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
- Guide mountain guide:in 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 accommodations 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 parking lot of the Zugspitzbahn in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Take the rack railroad up to the Zugspitze. And already you are greeted by an alpine ambience with impressive distant views on the Zugspitzplatt. Via the Sonnalpin it goes down to the Knorrhütte and further to the Hochfeldernalm for lunch. A bit more uphill until we reach the Coburger Hütte, our overnight destination, via the picturesquely situated Seebensee. 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, rough 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 transport! Ascent 400 m / descent 1,170 m / walking time 5 - 6 h
Day 3: Today, freshly strengthened, we tackle the longest ascent of our alpine crossing. If conditions permit, we will be standing on the Horntaler Joch after about 4 hours and look eagerly at the Stubai Alps. The descent via the Alpeinalm Alm then leads straight to the Franz Senn Hütte, named after the famous glacier priest. Ascent 1,200 m / descent 700 m / walking time 6 - 7 h
Day 4: Via the Stubai High Trail you hike in the direction of Schimmennieder, the pass into the Stubai Valley. The Stubai glacier mountains Zuckerhütl and Wilder Freiger are within reach on the opposite side of the valley. We enjoy this view during an extensive rest at the Falbesoner Alm. From there, freshly invigorated, we set off for the Stubaital. Overnight stay in an inn in the Stubaital. Luggage transport! Ascent 600 m / descent 1,500 m / walking time 6 - 7 h
Day 5: The Stubai Glacier Lift takes us to the Schaufeljoch. Surrounded by wide glaciers, we hike past the dominant Schaufelspitze over to the Hildesheimer Hütte and take our first rest there. Via the Gamsplatzl and the Triebenkarsee we continue in constant ups and downs with panoramic views to the Ötztal Alps. The Siegerlandütte our today's stage goal is then no longer far. The sun terrace invites us to linger a bit and marvel before we enjoy our tasty dinner in the cozy parlor. Overnight stay Siegerlandhütte. Ascent 400 m / descent 700 m / walking time 5 h
Day 6: From the Siegerland Hut we ascend via the Windachscharte to the Grosser Timmler. The descent via Schwarzsee and Karlscharte brings us to the old mine at Schneeberg. Surely there will be enough time here for a rest and to visit the old mine walls. Now it's just down to the Timmelsjochstraße, the high alpine pass crossing between North and South Tyrol. At the Scheeberg bridge we will then be met by our cab that will take us comfortably to our hotel in Merano. Luggage transport! 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 (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, 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
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