German & Austrian Alps Home Base Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
5 days
4 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
German & Austrian Alps Home Base Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
5 days
4 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-Jul, Sep
A Singular Hotel Experience in Bavaria's Elmau Valley
Your home in the Alps. It's awe-inspiring... yet also somehow sheltering. The edge of that field full of wildflowers, the sound of that church bell and the light in that tavern window all seem to welcome you. So unpack your bags. Settle into this delicious duality. Rugged mountain trails thrill you. Biergartens, baroque villages and our castle-hotel wrap you in hospitality. This is some home away from home.
Highlights
- Hop between countries for hikes in Bavaria and Tyrol—a cable car hanging above Germany’s highest peak makes for an unforgettable border crossing!
- Swim turquoise mountain lakes, traverse boardwalks in a sheer-walled river canyon and reach a trailhead by e-bike
- Bavarian culture shines through in mountain hut meals, colorful medieval towns and a hike to King Ludwig II’s cabin
- World-famous Neuschwanstein Castle has nothing on our luxe retreat, where you spend the week relaxing like royalty
StartInnsbruck, Austria
EndMunich, Germany
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1
Begin your adventure in Austria's imperial Innsbruck • Get sky-high in a cable car on Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze • Take in majestic 360-degree views and cross the border into Germany by gondola • A lakeside hike around turquoise Eibsee leads to a home-cooked lake house lunch • Arrive at our luxury hideaway for the week, nestled in the green pastures of the Elmau Valley beneath rocky peaks • Settle into the hotel’s exclusive Retreat wing—your room may well have hosted heads of state such as Presidents Obama or Biden during the 2015 and 2022 G7 summits.
Nights 1-4
Relaxation comes easy at this elegant hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Built in 1916 as an eccentric castle-like manor, the property boasts its own library, bookstore, concert hall and hammam—as well as less tangible bragging rights, such as being the only venue ever to host the G7 Summit twice. A Leading Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Day 2
Hike through the Isar Valley in the footsteps of pilgrims and mountain goats • Cross the Austrian-German border again in search of Bavaria and Tyrol’s best trails • Ascend to a hanging bridge with awesome views or delve into the depths of waterfall-carved Leutasch Gorge • Explore Mittenwald, considered by many to be the prettiest town in Bavaria with its well-preserved 18th-century buildings and frescos • Head into town for a cozy tavern dinner in historic Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Nights 1-4
Relaxation comes easy at this elegant hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Built in 1916 as an eccentric castle-like manor, the property boasts its own library, bookstore, concert hall and hammam—as well as less tangible bragging rights, such as being the only venue ever to host the G7 Summit twice. A Leading Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Day 3
Embrace a multi-adventure day when you hop on an electric mountain bike for a boost to the trailhead • Hike to the Schachenhaus, King Ludwig II's favorite spot, where he chose to build his mountain retreat • Feel like more time at the hotel? Opt instead for a leisurely loop to the Elmauer Alm • Explore Schloss Elmau’s wonderland of saunas and spa facilities • Relax over dinner at your leisure in one of the castle’s several dining rooms.
Nights 1-4
Relaxation comes easy at this elegant hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Built in 1916 as an eccentric castle-like manor, the property boasts its own library, bookstore, concert hall and hammam—as well as less tangible bragging rights, such as being the only venue ever to host the G7 Summit twice. A Leading Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Days 4-5
Check out the Olympic stadium where 1936 Winter Olympic ski jumpers took flight • Make your way to Partnach Gorge, home to a series of walkways and tunnels through a deep narrow crevasse in the mountain • Marvel as the other side of the gorge opens up to a beautiful landscape of alpine meadows and jagged peaks • Enjoy lunch on the trail and an optional afternoon hike • Feel part of a fairy tale when you set sights on iconic Neuschwanstein Castle, famed as the inspiration for Walt Disney's Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty castles • End your trip in welcoming Munich, with its green parks and festive biergartens.
Nights 1-4
Relaxation comes easy at this elegant hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Built in 1916 as an eccentric castle-like manor, the property boasts its own library, bookstore, concert hall and hammam—as well as less tangible bragging rights, such as being the only venue ever to host the G7 Summit twice. A Leading Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
This trip is all about settling in to the amazing mountain retreat of Schloss Elmau for four nights. With that said, we couldn't let you leave the region without seeing highlights such as Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze, or the world-famous castle of Neuschwanstein. For this reason, expect longer shuttles on Day 1 and Day 5 as we explore these wonders en route to and from our gateway cities of Innsbruck and Munich.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-4
Premiere Hotel
Relaxation comes easy at this elegant hideaway in the Bavarian Alps. Built in 1916 as an eccentric castle-like manor, the property boasts its own library, bookstore, concert hall and hammam—as well as less tangible bragging rights, such as being the only venue ever to host the G7 Summit twice. A Leading Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
Please Select a Group Size
Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
