Day 1 - Arrive in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The trip begins at our joining hotel in Garmisch, where group members will arrive throughout the day. Your guide will join you there in the evening for a briefing about the trip. They’ll also be happy to answer any questions. 

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

​

Day 2 - Trek from Hell Valley to Höllentalanger hütte and Kreuzberg

Our adventure begins with a fascinating ascent through the impressive Höllental (or Hell Valley) gorge. We’ll follow a series of tunnels and canyons, hewn from the rockface, with the roaring river down below. Exiting the canyon, we’ll reach the Höllentalanger hütte, perched above the gorge. It overlooks Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze (2962m) and is surrounded by stunning alpine scenery. It’s the perfect spot for a rest before our final ascent to the Kreuzberg, taking a high mountain trail. At times the trail is exposed, but there is always a handrail. 

Descending back down to Garmisch by cable car, we’ll return to our hotel for a 2nd night.

.

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Ascent/ descent: 1312m (4304 ft) / 238m (780 ft), main descent by cable car

Walking: approx 6-7 hours

Distance: 11.7 km / 7.3 miles

Luggage access: yes

 

Day 3 - Trek from Garmisch to Schachenhaus Mountain Cabin

Today’s gorge walk takes us through the Parten Gorge to the foot of the Wetterstein Massif.

As we emerge from the spectacular gorge, we embark on a steep climb up the forested Kalbersteig path, but all our effort will be worth it when we come out into the open to stunning views before us. 

We're now on the King's Path, which leads to our accommodation and Castle Schachen, just above the Schachenhaus hut. This was King Ludwig II’s mountain cabin, and it's now a fascnating museum: if it's open, it is well worth the visit.

​

Luggage delivery is not available today so we’ll carry our overnight essentials, reuniting with our main luggage at tomorrow’s hotel in Leutasch.

​

Accommodation: mountain cabin, dinner included

Distance: 15.8km / 9.8 miles

Ascent/ descent: 1142m (3747 ft) / 145 m (475 ft)

Approx walking time: 6-7 hours

Luggage access: no

 

Day 4 - Sunrise at Schachenhaus, trek to Leutasch

Our mountain cabin has such a spectacular setting that we thoroughly recommend an early start today to witness sunrise. Our trek today begins with a climb above the hut to climb up the ridgeline to reach the Meilerhutte, a great coffee and cake stop! The hut sits on the border between Germany and Austria.

From here we have a rugged and long descent through mountainous terrain. The path is loose scree at first and quite steep, but it does ease off slightly as you descend into Austria’s Leutasch valley.

The descent is sustained but we are heading to a very comfortable hotel in Leutasch!

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles

Ascent/ descent: 615m (2017 ft) / 1355 m (4455 ft)

Approx walking time: 7-8 hours

Luggage access: yes

​

Day 5 - Trek from Karwendel valley to Hallerangeralm cabin

From the Leutasch valley, we hike over to the village of Scharnitz, which is well-known for cross-country skiing and is the gateway to the Karwendel Alpine Park. The park is the largest in Austria, with the majority in the Tirol, and the rest in Bavaria.

We begin with a steep climb on a forest track, before reaching the Hoher Settal pass at 1495m (4,903ft) where the mountains are suddenly in view. Then a footpath down to Scharnitz for a coffee/gelato stop! Here we meet our taxi which will take us up the long dusty road along Karwendel Valley. We are dropped off at Kastenalm, a beautiful alm (meadow) in the mountains and the start of our hike to our overnight at Hallerangeralm, a delightful setting for a sunset.  

Luggage delivery is not available today so we’ll carry our overnight and Day 7 essentials, reuniting with our main luggage at tomorrow’s hotel in Innsbruck.

 

Accommodation: mountain cabin, dinner included

Distance: 17.1 km / 10.6 miles

Ascent/ descent: 960 m / 3150 ft / 588m (1929 ft) 

Approx walking time: 6 hours

Luggage access: no

​

Day 6 - Trek the salt route to Absam, transfer to Innsbruck

This morning we leave the lovely meadows of the Hallngeralm as we head for our first pass, or joch, the Lafatscher at 2081m (6,825 ft).

Then it's into the wild and remote Halltaler Pfeis and a trail that takes us down to the Issanger meadow. From here we head up and over another smaller joch to our descent trail past ancient salt mines. This ‘salt route’ gave the city of Salzburg its name.

The first salt was taken from this area 2600 years ago, and today there is a plan for the mines to be transformed into an exhibition centre. A great lunch stop at the mountain restaurant of Santa Magdalena (where the cake is excellent!), before a pleasant forest path to the village of Absam, where we take a short transfer to Innsbruck.

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Distance: 12.2 km / 7.6 miles

Ascent/ descent: 388 (1273 ft) / 1386 m (4547 ft)

Approx walking time: 5-6 hours

Luggage access: yes

​

Day 7 - Departure day from Innsbruck 

Your Cloud 9 adventure ends after breakfast today.

​

Please note if booking for our June trips, we follow the above itinerary with 5 days of trekking to avoid residual snow on the final passes.

​

If booking for July/Aug/Sept then the trip is a day longer.

​

​