Alpine crossing Garmisch - Merano
Away from the crowded hiking trails from Garmisch to Merano.
On the Alpine crossing from Garmisch to Meran, you start at the highest point in Germany and from here you have a perfect view of the route to the south. You will soon leave the crowded hiking trails behind you and discover ever new landscapes, mountains and valleys. You will spend the night in some high alpine huts, walk on glacier ice and arrive in Merano after a week with many new impressions. We overcome less rewarding sections of the Alpine crossing on this route as well as on the E5 from Oberstdorf to Merano or with Watzmann - Three Peaks by cab or cable car.
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Program and schedule
- Mountain guide with appropriate qualification
- 3 x overnight stay in a hut with
- 3 x hotel/inn overnight stay with
- 6 x rich breakfast buffet
- 6 x multi-course evening menu
- Luggage transport to the accommodation in the valley
- 2 x cable car rides (Zugspitze/ Stubaital)
- 2 x cab transfer according to programTaxi / bus transfer Merano-Garmisch
- Alpine Crossing Certificate
- Free participation in the online training: Crossing the Alps - preparation (1 h)
Additional costs
- Snacks, drinks
- Arrival, possibly parking fee
Day 1: Meeting point at 07:45 at the Zugspitzbahn parking lot in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Take the cog railroad up to the Zugspitze. You will be greeted by an alpine ambience with impressive views from the Zugspitzplatt. Via the Sonnalpin, you descend to the Knorrhütte and on to the Hochfeldernalm for lunch. The route then climbs a little further until we reach the Coburger Hütte, our overnight destination, via the picturesque Seebensee lake. Total ascent: 400 m / Total descent 700 m / Walking time 5 h
2nd day: Early in the morning, a quick hot coffee on the terrace of the Coburger Hütte before we finally set off. We tackle the ascent to the Grünstein Scharte on an easy, screey path. Once we reach the top at 2,272 m, we are right in the middle of the Mieminger mountains and enjoy the view of the Zugspitze massif. From now on it's all downhill. Past the Lehnberghaus, our lunch stop, we continue downhill to Arzkasten and the cab to Lüsens. Dinner and overnight stay at the Alpengasthof Lüsens. Luggage transportation! Ascent 400 m / descent 1,170 m / walking time 5 - 6 h
Day 3: Today, freshly fortified, we tackle the longest ascent of our Alpine crossing. If conditions permit, we will reach the Horntaler Joch after about 4 hours and look out over the Stubai Alps. The descent via the Alpeinalm Alm then leads straight to the Franz Senn Hut, named after the famous glacier priest. Ascent 1,200 m / descent 700 m / walking time 6 - 7 h
Day 4: You hike along the Stubai High Trail in the direction of Schimmennieder, the pass crossing into the Stubai Valley. The Stubai glacier mountains Zuckerhütl and Wilder Freiger are close enough to touch on the opposite side of the valley. We enjoy this view during a long break at the Falbesoner Alm. From there, freshly fortified, we set off for the Stubai Valley. Overnight stay in an inn in the Stubai Valley. Luggage transportation! Ascent 600 m / descent 1,500 m / walking time 6 - 7 h
Day 5: The Stubai Glacier Cable Car takes us to the Schaufeljoch. Surrounded by wide glaciers, we hike past the dominant Schaufelspitze peak over to the Hildesheimer Hütte and take our first break there. We continue via the Gamsplatzl and the Triebenkarsee lake with constant ups and downs and panoramic views as far as the Ötztal Alps. The Siegerland hut, our destination for today's stage, is not far away. The sun terrace invites us to linger and marvel for a while before we enjoy our tasty dinner in the cozy parlor. Overnight stay at the Siegerlandhütte. Ascent 400 m / descent 700 m / walking time 5 h
Day 6: From the Siegerland Hütte we ascend via the Windachscharte to the Grosser Timmler. The descent via Schwarzsee and Karlscharte takes us to the old mine on Schneeberg. There will certainly be enough time here for a rest and to visit the old mine walls. Now it's all downhill to the Timmelsjoch road, the high alpine pass crossing between North and South Tyrol. At the Scheeberg bridge, our cab will take us comfortably to our hotel in Merano. Luggage transportation! Ascent 450 m / descent 1,500 m / walking time 5 - 6 h Day 7: After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we start the return journey from Merano to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Return journey around 08:30 am (travel time to Garmisch approx. 4 hours)
Note on program changes:
All courses and guided tours are conscientiously organized and carried out in accordance with the safety standards of the Vivalpin Mountain and Ski School with qualified specialists (e.g. mountain and ski guides, mountain hiking guides, etc.). The provisional tour program may be adjusted for safety-related reasons, such as bad weather, dangerous conditions, unforeseen natural events or inadequate conditions of the participants. The final program will be decided by the guide on site.
- Sufficient fitness for ascents of up to a maximum of 1,200 m and descents of up to 1,500 m
- Daily stages of maximum approx. 7 - 8 h
- Trail conditions: easy to moderate mountain trails (red)
- Surefootedness and head for heights
"When I'm asked which is the most beautiful crossing of the Alps, the route from Garmisch to Meran is at the top of the list. Not only because you start from the highest German summit, but every stage, whether at Seebensee, in the Stubai or most recently in South Tyrol, is extra special. In terms of difficulty, it is roughly comparable to the E5, but it is less well-known and therefore less frequented. My tip!"
Julia Pöschl
Head of department mountain and ski school
