The town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps should definitely be on your to-do list when you visit Germany. Try out this relaxed route to discover this idyllic neighborhood and feel the spirit of Bavarian tradition and history. 

What does it look like, a perfect holiday in autumn? A video is worth a thousand words.

Autumn has arrived in the Alps. The trees boast a colourful dress in yellow, orange and red, the highest peaks are already covered with snow, but the days are still sunny and warm. A wonderful time for hikes and tours through our amazing alpine landscape. Before the Höllentalklamm gorge and the surrounding trails get closed for the winter, I will make another tour through the gorge to Hochalm.

The hike to the Höllentalangerhütte via the Stangensteig Trail is definitely one of the most picturesque alpine treks in Grainau. The route from Hammersbach through the Hell Valley is known to many mountaineers who climbed Mount Zugspitze on foot. Our hike took place late in May 2019, when the upper part of the route was still partly under snow.

Lake Plansee is a picturesque lake in the Ammergau Alps, and it is also perfect for swimming on hot summer days. With its surface area of 3 km², the Plansee is the second largest natural lake in Tyrol. The lake is easily accessible from the Hotel am Badersee by mountain bike or e-bike.

A friend is coming to visit, so a bike tour would be a great option for a day trip. We need a nice route with some 40 kilometres. The Häselgehr waterfall near Ehrwald would be a perfect match for the occasion. This relatively even route would let anyone enjoy a relaxed bike ride.

A sunrise has something magical about it - perhaps that ability to provoke delight in the heart of every photographer and nature lover. On holiday, you would mostly watch a sunrise at the seaside. Sunrise watching in the mountains is quite a rare opportunity, since you normally have to climb the summit on foot in the dark, or even spend a night high in the mountains. Here in Grainau you can watch a sunrise on Mount Zugspitze without any effort - a great offer for sunrise fans.

This ski tour is a popular easy winter hike in the Garmisch Classic ski area. It's a perfect tour for beginners, and you can go this route on snowshoes as well. A visit to the Stuibenhütte can also be combined with a day on the slopes in the Garmisch Classic ski area or with longer winter hikes.

Along with hiking, family outings and public celebrations in summer and in winter, Mount Wank is a ski mountaineering destination during the winter season. Due to a relatively low avalanche danger, amazing panoramic views, a picturesque downhill slope and cozy chalets, a winter hike to Mount Wank is worth the effort. This tour is classified as 'moderate' with approx. 1100 vertical meters.

You can experience the ultimate snow fun on the slopes without even having to put on your skis or snowboard on. How? Try out the toboggan runs on Mount Zugspitze. That's exactly what we plan to do today.

What does it look like, a perfect winter holiday? A video is worth a thousand words.

Snow and frost turn the local landscape in the Zugspitze area into a true winter paradise!

It snowed overnight and the day promises sunshine along with a breathtaking winter landscape that opens up from the window at the Hotel am Badersee. So, put your shoes on and discover the winter magic on a circular route that first goes to Mount Zugspitze and then down to Lake Eibsee by cablecar and back to Grainau on foot.

The lockdown back in 2020/21 has led to a new boom in skimo mountaineering. Ski lifts and cablecars were closed, so many skiers switched to ski mountaineering and discovered this trendy winter sport. The Garmisch Classic ski area in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a perfect entry point for those who want to try ski tours in a safe and uncomplicated way. Even if the ski area is a bit crowded.

The so-called Philosophers' Trail ('Philosophenweg') connects Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Farchant. On this easy, cosy hike you can enjoy the picturesque surroundings and great views all year round.

What makes a perfect holiday? Taking into account the impressive choice of outdoor activities in our holiday region Grainau, it is sometimes not that easy to make a choice. In the first turn it is important who you are traveling with. This time my mother is there - 72 years old, an enthusiastic hiker as long as the trail is not so steep. It should be a trail that we can start directly from the hotel and preferably classified as 'easy'. After a brief search we decide to spend our day tomorrow on the Kramer Plateau Trail (in German 'Kramerplateauweg').

Our today's hike for experienced alpinists starts and finishes in Hammersbach in Grainau. Along the alpine routes over Kreuzeck and Hochalm, following to the Hupfleitenjoch Saddle and further through the famous Hell Valley Gorge, you would discover the mountains in Grainau in all their beauty and enjoy the most picturesque sites.

Lake Eibsee is one of the most famous and picturesque alpine lakes. You can walk the circular trail around the lake, here you would discover plenty of small bays for bathing and lying in the sun. On hot summer days a spring in the cool blue water (never warmer than 18 degrees centigrade!) is a very special pleasure. Even when the trails around the lake are very busy on sunny days, on the water you can still enjoy lots of space and quiet. Therefore our tip for today: paddling!

Mountaineering is not for everyone. Only the toughest have the endurance to walk uphill for hours. However, hiking should bring joy and make you happy, instead of being a prolongued torture making you unable to enjoy the day out in the nature. The Bavarian Alps in our area offer lots of opportunities to experience the mountains along light routes, enjoying great views and fascinating encounters with nature. Try out hiking with joy.