Germany and Bavaria

Germany

• Opulent palaces, flamboyant castles and 'chocolate box' villages
• Tranquil forests, picturesque lakes, stunning Alpine views
• Cobbled squares, Gothic churches, gingerbread farmhouses
• Genuine warm, friendly locals; cozy family run hotels

Surrounded by the pinky-gold summits of the Bavarian Alps, you'll come across beautiful frescoed houses, rustic farming villages and tiny onion-domed churches.  There is superbly varied walking;  lush valleys, deep forests, and shimmering mountain lakes on our centre-based  Walking in Oberammergau tour.   Or, a favorite tour since introduced last year, Classic Bavarian Alps Walk tour with wonderfully varied hotels that takes you through forest-clad mountains, stunning limestone peaks, crystal lakes and cascading waterfalls.

Bavaria

Did he fall or was he pushed? No one has succeeded in unravelling the mysterious death by the shore of Lake Starnberg of Bavaria's eccentric King Ludwig.

This tour is amongst the favourite walks in Germany and was particularly dear to King Ludwig himself who was a keen walker. It starts near the site of his death, and ends 60 miles later near his fairy tale castle at Neuschwanstein.

The plains surrounding Munich give way to gentle rolling hills which increase in height as one progresses toward the great wall that marks the start of the Alps. The route passes two of Bavaria's most scenic lakes through charming villages of geranium-bedecked chalets with characteristic onion-shaped church spires. There are masterpieces of baroque architecture to be seen, Andechs monastery, the wonderful cathedral in Diessen on Ammersee, the monasteries of Wessobrunn and Rottenbuch, and the rococo church at Wies are all on the route.

Walking

Cycling