Overview
Cycle between the sparkling freshwater lakes of Bavaria, with a backdrop of the forested slopes and snow-covered peaks of the Bavarian Alps. You will ride along quiet country roads, scenic lanes and riverside paths, through green forests, marshlands and alpine foothills, passing by lakeside market towns and traditional Bavarian villages. The majestic Bavarian capital Munich is a wonderful place to start and finish and have a few local draft beers. No matter if you are a beginner or an experienced cyclist, this tour is the best way to immerse yourself in the unique landscapes and traditions of Bavaria.
- Munich, the capital of Bavaria
- Mountain resort town of Garmisch Partenkirchen
- Opportunities to swim in the lakes on the route
- Beatiful views of the Zugspitze
- Bavarian tradition in Bad Tölz
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Munich
As you arrive at your hotel, prepare for your welcome briefing. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the city’s sites (English Garden, Town Hall, Hofbräuhaus etc.).
- Accommodation: Munich Marriott Hotel City West or similar
Day 2: Munich – Murnau am Staffelsee | 65km
The tour starts with a bike ride through Forstenrieder Park to Lake Starnberg. Then you cycle on the lakeside road to Seeshaupt, continuing through the rustic Bavarian towns, past the Osterseen lakes and Lake Riegsee to Murnau am Staffelsee.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 65km
- Accommodation: Griesbräu or similar
Day 3: Murnau – Garmisch Partenkirchen | 40km
You start cycling through the nature reserve Murnauer Moos (the largest swamp area of Central Europe). Later you continue through unspoiled nature, following the River Loisach to Garmisch Partenkirchen. The stage is brief, so you can have enough time to get on the Zugspitzbahn (a mountain railway), which takes you at an altitude of 2,962m from where you have a wonderful view of the Alps.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 40km
- Accommodation: Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten or similar
Day 4: Garmisch Partenkirchen – Wallgau | 20-70km
You cycle from Garmisch Partenkirchen via Klais to the beautiful Barmsee. Afterwards, you have the option of cycling directly to your overnight accommodation or taking a detour via Mittenwald and Scharnitz to the source of the Isar. A total of 300m in altitude are covered to Scharnitz; from there – slightly uphill through wild and romantic gorges and lush alpine meadows to the source of the Isar. Afterwards, you will cycle back through a sunny valley where you will have a marvellous panoramic view of the mountains of Karwendel and Wettersteingebirge, passing Mittenwald and finally arriving in Wallgau – a place where the Bavarian tradition is still a part of everyday life.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 20-70km
- Accommodation: Hotel Gasthof Post or similar
Day 5: Wallgau – Bad Tölz | 50km
Passing the Isarwinkel, you follow the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of the impressive Lake Sylvenstein. Cycling through charming landscapes, you pass Lenggries and finally arrive in Bad Tölz, located at the crossroads of two trade routes – the River Isar and the old salt route from Reichenhall to Allgäu.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 50km
- Accommodation: Hotel Kolberbräu or similar
Day 6: Bad Tölz – Tegernsee – Bad Tölz | 45km
You cycle through the scenic Tegernsee countryside to Gmund at Lake Tegernsee, where you have a beautiful panoramic view of the lake. Following the valley Gaißbach, you come back to Bad Tölz.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 45km
- Accommodation: Hotel Kolberbräu or similar
Day 7: Bad Tölz – Munich | 60km
The Isar bike path leads you from Bad Tölz over Geretsried and Wolfratshausen directly to Grünwald. After a few short climbs, you arrive back in Bavaria’s state capital Munich, where you can enjoy some time in the city relaxing and reflecting on your experiences from the week.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 60km
- Accommodation: Munich Marriott Hotel City West or similar
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own or extending your tour with an additional day in Munich.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of 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 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 default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel 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 buffet is included. 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. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or the restaurants in the town where you stay for overnight.
Difficulty and terrain
Overall, this is a rather easy tour, with a few short climbs that can be tackled easily by pushing the bike for a short section. You will cycle on beautiful bike paths and minor roads. Main roads will only be used for short distances. The route is mostly paved; some longer passages are on forest tracks, which are in good condition (read more about difficulty grades). Upon arrival, you will receive detailed travel information with route maps or overview maps, route description, tourist attractions and important telephone numbers.
When to go
This trip is available from April to September. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate the desired beginning date when booking.
Although it’s well known for city breaks, Oktoberfest and Christmas markets, Germany’s multi-seasonal treats stretch far beyond these clichés. Germany’s climate is typically northern European, and you can read more about temperatures, rainfall and events in our blog, Best time to go to Germany.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival/departure airport for this holiday is the one in Munich.
By train or bus
- There are good train connections in Munich.
- Multi-storey car park in Munich costs approx. € 15/day, to be paid locally, no reservation possible/necessary.
- There is also a free car park close to the hotel. Munich is about 10h from London by train (see more details).
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation on B&B basis (Breakfast buffet or an extensive breakfast)
- Welcome briefing with a local representative
- Luggage transfer between hotels (maximum weight of 20kg)
- Detailed digital travel documents including navigation app, GPX tracks and Roadbook
- GPS tracks
- 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.
- Ferry and bus tickets not mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- Tourist taxes
- 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.
- Printed travel documents
- Bike rental, including bike insurance
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- Extra night in Munich before/after the tour or in any of the towns along the route
Bike rental
In case you would like to rent a bike from us, we can offer a variety of bikes. All bikes are equipped with a combination lock, saddle bag (water-repellent), handlebar bag (water-repellent), a pump and service-set with tools with an extra bicycle tube. Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
Unisex bike 21/24-gears
- Gear: Shimano ALIVIO/ACERA derailleur
- Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43cm (body height approx. 148cm – 190cm)
Unisex-bike 7-gears
- Gear: Shimano NEXUS
- Back pedaling break
- Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46cm (body height approx. 155cm – 190cm)
Men’s bike 21-gears
- Gear: Shimano ALIVIO/ACERA derailleur
- Sizes: 63 / 60 / 56-51cm (body height approx. 165cm – 205cm)
Rental Bike PLUS
- Gear: DEORE/XT
- Suntour suspension fork
- Sizes: 63 / 60 / 51 / 46cm (body height approx. 155cm – 205cm)
E-bike
- Speed: 25 km/h
- 8-speed internal gear hub
- Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 46cm (body height approx. 148cm – 195cm)
