Walking in Oberammergau

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6 Days from

USD 1,299

incl. Taxes

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays, Short Breaks

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

2 - 6

Ages :

13+

Trip Code :

W05OB

Among the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, your base for this self-guided walking holiday is the quaint and 'chocolate box' village of Oberammergau.

Known for its world-famous Passion Plays, performed every ten years, it is impossibly picturesque; its houses are decorated with elaborate paintings known as Luftmalerei and prettily carved wooden balconies overflow with geraniums. Here, the locals embrace their rich history, where traditional Bavarian dress is often worn in recognition of their heritage and the custom of Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and a generously sized portion of cake) is still an afternoon ritual.

The village is also an absolute Mecca for the walking enthusiast. From exhilarating mountain hikes with amazing views all the way to the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, to relaxed strolls through lush green valleys and wetland nature reserves, Oberammergau's wealth of well-signed paths and easy-to-follow trails make it a great choice for wonderfully varied walking. We provide a choice of both level 1 and level 2 walks for all days, using the highly efficient local public transport system so you can explore further afield - all guests receive a Guest Card that gives free transport on certain local buses. You also have the mountain lifts to take the sting out of more challenging ascents.

Highlights

Wonderfully picturesque region: rolling hills, snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, flower-filled meadows, sparkling waterfalls
Impressive monasteries, regal palaces, onion-domed churches, pretty, frescoed houses
Traditional, family-run 3 star hotel with beautiful frescoes and a choice of dining options
Well-signed paths and trails with a choice of walking levels every day
Superb walking scenery: lush valleys, deep forests, wildlife sanctuaries, wetland nature reserves
Based on our popular 7 night, Walking in Southern Bavaria

Key Information

5 nights 3-star hotel, all rooms en suite
4 days centre-based walking
Choice of routes each day
Altitude max. 1700m, average 1100m
Self-guided holiday. Min age 12 yrs

Countries visited: Germany

What's Included

All buffet breakfasts and 5 dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
Arrival & departure transfers - subject to 2 passengers traveling
Route notes and maps

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas or vaccinations

4 Days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Leisurely: 3-4km/2-3miles an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; good paths

Day 2

16 km / 9.9 miles

Day 3

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 4

22 km / 13.7 miles

Day 5

13 km / 8.1 miles

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…

Itinerary

A transfer (90 mins) is provided from Munich airport to your hotel in Oberammergau (subject to a minimum of 2 people booked on a departure in total). Staying at Hotel Landhaus Feldmeier.

Meals Included: Dinner

You start the day with a short (15 mins) ride on the little red train to Bad Kohlgrub. From here, you walk through the rolling Ammer Valley's string of sleepy farming villages - Unterammergau, in particular, has a splendid Rococo church. Then head across the Pulvermoos, a wildlife sanctuary and habitat for 60 bird species including corncrake, dipper, whinchat and even snipe. Staying at Hotel Landhaus Feldmeier.

Optional shorter walk: 2.5hrs, distance 9km/6mi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you take the cable car to the top of the Laber (1685m) for panoramic views of Germany's highest mountain - the Zugspitze (2962m) - and the Austrian Alps beyond. You then wind your way down through cool pine forests to the village of Ettal. After lunch, visit the amazing C14 former Benedictine monastery, an outstanding example of Bavarian Baroque architecture. Return on an easy path along the pretty valley, passing the Barenhohle cave where there's a figure of the resurrected Christ. Staying at Hotel Landhaus Feldmeier.

Optional shorter walk: 4hrs, distance 12km/7.5mi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Staffelsee is one of the larger of the many picturesque blue lakes dotted around this part of Bavaria. This beautiful stretch of water offers easy walking along the shoreline with plenty of swimming opportunities. Stop off in the attractive riverside village of Uffing (the boat landing station is a fantastic place for lunch and offers magnificent views of the lake backed by mountains). In the afternoon, either relax in the sun on the panorama deck of the little lake cruiser (pay locally), passing hidden coves and the lake's 7 islands (one even has its own tiny chapel), or return on foot along the quiet side of the lake. Staying at Hotel Landhaus Feldmeier.

Optional shorter walk: 3.5hrs, distance 12km/7.5mi

3 options: walking time 3.5hr, distance 12km/7.5mi or walking time 5hr, distance 18km/11.5mi or walking time 6hr, distance 22km/14mi.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today's walk includes an unmissable visit to Schloss Linderhof, the gloriously over-the-top Rococo palace built by Mad King Ludwig in 1878, inspired by Louis XIV's chateau in Versailles. There are gorgeous French and Italianate terraced gardens and a golden fountain which erupts once every hour with a 30m plume of water. Return to the hotel along a tranquil path which winds back down the Linder Valley, through the village of Graswang with its beautifully preserved old farmhouses and pretty 17th century frescoed church. Staying at Hotel Landhaus Feldmeier.

Optional shorter walk: 1.5hrs, distance 6km/4mi

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour itself ends here after breakfast. A transfer back to Munich Airport is included (subject to a minimum of 2 people booked on a departure in total).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

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.

Vaccination

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.

Eating and Drinking

All buffet breakfasts and 7 dinners are included.

Bavarian cooking is hearty and rustic, well-known for its wide variety of wurst (sausages), pretzels (breads), Knodel (dumplings), meat dishes, and of course its world-famous beers. The hotel can cater for vegetarians; please let us know in advance so we can notify the hotel. Before June, some mountain restaurants are open only at weekends.

Weather

Average temperatures in summer are in the region of 25'C-30'C. 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.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

Walking throughout this trip is on well-marked paths which are, at times, stony underfoot. Easier options are provided for the week. Anyone looking for a variety of walking, staying at a good quality hotel, with lots of opportunity for sightseeing would be perfect for this trip.

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. You are provided with route notes for each day, which begin with an overview of the walk and advice on lunch, followed by detailed instructions. The route notes contain a 24 hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotel is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference: http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability