The King Ludwig’s Way – Romantic Castles and Lakes of Bavaria

Bavaria, Germany

Holiday overview

Destination

Germany


Type

Self Guided


Difficulty

Moderate


Month

Apr - Oct


Price

£ 770 pp


Duration

7 nights


Admire the unique and impressive panoramas of the Bavarian Mountains, beautiful lakes and typical villages as well as the famous castles of King Ludwig that inspired Walt Disney’s films. These things combine to make Bavaria the enchanting place that it is.

This walking route:

The King Ludwig’s Way from Bernried to Füssen – takes you to the most beautiful part of Bavaria, filled with castles, romantic lakes, and welcoming people, as well as comfortable accommodation.

 

Prices 2024:

£770.00 per person  April 13th – May 5th and September 16th – 6th October

£825.00 per person May 6th – June 16th and August 26th – September 15th

£875.00 per person June 17th – August 25th

£270.00 single room  supplement.

Extra night Bernried in 3*** hotel is £95.00 per person sharing. Single Supplement £40

Extra night in Füssen in 3*** hotel £85 per person sharing. Single Supplement £75

 

Included:

  • 7 nights accommodation in traditional hotels,
  • Breakfast buffet,
  • Luggage transportation,
  • 6 days walking with detailed route notes and maps,
  • Boat ride (Herrsching-Diessen).
  • GPS

 

Not Included:

  • Travel to Bernried and from Füssen.
  • Meals except breakfast
  • Travel Insurance
  • Bus transportation during the tour, approx. 15 euro per person.
  • All visitor taxes are not included in the price and must be paid locally.

 

Departures:

Arrive Monday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Other days possible on request.

 

Day 1:  Arrival in Bernried on Lake Starnberg.

Settle into your hotel and take a stroll along the lake in the pretty hamlet of Bernried.

 

Day 2:   Bernried to Diessen on Lake Ammer

Walk along the banks of Lake Starnberg and through a nature reserve via the Ilka Cave, with its stunning views over Lake Stranberg, all the way to the Deixfurter Pond. The route takes you through pretty villages with inviting beer gardens, including  Andechs Monastery with its own brewery).  From here you take a short bus ride to Herrsching, followed by a boat ride to Diessen for overnight.

Details: approx. 5 to 6 hours | 21 km | ­ ascent 270 m, descent  170 m.

 

Day 3:  Diessen to Wessobrunn

From Diessen the path takes one across beautiful meadows and then into the peaceful Stiller Forest.  A hilltop walk will provide you with wonderful views all the way to Wessobrunn, home of the well-known ‘Grey Duke’ (a historic bell tower). In the distance, you can get a glimpse of the Zugspitze summit, the highest mountain in Germany.

Details: approx. 4 to 5 hours | 13 km | ­ ascent 240 m, descent 80 m.

 

Day 4: Wessobrun to Peiting

Today you explore the Bavarian Alpine foothills,  with lots of pretty villages and remote moors. A steep ascent will bring you to the Hohen Peissenberg mountain, from where you have breathtaking views the whole length of the Alps.  This is an excellent place for lunch in the restaurant with its terrace and fantastic views. Then it is a descent to finally walk across meadows and through forest to Peiting.

Details: approx. 4,5 to 6 hours | 20 km | ­ascent  410 m, descent 400 m.

 

Day 5: Peiting to Wildsteig

The walk today is a contrasting and spectacular one through the Ammer gorge, with the turbulent Ammer river below you, all the way to Rottenbuch, with its ornate monastery church. Continue to walk across hills and meadows with glorious views to the Alps before reaching Wildsteig.

Details: approx. 4 hours | 14 km | ­ ascent 270 m, descent 110 m.

 

Day 6: Wildsteig to Buching

The route takes one across idyllic moorland to the world-famous UNESCO site of the ‘Kirche in der Wies’ (the Church in the Meadow). Continue walking across gentle countryside and flower-filled meadows and through tranquil forest to Buching.

Details: approx. 4 to 5 hours | 19 km | ­ ascent 150 m, descent 220 m.

 

Day 7: Buching to Füssen. 

The final walk along King Ludwig’s Way is from Buching to the two famouse castles of  Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau – and further along the Alpenrosenweg between the Schwan Lake and Alp Lake to Füssen. Two routes are possible, both of which initially follow Lake Hegratsied. After the lake the easier lake continues along Lake Forggensee to Füssen. The other route goes up via the  Pöllatschlucht gorge to King Ludwig’s fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle and neighbouring Hohenschwangau. As you leave Neuschwanstein you walk through woodland along the Austrian border, high above the Schwansee lake to Füssen, where King Ludwig’s Way ends.

Details: approx. 5 to 6 hours | 19 km | ­ ascent 300 m, descent 310 m.

An extra night to visit the two castles and enjoy the town is recommended, especially if you take the easier option. 5 to 6 hours walking.

 

Day 8  Departure after Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION:

Accommodation in traditional 3* and 4* hotels.  All rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Here is a list of the hotels we usually use, when these are not available then a hotel of similar level is booked.

www.hotel-seeblick-bernried.de

www.seefelder-hof.de

www.post-wessobrunn.de

www.hotelpfaffenwinkel.de

www.gasthof-post-wildsteig.de

www.alpchalet-schwanstein.de

www.luitpoldpark-hotel.de

or

https://www.hotel-fuessen.de/en

 

GETTING THERE

Munich is the most convenient airport to fly into.  There is a good train service from the airport to Bernried.  The hotel is a 10 minute walk from the station in Bernried.

 

What to take:

  • Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack),
  • rucksack/day pack,
  • 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity,
  • insect repellent,
  • sun glasses, sun hat, sunblock/cream,
  • compass,
  • first-aid kit.

 

Insurance:

We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
Contact us now to book this walk or make an enquiry.