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

This article was written in cooperation with the Mountain Rescue Service of Grainau (Bergwacht Grainau).

Summer is the hiking season in the Alps. Here are a few tips that are essential for a safe stay in the mountains.

Lake Walchensee is only 30 kilometres away from Grainau and the Hotel am Badersee. The lake offers tremendous leisure opportunities in any season: swimming or paddling on the turquoise blue water, sunbathing on the lake shore, or trekking around the Walchensee with a magnificent view of the lake topped with a panorama of the famous Herzogstand. And, of course, you can make a cozy stop at the 'Waldschänke Niedernach' or at a pub in the village of Walchensee.

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.

Following in the footsteps of King Ludwig II, our hike today brings you from the idyllic resort of Grainau to the Bavarian king's favourite castle. The picturesque forest route goes past the Loisach River and takes the hiker around Mount Kramer. On the way you would enjoy magnificent mountain views along with streaming water of any kind. And at the end of the tour Linderhof Castle invites you for a visit. Don't miss the opportunity for a guided tour through the small but impressive castle.

Lake Seebensee is an alpine lake located near Ehrwald in Tyrol at 1,657 m altitude in the Mieminger Mountains below the Coburger Hut amid the idyllic high alpine terrain. The lake can be reached from Ehrwald or Biberwier on several hiking routes, on a climbing tour or from Ehrwald by mountain bike. The tour is also possible with cablecar support.

The Second Section takes the hiker from Eschenlohe to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The 16 km long section goes through the meadows and moor landscapes, past the famous 'Seven Springs'. If you are in the mood for more, you can make a detour to the Kuhflucht Waterfalls, one of the highest waterfalls in Germany. And the fantastic panorama of the Alps lies before your eyes all the time. Here we go!

The Spitzenwanderweg Trail would be my tenth long distance trail that will definitely bring me a few more insights into the German natural and cultural landscape. It would be the trail with the highest altitudes as well, and I find this really impressive. However, the first sections are easy, so you can gradually gain tempo and get used to the trail.

It will be a great sunny day today - a perfect one for a mountain bike tour. The weather allows for a longer tour, so today we will go to Elmau and then back to Lake Badersee. Biking alone would make for a half-day trip, but you shouldn't forget to calculate all the nice places to stop on the way...