Bavarian Lakes Cycling Holiday

A lazy loop ride that leads you south from Munich to Garmish Partenkirchen near the Austrian border and back again. Leisurely cycling through a region dotted with idyllic lakes, fairytale villages and jaw-dropping mountain scenery. See Murnau am Staffelsee, Garmish Partenkirchen, Wallgau and Bad Tölz..

Munich is a vibrant city with much to see and do. Visit the famous Hofbraühaus to enjoy a frothy litre mug of beer while swaying to the Oom-Pah music with the locals. The City Museum of Munich offers a fascinating insight into the diverse history of the city and we also highly recommend a stroll through the wonderful Englischer Garten – a large park area in Schwabing where you can enjoy a beer and wurst in the fresh air

Bavarian Lakes Cycling HolidayStaffelsee

Leaving the city you’ll enter a quieter world, cycling along quiet lanes past clear lakes to colourful, baroque towns and rustic villages. Murnau, a lovely old market town, enjoying an idyllic location on the shore of Lake Staffelsee is lovely place to spend the night. In Garmish-Partenkirchen we highly recommend taking the mountain railway up to a dizzying 3000 meters for some amazing views of the surrounding alps.

A lovely day’s riding through quiet valleys will bring you to Wallgau, a charming town where Bavarian traditions are still very evident and part of everyday life. In Bad Tölz you can wander along the bustling ‘Tölzer‘ street admiring the baroque houses, perhaps taking a seat in one of the many cafes, bars or restaurants for a spot of people watching.

This cycle route follows easy, flat cycle paths and back roads. There are a few unpaved sections and some minor climbs to contend with and only a few very short sections on roads with more traffic, but the route is well within the reach of most leisure cyclists.

Bavarian Lakes Cycling Holiday

A lazy loop ride that leads you south from Munich to Garmish Partenkirchen near the Austrian border and back again. Leisurely cycling through a region dotted with idyllic lakes, fairytale villages and jaw-dropping mountain scenery. See Murnau am Staffelsee, Garmish Partenkirchen, Wallgau and Bad Tölz..

Munich is a vibrant city with much to see and do. Visit the famous Hofbraühaus to enjoy a frothy litre mug of beer while swaying to the Oom-Pah music with the locals. The City Museum of Munich offers a fascinating insight into the diverse history of the city and we also highly recommend a stroll through the wonderful Englischer Garten – a large park area in Schwabing where you can enjoy a beer and wurst in the fresh air

Bavarian Lakes Cycling HolidayStaffelsee

Leaving the city you’ll enter a quieter world, cycling along quiet lanes past clear lakes to colourful, baroque towns and rustic villages. Murnau, a lovely old market town, enjoying an idyllic location on the shore of Lake Staffelsee is lovely place to spend the night. In Garmish-Partenkirchen we highly recommend taking the mountain railway up to a dizzying 3000 meters for some amazing views of the surrounding alps.

A lovely day’s riding through quiet valleys will bring you to Wallgau, a charming town where Bavarian traditions are still very evident and part of everyday life. In Bad Tölz you can wander along the bustling ‘Tölzer‘ street admiring the baroque houses, perhaps taking a seat in one of the many cafes, bars or restaurants for a spot of people watching.

This cycle route follows easy, flat cycle paths and back roads. There are a few unpaved sections and some minor climbs to contend with and only a few very short sections on roads with more traffic, but the route is well within the reach of most leisure cyclists.

Itinerary

This cycle route follows easy, flat cycle paths and back roads. There are a few unpaved sections and some minor climbs to contend with and only a few very short sections on roads with more traffic, but the route is well within the reach of most leisure cyclists.

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Day 1 : Arrive Munich

On arrival make your way to your first hotel in Munich. After check-in you’re free to explore the Bavarian capital. If you’ve got time, a stroll in the Englischer Garten is highly recommended, but whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity to join the locals in one of the city’s world-famous beer gardens. German sausages and salty pretzels washed down with a stein of frothy local beer in the fresh air – lovely!

Day 2 : Munich – Murnau am Staffelsee
41 miles/65 kms

Leaving Munich, your cycle tour commences with a ride south through Forstenrieder Park to Starnbergersee. This substantial lake is not far from the city but feels a world away. Follow the lakeside road to Seeshaupt at the very southernmost point of the lake then pass through typical Bavarian towns and villages passing and lakes Ostersee and Riegsee en route to the market town of Murnau am Staffelsee, on the edge of the Bavarian Alps.

Day 3 : Murnau am Staffelsee – Garmisch Partenkirchen
25 miles/40 kms

First you cycle through Murnauer Moos – central Europe’s largest swampland – before continuing alongside the River Loisach towards the majestic Alps and the village of Garmisch Partenkirchen. You’ll spend the night in Garmish and today’s ride is shorter than most, to give you time to take the mountain railway to almost 3,000m, where you’ll be treated to a panoramic Alpine view from the Zugspitz Mountain.

Day 4 : Garmisch Partenkirchen – Wallgau
13 - 44 miles/20 - 70 kms

Today starts with a lovely ride, via the village of Klais to beautiful Barmsee Lake. Thereafter you have the choice of turning north and cycling directly to your overnight accommodation in Wallgau or taking on the longer ride south which is described below.

From Barmsee, the extended route leads you to Mittenwald and Scharnitz. Then you have a slightly uphill section through stunning alpine scenery to the source of the river Isar. You then retrace your steps, enjoying stunning views of the Karwendel and Wettersteingebirge mountain ranges to Mittenwald. From here it is not very far to your overnight stop in the charming little alpine vilgae of Wallgau

Day 5 : Wallgau – Bad Tölz
31 miles/50 kms

Cycling through the Isarwinkel area of Upper Bavaria you arrive at idyllic Lake Sylvenstein, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. There’s plenty more wonderful scenery today as you approach Bad Tölz, a fine old town on the Isar boasting many ornate mansions and grand buildings.

Day 6 : Bad Tölz – Munich
38 miles/60 kms

Leave Bad Tölz behind to follow the Isar to the thickly forested Grünwald, and you’ll be almost back in Munich. There will be a couple of short climbs to tackle en route to the Bavarian capital, where you’ll have more time to get to know one of Germany’s most appealing cities. Its museums are world-class, and it’s also a city that’s very easy and safe to make your way round by bike.

Day 7 : Munich - End of trip

After breakfast it’s time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.

Bikes

On this tour you can choose between a regular bike, a regular Plus bike or an electric bike.

Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed models with 21 speeds. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump. Water bottle holders are not provided. Minimum height: 148cm. If you wish to have a male specific bike with crossbar, the minimum height is 165cm.

The regular Plus bike offers a step up in terms of components (hydraulic Magura brakes HS 11, Shimano Deore XT) and the crossbar frame provides a more sporty riding position. High quality, suntour suspension forks ensure a comfortable ride on these bikes. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump. Water bottle holders are not provided. Minimum height: 155cm.

Electric bikes with unisex frame are also available. Minimum height: 148cm

We suggest you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons. Alternatively, helmets for adults are available to buy (payable locally, €45). This must be advised and prebooked at the time of booking.

Accommodation

Below you will find examples of the types of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.

Superior: Good quality hotels and guesthouses.

Munich: Marriott City West

Murnau: Hotel Angerbräu

Garmisch Partenkirchen: Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

Wallgau: Gasthof Post

Bad Tölz: Kolberbräu

Munich: Marriott City West

Local taxes

Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night

Getting there

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