Self-Launched: Walking Bavaria's Lakes and Mountains
8 days · Bavaria, Germany
Exodus charges £1,660
No-markup version: ~£630 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore the stunning lakes and mountains of Bavaria independently, walking the same spectacular trails between Bad Tölz and Bayrischzell that Exodus offer — at a fraction of the cost. This self-launched version follows the same Via Alpina route past Lake Tegernsee, Lake Schliersee and up to Mount Wendelstein, staying in guesthouses and budget hotels along the way. You'll carry your own day pack (or arrange your own luggage transfers) and navigate using free apps like Komoot or AllTrails, saving yourself over £1,000 compared to the Exodus tour. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz
Make your own way to Bad Tölz — take the S-Bahn S3 from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Holzkirchen then a regional train to Bad Tölz (~1.5 hrs, ~£12 return leg). Check in to your guesthouse and take a leisurely stroll along the Isar River. Head out for a classic Bavarian dinner of Schweinebraten and a Masskrug at a local Wirtshaus — budget around £15–20 for food and a couple of beers.
🚌Train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Bad Tölz via Holzkirchen on the BOB regional line (~£12 one-way).
🛏Gästehaus or budget pension in Bad Tölz — e.g. Gasthof Kolbergarten or similar (~£45–55/night). Book via Booking.com.
- →Stroll along the Isar River promenade
- →Explore Bad Tölz's painted historic Marktstrasse
- →Dinner at a local Bavarian Wirtshaus
Bad Tölz to Bad Wiessee via the Via Alpina
Bad Tölz → Bad Wiessee
Take the regional train from Bad Tölz to Lenggries (~10 min, ~£4). From here, follow the Via Alpina trail up to the Aueralm mountain hut — enjoy a classic Brotzeit (bread, cheese, speck) and a cold Radler (~£8). Continue through forests and open meadows with long-distance views over Lake Tegernsee before descending into Bad Wiessee. Download the route on Komoot (free) before you leave. Distance: 18 km / 11.2 miles.
🚌Regional train Bad Tölz to Lenggries (~£4). Walk the rest (18 km).
🛏Budget guesthouse or Gasthof in Bad Wiessee — e.g. Pension Seeblick or similar (~£50–60/night). Book via Booking.com.
- →Walk the Via Alpina trail from Lenggries to Bad Wiessee (18 km)
- →Stop at Aueralm mountain hut for Brotzeit and beer
- →Panoramic views over Lake Tegernsee on the descent
Bad Wiessee — Mount Riederstein Round Trip
Bad Wiessee
A shorter day with a rewarding round-trip hike to Mount Riederstein (9 km). Head up via the mountain inn Galaun and on to the scenic mountain chapel at the summit. Descend to the lakeshore where the famous Tegernseer Bräustüberl brewery beer garden (in the former monastery at Tegernsee town) offers legendary Tegernseer Hell lager. Take the public ferry boat back to Bad Wiessee (~£5). Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles.
🚌Self-powered hiking + public ferry on Lake Tegernsee (~£5).
🛏Same guesthouse as Day 2 in Bad Wiessee (~£50–60/night).
- →Round-trip hike to Mount Riederstein summit chapel (9 km)
- →Stop at mountain inn Galaun
- →Beer garden at Tegernseer Bräustüberl (former monastery brewery)
- →Public ferry ride back to Bad Wiessee (~£5)
Bad Wiessee to Lake Schliersee
Bad Wiessee → Schliersee
Walk from Lake Tegernsee to Lake Schliersee (12 km) through forest paths and open alpine pastures. Stop at the Neureuth beer garden for a break with sweeping lake views — a classic Bavarian moment. Continue past the Gindelalm alp before descending to Schliersee village with its pretty marina and spa park (Kurpark). A swim in the lake is free and highly recommended. Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles.
🚌Self-powered walking (12 km).
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Schliersee — e.g. Landhaus Alpengruss or similar (~£50–60/night). Book via Booking.com.
- →Forest and alpine pasture walk from Tegernsee to Schliersee (12 km)
- →Break at Neureuth beer garden with lake views
- →Stop at Gindelalm alp
- →Free swim at Lake Schliersee Kurpark marina
Schliersee — Lake Spitzingsee Loop
Schliersee
Follow the lakeside adventure path to Fischhausen, then trace the old forest railway tracks uphill to the Spitzingsattel col. Drop down to the gorgeous Lake Spitzingsee — a popular wild swimming and boating lake. Walk the full circuit of the lake and take a well-earned break at the historic Wurzhütte chalet (~£8 for cake and coffee). Return to Schliersee by local bus (~£3). Distance: 13 km / 8.1 miles.
🚌Local bus Spitzingsee to Schliersee (~£3).
🛏Same guesthouse as Day 4 in Schliersee (~£50–60/night).
- →Lakeside adventure path to Fischhausen
- →Former forest railway track hike to Spitzingsattel col
- →Circuit walk of Lake Spitzingsee with wild swimming
- →Coffee and cake at historic Wurzhütte chalet
- →Local bus back to Schliersee (~£3)
Schliersee to Bayrischzell via Mount Taubenstein
Schliersee → Bayrischzell
Take the Taubensteinbahn cable car to the summit station at Mount Taubenstein (~£15 return, or one-way up ~£10). Follow high-altitude panorama paths with epic views over the Tyrolean Karwendel range to the Rotwand Haus mountain hut — optionally push on to the summit of Mount Rotwand (1,884m). Descend via the spectacular Großtiefentaler Kessel cirque and idyllic Lake Soinsee before walking through alpine meadows to Bayrischzell. Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles.
🚌Taubensteinbahn cable car one-way up (~£10). Walk rest of route (15 km).
🛏Guesthouse or Gasthof in Bayrischzell — e.g. Hotel-Gasthof Wendelstein or Pension Bergblick (~£50–65/night). Book via Booking.com.
- →Taubensteinbahn cable car to summit station (~£10 one-way up)
- →High-altitude panorama path with Karwendel views
- →Stop at Rotwand Haus mountain hut
- →Optional summit of Mount Rotwand (1,884m)
- →Walk through Großtiefentaler Kessel cirque and past Lake Soinsee
Bayrischzell — Mount Wendelstein Summit Day
Bayrischzell
Today is the crown of the whole trip: ascending Bavaria's most famous panoramic mountain, Mount Wendelstein (1,838m). Take the King-Maximilian-path from Bayrischzell, passing a beautiful waterfall on the way up to Wendelstein-Alp. Continue to the summit with its historic meteorological observatory (free to view outside). Explore the optional panorama loop path into the Wendelstein cave with its underground tunnels. Reward yourself with a snack in the summit panorama beer garden before taking the Wendelsteinbahn cable car back down (~£15 one-way down). Walk back into Bayrischzell. Distance: 5 km walking / full day with cable car descent.
🚌Wendelsteinbahn cable car one-way down (~£15).
🛏Same guesthouse as Day 6 in Bayrischzell (~£50–65/night).
- →Hike the King-Maximilian-path to Mount Wendelstein summit (1,838m)
- →Waterfall viewpoint on ascent
- →Visit Wendelstein meteorological observatory (free, exterior)
- →Optional Wendelstein cave underground tunnel walk
- →Summit panorama beer garden for Brotzeit and beer
- →Wendelsteinbahn cable car descent (~£15)
Depart Bayrischzell
Bayrischzell
Enjoy your last included breakfast before checking out. The BOB regional train runs from Bayrischzell to Munich Hauptbahnhof with a change at Rosenheim (~1.5 hrs, ~£15). Ideal for onward travel or a flight home from Munich Airport (S8 S-Bahn direct, ~40 min).
🚌BOB regional train Bayrischzell → Rosenheim → Munich Hauptbahnhof (~£15).
- →Final breakfast in Bayrischzell
- →Optional morning stroll in the village
- →Train back to Munich (~£15)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£630 | £1,660 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,030 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£630
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Walking Bavaria's Lakes and Mountains cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £630 per person for 8 days in Bavaria, Germany. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,660 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £630 — a saving of roughly £1,030 (62%) per person.
How long is the Bavaria, Germany trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Bavaria, Germany.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, culture trip through Bavaria, Germany, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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