Overview
Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany at 2,962m, stands mighty on its southern border, commanding views into four different countries. On the Classic Zugspitze Circuit, you will start from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and make a full loop around the base of the mountain, following panoramic trails through beautiful scenery and traditional Alpine towns and villages, famous for their exquisite frescoes (Lüftlmalerei).
- Partnach Gorge
- Leutasch Valley
- Gaistal Valley
- Lake Eibsee
The walks are easy to moderate, up to five hours per day, the steepest sections being done by car or cable car transfers, so this holiday is appropriate for a wide range of walkers. Enjoy stunning gorges and idyllic alpine pastures and take your time to enjoy a typical Bavarian & Tyrolean hospitality.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Garmisch
Arrival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The resort was formed when the two towns united in 1935. Garmisch is considered the more fashionable part, while Partenkirchen’s cobblestone streets retain a traditional Bavarian feel.
- Accommodation: Rheinischer Hof or similar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Upgraded accommodation: Staudacherhof or similar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Day 2: Garmisch – Mittenwald/Klais | 16km
The day starts with a wild and idyllic walk through Partnach Gorge, where the waters of Wetterstein massif meet. You continue via soft rolling hills and alpine pastures to Klais or Mittenwald.
- Walking for the day: approx. 5h, 16km, ↑640m ↓430m
- Accommodation: Bichlerhof or similar in Mittenwald
- Upgraded accommodation: Post Hotel Mittenwald or similar in Mittenwald
Day 3: Mittenwald/Klais – Leutasch | 14km
Precise stone masonry cuts the route through the gorge into steep rock walls. Bold wooden footbridges cross the river up to 40m above the water. Enjoy the contrasting walk along the Leutascher Ache river into the valley. Past hamlets and meadows covered in flowers with the Wetterstein massif in the background, you walk into the widening Leutasch valley.
- Walking for the day: approx. 4h, 14km, ↑220m ↓30m
- Accommodation: Hotel Tirolerhof or similar in Leutasch
- Upgraded accommodation: Biohotel Leutascherhof or similar in Leutasch
Day 4: Rest day or circular tour | 11km
Today you can relax or take a hike to the most beautiful places in the area. Hike along the Jakobsweg to the panoramic view at the Ropferstubn or climb to the viewing lodge at the Brunschkopf. Take a leisurely stroll around Lake Weidach or up to the rustic Wildmoosalm.
- Walking for the day: approx. 4h, 11km, ↑350m ↓250m
- Accommodation: Hotel Tirolerhof or similar in Leutasch
- Upgraded accommodation: Biohotel Leutascherhof or similar in Leutasch
Day 5: Leutasch – Ehrwald | 17km
A short bus ride takes you to Gaistal valley. During the summer, you can spot the local Haflinger horses wandering across the fields and the brown and grey cattle and Scottish Galloways. You walk along the Ganghofer path through picturesque scenery and up to the Ehrwalder alpine pasture where Bavarian author Ludwig Ganghofer sought a retreat in the past. Take the cable car down into the valley and continue to Ehrwald.
- Walking for the day: approx. 5-6h, 17km, ↑440m ↓290m
- Accommodation: Hotel Restaurant Stern or similar Ehrwalder
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Alpen Residence or similar in Ehrwalder
Day 6: Ehrwald – Eibsee – Garmisch | 12km
Walk up to the foothills of Zugspitze and take in the famous Eibsee scenic view. The tour ends on the banks of lake Eibsee, with a full view of the Zugspitze-Garmisch panorama. From Eibsee, take the Zugspitzbahn train back to Garmisch (fare included).
- Walking for the day: approx. 4.5h, 12km, ↑540m ↓510m
- Accommodation: Rheinischer Hof or similar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Upgraded accommodation: Staudacherhof or similar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Day 7: Departure
Departure on your own or extension upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in welcoming 3-star hotels and country inns. All places have been carefully hand-picked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour. Please note that, in Austria, it is common practice for hotels and other accommodations to join twin beds together to make a double, with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view default hotels
- Rheinischer Hof (Garmisch-Partenkirchen)
- Bichlerhof (Mittenwald)
- Hotel Tirolerhof (Leutasch)
- Hotel Stern (Ehrwalder)
Note that hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel (from the ones pictured above) is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Staudacherhof (Garmisch-Partenkirchen)
- Post Hotel Mittenwald (Mittenwald)
- Biohotel Leutascherhof (Leutasch)
- Hotel Alpen Residence (Ehrwalder)
Note that hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel (from the ones pictured above) is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days, and for dinner, you will have plenty of choices for dining out. When no restaurant is available on the route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before.
Difficulty and terrain
The walking sections require a basic fitness level. You will walk on well-maintained walking trails and partly on forest paths. The steeper sections are negotiated mostly by transfers or cable car. Daily walking times are not more than 5h (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from end-May till early October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
For more information, please visit our blogs Best time to go to Austria and Best time to go to Germany
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Munich.
By train or bus
- There are good train connections from Munich. Once you arrive at Garmisch-Partenkirchen train station, you can reach your starting hotel by a short walk or a bus ride.
- Limited free parking is available at the starting hotel. Public parking garage costs approx. EUR 20 per week. No reservation possible.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 overnight in 3 and 4-star hotels
- 6 breakfasts
- Downhill fare cable car Ehrwald on Day 5
- Fare Zugspitzbahn from Eibsee to Garmisch on Day 7
- Luggage transfers on walking days (maximum weight of 20kg)
- Welcome briefing on arrival day
- Digital, detailed route descriptions, travel and tour documents
- GPS-data to use via our smartphone app
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Local tourist taxes
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Hotel upgrades
- Extra nights in Garmish-Partenckirchen before/after the tour or in any of the towns along the route
