Self-Guided Walking in Southern Bavaria: Oberammergau – 8 Days
Self-guided: Ammer Valley villages, Ettal monastery, the Staffelsee and Linderhof Palace, from a historic inn in Oberammergau.
Tour overview
This 8-day self-guided walking holiday explores the Bavarian Alps and foothills from Oberammergau, a village famous for its painted houses, woodcarvers and Passion Play. There is no group or tour leader: you walk at your own pace with routes on a navigation app, choosing a shorter or longer option most days, and a guest card gives you free local bus travel and discounts on cable cars and attractions. You stay all week at the Hotel Alte Post, a family-run inn in the village centre dating back to 1612, with frescoed walls, wood-panelled dining rooms and a terrace with mountain views. Breakfast is included daily, with dinner on the first night. Transfers from Munich take about 90 minutes and can be arranged when you book.
The first walk begins with a short ride on the little red train to Bad Kohlgrub, then follows the Ammer Valley through sleepy farming villages and the Pulvermoos wildlife sanctuary back to Oberammergau. Next a cable car climbs the Laber, at 1,685 metres, for views of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, before you walk down through forest to the great Benedictine monastery of Ettal.
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The Staffelsee is one of the largest of Bavaria's blue lakes, with easy walking along its shore, swimming spots and an optional boat cruise. A free day follows: take the bus to King Ludwig II's fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein on its rocky outcrop, ride up the Zugspitze, or relax at the Wellenberg pool and spa.
The Kolben chairlift lifts you to 1,270 metres for a choice of routes up to the Sonnenberg ridge, returning past waterfalls and a reconstructed mill. The final walk leads to Schloss Linderhof, the extravagant Rococo palace built by King Ludwig and inspired by Versailles, with formal gardens and a grotto, returning through the Linder Valley. Linderhof is the smallest of King Ludwig's palaces and the only one he lived to see completed.
The walking is graded medium, with options from about 6 to 22 kilometres a day. This holiday suits independent walkers, couples and families with children aged 8 and over who want alpine scenery, castles and a characterful base.
Trip highlights
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The Ammer Valley and Pulvermoos wildlife sanctuary (Day 2)
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The Laber cable car and Ettal monastery (Day 3)
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The shores of the Staffelsee (Day 4)
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A free day for Neuschwanstein or the Zugspitze (Day 5)
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The Sonnenberg ridge (Day 6)
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King Ludwig's Linderhof Palace (Day 7)
Your route
8 stops from Munich to Graswang
- Munich Days 1 & 8
- Oberammergau Days 1–7
- Bad Kohlgrub Day 2
- Unterammergau Day 2
- Ettal Abbey Day 3
- Uffing am Staffelsee Day 4
- Linderhof Palace Day 7
- Graswang Day 7
Why choose this tour
Alpine walks, castles and lakes from one historic inn, with free local buses. Shorter and longer options every day, to suit walkers and families.
Best suited to
- Independent walkers who prefer no group
- Families with children aged 8 and over
- Couples who enjoy history and scenery
- First-time walking holidaymakers
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Oberammergau, Germany to Oberammergau, Germany
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Day 1 · Oberammergau Arrive in Oberammergau
Arrive at your historic inn in the centre of Oberammergau, about 90 minutes from Munich.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · Bad Kohlgrub, Pulvermoos Ammer Valley villages
Take the little red train to Bad Kohlgrub and walk back through the Ammer Valley's villages.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Laber, Ettal Abbey Mountains and monastery
Ride the cable car up the Laber, then walk down to the Benedictine monastery of Ettal.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Staffelsee Staffelsee
Walk along the shore of the Staffelsee, with time to swim or take a boat cruise.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Neuschwanstein, Zugspitze Free day
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, ride up the Zugspitze or relax at the Wellenberg spa.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Kolben, Sonnenberg Sonnenberg ridge
Take the Kolben chairlift and walk up to the Sonnenberg ridge, returning past waterfalls.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Schloss Linderhof, Linder Valley Linderhof Palace
Walk to King Ludwig's Rococo Linderhof Palace and return through the Linder Valley.
- Hotel
- Hotel Alte Post
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Oberammergau Holiday ends
The holiday ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Oberammergau (7 nights) Hotel Alte Post
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights at the Hotel Alte Post, a historic family-run inn
- Meals 7 breakfasts and 1 dinner
- Routes on a navigation app
- Guest card with free local bus travel and discounts on cable cars and attractions
Not included
- Flights to Munich and transfers
- Cable cars, chairlifts and boat cruises
- Entrance fees, such as Linderhof and Neuschwanstein
- Meals not listed
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a tour leader or group — this is self-guided
- You want to change hotels — you stay in one place
- You want dinners included — breakfasts and one dinner
- You want high-altitude trekking — the walks are moderate
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £849 per person, twin share, tour only. With flights from £1,109 per person. 134 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What does self-guided mean?
There is no tour leader or group. You follow routes on a navigation app, choosing the length that suits you each day.
How long are the walks?
From about 6 to 22 kilometres a day, with a shorter and a longer option on most days.
Is local transport included?
A guest card gives free local bus travel and discounts on cable cars and attractions. Lifts and boat trips are paid locally.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes, from age 8, with shorter route options and plenty to see along the way.
How do I get to Oberammergau?
Fly to Munich, around 90 minutes away. A specialist can arrange flights and transfers.
When is the best time to go?
Late spring to early autumn, when the mountain lifts and trails are open.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary