to spend your additional days relaxing in the village, visiting nearby places of interest or partaking in other locally-supplied alpine activities.
But if you are simply looking for more walking, our Walks Team will be on hand to support this. They will be expecting you and we have an extended selection of wonderful walks of your chosen grade for you to pick from – all with comprehensive route notes and maps.