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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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Bavaria's Soaring Peaks

Berchtesgadener Land & Königssee
 
Staying at a high-quality hotel offering typically warm Bavarian hospitality, you’ll enjoy rewarding routes through breathtaking scenery. This single-centre walking holiday also includes a sailing across fjord-like Lake König, and can be easily reached from Salzburg.
 
Bavaria's Soaring Peaks . 3 nights
Bavaria's Soaring Peaks . 3 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Bavarian Alps

Surrounded on three sides by the mighty snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps, Berchtesgadener Land is almost cut off from the rest of Germany – a hidden gem in the country's south-eastern corner. At its heart, the spectacular landscapes of the Berchtesgaden National Park are centred on enchanting Königssee, a fjord-like, emerald green lake that sits serenely beneath mighty Watzmann Mountain and the rocky promontory of the Eagle's Nest. This is Germany's deepest, and purest, lake, making the views here some of the most impressive in the entire country.
Situated high above the lake, the luxurious Hotel Alpenhof awaits, offering excellent Bavarian hospitality and hearty cuisine. It's the perfect base from which to explore this spectacularly beautiful region: strike out on foot to visit the Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus ), Hitler's former teahouse; or sail across the tranquil lake to the iconic pilgrims’ church of St Bartholomä to explore the Eiskapelle glacier.
 
Gallery
 

Walking & more

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 2 4 8 13 18 21 23 22 19 14 7 2
    mm 74 71 78 97 126 167 176 157 99 79 84 88
  • An introduction
    Surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery, the village of Schönau am Königssee offers a fine choice of superb routes and panoramas to enjoy. There’s no fixed itinerary, so you can take your pick of the options as the mood takes you.
    You will be given a guest card at the hotel, entitling you to free travel on most local trains and buses. Pay locally for cable-car tickets.
  • 9km to 19km

    Eagle’s Nest walk: 9km, 3.5hrs; 490m ascent/250m descent
    Ascend through forest to a low ridge of the Hoher Göll mountain range and the base of the Kehlstein, to reach the Dokumentation Obersalzberg where the compelling history of Berchtesgaden during the Third Reich is chronicled. From there, a special bus climbs the seven kilometres of winding mountain road to reach a tunnel and elevator inside the mountain which take you to the Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle's Nest, now a popular tourist destination with a restaurant and beer garden offering jaw-dropping views over Berchtesgaden National Park to the Alps and the Salzburg basin.

    Lakes walk: 19km, 6.5hrs; 640m ascent/descent
    Sail the full length of beautiful, fjord-like Königssee (ticket provided) and enjoy the peace and relative silence – since 1909, only electric boats have been allowed to sail on Königssee, hence its purity. At the far end, alight for a short, but hugely rewarding walk to Obersee, a hidden lake whose still surface reflects the granite splendour of the Hagen mountains. Follow the path round to its furthest shore where a Hütte sits overlooking the water. Enjoy refreshments here, or continue to the head of the valley to see the Röthbach-Wasserfall, the highest waterfall in Germany. Back on Königssee, break the return journey at St Bartholomä where a path leads from behind its iconic pilgrims’ church to a viewpoint over the Eiskapelle, a dome-like glacier at the foot of the east face of the mighty Watzmann. Back on the lakeside, you could enjoy lunch at the restaurant in the former hunting lodge next to the church, which serves fresh and smoked trout and whitefish, pulled straight from the lake.

    Mount Jenner: 17km, 6.5hrs; 520m ascent/1130m descent
    From May 2019 you can opt to take the newly-reopened Jenner cable car to the 1874m summit of Mount Jenner. From here you gaze down onto the shimmering emerald waters of Lake Königssee lying at the foot of the sheer east wall of Watzmann before following a path amongst the granite peaks, pine covered slopes and flower filled meadows where the tinkling bells of grazing cattle provide a gentle soundtrack to nature's stunning canvas in the high Almen.
    Views from the Eagle's Nest
    Mount Jenner trail
  • Berchtesgaden, Bad Reichenhall & Salzburg

    Berchtesgaden
    Jump on the bus to the nearby town of Berchtesgaden where you can browse the heavily laden stalls of the weekly Bauernmarkt  (farmers’ market); visit the Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden (salt mines) for a great visitor experience; wander the streets of the historic Rococo town centre with its royal palace, arcaded shops and colourful façades; or follow one of the stages of the SalzAlpenSteig long-distance walking route alongside the river (notes not provided, but it's well signposted).

    Bad Reichenhall
    Bad Reichenhall, known as Bayerisches Staatbad (or Bavaria’s spa town) is also just a short bus ride away. Here, naturally occurring brine springs are used in many varied treatments which you can try; you can visit Alte Saline – the old brine works – too. During the summer, the Bad Reichenhall Philharmonic Orchestra stage outdoor concerts in the Kurpark, while the Predigtstuhlbahn (the oldest working cable car in the world) is well worth a ride for the breathtaking views.

    Salzburg
    It's not far over the border if you wish to spend a day exploring the wonderful Austrian city of Salzburg  (which you can reach by bus via Berchtesgaden). The ornate buildings, elegant squares and elaborate fountains are the work of craftsmen from Italy who, at the beginning of the 17th century, transformed Salzburg into one of the finest Baroque cities north of the Alps. This also being Mozart’s city of birth, there is a busy calendar of concerts and recitals throughout the year, the centrepiece of which is the annual Salzburg Festival, a five-week-long extravaganza in July and August celebrating opera, orchestral music and theatre.
 

Accommodation

The luxurious Hotel Alpenhof is located a short walk away from the village of Schönau am Königssee.

Please note: most beds in German hotels are normally one large base with two mattresses/duvets. We refer to these as 'Austrian Twins' and they are locally regarded to serve requests for both double and twin bedded rooms. Separate twin beds or traditional double beds with one large mattress are rare and cannot be guaranteed.
Alpenhof

Bedrooms

 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
Currency converter

We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.

Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 3 nights: 01 June - 01 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 14 June £598 £20
    15 - 28 June £620 £20
    29 June - 31 August £640 £20
    1 - 28 September £620 £20
    3rd & 4th person discount -£60
    Single traveller supplement £60

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: return taxi from Salzburg  & return boat journey on Königssee

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Alpenhof (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 29 Jun 2019 £145 £150
    30 Jun - 01 Oct 2019 £155 £160
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Salzburg
    ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT(S):
    Munich

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Munich. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Salzburg easyJet,  jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Munich Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Munich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Salzburg Eurowings,  jet2 
    Birmingham - Salzburg (via Düsseldorf) Eurowings 
    Birmingham - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Cardiff - Munich Flybe 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Munich easyJet,  Eurowings,  Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Munich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Munich Lufthansa 
    Glasgow - Salzburg (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Glasgow - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Munich British Airways 
    London City - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Munich easyJet 
    Gatwick - Salzburg British Airways,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Munich British Airways,  Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Salzburg Eurowings 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Munich easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Munich easyJet 
    Stansted - Salzburg Eurowings,  jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Munich easyJet,  Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Munich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Salzburg TUI 
    Manchester - Salzburg (via Düsseldorf) Eurowings 
    Manchester - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Salzburg (via Hamburg) Eurowings 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Munich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Munich (via Düsseldorf) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Munich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Munich Flybe 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Munich. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Salzburg

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Salzburg airport to Königssee hotel (0h35) included flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi Königssee hotel to Salzburg airport (0h35) included flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Munich

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Munich airport to Berchtesgaden (3h10) taxi Berchtesgaden to hotel (0h20) £12 1730
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Berchtesgaden (0h20), rail Berchtesgaden to Munich airport (3h10) £12 1230
What is included
  • 3 nights
  • 3 dinners
    3 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • boat trip on Königssee
  • return transfers from Salzburg
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Germany, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • The official language is German. The currency is the Euro. German time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/24/2019 8:29:29 AM