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Munich to Garmisch

On the trails from Munich to Mt. Zugspitze

This walking tour starts in the Bavarian capital of Munich, past rushing waterfalls, babbling brooks and beautiful lakes and heads out into rural Bavaria.

The cable car takes you to higher altitudes and allows you to explore Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Below you lies tranquil Garmisch and all around are hearty alpine huts and rustic benches.

Details about the walking holiday from Munich to Garmisch

Day three of this hiking tour takes you from Munich and Schäftlarn to Bernried. Through the impressive Maisinger Gorge, to the Moorsee to Possenhofen Castle, where Empress Sisi once spent her childhood.

After a morning visit to the Benedictine monastery in Bernried, we continue to Lake Starnberg. The lake district of the Osterseen with a stunning view of the Zugspitze. On day five, it's time to take a break. Or you can explore Kochel am See and immerse yourself in the culture and art collections of the region.

In the last few days, two more mountain stages await hard-working hikers. To Wallgau and finally to the Zugspitze, until you arrive in Garmisch at the end of your journey.

The highlights of the Munich to Garmisch walking tour:

  • Maisinger See: Through the impressive Maisinger gorge you reach the idyllic moor lake, which provides the perfect photo motif amid a dreamlike landscape.

  • The southern end of Lake Starnberg: From there the uniquely beautiful lake district of the Osterseen begins. Whether hiking or swimming - you are spoiled for choice!

  • The Zugspitze: 2,968 meters high is the highest peak in the Wetterstein Mountains and at the same time Germany's highest mountain.

Worth knowing about the hiking tour from Munich to Garmisch

The first hiking stage through the foothills of the Alps begins leisurely with only a few hills. To recharge your batteries, there is the option on day five to take a rest day or to circle the Kochelsee.

On average, 12 kilometres are covered daily, with minimal ascents of 200 meters. The daily walking time is a maximum of five hours.

Route summary

The first part of your hiking week leads you leisurely on slightly hilly terrain through the Alpine foothills. In between a day of rest lures with an option to walk around the lake before you are headed for the mountains towards Garmisch. As a finale enjoy two hiking tours with the Alps and splendid mountain panorama. All in all a hiking holiday full of enjoyment, with daily walking times of 5 hours maximum, whereas with both days in the mountains, you always have a choice between a more manageable and a more athletic option.

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. 80 km
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Medium
Germany

Munich to Garmisch

Self-Guided | 8 Days
Go to season 2024
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Itinerary

Seize the day of arrival to visit the centre of Munich with its numerous sights and experience Bavarian cordiality in one of the many characteristic beer gardens.

From the Bavarian metropolis, you walk along the river Isar through forests and meadows. Along the Way of St. James until the famous Schäftlarn monastery, you get to enjoy Bavarian delicacies and freshly brewed beer in the beer garden of the sanctuary. A short steep ascent takes you out of the Isar-valley to Schäftlarn.

ca. 3,5 to 4 hours
12 km
200 m
100 m

You walk through the impressive Maisinger Gorge to Lake Maisinger See, an idyllic moor lake amidst spectacular scenery. Onwards to Possenhofen, where Empress Sissi spent her childhood. Past the island ‚Roseninsel‘ and Sissi‘s beloved lido Feldafing the route leads you along the idyllic path along the lakeside of Lake Starnberger Sees.

ca. 4 to 4,5 hours
18 km
150 m
150 m

After a visit to the Benedictine monastery Bernried in the morning you proceed through the Bernrieder Park and picturesque nature reserves directly along the water. Soon you reach Seeshaupt, the southern end of Lake Starnberger See. This is the start of the wonderful lake district of the Osterseen-lakes, where you enjoy marvellous walks along their lakesides and a swim. You have fantastic views of Mount Zugspitze from the large Lake Ostersee, home of a multitude of waterfowl.

ca. 4 hours
16 km
50 m
50 m

A day for relaxation and enjoyment of a landscape, which was also very much appreciated by many famous artists such as Franz Marc and Kandinsky. Follow our hiking suggestion via bridges and footbridges to the Lainbach-waterfalls, which impressively pour into a gorge. You walk along the rock path around Lake Kochelsee as far as Schlehdorf. Finally, you take the boat back to Kochel.

ca. 3 to 3,5 hours
11 km
200 m
200 m

Today the first mountain tour awaits! The route leads you to the renowned Herzogstad on the bridlepath, which was already used by King Louis in order to reach his hunting lodge. Once you reach the top you take a well-earned break in the legendary beergarden or climb up to the Herzogstand, where you get a view all the way to Munich and into the high mountain range from the panorama-pavillon. Then you glide effortlessly into the valley by cable car, where you take the bus to Wallgau.

ca. 3,5 to 4 hours
7 km
750 m
0 m

As a finale a fantastic summit tour of Mount Wank awaits. You walk through the deep Finzbach-ravine and ascend to the Finz-alp, a little hut in a fabulous location. Onwards to the Esterberg-alp, you get to enjoy the specialities of the chalet before you embark on the final ascent through the forest to the summit. From above you see an unforgettable view of the entire Zugspitz-massif and the ‚Wetterstein‘-mountains, situated directly opposite the town deep below you! Then sway comfortably downhill by cable car to Garmisch.

ca. 5 hours
16 km
950 m
100 m

Route information

The first part of your hiking week leads you leisurely on just slightly hilly terrain through the Alpine foothills. In between a day of rest lures with an option to walk around the lake before you are headed for the mountains towards Garmisch. Enjoy two hiking tours with the alps and splendid mountain panorama as a finale. All in all a hiking holiday full of enjoyment, with daily walking times of 5 hours maximum, whereas with both days in the mountains, you always have a choice between a more accessible and a more athletic option.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights


Complete a Booking Request: Munich to Garmsich

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: Munich
  Season 1
20.05.2023 - 03.06.2023
17.09.2023 - 07.10.2023

Saturday
Season 2
04.06.2023 - 24.06.2023
27.08.2023 - 16.09.2023

Saturday
Season 3
25.06.2023 - 26.08.2023

Saturday
Munich to Garmisch, DE-MUWMG-08X
Base price
869.00
909.00
999.00
Single room surcharge 229.00 229.00 229.00

Category: 4**** hotels in Munich, 3*** hotels and inns For arrivals from September 16, 2023, double overnight stays in Schäftlarn instead of the overnight stay in Munich Additional night prices in Munich valid until September 15, 2023, later dates on request

Season 1
May 20, 2023 - Jun 3, 2023
Sep 17, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023
Saturday
Season 2
Jun 4, 2023 - Jun 24, 2023
Aug 27, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023
Saturday
Season 3
Jun 25, 2023 - Aug 26, 2023
Saturday
Munich to Garmisch, DE-MUWMG-08X
Base price
Single room surcharge
869.00
229.00
909.00
229.00
999.00
229.00

Category: 4**** hotels in Munich, 3*** hotels and inns For arrivals from September 16, 2023, double overnight stays in Schäftlarn instead of the overnight stay in Munich Additional night prices in Munich valid until September 15, 2023, later dates on request

Season 1
May 20, 2023 - Jun 3, 2023
Sep 17, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023
Season 2
Jun 4, 2023 - Jun 24, 2023
Aug 27, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023
Season 3
Jun 25, 2023 - Aug 26, 2023
Munich
Double room p. p
Single room surcharge
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Double room p.p
Single room surcharge
99.00
75.00
79.00
35.00
99.00
75.00
89.00
35.00
99.00
75.00
89.00
35.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Munich
  Season 1
May 20, 2023 - Jun 3, 2023
Sep 17, 2023 - Oct 7, 2023

Saturday
Season 2
Jun 4, 2023 - Jun 24, 2023
Aug 27, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023

Saturday
Season 3
Jun 25, 2023 - Aug 26, 2023

Saturday
Munich
Double room p. p 99.00 99.00 99.00
Single room surcharge 75.00 75.00 75.00
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Double room p.p 79.00 89.00 89.00
Single room surcharge 35.00 35.00 35.00
Prices per person in GBP

Services and information

Services

Included:

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Welcome briefing (German, English)
  • 1 Transfer from Schäftlarn to Starnberg
  • 1 Boat ride Lake Kochelsee

 

  • 1 Cable car descent Herzogstand
  • 1 Cable car descent Wank
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • App for Navigation and GPS data available
  • Service hotline
Information

Arrival / Parking / Departure:

  • Arrival by train in Munich and by underground to the hotel, to Bernried from Munich, duration approx. 45 minutes.
  • Munich airport.
  • Parking: Hotel underground parking for approx. EUR 50 per week, no reservation. Parking spaces near the hotel are free of charge and unguarded.  
  • Return journey from Garmisch to Munich by train, duration approx. 1.5 hours, to Bernried by train, duration approx. 1,5 hours (1x change of trains).

Important information:

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Train journey Iffeldorf – Kochel, approx. EUR 5 per person
  • Bus journey Kochel – Walchensee (free with Guest Card)
  • Bus journey Herzogstand – Wallgau (free with Guest Card)
  • With a double overnight stay in Schäftlarn: Tram ride Schäftlarn – Munich, approx. EUR 5 per person
  • Special dates on request
Sample hotel list

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

Munich

NYX Hotel by Leonardo Hotels 4****

www.leonardo-hotels.de/nyx-munich

Schäftlarn

Hotel Gut Schwaige 3***

www.hotel-gutschwaige.de

Bernried

Hotel Seeblick 3***

www.seeblick-bernried.de

Kochel

Hotel Alpenhof Postillion 3***S

www.alpenhofpostillion.com

Wallgau

Gasthof und Hotel zur Post 3***

www.posthotel-wallgau.de

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Hotel Risserseehotel

https://www.riessersee-hotel.de/startseite

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