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Three hikers with backpacks walking across a green meadow near Hohenschwangau. Forested mountains and a castle are visible in the background.

King-Ludwig-Way

On the Trail of the Fairytale King

Bestseller
8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
169  kg
CO₂-Emissions are offset
169  kg
CO₂-Emissions are offset
Three hikers with backpacks walking across a green meadow near Hohenschwangau. Forested mountains and a castle are visible in the background.

The essentials at a glance

Follow the King Ludwig Trail through Bavaria's Alpine foothills from Lake Starnberg to Füssen. Walk through the Maising Gorge, visit Andechs Monastery, and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Wieskirche. Highlights include Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, panoramic views from Hohen Peissenberg, and the romantic Ammer ravine. Daily walks of 11-21 km over 4-6 hours require good basic fitness. Accommodation in 3-star hotels with breakfast and luggage transfer included.

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The King-Ludwig-Way starts at the idyllic lake Starnberg, where the fairytale king died so tragically, and leads through the Alpine foothills over to the castles of the Allgäu region, where he spent his youth. You walk past remarkable highlights and Bavarian cultural treasures across a landscape, very much adored by this Bavarian monarch King Ludwig II which ultimately inspired him to have several castles and palaces built. On your tour little monastery towns, tranquil villages, paths past lakes and moors await you. Enjoy the fantastic panoramic views onto the Ammergauer Alps, the Zugspitze summit and the Allgäu mountains just like King Ludwig used to.

Three hikers with backpacks walk past a traditional Bavarian smithy and white church with onion dome in Andechs. A decorated maypole stands nearby.
Aerial view of Hohenschwangau village with yellow castle tower, surrounded by forested hills and blue Alpine lakes, with mountain peaks in background.
Neuschwanstein Castle nestled among dense forests with dramatic rocky mountain peaks rising behind it under a blue sky.
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Stephanie Erbschwendtner
Stephanie Erbschwendtner
+43 6219 60877 162
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Lakes, nature reserves, small villages, monasteries and beer gardens: you will meet the Bavarian lifestyle every day on the King-Ludwig-Way. And tranquil nature too, because the hiking route takes you to the most beautiful places in the region. The eight-day, very leisurely hiking tour really makes you want to sit down and relax in unspoiled nature. It’s great that there are numerous fantastic panoramas in the foothills of the Alps.

  • Distant views of famous peaks: Although you are hiking through the hilly Alpine foothills, you can see the Ammergau Alps, the Zugspitze and the Allgäu mountains in the distance.
  • Castles, monasteries and pretty towns: Where King Ludwig felt particularly at home, he left his mark to this day – like in Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau. You can feel at home in the small villages of Bavaria.
  • Bavarian Lakes: The Starnberger See and the Ammersee are among the most popular breathing places in Bavaria. On the hiking route you can admire the lakes from panoramic viewpoints.

On the first day you can soak up the flair of Lake Starnberg. After your own journey to Bernried, you will have enough time to explore the place – for example the Bernried Abbey or the famous Expressionist collection in the ‘Museum of Fantasy’. The next seven days are spent under the spell of the fairytale king! On leisurely hikes that are between 13 and 21 kilometres long, you hike from Lake Starnberg to the terminus in Füssen. All hikes lead alternately along hiking and forest trails. So it’s ideal if you want to enjoy a walking holiday with your dog. Thanks to Eurohike’s luggage transport, you don’t have to worry about your suitcases. They are brought to the next hotel when you change accommodation.

Are you looking for a leisurely hiking tour with lots of culture and cuisine? Then the King Ludwig Way is made for you! If you have questions, the competent Eurohike team is always by your side!

Three hikers with backpacks walk past a traditional Bavarian smithy and white church with onion dome in Andechs. A decorated maypole stands nearby.
Aerial view of Hohenschwangau village with yellow castle tower, surrounded by forested hills and blue Alpine lakes, with mountain peaks in background.
Neuschwanstein Castle nestled among dense forests with dramatic rocky mountain peaks rising behind it under a blue sky.

Itinerary at a glance

You will encounter lovely villages, castles and imposing palaces, above all Neuschwanstein, along the King Ludwig Trail. You will also see famous peaks, from the Großvenediger to the Zugspitze, and swim in the Starnberger or Ammersee lakes.

Hotel example: Hotel Seeblick

Short train ride to Starnberg to the start of the King Ludwig Trail in the Maising Gorge. Along pretty Bavarian villages with inviting beergardens you head for Andechs monastery with its own brewery. Through the gorge of the Kiental to the Ammersee to Herrsching and in a comfortable boat trip to Dießen.

Hotel example: Hotel-Gasthof Seefelder Hof

From Dießen the path leads you across beautiful meadows and past the castle chapel and after that into the stunningly peaceful Stiller forest. Via hilltops with marvellous views you reach Wessobrunn, home of the well-known ‚grey duke’ (historic belfry) and the natural landmark ‚Tassilolinde’. In the distance you get a glimpse of the Zugspitze summit.

Hotel example: Landgasthof zur Post Wessobrunn

Today you explore the Alpine foothills, very typical for Bavaria with its sleepy little villages and the remote moor areas. Prepare for a steep ascent onto the Hohen Peissenberg mountain, a magnificent spot with weather station and breathtaking panoramic views over the Alps from the Großvenediger all the way into the Allgäu region. Onwards now downhill to Hohenpeissenberg and your tour continues through by train forests and across fields all the way to Peiting.

Hotel example: Alpenhotel Pfaffenwinkel

From Peiting onwards to the untamed and romantic Ammer ravine. Several little bridges and footbridges take you through a ravine above the river Ammer all the way to Rottenbuch. There an especially ornate monastery church awaits you. Then across hills and meadows with glorious views onto the Alpine mountain range, you arrive at today’s day finish.

Hotel example: Gasthof zum Strauß

Through lonely forests and idyllic moorland to the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site "Kirche in der Wies". Via the popular Brettlesweg through forests and colorful flowering meadows to the Welfenmünster in Steingaden and by bus to your stage destination Buching.

Hotel example: Hotel Alpchalet Schwanstein

Across nature reserves along and past Lake Hegratsried and then either continue on the path along Lake Forggensee to Füssen or uphillalong the Pöllatbach to the most stunning castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau on past the idyllic Lake Schwansee. Then and along the Kalvarienberg into the historic market town of Füssen.

Hotel example: Hotel Hirsch

Day
08

Departure or extension

Three hikers with backpacks and trekking poles walking on König Ludwig Weg trail through green meadows with lake and trees in background.
Andechs Monastery with its distinctive church tower sits atop a green hill surrounded by fields and trees under a cloudy sky in Bavaria.
Three hikers toasting with beer at a wooden table with Bavarian snacks, overlooking a lake and mountains on the König Ludwig Weg trail.
Green meadow with yellow dandelions and blooming trees, overlooking Lake Starnberg under a blue sky with white clouds.
Two hikers approaching a small white chapel with orange roof and tower on König Ludwig Weg. Green meadow and forested mountains under blue sky.
Lechfall waterfall near Füssen with cascading water, viewing bridge with visitors, framed by green trees and forested mountains in background.

Difficulty Level

Walking

You walk on walking paths or forest trails as well as on asphalted paths. For tours through the Alpine foothills with a walking time of 4 to max. 6 hours, stamina and a good basic fitness level is required.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in lovely 3***-hotels and country hotels Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • 1 Boat ride from Herrsching to Dießen
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
  • App for Navigation and GPS-data
  • Service-hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer by minibus to Bernried- on Lake Starnberg (every day), costs EUR 79 per person, EUR 39 per dog, reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Train journey to Munich and then train journey to Bernried on Lake Starnberg, duration about 45 minutes.
  • Munich airport.
  • Parking: Hotel parking spaces or hotel parking garage, approx. EUR 50 to approx. EUR 100 per week.
  • Return train journey from Füssen to Bernried, duration approx. 3 hours (2x change trains).

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Train ride Bernried – Starnberg, approx. EUR 6 per person
  • Train ride Peißenberg – Peiting, approx. EUR 5 per person
  • Bus ride Steingaden – Buching, approx. EUR 6 per person
  • Special dates on request
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

Join us in achieving greater sustainability by choosing our digital route book, rather than the printed version. As a small thank you we will give you a discount of €20 per room.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in lovely 3***-hotels and country hotels
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • 1 Boat ride from Herrsching to Dießen
  • Digital travel documents incl. navigation app, GPS-data, route book
  • Service-hotline

Optional extras

  • Printed route book, per room EUR 20
  • Return transfer by minibus to Bernried (daily), costs EUR 89 per person, EUR 45 per dog, reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Arrival by train to Deggendorf and by bus to Bernried on Lake Starnberg (www.dbregiobus-bayern.de)
  • Munich airport and by train to Deggendorf and by bus to Bernried, duration approx. 3 hours with 3 changes in Landshut, Plattling and Deggendorf (www.bahn.de)
  • Parking: Hotel parking spaces or hotel garage, costs approx. EUR 50 to approx. EUR 100 per week
  • Departure by train from Füssen to Bernried, duration approx. 3 hours with 2 changes in Buchloe and Munich-Pasing (www.bahn.de)

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Train ride Bernried – Starnberg, approx. EUR 6 per person
  • Train ride from Hohenpeissenberg to Peiting, approx. EUR 2 per person
  • Bus ride Steingaden – Buching, approx. EUR 6 per person
  • Special dates on request
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
Stephanie Erbschwendtner

"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"

Stephanie Erbschwendtner
Travel Specialist Tailor-Made and Group Arrangements
One call to vacation bliss
+43 6219 60877 162
Monday - Friday: 9.00 AM - 6.00 PM
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Sustainably on the go

Our contribution to climate protection

  • Active vacations are among the most environmentally friendly and healthiest ways to travel. Traveling on foot means moving in a climate-conscious way while conserving resources.

  • Our carefully selected accommodations, like us, are committed to lived sustainability. They are deeply rooted in their regions, work with local suppliers, provide attractive employment opportunities for local residents, and thereby strengthen local value creation.

  • With the Eurohike On Tour app, we offer a digital version of our travel documents, allowing you to navigate confidently while on the road. By moving to digital formats, we help conserve valuable natural resources.

  • Eurohike has been certified as a sustainable tour operator with the internationally recognized Travelife certification. To achieve this, more than 261 requirements were carefully met.

  • Even though hiking vacations (and cycling vacations with Eurobike) are among the most climate-friendly forms of travel, they still generate CO₂ emissions. These are carefully measured using the “Carmacal” calculator. Through our commitment to selected climate protection projects, we aim to give something back to the environment.

    169 kg
    CO₂-Emissions are offset

    Accommodation (70%)

    Meals (19%)

    Transport (12%)

    169 kg
    CO₂-Emissions are offset

    Accommodation (70%)

    Meals (19%)

    Transport (12%)

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