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Germany: Bavaria

Walking in Southern Bavaria

Trip code: W07OB

Average customer rating 4.7 / 5(28 verified reviews)

Self-Guided Walking
7 nights single centre
Steady
CO₂ rating 1/5
Headwater Navigation app

Trip highlights

On this self-guided walking holiday discover rolling hills, snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, and flower-filled meadows, creating a picturesque setting with sparkling waterfalls.

Explore impressive monasteries and regal palaces, like Neuschwanstein Castle which inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

Choose from a range of walking levels ensuring personalised adventures without compensating on breathtaking Bavarian scenery.

You can shorten your trip to 5 nights or add a Munich city break extension. Contact us for personalised options and details.

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Trip details

Explore a variety of well-signed paths, ranging from exhilarating mountain hikes with breathtaking views of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, to leisurely strolls through lush green valleys and serene wetland nature reserves. Enjoy lakeside walks and swimming at scenic Staffelsee, and explore the 14th-century Benedictine monastery, a Bavarian Baroque masterpiece. Don’t miss Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, on your free day.

What's included

Included

  • 7 nights in 3-star accommodation
  • All breakfasts and 1 evening meals
  • Headwater navigation app
  • Guest card for free local bus and rail travel and discounts on the cable cars, museums and other local attractions.

Not included

  • Flights
  • Local taxes/fees
  • Travel insurance

Travel options

Our travel specialists can arrange flights, rail and transfers to this holiday from wherever you are. Call us to plan your journey. +44 1606 720099

Itinerary

Route map, with each night's stop marked
The full route, night by night. Select the map to view it full screen.

Day 1 · —Arrive in Oberammergau

Arrive in Oberammergau

Arrive at your hotel in Oberammergau.

You stay at Hotel Alte Post

Exterior of the Hotel Alte Post, Oberammergau
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Hotel Alte Post

Oberammergau

  • American Express
  • ATM
  • Bank
  • Hairdryers
  • Mastercard
  • Safe
  • Tea & coffee
  • Television
  • Visa cards
  • Wifi access

The Hotel Alte Post is a family run hotel located within the heart of Oberammergau’s town centre. Dating back to 1612, it is one of the oldest inns in the town and has been run by the Preisinger family since the end of the 1900s. It is a traditional Bavarian style building, with white washed walls and beautiful frescoes painted on its outside walls.

The rooms are ensuite, comfortable and of a good size and most rooms come with views onto the village.

The hotel’s dining areas are rustic yet cosy, with wooden pannelled walls and even an old tiled stove, whilst the newly renovated Kofel Blick café is stunningly modern with a nod to its traditional past.

The hotel’s terrace is also perfect for dining, whilst watching the goings on in the village square and admiring the view of the Kofel mountain.

Day 2 · 8km/5.0mi or 13km/8.1mi or 18km/11.2miVillages of the Ammer Valley

Villages of the Ammer Valley

A perfect introduction to your walking week starts with a short (15 mins) ride on the little red train to Saulgrub. From here, you walk through the rolling Ammer Valley’s string of sleepy farming villages – Unterammergau, in particular, has a splendid Rococo church. Then head across the Pulvermoos, a wildlife sanctuary and habitat for 60 bird species including corncrake, dipper, whinchat and even snipe.

Elevation

Villages of the Ammer Valley elevation profile

Day 3 · 12km/7.5mi or 14km/8.7miMountains and Monastery Walk

Mountains and Monastery Walk

Start with a cable car ride to the top of the Laber (1685m) for panoramic views of Germany’s highest mountain – the Zugspitze (2962m) – and the Austrian Alps beyond. You then wind your way down through cool pine forests to the village of Ettal. After lunch, visit the amazing 14th century former Benedictine monastery, an outstanding example of Bavarian Baroque architecture. Return on an easy path along the pretty valley, passing the Barenhohle cave where there’s a figure of the resurrected Christ.

Elevation

Mountains and Monastery Walk elevation profile

Day 4 · 12km/7.5mi or 14km/8.7mi or 22km/13.7miStaffelsee

Staffelsee

Staffelsee is one of the larger of the many picturesque blue lakes dotted around this part of Bavaria. This beautiful stretch of water offers easy walking along the shoreline. Stop off in the attractive riverside village of Uffing (the boat landing station is the place for lunch and offers magnificent views of the lake backed by mountains). In the afternoon, either relax in the sun on the panorama deck of the little lake cruiser (payable locally), passing hidden coves and the lake’s seven islands (one even has its own tiny chapel), or return on foot along the quiet side of the lake.

Elevation

Staffelsee elevation profile

Day 5 · —Free day

Free day

A day off from walking today. Maybe take the local bus to Mad King Ludwig’s fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein with its stunning setting on a rocky outcrop; or take the funicular to the top of Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, to discover a breathtaking 360 degree panorama of endless peaks spanning Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. If you prefer to stay closer to home, spend the afternoon by the WellenBerg outdoor pool (swimming, sauna, jacuzzi).

Day 6 · 11km/6.8mi or 15km/9.3miSonnenberg Ridge Walk

Sonnenberg Ridge Walk

The Kolben chairlift whisks you up to 1270m, from where there’s a choice of routes up to the spectacular Sonnenberg ridge. Your route down passes a succession of crashing waterfalls and the reconstructed C19 whetstone mill at Schleifmuhle, followed by a pretty path through the meadows.

Elevation

Sonnenberg Ridge Walk elevation profile

Day 7 · 6km/3.7mi or 13km/8.1miLinderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace

An unmissable visit to Schloss Linderhof, the gloriously over-the-top Rococo palace built by Mad King Ludwig in 1878, inspired by Louis XIV’s chateau in Versailles. There are gorgeous French and Italianate terraced gardens and a golden fountain which erupts once every hour with a 30m plume of water. Return to the hotel along a tranquil path which winds back down the Linder Valley, through the village of Graswang with its beautifully preserved old farmhouses and pretty 17th century frescoed church.

Elevation

Linderhof Palace elevation profile

Day 8 · —Leave Oberammergau

Leave Oberammergau

What our travellers say

Excellent location for walking and visiting the famous castles of Southern Bavaria.

Mr Lucas

Southern Bavaria end of June beginning of July was spectacular – beautiful scenery, forests, mountains, flower meadows with lots of bees, butterflies, lovely area of a bygone way of living in the UK so lovely to see its still out there, beautifully painted houses and good walking with the services of rail and bus.

Mr Bagnall

The Hotel was lovely and clean, but as others have mentioned, on a main road with people walking past at night – not a problem unless the windows need to be open (no A/C). The food was really lovely traditional Bavarian food and the staff were friendly. One point worth noting – they may ask if you want your water with gas (not "ice" or "a glass" as I first thought). Turns out that means sparkling (obviously)! The route notes were almost completely flawless – just one bit of confusion in Saulgrub, but otherwise perfect. The walks were stunning and very well planned and the details of train times and costs were helpful too (although we managed to get some money off one train ticket by buying a "hopper" ticket instead of a return to Murnau). Overall a lovely experience, a good chance to practice my German (they seemed really pleased when I tried!) and a unique place to visit with lovely clear streams, cow bells echoing around valleys, mountains, waterfalls, quaint buildings and good food. Also, Herbert the taxi driver who picked us up from the airport was incredibly helpful and informative, and happened to have relatives in our home town of Malvern!

Ms Rees

An excellent location and a friendly family run hotel. The food was varied and interesting and the staff were helpful. The walking routes were well thought out and instructions were pretty good (we had one minor issue but were quickly back on the right track). The only thing to watch is that a number of days start with a rail , bus or chairlift journey so you need to have done your planning the day before to make sure you get to the right place at the right time. There were always different levels of walk on offer in the same location so would suit a group of mixed ability.

Mr Maitland

Hotel Jacuzzi great. Upgraded room great. Breakfast v. Good (healthy!), location v. Good. All the walks we went on were enjoyable for 1 boot. Bus to Schloss Neuschwanstein meant a (simple) change each way. A long day, but worth it.

Mr Osborn

Very good walking, lovely wild flowers, accommodation not good enough

Mr Fulford

Excellent location with access to beautiful walking country, but let down by a mediocre hotel.

Mr Finnegan

Value fir money 👍🏻

Mr Sheldon

Oberammagau is an excellent location for hiking and is a beautiful setting. The hotel was located conveniently for shops and transport. Unfortunately we don’t speak German so there was a little bit of a problem communicating with some staff when we asked questions although the tourist office was very helpful. The meals were very tasty although were a little small after a day walking- we noticed that other people who were being served from the a la carte menu, their meals were twice the size! E.g.Two Wiener schnitzel instead of one.Maybe it was because we had a four course set menu? Also when we arrived the hotel was not open as our flight was early and as everything is closed at lunch time we had no one to welcome us. The son who was not very friendly came eventually and told us to leave our suitcases in the reception area so we could go and wander for two hours, trusting that our suitcases were safe. All else was fine and we were given a glass of wine on checking out which was a nice gesture. The trails were good although for a one boot walk somevwere more challenging than we were expecting. We were going to recommend this holiday to my father in law but there needs to be something easier for his age range as he likes walking but more on a level. We have a lot of good memories and really enjoyed the holiday.thank you

Mrs Mackay

Very enjoyable holiday. Public transport and lifts always on time. Food wholesome but rather unimaginative. Bedroom and dining room very clean and comfortable. More help from an English speaking member of staff at reception would have helped us to get more out of our holiday as communication was not great. They were willing to try but we got no extra information ie Oberammergau theatre and tours were not mentioned nor cafes to visit in the rain.

Mr Latham
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Positive impact

Carbon score for this trip

13.0

Kg CO₂e

per person, per night

Relative to other Headwater trips

We measure emissions from the parts of the holiday we organise — including accommodation, in-trip transport, meals and activities — and express them as CO₂e per person, per night. Our label doesn’t include your travel to and from the start of the trip. As a Certified B Corp, Headwater is committed to reducing this figure and to positively impacting local communities, the local environment and our staff. Learn more

From the journal

Price on request