Day 1:
From the airport in Munich you take the train (approx. 2,5 hrs) to the beautiful little Bavarian village of Oy-Mittelberg. We will spend a night in this idyllic and quiet place where cows have the right of way each day when coming home for milking and where church bells are the only noise to be heard at night. More infos: www.krone-mittelberg.de. For dinner we choose from a hearty selection of Bavarian meals. Our guide will join us and explain the details, give an update of weather and check the equipment.
Day 2:
We can leave part of our luggage in Oy-Mittelberg as you will also spend the last night of the trip at the same hotel. This will bring the weight of our backpacks to about 8-10 kg which will be scaled by our guide. It is important not to carry too much load. In the Inns on the way there will be a chance to have the laundry washed for a minimal fee. We go by bus to Oberstdorf, Germany’s famous and most southerly Winter resort. Ascent to our first hut, the Kemptner Huette at 1.846 m.
More infos: www.kemptner-huette.de
hiking time: 3,5 h
elevation gain: ↑ 800 m / ↓ 0 m
Day 3:
We hike up to a ridge where Germany ends and Austria begins before descending to Holzgau in Tyrol, Austria. After a drink and a small lunch (optional) a shuttle-bus will bring us on narrow mountain roads to the end of a valley where we store our backpacks in a small cable car. Then we hike up to the scenic Memminger Huette located at 2.242 m. Usually we will have the chance to hear and see some cute marmots or chamois. After dinner an optional hike up to the summit of the Seekopf (2.412 m, 30 minutes) will bring us to our first summit. The silence and special romantic evening ambiance here at the summit cross is not to be forgotten (unless it rains). More infos: www.memminger-huette.at.
hiking time: 6 h*
elevation gain: ↑ 850 m / ↓ 870 m
Day 4:
Today we will start early in the morning passing an Alpine Lake surrounded by meadows with flowers and ascent the Seescharte, a pass which is 2.599 m high. Here we enjoy a spectacular view over the summits and down to the Inn valley. Due to the altitude there might be some snow along our path. On a long but scenic descent we surmount 1.800 m through all different vegetation zones. At the very rustic and authentic Pension “Gemse” (which means “chamois”) we indulge in the luxury of a tasty dinner, warm shower, laundry service and a soft bed. More infos: www.postgasthof-gemse.at.
hiking time: 7 h
elevation gain: ↑ 360 m / ↓ 1.820 m
Day 5:
We take the Venet gondola to reach higher altitude again (2.208 m) and follow a ridge that crosses several summits. The view is stunning in all directions since we hike above tree line. We reach the next valley, the Pitztal, where a bus takes us to the very end of it. After lunch in a cozy mountain guesthouse we bring our rucksacks to the cable car and follow the trail along a waterfall. Soon we see glacier tongues hanging on steep walls. This night we will stay at the Braunschweiger hut at 2.760 m. It is surrounded by a majestic chain of glaciated mountains dominated by the Wildspitze (3.780 m) After a hearty dinner we will enjoy the solitude and silence of this beautiful spot. More infos: www.braunschweiger-huette.at.
hiking time: ca. 7 Stunden
elevation gain: ↑ 1.180 m / ↓ 1.250 m.
Day 6:
From the Braunschweiger hut we hike to the highest point of the traverse, the Rettenbach Ferner (2.820 m). The trail is challenging with scrambles across some rocks and some ice and snow. The chances are very good to spot “Steinböcke”, (ibex), animals similar to mountain sheep but not shy at all. Descent to the famous Oetztal, where the Glacier Mummy was found. The hotel Post where we stay this night features a wellness area with steam- and Finnish sauna (free of charge). More infos: www.post-soelden.at.
hiking time: 7 h
elevation gain: ↑ 240 m / ↓ 1.550 m
Day 7:
A short bus transfer gets us to the Timmelsjoch (2.600 m) where we hike from Austria to Italy down to the small village Moos. After our first Italian lunch we are up again for a two hours’ ascent to the Pfandler Alm. Famous Andreas Hofer, a Tyrolean freedom fighter, resisted a long time Napoleon’s troops until he was found right here next to the Pfandler Alm and brought to Mantua for execution. We will have the Pfandler Alm more or less to ourselves and typically a barbecue will be organized for us so we can let the beautiful day die away in a romantic, very unique atmosphere. More infos: www.fernwanderweg5.de/etappe8.shtml.
hiking time: 7 h
elevation gain: ↑ 1.250 m / ↓ 1.050 m
Day 8:
Today is our last day. We hike across Alpine meadows to the Hinteregg Alm (1.990 m). From that point you have a spectacular view to the Ortler (3.890 m), the highest peak in the Eastern Alps. After another 1,5 hours we reach the gondola that takes us down to Meran. By now,
we have completely crossed the Alps and we can enjoy a stroll through the beautiful medieval town of Meran. Farewell dinner will take place in our nicely located downtown Hotel Europa. More infos: www.europa-splendid.com.
hiking time: 5 h
elevation gain: ↑ 700 m / ↓ 0 m
Day 9:
After breakfast the bus takes us either back to Munich (4-5 hours’ drive). On our scenic way through the Alps we will stop in Bozen to visit the famous glacier mummy in the archeological museum: More than 5.000 years ago, a man climbed up to the icy heights of the Schnalstal glacier and died. He was found by accident in 1991, with his clothes and equipment, mummified and frozen: an archaeological sensation and a unique snapshot of a Copper Age man. For several years highly specialized research teams examined the mummy and the objects found with it. They have been on exhibit since March 1998 at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Or we will continue our way back home on the bus and finally reach Oy-Mittelberg where you already stayed for the first night of the trip.
Day 10:
Train to the airport and flight home or extra days in Mittelberg or Munich.
Our suggestion:
Take the chance to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, built by King Ludwig and model for Cinderella’s castle at Disneyland. We gladly organize your transfer to this sight.
