Current as of: April 19, 2024 - 19:49
Lakes & Mountains of Bavaria Cycling Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
- Destination: Germany
- Programmes: Cycling
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Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
- 8 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 13+
- Trip Code: C07BL
Trip Overview
Starting from the Fugger city of Augsburg you’ll cycle through beautiful landscapes of lush meadows, deep blue lakes and an alpine backdrop and discover the long history of the region from Baroque churches, King Ludwig II’s castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau and traces of the Romans along the Via Claudia Augusta.
You’ll ride on a mixture of cycle paths and side roads with little traffic, passing through traditional Bavarian villages to reach the first of many lakes along your route, Lake Ammersee where you can enjoy a boat trip on a paddle steamer. Your first few days will take you uphill to the foothills of the Bavarian Alps to King Ludwig’s fairytale castles. The return to Augsburg, takes you along the river Lech, and along parts of one of the oldest tourist routes in the world, the Romantic Road, mainly on flat terrain.
At a Glance
- 7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in 3 star hotels
- E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies)
- Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Is This Trip for You?
Classification: Self-Guided
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies.
Group
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to set up your bike and go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number. In an emergency, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Adult min age: 13
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Augsburg
- End City: Augsburg
Flight Inclusive
- Start City: London
- End City: London
Land Only Itinerary
Arrive in Augsburg
Arrive at your hotel in the historic city of Augsburg, founded in 15 B.C. on the orders of Emperor Augustus.
Augsburg to Worthsee
From Augsburg cycle through traditional Bavarian villages, surrounded by lush meadows, before reaching the shores of Lake Ammersee. Relax by the lakeside or enjoy a boat trip on a paddle steamer before continuing to Lake Worthsee.
Worthsee to Murnau
Today you will pedal along Lakes Worthsee and Pilsensee to Andechs Abbey – famed for its Baroque church and brewery! Enjoy swimming opportunities along the way at Lakes Ammersee, Staffelsee and Riegsee before arriving in the artist’s town of Murnau.
Murnau to Fussen/Schwangau
Cycle from village to village in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Visit the UNESCO listed Pilgrimage Church of Wies, a beautifully preserved oval church and a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo before continuing to the pretty town of Fussen.
Fussen/Schwangau to Schongau
In the morning visit King Ludwig’s fairytale castles, Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, before cycling along the scenic Via Claudia Augusta to Schongau. The town has a long history of settlement and is surrounded by fortified walls built in the Middle Ages.
Schongau to Landsberg am Lech
Today your route follows the course of the River Lech with many attractions to visit en route to Landsberg. Take in St Michael’s Basilica in Altenstadt, the Abodiacum Roman Museum in Epfach and the pilgrim church in Vilgertshofen.
Landsberg am Lech to Augsburg
Explore the medieval city centre of Landsberg am Lech with its historic city hall and the Gothic Bavarian Gate. Your cycle route takes you via Kaufering am Lech, to Konigsbrunn, enjoying 11km on the best-preserved section of the Via Claudia. Continue to Augsburg with its famous social housing complex from the year 1516.
Leave Augsburg
The tour ends after breakfast in Augsburg.
Accommodation
Bavaria hotels
You will stay in a mixture of 3 star hotels, all en suite. The hotels are chosen for their excellent facilities and proximity to the relevant local sites. All rooms have en suite facilities. Please specify whether you would prefer a double or twin room when booking.
Single supplement from USD 462
Food & Drink
What is your first thought when you think of German food, Bier und Bratwurst or Beer and sausages, and if this is what you want then you will not be disappointed. However there is much more to Bavarian cuisine. Meat and freshwater fish are heavily used but vegetarians are also well catered for. Germans tend to follow similar eating patterns to the UK, with breakfast, followed by a small lunch, and large evening meal, dinners tends to be taken fairly early and restaurants will start serving from 6pm. Throughout the towns there are a good choice of differing places to eat, the most traditional of these are the beer halls, these are not just places to drink the local brew, they are also offer traditional cuisine, they can be nice for lunch as they offer small plates of tasty morcels, you will also find the local bratwurst in served them. The most social of places are the beer gardens, these offer really good food in an outdoor setting many have indoor eating areas as well, don’t let the name put you off they also normally have a fairly good wine list too. Then there are the restaurants you will find in most towns a good choice of both German and International cuisine.
Weather & Seasonality
Average temperatures in summer are in the region of 25oC-30oC. The warmest month is usually July whilst the coldest is mainly January. Every month has its share of precipitation on an average of 14 days per month.
Joining Instructions
The tour itself normally begins at the start hotel in Augsburg on the afternoon of Day 1 in the itinerary.
The flight inclusive prices for this holiday include rail to Augsburg. At Augsburg station pay locally for a taxi to your hotel. If you are booking a land only package then we can usually arrange rail for you at an additional charge
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Augsburg
Location end: Augsburg
What To Take
If you prefer the familiarity of your own bike, you may, of course, bring it along. Please advise us at the time of booking and you will receive a discount on the price of the holiday, as specified above. You will be responsible for any extra baggage charges, please speak to your sales representative for individual airline fees. Please note, this does not apply to trips within the UK, for which local bike hire is not included.
You will also be responsible for assembling and disassembling your bike as well as bringing along spare parts and any tools specific to it. It is also your responsibility to ensure your bike is roadworthy and suitable for the type of cycling undertaken. If in doubt, the model of local bike hire available should act as a guide and details of terrain, ascent and descent are available both in the itinerary and in the ‘Is this trip for you?’ sections. Our cycling team only carry the relevant spares for the hire fleet. Any clients bringing their own bike should ensure they have adequate cover for loss, damage or theft under their travel, home contents or a specialist insurance policy. If Exodus is confident we have taken all reasonable care to ensure the safety of your bike, in the rare event of loss, damage or theft, you will need to claim under your own insurance policy.
Extra bike accessories
You may like to bring your own pedals and saddle (excluding the seat post) or gel saddle cover to fit to the hire bikes. We encourage this, if it is your preference. However, please note that you are responsible for your own equipment, and removing your saddle/pedals at the end of the trip. We cannot guarantee the return of any bike parts left behind.
Recommended Cycling Clothing
Padded cycling shorts (with loose ‘over-shorts’ where recommended), breathable clothing, and a lightweight waterproof/windproof top. Shoes with relatively stiff soles are better for biking, but are not essential unless you are cycling long distances. Most people want to carry certain items with them during the day while cycling, for this we recommend a large bum bag (fanny pack) or small close-fitting daysack.
Exodus Policy on Cycling Helmets
Wearing a helmet is mandatory for anyone taking part in any guided Exodus cycling holiday. Group members must bring their own helmets, as they are not available for hire, even if they are hiring a bike from Exodus.
For self-guided cycling holidays wearing a helmet is highly recommended. Customers who choose to ignore our advice do so entirely at their own risk and on the understanding that it may affect the validity of their travel insurance. It should also be noted that in some countries, wearing a helmet is a legal requirement.
Cycling of all kinds has its dangers and accidents can happen from time to time. Please ensure that you are properly prepared for the riding you are going to undertake.
Local Bike Details
A quality local hire bike is included in the overall price of our cycling holidays. At the time of booking we will take your height in order to reserve equipment. There may on occasions be insufficient bikes available in the correct size; we will endeavour to find suitable alternative equipment but this cannot be guaranteed. We will tell you before you book whether suitably sized bikes are available.
Conditions
1. The equipment remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, hire out or part possession with the equipment.
2. You must not misuse the equipment and must return it in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear excepted). The supplier is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the equipment during the period of hire.
3. You must ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use. In the event of the equipment being lost or stolen, you may be liable for the replacement value of the equipment
4. You must not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and should immediately notify the Supplier in the event of breakdown or loss.
Practical Information
Visa
Germany
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Germany. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
- Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/germany
- Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/germany
- United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/germany/entry-requirements
- USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Germany.html
Vaccinations and Health
Germany
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Local Time
Germany's time zone: Europe/Berlin (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
Germany's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Germany's currency: Euro (EUR)
ATM Availability
ATMs are widely available, but we recommend taking some Euros cash with you in case you can’t get to a bank at the start of the trip. Cards are widely accepted.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
You will need spending money for meals not included in the itinerary and all drinks. We suggest €25 per day to cover a few drinks if not then €10 per day. On the days where lunch or dinner is not included expect to spend €10-€15 for lunch and €15-€35 for dinner.
Responsible Travel
At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.
Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.