Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday through some of Europe’s most underrated and exquisite mountain terrain: Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria and Berchtesgaden in the German Alps. Accessible by train, your starting point is either the lakeside town of Königssee or Berchtesgaden, both Bavarian beauties. From here, you walk on Alpine trails into Austria, exploring the exquisite elevated landscapes of Hohe Tauern National Park. If you love a lake swim as part of your mountain treks, this adventure is for you, staying in a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. This trip is not only accessible by train, but also for those who like to have their canines as companions, as it’s totally dog-friendly.
- Zauberwald
- Berchtesgaden National Park
- Mount Hochkönig
- Hohe Tauern National Park
- Mallnitz Tauern Pass
- Lake Millstätter
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Königssee/Berchtesgaden
Arrive in Königssee or Berchtesgaden. A Bavarian town in the Alps, Berchtesgaden offers mountain views, historic sites like Kehlsteinhaus (15mins bus ride away, payable locally) and a historic town centre. Königssee, a village with traditional Bavarian architecture offers scenic boat tours on the lake surrounded by mountains.
- Accommodation: Café – Pension Brandtnerhof in Königssee or similar
- Accommodation: Hotel AlpinaRos in Berchtesgaden or similar
Day 2: Königssee/Berchtesgaden – Weißbach | 18km
At the start of the day, you are transferred (15-20mins) to Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden. Walk through the forest of Zauberwald to Hintersee. Surrounded by steep, towering rockfaces, venture further into Berchtesgaden National Park. Cross the border with Austria, and descend on the path towards the valley, past the waterfalls of Seisenberg Ravine all the way to Weißbach.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 5-6h, ↑500m, ↓500m
- Accommodation: Landgasthof Seisenbergklamm in Weißbach or similar
Day 3: Weißbach – Dienten am Hochkönig | 13km
In the morning, we transfer you (20-30mins) to Maria Alm. From there, ascend to Pinzgauer Grasberge mountain ridge, where a high-altitude hiking tour awaits. Walk up extensive alpine landscapes, past wooden huts and numerous mountain peaks. The mountain village Dienten am Hockönig, located at the foot of Mount Hochkönig, is where today’s hike ends.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5h, ↑800m, ↓750m
- Accommodation: Hotel Hochkönig or similar in Dienten am Hochkönig
Day 4: Dienten am Hochkönig – Bad Gastein | 15km
Today you hike through Gastein Valley. Framed by views over the surrounding mountains, head south along the stream with Hohe Tauern Massif in plain view. Along Gastein’s high-altitude path, hike across deep gorges and promenade paths as far as the thermal springs of the historic spa resort, Bad Gastein.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5h, ↑750m, ↓600m
- Accommodation: Hotel Lindenhof or similar in Bad Gastein
Day 5: Bad Gastein – Mallnitz | 17km
Today’s hike is through Hohe Tauern National Park on an ancient path that connected the state of Salzburg with Carinthia for centuries. Step by step, explore Hohe Tauern National Park. Walk higher up to Mallnitz Tauern Pass, located at an altitude of 2,450m. We recommend taking a break at Hagener Hut before starting your descent to Mallnitz.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 6h, ↑850m, ↓1200m
- Accommodation: Hotel Kärntnerhof or similar in Mallnitz
Day 6: Mallnitz – Obervellach | 18km
From Mallnitz, walk through Seebach Valley and around Lake Stappitzer. Today, there are several gorges that need to be tackled on via ferratas and across waterfalls all the way into Mölltal Valley. Continue on through Groppensteinschlucht Gorge (entrance fee included) which offers a scenic route to the market town of Obervellach, where the hike ends.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 5-6h, ↑150m, ↓650m
- Accommodation: Landhotel Obervellach or similar in Obervellach
Day 7: Obervellach – Döbriach | 19km
Take a short bus ride (not included) to head south to Spittal an der Drau through Mölltal Valley. Today, you follow the Way of Saint James uphill to Mount Wolfsberg, across Millstätter Mountain Ridge, past Egelsee and into Egelsee Nature Reserve. Keep going until you see the deep blue waters of Millstätter See and continue along the lakeside until you arrive at Döbriach.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 5-6h, ↑400m, ↓400m
- Accommodation: Haus Kärnten or similar in Döbriach
Optional extension: Döbriach – Feld am See | 12km
Head straight for Sternenbalkon viewpoint with views across the lake and into the snowy high Alps. There is an option to tackle the summit of Mount Mirnock or go for a leisurely walk around it. Once you arrive in Feld am See, you can go for a swim in the cool waters of Brennsee.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 5h, ↑600m, ↓450m
- Option summit hike: approx: 17km, 7-8h, ↑1,400 m, ↓1,250 m
- Option valley hike: approx: 9km, 3-4h, ↑ 200m, ↓50m
- Accommodation: Landhotel Lindenhof or similar in Feld am See
Optional extension: Feld am See – Villach | 19km
In the morning we transfer you (25mins) to Lake Ossiach. From there, walk through Bleistätter Moor Nature Reserve to the final climb over Ossiacher Tauern mountain ridge. Walk with a view of Wörthersee as far as the lakeside promenade of Velden. From here take a short train ride (included) to Villach.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 5-6h, ↑550m, ↓650m
- Accommodation: Hotel City Villach or similar in Villach
Day 8: Departure or extension
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that, in Austria and Germany, 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 standard hotels
- Brandtnerhof (Königssee)
- Hotel AlpinaRos (Berchtesgaden)
- Landgasthof Seisenbergklamm (Weißbach)
- Hotel Hochkönig (Dienten am Hochkönig)
- Hotel Lindenhof (Bad Gastein)
- Hotel Kärntnerhof (Mallnitz)
- Landhotel Obervellach (Obervellach)
- Haus Kärnten (Döbriach)
- Landhotel Lindenhof (Feld am See)
- Hotel City Villach (Villach)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with a good level of general fitness. Daily walking distances range from 12-19km. The route mainly follows mountain paths, with some sections involving steep ascents and descents that require sure footing (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 the beginning of June until mid-September, commencing on Thursdays and Saturdays.
For more information on travelling in Austria and Germany, please visit our blogs Best time to go to Austria and Best time to go to Germany.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice for Germany and Austria.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this holiday are Salzburg Airport W. A. Mozart (SZG) and Klagenfurt Airport (KLU).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Germany and Austria without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Berchtesgaden and Döbriach. For more details, see the national rail operators DB (Germany) and ÖBB (Austria) or use the Omio planner above.
- Arrival from Salzburg Airport: take bus line number 10 to Salzburg Ferdinand Hanusch Platz B. From there take a direct bus number 840 to Berchtesgaden. The total bus journey is approximately 1h 20mins.
- Departure to Klagenfurt Airport: take a direct train from Villach Hbf to Klagenfurt Annabichl. The journey is approximately 54mins.
- Parking in a public garage or space in Berchtesgaden and Königssee is approximately €70 per week.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Welcome briefing
- Luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fee to Groppensteinschlucht Gorge
- Access to Navigation app
- Digital route description and holiday information pack
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Bus ticket to Spittal an der Drau on day seven
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- 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.
- Optional tour extension
- Bringing your dog
- Extra nights
- Return transfer Villach and Döbriach to Berchtesgaden every Saturday
