Where Eagles Soar

Berchtesgadener Land, amid the Bavarian Alps
 

Holiday Highlights

Sail to relax | Enjoy a relaxing boat trip across fjord-like Königsee.
Spectacular views | Ascend to the panoramic terrace of the Blaueishütte, 1,680 metres above sea level.
God’s Balcony | The panoramic Soleleitungsweg traces the contours of the valley, dubbed ‘God’s Balcony’.
Eagle’s Nest | Take a mountain elevator to the Kehlsteinhaus ‘Eagle’s Nest’ for views over Berchtesgaden National Park.
Price from
£1635pp
Where Eagles Soar. 6 nights
Price from
£1635pp
Where Eagles Soar. 6 nights
Price from
£1635pp
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Bavarian Alps

Expect top-notch, traditional gastronomy, high-quality hotels and stunning Alpine scenery on this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walk. After some challenging routes, enjoy a relaxing sail across fjord-like Königssee.
As steeped in history and Bavarian culture as it is in Alpine splendour, the walkers' paradise of Berchtesgadener Land lies enfolded within the granite embrace of the mighty Watzmann Mountain and its eight lofty companions. At their feet, tucked into the folds of the valley like an emerald in a cluster of diamonds, beguiling Lake Königssee stretches silently into the monolithic shadows beneath the ever-vigilant eye of the Eagle's Nest, perched 1,200 metres above.

From picture-postcard Ramsau with its dramatic Wimbach Gorge and beguilingly beautiful Hintersee to the heady high pastures (Almen) of the Jenner Mountain and the shores of Königssee, this holiday immerses you in one of the most picturesque landscapes of the Alps through which the long-distance SalzAlpenSteig path runs like a timeline thread revisiting the salt-mining history of Berchtesgaden. Along this 'white gold' trail, you travel between hidden lakes and deep-cut valleys to where eagles soar above the summit of Germany's most majestic mountain.

Two high-quality, Alpine-lodge-style hotels with views to the mountains and over the valleys, provide a welcoming base for your Berchtesgadener Land exploration. With excellent traditional dining, luxurious rooms and pampering spa facilities, challenging days are rewarded with relaxing evenings and restful nights in the peaceful embrace of the mountains.
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

You will be given a guest card at both hotels, entitling you to free travel on most local trains and buses. Pay locally for cable-car tickets.
  • 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
  • Arrival in Ramsau
    Night 1: at Berghotel Rehlegg (the first of three nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of walks from Ramsau: 14km to 16km

    Hintersee walk: 16km, 5.5hrs; 550m ascent/descent
    Climb above the imposing Wimbach Gorge along the side of the Hochkalter mountain range to reach an eagle's eye viewpoint over the hidden lake of Hintersee before descending to circumnavigate its scenic shore.

    Blaueishütte walk: 15.5km, 6hrs; 1030m ascent/descent
    For a truly spectacular table with a view, ascend steeply to the panoramic terrace of the Blaueishütte which sits at 1,680 metres above sea level, nestling in the crook of sheer cliffs, its terrace looking out over the Hintersee sparkling far below, and above to the blue glacier from which it gets its name.

    Wimbach Gorge walk: 14km, 4.5hrs; 480m ascent/descent
    Descend into the Wimbach Gorge itself on wooden walkways alongside gushing waterfalls before following this scenic valley which lies between the Watzmann and the Hochkalter mountain ranges, to a remote Hütte where you might like to pause for lunch at the foot of the mountains.
    Hintersee
    Hintersee walk: 16km
    Blaueishütte walk: 15.5km
    Wimbach Gorge walk: 14km
  • Ramsau to Schönau am Königsee: 17km, 6.5hrs; 1040m ascent/980m descent
    Your onward journey from Ramsau follows a scenic path across the low meadows of the Lattengebirge mountains to reach the panoramic Soleleitungsweg which traces the contours of the valley on a splendid walk superlatively dubbed ‘God’s Balcony’. You then descend to cross the valley floor and begin your woodland ascent to the Grünsteinhütte, from where the effort of the climb is rewarded with your first sight of the jaw-dropping beauty and drama that abounds in your final destination. From your vantage point on the side of the Watzmann, gaze upon the Jenner and Schneibstein mountains; the pine covered Hagengebirge range; and the glittering tip of emerald Lake Königssee, all of which await you. Your target, where you spend the last three nights, is the Alpenhof in Schönau am Königssee.
    Ramsau to Schönau: 17km
    Views en route to Schönau
  • Choice of walks from Schönau am Königssee: 9.5km to 19km

    Eagle’s Nest walk: 9.5km, 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 7km of intestinal 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 its jaw-dropping views over Berchtesgaden National Park to the Alps and the Salzburg basin.

    Lakes walk: 19km, 6.5hrs; 640m ascent/descent
    Sail the beautiful, fjord-like Königssee (pay locally) to reach its furthest shore, from where a short walk takes you to Obersee, a hidden lake whose still surface reflects the granite splendour of the Hagen mountains. Follow a path to its furthest shore where a Hütte sits overlooking the water. Continue your boat ride to 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. (The walk between the hotel and the dock is 2.5km each way, the Obersee walk is 8km and the Eiskapelle walk is 6km, making a total of 19km.)

    Mount Jenner walk: 16km, 5.5hrs; 430m ascent/1050m descent
    Take the Jenner cable car to the 1874-metre summit of Mount Jenner, from where you gaze down onto the shimmering emerald waters of Lake Königssee lying at the foot of the sheer east wall of Watzmann. Your route continues through 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. (The elevation chart below only shows the route from the top of the cable car, not the route between the hotel and the lower cable-car station. If you prefer, you can take a bus for this leg, thus shortening the day to 12.5km)
    Eagle’s Nest walk: 9.5km
    Views from the Eagle's Nest
    Lakes walk (Obersee): 8km from far shore
    Lakes walk (Eiskapelle): 6km from St Bartholoma
    Take the cable car up Mount Jenner
    Mount Jenner walk (from top cable-car station): 12.5km
 

Accommodation

Your days of walking are rewarded with relaxing evenings in beautiful, Alpine-lodge-style hotels.

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.
 

Options to extend or shorten 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. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 June 2025 - 01 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 20 Jun 2025 £1660 £330
    21 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £1715 £330
    1 - 31 Aug 2025 £1635 £330
    1 - 25 Sep 2025 £1735 £335
    3rd & 4th person discount -£30
    Single traveller supplement £30

    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.

    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.

    6 nights: 01 June 2025 - 01 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 20 Jun 2025 £2350 £330
    21 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £2405 £330
    1 - 31 Aug 2025 £2325 £330
    1 - 25 Sep 2025 £2425 £335
    3rd & 4th person discount -£45
    Single traveller supplement £45

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to either Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, or Lille, with onward travel as described below.

    Included travel from the UK: UK–Amsterdam (Eurostar), Amsterdam–Rosenheim (Nightjet sleeper), Rosenheim–Berchtesgaden (regional rail) approx. duration 22h30 plus 0h15 taxi transfer. Home, Berchtesgaden–Rosenheim (regional rail), Rosenheim–Amsterdam (Nightjet sleeper), Amsterdam–UK (Eurostar), approx. duration 23h30 plus 0h20 transfer from hotel.
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    6 nights: 01 June 2025 - 01 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 20 Jun 2025 £1835 £330
    21 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £1890 £330
    1 - 31 Aug 2025 £1810 £330
    1 - 25 Sep 2025 £1910 £335
    3rd & 4th person discount -£175
    Single traveller supplement £175

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus a return Channel crossing between Folkestone and Calais with LeShuttle for your party and one car.

    We also include a transfer back to the first hotel at the end of your holiday to collect your car.
    > More information about travelling self-drive

    A supplement of approximately £65 per car per single journey applies for travel at key dates over Easter, while from May onwards a supplement of approximately £42 per car per single journey applies for travel over public holidays and at weekends during school holidays. See the self-drive page or contact us for more details.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Berghotel Rehlegg, Ramsau
    Junior suite with mountain views: 01 Jun - 01 Oct 2025 £53
    Superior: 01 Jun - 01 Oct 2025 £53

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

    Berghotel Rehlegg, Ramsau (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 01 Oct 2025 £185 £301
    Alpenhof, Schönau am Königssee (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 01 Oct 2025 £185 £185
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Salzburg or Munich
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    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.

    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,  TUI 
    Birmingham - Salzburg (via Düsseldorf) Eurowings 
    Birmingham - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Salzburg jet2 
    Bristol - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    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 TUI 
    Glasgow - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Munich British Airways 
    London City - Salzburg British Airways 
    London City - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Munich easyJet 
    Gatwick - Salzburg British Airways,  easyJet,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Munich British Airways,  Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Salzburg Eurowings,  Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Munich easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Munich easyJet 
    Stansted - Salzburg jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Munich easyJet,  Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Munich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Salzburg Ryanair,  TUI 
    Manchester - Salzburg (via Düsseldorf) Eurowings 
    Manchester - Salzburg (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Salzburg (via Hamburg) Eurowings 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Munich Lufthansa 
    Newcastle - Munich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Munich (via Düsseldorf) Lufthansa 
    Newcastle - Salzburg TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Munich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Teesside International - Salzburg (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    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 for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. 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.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Munich

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Munich Airport to Berchtesgaden (3h05), taxi Berchtesgaden to hotel (0h15) £55-£57 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Berchtesgaden (0h10), rail Berchtesgaden to Munich airport (3h05) £50-£52 1230

    Connecting travel options - flying via Salzburg

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Salzburg airport to hotel (0h30) £58-£60 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Salzburg airport (0h35) £50-£52 flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
 
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.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. 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. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to 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.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • 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 incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • 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 (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). 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 for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • 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.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 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.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
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