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King Ludwig Way

Hiking on the King Ludwig Way in Bavaria

The route of the King Ludwig Path lives up to its name, as it takes you past the places where the popular aristocrat left his mark. Follow in the footsteps of the Fairytale King Ludwig II on this long-distance path through beautiful nature, baroque villages, and Lake Starnberg. 

Climb the 988m high Peißenberg for magnificent views over the Bavarian Alps to the fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

Details about the hiking holiday on the King Ludwig Way

The Bavarian lifestyle greets you every day during your walk on the King-Ludwig trail. The eight-day, enjoyable walking tour immerses you in untouched Bavarian nature and allows you to relax. It's a good thing that there are countless accommodation options in the foothills of the Alps.

The highlights of this walking tour at a glance:

  • Facing the famous peaks: You hike on the hilly foothills of the Alps with a view of the Ammergau Alps and the Zugspitze.

  • Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau: To this day, King Ludwig has left his mark in several monasteries and castles such as Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

  • Bavarian lakes, the Starnberger See and Ammersee: Bavaria's most popular seaside resorts. Enjoy the panoramic viewpoints on the route.

Worth knowing about the King Ludwig Way

On the first day, you can enjoy the flair of Lake Starnberg. After making your way to Bernried, you will have plenty of time to explore the town. For example, the Bernried Abbey or the "Museum of Fantasy". On relaxing walks, which are between 13 and 21 kilometres long, you walk from Lake Starnberg to the endpoint in Füssen.

Route summary

You walk on walking paths, forest trails, and asphalted paths. For tours through the Alpine foothills with a walking time of 4 to max. 6 hours, stamina and a good basic fitness level are required.

This tour has been graded as Medium. Find out more about our walking holiday difficulty levels.

Tour information
Medium
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Total walking distance: approx. 104 km
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Medium
Germany

King Ludwig Way

Self-Guided | 8 Days
Go to season 2024
To travel consultants

Itinerary

Through the nature reserve on the shores of the lake, you will hike over Ilka Heights, with a picturesque view of Lake Starnberg, to Deixlfurter Weiher. Passing pretty Bavarian villages with beautiful beer gardens, you reach the famous Andechs Monastery with its own brewery. A short bus ride to Herrsching and a leisurely boat trip to Dießen.

ca. 5 to 6 hours
21 km
270 m
170 m

From Dießen via beautiful meadow paths and past the castle chapel, towards the beautiful and peaceful forests. Over hilltops with stunning vistas, your walk leads to Wessobrunn, where you can admire the famous 'grey duke' (historic clock tower) and the natural monument Tassiolinde. In the distance, the Zugspitze greets you.

ca. 4 to 5 hours
13 km
240 m
80 m

Today you will discover the typical Bavarian foothills of the Alps, with its sleepy villages and remote moors. You hike steeply up to the Hohe Peissenberg, a great viewing point with a weather station and a fascinating alpine panorama. Then descend again to Hohenpeissenberg and continue at your leisure through forests and meadows to Peiting.

ca. 4,5 to 6 hours
20 km
410 m
400 m

From Peiting, your hiking trail leads to the romantic Ammerschlucht gorge. Numerous bridges lead through the gorge above the Ammer to Rottenbuch. There you will be met by a particularly beautiful monastery church. Along hilly meadows and with a beautiful view of the Alps, you walk to Wildsteig.

ca. 4 hours
14 km
270 m
110 m

From Wildsteig via idyllic marshes to the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Pilgrimage Church of Wies. Over rolling hills, through forests and colourful meadows with a view of the Allgäu Alps and the Koning-Ludwig-land on the Forggensee further towards your destination in Buching.

ca. 4 to 5 hours
19 km
150 m
220 m

You walk through nature reserves on the Hegratsrieder See and then either continue on the Forggensee-Uferweg or past the impressive castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau to Schwansee. Via the Calvary, you reach the historic market town of Füssen.

ca. 4,5 hours
17 km
300 m
300 m

Route information

The relaxed walks are alternated via hiking and forest trails and on paved paths. The tours through the hilly foothills of the Alps only require a little stamina and good basic condition. The walks vary from 4 to max. 6 hours a day.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights


Complete a Booking Request: King Ludwig Way

Make an enquiry about 2024 arrival dates and prices for this tour

Prices and services may vary depending on the travel year
Select travel year:
Place of arrival: Bernried am Starnberger See
  Season 1
07.04.2023 - 07.05.2023
18.09.2023 - 07.10.2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Season 2
21.06.2021 - 04.07.2021
08.05.2023 - 18.06.2023
28.08.2023 - 17.09.2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Season 3
21.06.2021 - 04.07.2021
19.06.2023 - 27.08.2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
King Ludwig Way, DE-MUWSF-08X
Base price
759.00
819.00
879.00
Single room surcharge 209.00 209.00 209.00
  • You will stay in carefully selected 3*** Hotels and Guesthouses
Season 1
Apr 7, 2023 - May 7, 2023
Sep 18, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Season 2
Jun 21, 2021 - Jul 4, 2021
May 8, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023
Aug 28, 2023 - Sep 17, 2023
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Season 3
Jun 21, 2021 - Jul 4, 2021
Jun 19, 2023 - Aug 27, 2023
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
King Ludwig Way, DE-MUWSF-08X
Base price
Single room surcharge
759.00
209.00
819.00
209.00
879.00
209.00
  • You will stay in carefully selected 3*** Hotels and Guesthouses
Season 1
Apr 7, 2023 - May 7, 2023
Sep 18, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023
Season 2
Jun 21, 2021 - Jul 4, 2021
May 8, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023
Aug 28, 2023 - Sep 17, 2023
Season 3
Jun 21, 2021 - Jul 4, 2021
Jun 19, 2023 - Aug 27, 2023
Bernried am Starnberger See
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
Füssen / surroundings
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
99.00
39.00
89.00
69.00
99.00
39.00
89.00
69.00
99.00
39.00
89.00
69.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Bernried am Starnberger See
  Season 1
Apr 7, 2023 - May 7, 2023
Sep 18, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Season 2
Jun 21, 2021 - Jul 4, 2021
May 8, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023
Aug 28, 2023 - Sep 17, 2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Season 3
Jun 21, 2021 - Jul 4, 2021
Jun 19, 2023 - Aug 27, 2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Bernried am Starnberger See
Double room p.p. 99.00 99.00 99.00
Single room surcharge 39.00 39.00 39.00
Füssen / surroundings
Double room p.p. 89.00 89.00 89.00
Single room surcharge 69.00 69.00 69.00
Prices per person in GBP

Services / Information

Services

Including

  • 7 nights as described, including breakfast
  • Boat trip Herrsching-Dessen
  • Luggage transfer(s) max. 1 piece of luggage 20 kg per person
  • Travel folder 1x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, luggage labels)
  • GPS data available on request
  • Service Hotline

Not included

  • Tourist tax, if applicable, to be paid locally
  • Bus rides Andechs-Herrsching, approximately €6 pp, Peißenberg-Peiting approximately €5 pp, Steingaden-Buching approximately €5 pp
  • (Optional) Return transfer to Bernried for €75 per person, surcharge dog €29 per dog. Pre-booking required, to be paid on site
Arrival information
  • Airport: Munich Airport, about 45 minutes by train to Bernried
  • Train: Bernried station on Lake Starnberg
  • Parking: Free parking at the hotel, reservation not necessary
  • Return journey from Füssen to Bernried by train, duration approx. 3 hours (two changes)
Sample hotel list

This is a sample hotel list. Hotels will be booked depending on availability.

Bernried

Hotel Seeblick 3***

www.seeblick-bernried.de

Dießen am Ammersee

Hotel Seefelder Hof 4****

www.seefelderhof.com

Wessobrunn

Gasthof zur Post

www.post-wessobrunn.de

Peiting

Alpenhotel Pfaffenwinkel 3***

www.hotelpfaffenwinkel.de

Wildsteig

Gasthof zum Strauß

www.gasthof-zum-strauss.de

Buching

Alpchalet Schwanstein 3***

www.alpchalet-schwanstein.de

Füssen/Surroundings

Hotel Hirsch 3***

www.hotelfuessen.de

Why book with Active on Holiday?

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