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Walking in the Bavarian Alps

70 mountain walks and treks in southern Germany

By Grant Bourne, Sabine Körner-Bourne

Guidebook to mountain walks and treks in the Bavarian Alps, on the border of Germany and Austria, between Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden. Accessible from Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck, these 70 routes range from half-day walks to 3-day hut-to-hut treks. Highlights include the Konigssee and Breitach, Partnach and Hollental gorges.

Seasons

most valley walks can be attempted early in the season (April-May); the majority of routes are best walked from June-September; lower altitudes until mid-October

Centres

Oberstdorf, Riezlern, Tannheim, Füssen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Walchensee, Lenggries, Tegernsee, Bayrischzell, Marquartstein, Reit im Winkl, Ruhpolding, Inzell, Bad Reichenhall, Ramsau, Berchtesgaden

Difficulty

valley walks suitable for all abilities; main routes are graded 1-3; none of the routes require climbing skills, and no special equipment required

Must See

the Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak), Königssee (a stunning mountain lake), karst landscapes, picture-book towns Oberammergau and Mittenwald, wild mountain gorges, alpine meadows, Neuschwanstein Castle, folklore traditions, opulent baroque churches, scenic rack railways and exhilarating multi-day tours
ISBN
9781852849290
Availability
Published
Published
19 Jun 2018
Reprinted
13 Jul 2023
Edition
Fourth
Pages
336
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.85cm
Weight
380g
Overview
A comprehensive guidebook detailing walks in Germany's Bavarian Alps. Lying along the German-Austrian border in a thin sliver of land roughly 300km long, this area contains some of the most spectacular walking and beautiful scenery that Germany has to offer.

70 graded walks explore mountain landscapes, wild mountain gorges and alpine meadows as well as the region's picturesque villages, opulent baroque churches and fairy-tale castles like Neuschwanstein. There is also the northernmost glacier in the Alps (Blaueis), Germany's largest ice cave (Schellenberg) and its highest mountain, the Zugspitze, all visited on walks described in this guide. The walks are divided into six mountain areas, grouped around base towns to make planning a walking holiday as easy as possible. Bases include Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Marquartstein, Inzell, Oberammergau and Ramsau among others.

The walks are mainly between 3 and 8 hours in duration, though some longer walks are included staying at mountain huts. The guidebook gives an outline of two multi-day tours and suggestions for shorter valley walks of less than 3hrs are also included. The Bavarian Alps make an ideal destination for an easy-to-organise and affordable walking holiday.
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Grant Bourne Cicerone author BOURNE

Grant Bourne

Grant Bourne is a New Zealander whose fascination with other lands and cultures has taken him through much of Asia, Africa, the Near East and Europe. He has written and illustrated numerous travel guides, the main focus being on Germany and New Zealand. His love of the outdoors has taken him not only along the magnificent tramping tracks of his native country, but also up the slopes of Mt Kenya in Africa, through the steamy jungles of Yucatan, the hills of northern Thailand and the trekking trails of Nepal. Now living in the beautiful Rhine Valley, Germany, he keeps himself (and his dog) fit by walking the many excellent trails along the Rhine, together with frequent walking holidays in the Bavarian and Swiss Alps. Visit Grant on Instagram under grantsbavarianalps

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Sabine Körner-Bourne

Sabine Körner-Bourne is a native of Germany and, like her husband Grant, is a keen hiker. Together they have explored numerous trails in exotic parts of the world. Nevertheless, Sabine has never lost her affection for the many beautiful tracks to be found in her home country.

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