Mountain Adventure Holidays
If someone was asked to create an area perfect for walking in the mountains in winter, then the Allgäu Alps would be that place. We are based in the quaint village of Bad Hindelang with its cobbled streets, and characterful buildings and views to the mountains where we will spend our days snowshoeing. The sulphur spring was used for cures in the 19th century and today the municipality is a major health resort. Using this area as our base we are situated close to nearly 260 recorded snowshoe routes that are available in the Allgäu Alps.
We are amazed it has taken us until now to feature a snowshoe trip in the Allgäu Alps! How did we not recognise that this area has literally hundreds of snowshoe routes to explore and enjoy? Combine characterful Bavarian culture, architecture, folklore, food and stunning snowshoe summits and you have an idea of what this week offers. The Allgäu Alps is a range in the Northern Limestone Alps, sitting on the frontier between Bavaria, in Germany and the Tyrol and Vorarlberg in Austria. The range is directly east of Lake Constance, which is a huge expanse of water bordering Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The highest peak in the Allgäu Alps is the Hochfrottspitze, which reaches a height of 2,648 metres (8685ft).
Today you arrive in the lovely Bavarian village of Bad Hindelang. Your guide will meet you at your hotel this evening, at approximately 1830 hrs, when you will be briefed about the week ahead. Information on getting there is available under Trip Information, 'Arrival and Departure'.
We begin our exploration of the beautiful Allgäu Alps with the summit of the Bohleskopf, which sits at 1569 metres (5146ft). This mountain is an excellent introduction to the area offering a circuit which includes great views, traditional farm buildings and a steady climb to ease you into the week. The starting point is on the mountainside above our base in the traditional village of Bad Hindelang which makes a great coffee stop on the way home. The name of todays mountain comes from the original Hindelanger dialect and means "cat-head”, though it is often translated to mean “hangover head”, the choice is yours! We begin on a wide trail, which would be a cart track in summer, and which zig-zags up through the forest. We eventually pass the viewpoint at Imne, where there is a wooden cross and which offers one of the most beautiful views over Bad Hindelang. Then it is up past the tiny wooden Klank Chapel, and pass the Klank Hutte, and then the Karl-Hüller-Hütte, before heading straight up the ridge to the summit of Bohleskopf at 1569m (5146ft). Here there are excellent views of the Ostrachtal and the surrounding mountains. If conditions allow we can continue our circuit and descend by the west ridge, completing a wonderful day out.
Ascent: 705m (2312ft) Descent: 705m (2312ft) Distance: 9.1km (5.7 miles) Duration: 4h30-5h30
We have another beautiful mountain in our sights today as we head for the Rangiswanger Horn. We begin with a short drive up the Gunzesrieder valley where we will start our snowshoe circuit of this lovely mountain. We take a route which easily traverses the south side of the Rangiswanger, ‘wang’ means peak, through farm lands and meadows. The trail is normally good, as it is a popular summit, and we can enjoy this steady 'warm up'. Eventually, we reach Oberalpe where the cattle graze in the summer months, and here we turn towards our summit. A steeper section through the forest means we gain ground quickly with views along the way of the Reidberger Horn, and the Tennesmooskopf which are also goals for our week in the Allgäu Alps. Finally, we reach the ridgeline and are greeted with a panorama of views right across the Allgäu. We then have a stunning last section on the ridge as we climb to the wooden summit cross. Normally, we take lunch by the ‘cross’ or just a little lower if windy. Then it’s a descent all the way back to the Gunzensreid valley taking us through pine forests, across gentle gullies and along ridge lines.
Ascent: 657m (2154ft) Descent: 658m (2158ft) Distance: 8.8km (5.5 miles) Duration: 4h30-5h30
We love that we have so many ‘tops’ to consider in the Allgäu and the Immenstädter Horn is an excellent goal. We set off for the lakeside town of Immenstadt which lends its name to the mountain, and after a short drive we arrive at the tiny hamlet of Rieder where we begin our snowshoe walk. We begin our climb by wandering through the ancient forests until we reach the open alpage, and summer meadows. On the way to the Rabennestalpe we pass through a primeval beech forest to reach the old farm building at Kesselalpe. This is idyllically situated in the midst of a small high valley and is surrounded on three sides by mountains. This - also known as Karst - relief form was created by glaciers during the last ice age and there are a few ‘erratics’ on our route, these are immense boulders deposited by the glacier. The view from the summit cross at 1490m (4887ft) extends down to the Alpsee lake and - assuming clear weather conditions - far into the foothills of the Alps. The Immenstädter Horn does indeed feel like a very respectable summit and there are great photo opportunities from the top. Only a few steps south of the summit cross is a small wooden shelter where we can take our picnic lunch. We descend by way of Alp Alpe, another gorgeous open meadow area before re-joining our ascent route at Kesselalpe.
Ascent: 682m (2236ft) Descent: 675m (2214ft) Distance: 9.6km (6 miles) Duration: 5h30-6h30
The Gunzesrieder valley has more snowshoe routes than we know what to do with! So this morning we head to the village of Gunzesrieder Säge where we will begin our climb to the Bärenköpfle which sits at 1476m (4841ft). Säge is the local word for a sawmill, and there is evidence of the plentiful supply of raw materials in the careful construction of the many wonderful old buildings that are to be found in this valley. We take a small path from the village that climbs through alpine meadows and past ancient farm buildings. After traversing along the valley for a little while we enter the forests and begin to gain height as we head for the alpage at Krumbachalpe. In the summer this would be where the cattle graze, but in winter the ancient chalets are under a blanket of snow and lie silent, no cow bells here while the snow covers the pastures. We can have a break here and enjoy the open views down to the valley before we start the steeper section that takes us to the summit of this fine mountain. We leave the farm, cross a meadow, and then take the ridge line to the top where we take time to identify some of the far flung peaks and summits.
Ascent: 578m (1895ft) Descent: 578m (1895ft) Distance: 6.1km (3.8 miles) Duration: 4h00-5h00
The route to the summit of the Riedberger Horn offers a great circuit that can be done in various forms depending on the snow conditions. It is a popular snowshoe walk and sometimes there is even a prepared track to make this day very relaxed. First we drive to the Riedbergpass, and it is here we will begin our hike. We make our way up the slopes of this small ski area, passing the Grasgehren Hut where we may well have a drink on our way back down, and begin to climb the ridge line to the summit which sits at 1786m (5858ft) offering fine views of the region. Earlier in the week it is likely your guide will have pointed out the Riedberger Horn as it can be clearly seen from the Gunzesried summits. There may be the option on the descent to do a short detour to visit the Berghaus Schwaben which has a reputation for good apple strudel! Please note the statistics given are for the shortest day on this mountain and will vary depending on the route.
Ascent: 350m (1148ft) Descent: 350m (1148ft) Distance: 4km (2.5 miles) Duration: 4h00
The Tennenmooskopf is our final goal of this week in the fabulous Allgäu Alps, in Bavaria. Kopf is the word for ‘top’ in German, and often means that it is a pleasing summit along with the words ‘spitze, gipfel, oberteil and dach’. So the Tennenmooskopf is a great way to end our week by getting to a lovely high point. We begin in the Gunzesried Valley where we have an easy warm up as we will follow the toboggan run to the Rappengschwendalpe hut. A relaxed start to the day gives time to enjoy the landscape before we start the more serious climb which will take us to the summit of the Tennenmooskopf which sits at 1615m (5297ft). Once we reach the open meadows after the hut it becomes clear where our route is taking us which will involve a short detour along a spur to reach the top where we get an excellent panorama to the south taking in the Bleicherhorn, Höllritzereck, RiedbergerHorn and all the main Allgäu peaks. From the summit we head south east and drop down to a high pass before returning full circle back down to the Rappengschwendalpe hut where we resume our easy descent to the valley along the toboggan run.
Ascent: 757m (2482ft) Descent: 722m (2368ft) Distance: 13km (8 miles) Duration: 5h00-6h00
Today is your departure day. Please refer to the Trip Information section and 'Arrival and Departure' for further details.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
In the event of there being a lean winter and a lack of snow to cover the entirety of our route this trip will go ahead. Snowshoes are an aid to hiking in winter and if we do not require them we will still enjoy a winter walking trip.
On all of our trips we aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, comfortable, characterful, family run accommodation. Detailed below are examples of our favoured venues in the area. Our first choice, and the hotel we intend to use, is the Hotel Wiesengrund in Bad Hindelang. If unavailable at the time of booking we will use alternative accommodation of a similar standard. All of our trips are based on two people sharing a bedroom, what we call a 'twin' means two single beds in one bedroom. However, on many of our trips single rooms are available on request for a supplementary fee. Please contact us to discuss this.
The Hotel Wiesengrund is an family run hotel set within the stunning Allgäu mountains. The hotel which is on the edge of the village surrounded by countryside has a spa with sauna and a hamman for relaxation, along with a garden. Managing the hotel are members of the third generation of the Kullmann family who described themselves as true gastronomers!
The traditional rooms come with free WiFi and a seating area. The private bathrooms offer either a bath or a shower, and a hairdryer. It is just 300 m from the Hornbahn cable car if you would like a quick trip up the mountain! Free parking is available at the hotel, and Friedrichshafen Airport is 66 km away.
A hearty breakfast is served daily, and guests will find numerous cafes and restaurants within 15 minutes’ walk of the hotel. It is a perfect base for our snowshoe week exploring the area.
There are various options for arriving and departing from Bad Hindelang, in the Allgäu Alps.
You can travel by train from London to Sonthofen. There are a few routes to choose from depending on how long you would like your journey to be. The quickest route is via Paris and Stuttgart. Start by taking the Eurostar to Paris, here you hop onto the TGV to Stuttgart and then the Deutsche Bahn to Ulm and finally to Sonthofen. You can book these tickets through Trainline or with the service provider directly.
Major airports that you can fly to include Munich, Germany. You can travel all the way by train from Munich airport to Sonthofen using the one-day Bayern train ticket. The ticket allows up to 5 adults traveling together to use unlimited 2nd class seats in regional trains in Bavaria for one day. The airport shuttle bus operated by Lufthansa Express Bus leaves Munich airport every 30 mins to connect with Munich main station where trains also leave hourly to Sonthofen with a journey time of 2h22.
You can also fly to Zurich, in Switzerland. The train station is located within the airport building, and you can take a train to Sonthofen, Germany with trains leaving every 4 hours and a journey time of approximately 3hrs 30mins.
The nearest small airport is Memmingen which is sometimes referred to as Memmingen/Munich-West Airport. There are some flights from the UK to/from Memmingen. There is a bus service which runs from Memmingen to Sonthofen. The details can be found here. It takes approximately 40 minutes to drive from Memmingen airport to Sonthofen and 1h on the train.
There is also Bodensee (Friedrichshafen) airport which is 66 km (41 miles) from Bad Hindelang. The airport has flights from a range of destinations including London.
Sonthofen is also easily reached by train from many cities throughout Europe. It takes 10 hours from London to Sonthofen with a change in Paris.
At Sonthofen we can arrange for you to be picked up by your hotel free of charge, and taken to Bad Hindelang. Make sure you have informed us of your travel plans so that we can arrange this for you. From the railway station at Sonthofen to Bad Hindelang it is 7.8 km (4.8 miles) and is a 10 minute drive.
We find that rome2rio.com offers good information about the options available.
When booking a trip we ask you to acquire insurance to cover you for the following:
Mountain Rescue Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, mountain rescue, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page. Most of our trips have a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres. If you are unsure or are joining a bespoke trip, then please ask us for specific details.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Please note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable, unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
COVID-19 Insurance
As well as medical cover, we recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your trip, you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip. You should also consider booking a policy that covers you if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because you have to self-isolate. If you choose to cancel, cancellation charges will be payable, but if the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. Please read the clauses below detailing trip cancellation and curtailment.
Travel Insurance covering COVID-19 is now available from a number of suppliers, Campbell Irvine, Trailfinders and Staysure. Please check their websites for the latest information on what is and isn't covered. It is likely that more companies will offer COVID related cover in the future.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions.
If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.
For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley.
In winter the weather can deliver everything from clear blue skies, and glorious sunshine, to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality.
Temperatures vary depending on the month, generally December, January, and February are colder, but by March and April the temperatures are warming up and spring is on the way.
In December and January they can range from -10°Celsius (14°F) to 3°Celsius (37.4F), in February from -5°Celsius (23°F) to 7°Celsius (44.6°F), and in March from 0°Celsius (32°F) to 13°Celsius (55.4°F).
The above figures are a general indication only as the weather can vary considerably year on year for any given month.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have the appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you might encounter and the accommodation you will be staying in.
Generally clothing for snowshoeing should be equivalent to that used for walking in the mountains in winter. For this trip all the necessary snowshoe equipment is provided free of charge. This includes snowshoes, walking poles, snow probe, snow shovel, and avalanche transceiver. The carrying of this safety equipment is compulsory and demonstrates ‘best practice’.
Your guide will arrive at the ‘Welcome Meeting’ with only enough snowshoe equipment for those who have booked it via their Booking Form.
Equipment
Clothing
Comfort
Personal First Aid
Documentation
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit
The image below gives examples of how snowshoes can be attached to your rucksack
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
For each of our trips a minimum number of guests is required before we can confirm that your trip will go-ahead. The minimum and maximum number of guests on your trip is displayed in the 'At a Glance' box on the righthand side of the trip page.
We strongly advise you do not book travel until we have confirmed your trip is 'guaranteed' to run. If you book travel before we have confirmed it is 'guaranteed' we cannot be held responsible for any financial loss if the trip does not go ahead.
When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. This trip has a single supplement of £200.
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your snowshoe guide has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment. This is particularly relevant in a winter environment where the snowpack can change on a daily basis.
Your guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting. You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
For this trip where you are centre-based, in other words where you are staying in the same accommodation all week, you are welcome to bring whatever luggage you require. However, please note that not all the hotels we use have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom and this might involve climbing several flights of stairs. We would suggest that luggage with wheels is generally a good idea.
For this trip you are centre-based, in other words you are staying in the same accommodation all week, and you are welcome to bring whatever luggage you require. However, please note that not all the hotels we use have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom and this might involve climbing several flights of stairs. We would suggest that luggage with wheels is generally a good idea.
We do not include lunches in your trip fee for various reasons, the most important of which is food waste. In general our guests have particular tastes and requirements for 'trail' or 'hill' food and it is better you purchase your own snacks rather than throw away items from the picnic lunch which we would supply.
Lunches on our trips are 'picnic' style lunches, in other words you take a packed lunch with sufficient snacks, food and fluid to sustain you throughout the day. Buying snacks and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with local people and to practise your language skills.
If there is the possibility of lunch being taken at a restaurant/farm/cafe beside the trail, your guide/instructor will advise you of this. Each evening you can order a picnic or a sandwich from the hotel, or your guide/instructor will advise you of other options such as a local shop or market. In all cases we would ask you to settle any 'bill' for lunch or drinks the evening before you depart, and not in the morning when there may be a queue.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
We encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes and for this reason many of our accommodation options will be family run with a reputation for traditional food and where the menu reflects the best that the region provides.
The hotels to there best to accommodate the dietary needs of our guest . If you are vegetarian this is not a problem as the hotel is used to being asked for vegetarian meals. If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy or intolerance which will make you ill then the accommodation will cater for this as best they can but we would ask that you make it clear on your booking form of any food intolerance so that we can discuss your needs with the hotel at the earliest point possible. When using remote mountain huts the staff are usually able to offer breakfast and dinner which meet with the clients needs. Packed lunches can be more problematic and so we do suggest that, if you do have a specific dietary requirement, you bring a range of suitable snacks to supplement the lunches. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet, gluten or lactose intolerance contact us.
We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a remote mountain water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.
At all times you are welcome to ask your guide/instructor if the water can be drunk. We would ask, for environmental reasons, that you avoid using single-use plastic bottles, and bring a water bottle that can be used repeatedly.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
We ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case.
We believe in team work, and enjoy working with other small high quality companies. In this respect due to the specialised nature of our holidays, we co-sell a number of trips with 'partner' companies. All the trips being sold by Tracks and Trails are organised by Tracks and Trails, but you may find guests from other companies on your trip. Partners are carefully selected to ensure they reflect our ethos and standards. By encouraging other companies to sell our trips it means your chosen holiday may reach its 'minimum' number earlier, allowing us to guarantee the trip and to give you the go-ahead to book your travel arrangements. We guarantee that companies with whom we work will offer the same price package. If you have any questions about this policy contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun 19 Jan - Sun 26 Jan Code: ALG1 |
Price: £1895 | Spaces available | Book |
|
Sun 16 Feb - Sun 23 Feb Code: ALG2 |
Price: £1895 | Spaces available | Book |
| From Price | £1895 |
| Holiday Type | Low Impact |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 4-8 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 2000m (6560ft) |
| Countries Visited | Germany |
| Meet In | Bad Hindelang, Germany |
