Bavarian & Salzburg Alps
From the Königssee to the realm of the High King 🏔️💚🥾
Two countries, countless peaks, and unforgettable moments: This eight-day mountain hiking tour leads you from the crystal-clear shores of Lake Königssee 🌊 across gentle alpine meadows, wild gorges, and scenic high-altitude trails right into the mighty rock world of the Hochkönig mountain ⛰️. Between Bavaria and Salzburg, you'll discover the best of both alpine worlds. Bavarian coziness meets Austrian charm 🇩🇪🤝🇦🇹.
The start itself is a highlight: In the Berchtesgaden National Park, you'll hike past rushing waterfalls 💦, dense forests 🌲, and steeply rising rock faces 🪨. With a bit of luck, you might spot a chamois or hear the whistle of a marmot 🐐🦦. Via the Torrener Joch, your path crosses the border into the Salzburg region (Salzburger Land), accompanied by imposing panoramas and the feeling of approaching mountain freedom step by step 🕊️.
An essential part of this tour? Of course, stopping at rustic alpine huts 🏡🍺! Between mountain meadows and summit views, hearty delicacies await, such as "Kaspressknödel" (cheese dumplings), bacon bread, and a fizzy "Kracherl" (lemonade/soda) 🧀🥨🍹. Every break is a small celebration of coziness with a smile from the hut hosts and a panorama that quickly lets you forget everyday life ☀️💛. Your route includes well-known highlights like the Seisenberg Gorge, the Pinzgau Grass Mountains (Pinzgauer Grasberge), and the scenic Arthurhaus at the foot of the Hochkönig.
The daily stages are varied and lead along excellently maintained hiking trails, partly with sporty ascents 💪🥾. A good basic fitness level is rewarded with wide views over the Alps and unforgettable moments. Especially in the evening, when the sun bathes the peaks in golden light 🌅 and you rest at the foot of the Hochkönig, you'll feel it: This is real mountain bliss.
The summer months are ideal for enjoyable hiking days filled with energy, lightness, and unforgettable alpine moments 🏔️💚. Pack your hiking boots, your appetite for nature, and maybe a craving for a cool beer, and let this cross-border hiking trip enchant you 🍻🌄.
Day 1
Arrival in Königssee/Berchtesgaden
Hotel (example): Brandtnerhof
Day 2
Königssee/Berchtesgaden – Weißbach/Surroundings, ‘Nationalpark Berchtesgaden’
Transfer to the starting point. The trail starts in the magic forest over to idyllic lake Hintersee. Comfortable walk into the heart of the National park, steep rock walls towering to the left and to the right. Cross the border to Salzburg and follow the trail along the roaring waterfalls of Seisenbergklamm to your destination Weißbach.
Hotel (example): Seisenbergklamm
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Day 3
Weißbach/Surroundings – Dienten am Hochkönig, ‘Panorama Trail’
Short transfer to Maria Alm. From there the climb to the Pinzgauer grass mountains start. An unsurpassed walk always following a chain of undulating summits across alpine pastures. The view to nearby Hohe Tauern belongs to the highlights of this Austrian walking trail.
Hotel (example): Hochkönig
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Day 4
Dienten – Arthurhaus/Mühlbach, ‘Alpine pasture trails’
Today one of the most beautiful walking tours on alpine pastures waits for you. Below the steep needle-like towers ‘Mandlwalls’ you walk along the foot of the Hochkönig massif over to Arthurhouse. Chamois, cattle, horses and countless cabins as well as impressive scenery, you will think you are in the middle of a film set. Overnight if possible in Arthurhouse close to Mandlwalls.
Hotel (example): Arthurhaus
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Day 5
Day off, at the foot of the Hochkönig massif
Enjoy the freedom, take a short hike to surrounding cabins or catch a bus to the next village Mühlbach.
Hotel (example): Arthurhaus
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Day 6
Arthurhaus/Mühlbach – Golling, ‘Salzach valley’
The morning sees you walking up to alpine pasture of the “Hochkönig-Region”. The imposing massif once more opens up to allow stunning views. Walk on the ancient miner’s trail down into the valley of river Salzach and continue to Werfen. There the mighty forest Hohenwerfen is well worth a visit.
Hotel (example): Golingen
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Day 7
Golling – Königssee/Berchtesgaden, ‘Torrener Joch & Jenner’
One more highlight is in store for you at the very end of this walking week: a long ascent to border crossing Torrener Joch and then to the summit ‘Jenner’ in Berchtesgaden. Transfer into the Bluntautal valley which is closed off by steep rock walls. Climb through the forest and scattered alpine pastures. Once you reach the summit of Jenner you can enjoy the view of the whole walking week as well as lake Königssee. Down into the valley by cable car.
Hotel (example): Brandtnerhof
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Day 8
Departure or extension
You can now individually extend your stay, plan another hike, or start your journey home to process your experiences at leisure and bask in the impressions.
Requirements for hikers
Beautiful and good walking paths, just a few longer climbs require good basic fitness level and partly surefootedness. If you love alpine pastures, brilliant views and a being high up you will enjoy this tour. The mountain trails with fantastic views of the mountain world and the overnight stays at the foot of Hochkönig mountain will fascinate you.
Summary
- Total approx 75 km over 6 hiking days
- 7 nights
- Breakfast
- Packed lunch (Arthurhaus/Mühlbach)
- Luggage transfer
- Transfers gemäß Programm
- Talfahrt Seilbahn Jenner
- Travel documents and GPS data
- Service hotline
- from 1.039,- € per person
Facts about the Alps
- The Alpine region extends across Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Monaco and Liechtenstein
- The area is approximately 200,000 square kilometers
- The highest mountain, at 4,810 meters, is Mont Blanc
- The highest high mountain range in inland Europe and a living and recreational space for about 13 million people
Climate in the Alpine region
The Alpine arc extends over a total of 1,200 kilometres. So it isn’t surprising that climatic conditions can vary depending on the Alpine state and region. The Alps are considered to be one of the most important climatic divisions in Europe and subdivide the following climatic provinces: the Atlantic, the Pannonian climatic province and the Mediterranean climatic area. In the northern Alps, the climate is very similar to that in the neighbouring flatlands, whereas in the southern Alpine areas there are Mediterranean climatic conditions with mild winter months and hot summer periods. The eastern areas in the Alps are characterized by a continental-Panonnian wine-growing climate and the inner-Alpine valleys such as the Vinschgau, Carinthia or Valais are dry. The most important influences are the mild westerly winds with humid air masses from the Atlantic, the cool polar air from the north, the dry continental air masses from the eastern areas, as well as the warmer, southern currents.