Crossing the Austrian Alps - 8 days

The walk starts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and finishes in Sterzing, known in Italian as Vipiteno, in the South Tyrol.

Two airports serve the route well. Innsbruck (INN) is the closer of the two, roughly an hour from Garmisch-Partenkirchen by train. Munich (MUC) offers far more direct flights from the UK and is around two hours away by train, with one change at Munich Pasing or Munich Hauptbahnhof. Transfers to your hotel on arrival can be arranged on request.

Sterzing has a railway station with regular departures. A direct train to Innsbruck takes about an hour, giving easy onward connections to Munich or your return flight. One important note for travel in Italy: always stamp your ticket at the platform machine before boarding. Inspectors treat an unstamped ticket as unpaid travel, regardless of whether you have paid.

This walk is available from 13 June to 20 September, with departures on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The season opens just as the high passes become reliably clear of snow, and the early weeks bring the finest wildflower displays, with alpine meadows at their most colourful through June and into July. August offers the warmest and most settled weather but attracts the most visitors to the mountains; a peak season supplement applies during this period. September is many walkers' favourite month. The crowds thin, temperatures remain very good for walking, and the lower sun casts long, dramatic light across the peaks and rock faces. Evenings cool noticeably at altitude throughout the season, so pack a warm layer whatever time you travel.

Trails follow well-maintained mountain paths and forest roads through high alpine pastures, with expansive views throughout. The terrain is mostly comfortable and clearly defined underfoot, though a few sections require surefootedness. Good walking boots with ankle support are essential.

Walking days can run to around six hours, so a solid base level of fitness is important. Training three to four times per week in the months before departure is advisable. On some days, more comfortable alternative routes are available for those who prefer a less demanding option.

Mountain weather can change quickly. At least one member of your party should be confident using a map and compass in the event that visibility drops. Walk notes, daily walk summaries, maps, and GPX tracks are provided.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo walkers on our self-guided European Alps walking trips. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.

Each morning it will be up to you to place your luggage at the designated luggage pick-up point within the hotel by 8.00 am. This generally will be at reception or where you pick up your luggage the night before. Please consult your hosts if any details. Bags must be less than 15kg (this is French legislation) and be Soft Bags (i.e. not hard cases).