For centuries, people in the Alps have turned to the mountains as a source of health, vitality, and restoration. Across Austria and Bavaria, medicinal plants, thermal waters, nourishing food, movement, and time outdoors remain deeply rooted in the culture—and continue to shape a distinctly Alpine approach to living well.
The Art of Alpine Living explores these traditions on foot, traveling from Austria's Bregenzerwald into Bavaria's Allgäu Alps. Hike through lush pastures, forests, and high mountain landscapes, using gondolas to reach spectacular elevations without grueling climbs. Along the way, meet the people who keep regional traditions alive, from herbalists and artisan producers to bakers and makers working with the plants and ingredients of the mountains.
Restoration is as much a part of the journey as hiking. Exceptional Alpine hotels offer beautiful pools, saunas, steam rooms, and thermal experiences, while regional cuisine, local wines, and unhurried evenings provide another interpretation of good living.
The journey culminates in the royal landscape of Bavaria, where we see King Ludwig II's fairytale castle from our luxury hotel and tour the royal family's summer residence, walk beside pristine Alpine lakes, and celebrate with a private tasting of outstanding German and Austrian vintages.
FROM MUNICH TO THE ALPS
Welcome to the Germanic Alpine Realm, where our journey begins in Munich before traveling to Lindau, a storybook island town on Lake Constance, framed by the German, Austrian and Swiss Alps. After lunch and a harbor stroll, we leave the lake behind and climb into Austria's legendary Bregenz Forest.
The alpine village of Damüls delivers an immediate change of altitude and attitude. Our family-run hotel sits amid soaring peaks and rolling pastures, with the family themselves at the heart of everything—wearing dirndls and lederhosen because here they're not costumes, it's what you wear. We head out on an easy one-hour village loop for a first look at our spectacular surroundings.
Then we toast our arrival and settle in for the first of many memorable dinners. The kitchen takes the food of the Austrian mountains and gives it a sophisticated modern twist—local ingredients, time-honored flavors and dishes as extraordinary as the landscape outside. It's our introduction to something we'll discover again and again: in the Alps, living well and eating well are inseparable.
Hotel Hohes LichtDamüls, Austria
In the peaceful mountain village of Damüls, the surrounding peaks and meadows of the Bregenzerwald set the scene. A gondola just steps away provides easy access to beautiful hiking trails, while excellent regional cuisine and a welcoming spa make afternoons back at the hotel something to look forward to.
HIGH PASTURES & WARM POOLS
Wake to cool mountain air and a nourishing breakfast overlooking the peaks before setting out into the high pastures. Our trail leads through a landscape shaped by generations of Alpine farming, past grazing cattle and mountain dairies, with broad views opening across the Bregenz Forest. Our destination is a stylish mountain restaurant where you will settle onto the sunny terrace for a leisurely lunch of elevated cuisine, a glass of Austrian wine and views that raise endorphins naturally.
Back at the hotel, the afternoon belongs to you. Swim or begin exploring Alpine sauna culture. Not quite ready for the traditional European textile-free experience? Bathing suits are welcome in the herbal sauna, offering a gentle introduction to a wellness tradition we’ll encounter throughout our journey.
Later, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class with the hotel owner and head chef. Together, we prepare bubbling Cheese Spätzle—Austria’s gloriously satisfying answer to mac and cheese, made with flavorful mountain cheeses.
GONDOLAS, PICNICS AND SPA, Oh My!
This morning, a gondola does the climbing for us, delivering us straight to the trail. From here, we hike through high pastures in a region where the unusual geology supports an astonishing variety of Alpine plants—some 150 species have been identified here.
Our hosts send us off with a packed lunch, and along the way we add fresh mountain cheese, creamy butter and cured meats from a high mountain dairy. Then it's simply a matter of finding a beautiful spot and spreading out our midday feast.
We're back by early afternoon, with nowhere else to be. Swim, sauna, stretch out in the sun—or let your guides introduce you to a few of their favorite botanical oils and balms. Fragrant with essential oils and plant extracts, they're especially effective after a morning on the trail. Consider it a touch of self-care before dinner.
INTRO TO BAVARIAN WELLBEING TRADITIONS
This morning, we leave Austria behind and cross into Germany, with a surprise stop along the way. Set amid the rolling foothills of the Allgäu Alps, Oberstaufen has been synonymous with health for generations, blending nutrition, movement and therapeutic treatments with time in nature.
Our introduction begins over a terrific lunch at our family-run medical resort. Rest assured: we are not here to fast! Expect beautiful, generous meals and a well-stocked wine collection. After lunch, explore our Bavarian surroundings and gentle walking trails. Then it’s time to discover the extensive wellness world of Rosenalp.
Pools, saunas and steam baths are just the start. A changing, daily program of complimentary wellness classes includes yoga, Aqua Fit, fascia Pilates, joint mobility, meditation and stretching. Our hotel also offers an extensive menu of optional beauty and therapeutic treatments.
Rosenalp Health Resort & SpaOberstaufen/Allgäu, Austria
TRADITIONAL ELIXIRS FROM MYSTICAL FORESTS
A gondola whisks us skyward after a fortifying breakfast of homemade muesli and yogurt, artisan breads, eggs, cheeses and cured meats. Our trail crosses rolling green pastures dotted with docile brown cows, their bells ringing across the hillsides, before climbing into open high moorland sprinkled with heather.
After lunch, we meet a local distiller who transforms mountain herbs, roots and berries into traditional schnapps and elixirs. Learn the secrets of this centuries-old tradition and taste a few spirits to find your favorite. Prost!
Back at the hotel, continue the botanical theme in another direction. Try a hot-oil herbal-stamp massage using heated bundles filled with herbs. Prefer to keep moving? Check the daily schedule for Hatha yoga or fascia Pilates. Or navigate the classic European circuit of sauna, steam, cold water and rest — with your guides always on-hand to demystify the rituals (and share the proper etiquette) so you can spa like a local with joyful confidence.
HIGH ALTITUDE BLISS AND GERMAN ALPINE CLUB
Weather permitting, today we ride a gondola above the green foothills of Bavaria, then earn the summit ourselves, hiking through open mountain pastures and along a sweeping ridge to the 6,017-foot summit of the Hochgrat. On a clear day, the panorama stretches across the foothills and deep into the Alps.
After our descent, we join a beloved German hiking tradition with lunch at an Alpine Club, part of a vast network of mountain refuges that has fed and sheltered generations of hikers.
After two days on the trail, give your body the afternoon off. Rosenalp's treatment menu ranges well beyond a conventional massage like a warm-oil Ayurvedic Abhyanga, Thai Yoga combining assisted stretching and acupressure, or a mineral-rich Thalasso body treatment. Doing absolutely nothing is also encouraged—preferably on one of the heated water beds in the relaxation room, wrapped in blankets as soft as Angora.
SELF-CARE + FRAGRANT DISCOVERIES
There's no rush this morning. Sleep in, linger over breakfast or squeeze in one last ritual. Depending on the program, that might mean yoga, aqua aerobics, meditation, stretching or a final circuit of heat, steam and cold before a late checkout.We then depart for PRIMAVERA, one of Germany's leading names in essential oils and natural skincare, for an exclusive workshop exploring the power of botanicals in everyday living. Wander the fragrant gardens, browse the flagship shop and enjoy our packed lunch.
Our next destination is Schwangau, the lakes-and-mountains playground of Bavarian kings, where Neuschwanstein Castle rises above the valley floor. After settling in, take an easy walk through peaceful farmland beneath the castle.At the hotel, a very different wellness world awaits. Pools, saunas, steam baths, relaxation areas and scheduled wellness activities are included with your stay. For those who want to take the experience further, the Beauty Hut offers an extensive menu of optional treatments—from massages and body rituals to some wonderfully unusual regional therapies we'll highlight over the next two days.
Tonight, we gather for a celebratory evening at our luxurious Alpine retreat, with the fairytale castle as our backdrop.
Das Rübezahl Boutique HotelSchwangau, Germany
Rübezahl combines the pleasures of a luxury Bavarian hotel with Germany’s deeply rooted wellness culture. Its extensive spa encompasses heated indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, steam baths, relaxation spaces, and a broad range of treatments. Refined rooms, excellent dining, and views toward Neuschwanstein Castle make the experience unmistakably Bavarian—and exceptionally comfortable.
BAVARIAN ROYALTY LANDS & LAKES
Today's walk unfolds through the storybook landscape of Bavaria's royal castles, beginning at tranquil Swan Lake and continuing through forest paths to brilliant blue Alp Lake. Swans glide peacefully as cowbells echo across nearby meadows. Then, through the trees, Neuschwanstein appears like a dream — King Ludwig II's fantastical 19th-century castle and the inspiration for Disney's Snow White Castle.
After visiting Hohenschwangau, King Ludwig II's childhood home and the royal family's summer residence, lunch is pure Bavaria: freshly tapped King Ludwig beer, crispy roast pork and dumplings, or schnitzel, bratwurst and a warm chocolate-and-nut pudding.This afternoon, trade hiking boots for a plush robe and explore our hotel's uniquely local approach. Book an Allgäu beer bath made with hops and malt—paired with a stein of beer—or choose a fragrant Alpine herb bath and calming herbal tea. Hikers also enjoy the Allgäu herbal-stamp massage that uses warm, oil-infused bundles of mountain herbs to soften and relax tired muscles.
Skip the treatment room altogether and explore the heated pools, saunas, steam baths and salt-brine grotto. Best of all, sink into the outdoor whirlpool that faces Neuschwanstein castle.Tonight, haute German cuisine and award-winning wines await in our cozy, candlelit Bavarian dining parlour.
CELEBRATING ACTIVE LUXURY
For our final hike, we ride the gondola and set off across a broad mountain plateau, following gravel paths through pastures before climbing to the 6,030-foot summit. As we make our way onto the ridge, the landscape changes dramatically and a new horizon opens toward Tyrolean peaks
Just below the summit, we settle onto the terrace of a mountain hut for lunch before looping back across the plateau and descending by gondola. Back at our retreat, there's time for one final wellness indulgence. Try an Allgäu stone massage with warm stones with an herbal footbath, an Ayurvedic treatment incorporating a silk-glove massage, or the “Mountain Yodel” ritual — a revitalizing back, neck and head massage with organic morning tea. Or, simply return to the pools and panorama sauna for one last castle view.
Before our grand finale dinner, the hotel's master sommelier leads a private tasting of hand-selected German and Austrian wines—a fitting toast to nine days spent moving, tasting, soaking and living our finest potential.
AUF WIEDERSEHEN + DEPART TO MUNICH
At 10:00 a.m., our driver departs for Munich Airport. Guests with earlier flights may travel independently by train or arrange a private transfer.
Thank you for traveling with us. We hope you return home feeling restored, looking refreshed, and inspired by the Alpine way of living well—moving each day, eating beautifully, spending time in nature, and making space for the small but meaningful rituals that help you feel your best.
Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary due to weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these or the order visited should the need arise.
10 Days
$8,995 Per Person
First two:$1,000
Additional:$1,500
See single supplement policy below.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A single supplement is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations, subject to availability.
Single Supplement for Scheduled Group Departures. If you reserve at least 120 days prior to departure, you may be eligible for a reduced or free single supplement. This is generally limited to the first one or two solo travelers to reserve, and the reduction is outlined in the pricing for each trip. Free or reduced single supplements are not combinable with other offers or promotions.
If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender. If you reserve at least 120 days ahead and request a roommate but one is not available, you will receive a $500 reduction from the standard single supplement (unless otherwise noted in the detailed itinerary for your specific trip).
Single Supplement for Custom Tours. Custom Tour prices are generally based on two or more participants; therefore, single supplements for “solo” Custom Tours will vary and are available upon request.
Boundless Journeys' trips are designed for active individuals who have a spirit of adventure. The Art of Alpine Living is rated 2?3, easy to moderate, on a scale of 1?5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). The hikes on this trip generally average 2.5-3.5 hours and 3-6 miles, following a mix of well-maintained mountain trails, gravel paths, forest paths, and open Alpine pastures. We make strategic use of mountain gondolas to reach higher elevations, allowing us to experience spectacular Alpine landscapes without long, strenuous climbs. Most days involve moderate elevation gains, while our more challenging hikes gain approximately 1,000-1,200 feet and may include some steeper or uneven sections. Easier hiking options are available on select days. The itinerary is intentionally paced, balancing active days on the trail with cultural experiences and ample time to relax and enjoy the exceptional spa and wellness facilities at our hotels.
Time to relax is an important part of this journey. Use of the hotels' pools, saunas, steam rooms and relaxation areas is included in your stay at no additional cost, as are scheduled wellness and fitness classes such as yoga, water aerobics and meditation.Each property also offers an extensive menu of optional treatments for those who want to take the experience further—from massage, facials and body treatments to Alpine-inspired therapies using local herbs, oils and botanicals. These treatments are not included in the trip price and should be booked separately; advance reservations are strongly recommended. Please call Boundless Journeys with any questions and to prebook treatments. Treatments may also be booked once in country.
Germany and Austria have a remarkably rich culture of natural health and wellbeing that remains largely unexplored by American travelers. Hydrotherapy, sauna rituals, medicinal plants, therapeutic movement, breath work, restorative treatments, and time in nature are not passing trends here. They are traditions woven into everyday life.Part of the pleasure of this journey is learning how to experience this world with confidence. Your guides are deeply familiar with German and Austrian wellness culture and its many traditions, and both have training in herbalism. They’ll help demystify everything from sauna etiquette and hydrotherapy circuits to wellness classes and the traditional uses of Alpine plants—so you can participate comfortably and choose what feels right for you.
At our hotels, experienced spa, wellness, fitness, and health professionals add another layer of knowledge, offering guidance and consultation whenever you’d like it. There is no prescribed program and no expectation to do everything. Instead, you’ll have knowledgeable people around you who can help you explore, ask questions, and make the most of what’s available. By journey’s end, our hope is that you’ll leave not only refreshed, but with a new understanding of these traditions—and the confidence to incorporate some of what you’ve discovered into your own life.
September is a beautiful time in the Alps, bringing crisp mornings, comfortable hiking temperatures, changing foliage, and often wonderfully clear mountain views. Lake Constance retains summer warmth, while higher elevations in the Bregenz Forest and Allgäu cool more quickly. Expect daytime temperatures generally in the 60s°F (15-19°C), with mornings and evenings in the 40s°F (7-9°C). Conditions can vary considerably between valley and mountaintop, and cool rain, wind, or morning mist are always possible. Pack layers, including a warm fleece or light insulated jacket, waterproof rain shell, hat and light gloves, and sturdy waterproof hiking shoes.
All meals are included on this journey, and food is an integral part of the Alpine experience. Our hotels place a strong emphasis on farm-to-table dining, organic ingredients, and sourcing from local farmers and producers. Expect regional cheeses, locally raised meats, sweet water fish, seasonal vegetables, handmade breads, and fragrant Alpine herbs. Breakfasts are exquisite, with abundant spreads of artisan breads, local cheeses, eggs, fresh fruit, house-made preserves, yogurt, muesli, juices, and excellent coffee and tea selections. Lunches are enjoyed at our hotels, traditional mountain huts, and local restaurants, while dinners range from refined multi-course menus to classic regional favorites. Local beer is part of the culture, complemented by excellent Austrian and German wines. Throughout the journey, the cuisine is fresh, beautifully prepared, deeply regional, and wonderfully satisfying after a day in the mountains.
Munich to Egg, Austria: 116 miles— 2 hours 20 minutes driving broken up by a walking tour and lunch in Lindau, Germany on the shores of Lake Constance.
Egg to Oberstaufen, Germany: approximately 15 miles — 30 minutes driving.
Oberstaufen to Schwangau, Germany: 46 miles— about 1 hour driving.
Schwangau to Munich: 80 miles — about 1 hour 40 minutes driving.
With a Boundless Journeys guide, your experience is that of friend and local adventurer. We believe strongly in working with local guides, experts in the areas to which we travel, and they hold the keys to unlocking the hidden delights of your chosen destination. Although you will never know they are at work—the mark of a truly great leader—our guides make magical things happen and add a dimension to your trip that you could not experience on your own. Over the years we have forged bonds with some of the best guides in the world, and we typically work with a small team of guides in each region. You will be informed of the guide for your trip one month prior to your departure.
This trip can be your own adventure by taking over one of our scheduled dates, or we can request a fresh one.
By: Kristin Calkins
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