Munich - Meran with charm

Arrive early in the Bavarian capital – it's worth it! There are numerous sights to see, such as the English Garden, Marienplatz (which has been the centre of Munich since the city was founded in 1158 by Henry the Lion), the town hall and the Hofbräuhaus. In the afternoon, you will receive personal tour information and your bikes at the hotel.

Look forward to a wonderful day of cycling in the Bavarian Alpine foothills! Starting in Munich, you will first cycle through the shady Forstenrieder Park to Starnberg. The beautiful cycle path along Lake Starnberg takes you to Seeshaupt. From there, you cycle through picturesque Bavarian villages, past the Osterseen lakes and the Riegsee lake to your destination for the day, Murnau. Stroll through the historic old town or along the Staffelsee lake.

The route takes you through the Murnauer Moos nature reserve, the largest moorland area in Central Europe, and on through idyllic, unspoilt countryside along the Loisach river until you finally reach Garmisch-Patenkirchen, your destination for the day. Here you are spoilt for choice: spend time in the town, drive to Lake Eibsee or make the most of your time and take a trip up the Zugspitze. At 2,962 metres, the Zugspitze is Germany's highest mountain. From up there, enjoy the sweeping panorama of the Alps and the Bavarian Alpine foothills.

After breakfast, a wonderful route through the sunny high valley awaits you, accompanied by impressive views of the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains. Soon you will reach the Isar river and the picturesque village of Mittenwald. Take a break here and discover the historic town centre and its artistic Lüftlmalerei frescoes. Continue on through the Leutasch Valley with its spectacular views until you reach the Austrian border. Cycle along the Leutasch stream through the charming landscape to your accommodation for the night.

Today, you will cycle through the varied landscape of the Inn Valley. From Leutasch, your route will first take you along a gently ascending country road before you can look forward to an eight-kilometre descent to Telfs – with magnificent views far into the valley. You will then follow the Inn along the historic towpath, where horses used to pull heavy barges upstream. Soon you will reach Stams, where the Baroque Cistercian monastery with its ornately decorated facades and striking towers is an impressive example of Tyrolean architecture. The route continues via Haiming to Imst, which is surrounded by orchards and mountain landscapes. Thanks to its mild climate and friendly atmosphere, the town is not without reason nicknamed ‘Merano of North Tyrol’.

Today's stage begins with a drive past Zams Monastery to Landeck. There you board the bus, which takes you comfortably up to Nauders. Only a few metres of altitude separate you from the Reschen Pass, which takes you over the Alps at an altitude of around 1,500 metres. Once at the top, a magnificent panorama opens up before you embark on the long descent to Lake Reschen. The lake itself impresses with its special atmosphere – best known is the church tower of Graun rising out of the water, a striking landmark of South Tyrol. From here, you follow the well-developed cycle path through the Vinschgau Valley, past apple orchards and wide meadows. Your destination for the day is St. Valentin or Mals with its characteristic, multi-towered town centre, or alternatively Burgeis, idyllically situated at the foot of Marienberg Abbey.

At the beginning of this stage, we recommend a detour to Glurns. The smallest town in South Tyrol impresses with its completely preserved medieval city walls, which tell an impressive story of times gone by. You then cycle past the Montani ruins and through lively Schlanders before the route gently descends towards Merano. Along the way, you will be accompanied by numerous castles and palaces, some of which are located directly on the route, while others tower high above the valley. A particular highlight is Juval Castle, once the residence and now the museum of extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner. Again and again, magnificent views of the imposing Ortler massif and the Stelvio Pass open up – an impressive backdrop that makes this stage unforgettable.
Convenient for cyclists: since 2004, the Vinschgau Railway has been running again between Mals and Merano. It allows you to comfortably cover part of the route by train at any time and enjoy the landscape from a different perspective.

After breakfast, your cycling tour from Munich to Merano unfortunately comes to an end. We would be happy to book additional nights in Merano for you, so you can continue exploring the beauty of South Tyrol.