-
Unforgettable Walks
-
With You Every Step
-
Hand-Picked Hotels With Warm Hospitality
-
Mountain Holiday Specialists Since 1997
A highly flexible mountain walking holiday in Austria's magical Tyrol, largely undiscovered by UK walkers.
Abundant in fabulous walks, the Zugspitz Arena is where the Tyrol meets Bavaria. Whether you stroll tranquil meadows or trek exposed ridges, our classic mountain walking holidays in the Austrian Alps suit all fitness levels. Waymarked trails at different elevations ensure flower-rich hikes in landscapes punctuated by orchids, alpenrose, and lilies, not to mention sparkling tarns, cascading waterfalls, and startling limestone peaks.
Our base is the 4* Superior Hotel Sonnenspitze in charming Ehrwald, the perfect springboard for this glorious natural arena. Your own Collett’s Walk Pack will help you plan your days, and the daily support and knowledge of our Walks Team is the icing on the cake for a succession of unforgettable walks. Then indulge in the exquisite comforts, spa, cuisine, and hospitality of a stunning hotel.
Take a look at what our guests, Meryl & Jez Wilcox, thought of this holiday in their Austrian Alps walking holiday review.
Browse this page to find out more, and when ready, click on Enquire or Book Now, submit a little information, and let our skilled enquiry team make this holiday a treasured reality.
At a Glance
Dates
14th June – 28th September 2025
Arrive & Depart Any Day. Stay as long as you wish.
Price
Half Board – from £1150
Self Catering – from £795
Prices are for 7 nights.
Grade
All Grades – Easy & Idyllic, Moderate Classics & Challenging Trails.
What’s Included
The 4* Superior Hotel Sonnenspitze – including bed, breakfast, and 4-course dinner each evening. Attractive self-catering options are also available.
Walk Pack – Everything you need to guarantee a holiday of memorable self-guided walks that suit your level of fitness. This includes a Holiday Handbook, 1:25,000 local map, comprehensive walk notes, and free access to our smartphone App for easy navigation.
Walks Team – Join us and other like-minded guests each evening at Office Hour. Optional and informal, plan your days over maps, Walk Packs, and a relaxing drink.
Guest Pass – free bus transport to and from local trailheads in and around the Arena, plus a range of local discounts.
Travel
This holiday is based in Ehrwald, so we recommend flying into Munich Airport for an onward 2-hour train (or Flixbus) connection to nearby Garmisch, where a short train journey links you to Ehrwald.
Or, you can fly-drive via Munich or Memmingen (Ryanair). For a competitive car hire quote please click here.
Example Munich Flights – London | Manchester
For information on how to get to Ehrwald from Munich and Memmingen airports, you can read our blog post, here.
Sample Itineraries
This uniquely flexible holiday lets you do what you want, when you want.
We provide comprehensive route notes, map extracts and smartphone navigation for:
6 Easy & Idyllic Walks, 6 Moderate Classics & 6 Challenging Trails
Available daily, our Walks Team knows every walk, plus some fabulous proposals for non-walking days.
Day 1
Arrive and Settle inAfter a warm welcome, relax and settle in. Your Walk Pack will be waiting for you. Join our Walks Team at Office Hour in the early evening. Ask questions and get your walk planning off to the perfect start. Enjoy dinner with everything sorted for the following day. Wednesday is a day-off for our Walks Team, so Wednesday arrivals can meet the team on Thursday morning.
Day 2
The Three Villages10.5kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 240m
The perfect start to a holiday of pristine alpine splendour. Meander idyllic trails through pine-scented woodland, profuse wildflower meadows, and open wetland, visiting the 3 main villages of the Zugspitz Arena.Day 3
Seeben Waterfalls7.5kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 200m
A flower-strewn stroll featuring sparkling streams, gushing with icy water from the peaks above. If you like, extend the route up to the waterfall. At the Brent Alm, perhaps brave a schnapps to acknowledge the end of a feel-good adventure?Day 4
The Seebensee Classic11.5kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 200m
This real favourite features a panorama-rich forest trail to the teal-blue waters of Seebensee, one of the most photographed mountain locations in Austria. Enjoy a coffee here, or push on to the cosy Coburger Hutte for good food and more mesmerising views.Day 5
Pestkapelle & Hochfeldern Alm8kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 300m
Today the cable car doors open to cowbells and abundant meadow flowers before a stunning easy walk leads you to a delightful lunch stop at the Hochfeldern Hut. Drool over amazing views of the Zugspitze, pass the beautiful Pestkapelle (chapel) and drop in on the quaint hamlet of Obermoos on your return to Ehrwald.Day 6
The Plattenweg & Gams Alm Pastures7.5kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 285m
The best of the Tyrol on a heavenly ramble of woodland trails, upland flower pastures, and often, live Tyrolean music at the Gams Alm, where you can look out for wild Gams over a drink and/or food. A tranquil descent through more flower meadows is all you have left to do.Day 7
The Heiterwang Lakes Circuit10kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 85m
The glistening blue Heiterwanger Lake is the area’s largest. The easy, circular walk around it is a wonderful day of enchanting Tyrolean landscapes. The cafe at the far end (ferry available!) offers well-earned refreshment, and a chance to reflect on your time in the magnificent Zugspitz Arena.Day 8
Depart or Extend your stayIndependent onward travel. Staying longer than 7 nights? Just keep enjoying the walks by working through your Walk Pack and joining the Walks Team at Office Hour.
Day 1
Arrive and Settle InAfter a warm welcome, relax and settle in. Your Walk Pack will be waiting for you. Join our Walks Team at Office Hour in the early evening. Ask questions and get your walk planning off to the perfect start. Enjoy dinner with everything sorted for the following day. Wednesday is a day-off for our Walks Team, so Wednesday arrivals can meet the team on Thursday morning.
Day 2
The Three Lakes12kms, Walking Time 4 – 5hrs, Ascent 400m
A much-loved scenic classic, featuring 3 mountain lakes and the source of the River Loisach. Enjoy tranquil woodland paths, teal-blue lakes, paddling opportunities, a secret bathing spot, and sensational views. And how about apple strudel in Biberwier on the way home?Day 3
Alpkopf and Berwang Valley12kms, Walking Time 4 – 5hrs, Ascent 250m
A summit ascent, assisted by a gondola ride, rewards you with awesome mountain views, before a truly idyllic ramble of quaint hamlets, gushing streams, and the gentle clanging of cowbells.Day 4
The Gams Alm & Ehrwalder Alm Circular16kms, Walking Time 5 – 6hrs, Ascent 700m
A stunning circumnavigation of the monumental Zugspitz, featuring popular huts, the Gams Alm and the Brent Alm. This floral-rich walk is towered over by spellbinding rock formations and rewards walkers with amazing bird’s-eye views of the entire Zugspitz Arena.Day 5
The Höllkopf Peak5.2kms, Walking Time 3 – 4hrs, Ascent 600m
Hike to a stand‐alone peak after 2 chairlifts give you an inspirational start to the day. Soak up tantalising views on a gradual ascent to the summit, where more majestic panoramas to the south await. On a clear day, you can even glimpse Italy.Day 6
Wolfrathauser Hutte & The Hidden Valley,9.6kms, Walking Time 4 – 5hrs, Ascent 450m
Wallow in the iconic alpine beauty of the Zugspitz Arena on a feel-good hike, featuring pine-scented woodland, magnificent views, and 2 enchanting mountain huts, one where you are lovingly welcomed by a St. Bernard. Descend a picturesque valley for a short bus ride back to Ehrwald.Day 7
The Höllentalklamm ‐ 'Hell Valley'10kms, Walking Time 5 – 6hrs, Ascent 650m
A wet weather winner! The more rain, the better! Starting in nearby Bavaria,not far from Garmisch, tunnels and bridges lead you through a gorge with a thundering river below you. Then come the waterfalls with their ubiquitous spray! Nothing a warm drink at the Hollentalklamm Hutte cannot put right. Finally, you are captivated by the Zugspitze glacier, the sheer walls of its summit peaks, and a stunning view back into the gorge.Day 8
Depart or Extend your stayIndependent onward travel. Staying longer than 7 nights? Just keep enjoying the walks by working through your Walk Pack and joining the Walks Team at Office Hour.
Day 1
Arrive and Settle InAfter a warm welcome, relax and settle in. Your Walk Pack will be waiting for you. Join our Walks Team at Office Hour in the early evening. Ask questions and get your walk planning off to the perfect start. Enjoy dinner with everything sorted for the following day. Wednesday is a day-off for our Walks Team, so Wednesday arrivals can meet the team on Thursday morning.
Day 2
The Hoher Gang & Coburger Hütte15.5 km, Walking Time 6 – 7hrs, Ascent 950m
Walking from the door, this is a real favourite that ventures into tranquil woodland with panoramic viewing points. Your reward for an exposed, steep, and cabled section is the heavenly glacial lake, Sebensee. Further up at the Coburger Hutte, try a Kaisersmarrn and cherish the sensational views. You can relax now, as a short walk gets you to a cable car descent home.Day 3
Igels Torl – The 'Hedgehog Pass'11.5 km, Walking Time 4 – 5hrs, Ascent 800m
An off-the-beaten-track moonscape hike of flora, fauna, woodland, pristine tarns, and the fabulous views of the remote Brendlsee. In the Igels Torl, a glaciated rock bowl, Gams scatter over scree slopes as you traverse their space. Make your way down through woodland and floral-rich valleys for a cable car descent.Day 4
The Three Huts Circuit18.5km, Walking Time 7- 8hrs, Ascent 850m
This absorbing adventure unfolds in a largely unfrequented valley. It is a flower-strewn and fauna-rich itinerary, which features 3 fabulous huts, each with its local specialities, such as schnapps, grostel, and Kaisersmarrn. A long and varied day out with exceptional views.Day 5
The Bichlbacher & Tuftl Alms11.5km, Walking Time 7 – 8hrs, Ascent 900m
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 Challenge11 km, Walking Time 5 – 6hrs, Ascent 1340m
Today features lush meadows, craggy spires and the awesome scenery of the Wetterstein mountains. At a rusty gate, you cross into Bavaria and traverse a deep, glaciated bowl to refuel at the Knorrhutte. A glacial valley ascent in moonscape terrain provides cable car access to Germany’s highest point, a panoramic inspiration. A dramatic cable car descent whisks you home.Day 7
Daniel Peak18km, Walking Time 7 – 8hrs, Ascent 1600m
It’s time to conquer Daniel, looming large over Ehrwald, a jewel of the Arena. This classic circular trek includes aromatic pine woodland, 2 high passes, exposed rocky landscapes, a ridge traverse and a panoramic summit, where you can survey each of your previous holiday hikes. Raise a glass to the joys of the Zugspitz Arena at the Tuftalm on the long descent home.Day 8
Depart or Extend your stayIndependent onward travel. Staying longer than 7 nights? Just keep enjoying the walks by working through your Walk Pack and joining the Walks Team at Office Hour.
Available Accommodation
4-Star & Self-catering
Testimonials
Why book with Collett’s?
Unforgettable Walks
With You Every Step
Hand-Picked Hotels With Warm Hospitality
Mountain Holiday Specialists Since 1997
Need to Knows
Our Day Off – Wednesday is the day-off for our Walks Team in Ehrwald. There is no Office Hour. However, there is always somebody to meet and settle in arrivals.
ETIAS – The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is not due to be introduced until mid-2025. Currently there is not an exact date as to when it will come into force. This means you do not need to have a ETIAS for travel to Europe at the moment. For more information read our blog article here
Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.
At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.
Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.
Passport & Visa – any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.
Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.
Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.