Watzmann Tour: Hut-to-Hut Tour in Berchtesgaden

The approximately 53-kilometer (32,9 miles) long Watzmann Tour runs entirely through the German province of Baiern. Known for its Oktoberfest, soccer and beer gardens, you can also find Germany's only alpine national park there: Berchtesgaden National Park. Since 1978, this protected nature reserve covers 210 square kilometers (81 square miles) and thus the entire Watzmann Mountains. The 4-day Watzmann Tour takes you on an intensive tour around this mountain massif and all its peaks. With stages where you encounter almost all levels of difficulty and conquer a total of more than 6,000 altimeters (19,685 feet), the tour shows you a beautiful part of the German Alps. Enjoy gray peaks, peaceful valleys and even an impressive ferry ride on the Königssee.

Like many mountain ranges, the Watzmann consists of several independent peaks and subtops. Not so unique at first, but the layout of the mountain range and the surrounding story is certainly worth telling. A local legend claims that the peaks were created because an ancient king ruled so cruelly that he was turned to stone as punishment, along with his wife and seven children. As a result, from Berchtesgaden you can see the king on the right (the Watzmann) while his wife is on the left beside him with their seven children behind her.

There is no shortage of history in Berchtesgaden. While the story of the petrified king and his family is probably a fable, you could also know the area as Hitler's second place of residence. After he appointed himself Führer in 1936, he had his mansion, bought in 1923, converted into a villa. However, his private secretary did not find this sufficient, so in 1937 Martin Bormann decided to build an additional house on top of the Kehlstein. Today also known as the Eagle's Nest.

The imposing building was inaugurated on April 20, 1939, the day of Hitler's birthday. Construction took a good two years to complete because 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) of new road had to be built over an elevation of 1,800 meters (5,905 ft), as well as 5 new tunnels, a car turnaround area and a small elevator for the last 124 meters (406 ft). In reality, Hitler only stayed in the Eagle's Nest 13 times because, due to his claustrophobia and fear of heights, he preferred to stay in his villa at the foot of the mountain. You will not visit this imposing piece of architecture during your Watzmann Tour, but should this piece of history catch your attention, then it is an interesting additional excursion during your stay in Berchtesgaden.

The Watzmann Tour through Berchtesgaden is definitely not for everyone. Where the Venediger Höhenweg in Austria surprises you with its diverse nature, the Watzmann Tour keeps you on your toes due to its varied difficulty. The stages alternate between blue, red, and also black trails where steel cables and ladders must be climbed. This variety makes for a versatile trek but is also the reason you must be prepared for all situations.

Are you a mountain hiker with some experience but not looking for constant challenge? Do you need a versatile tour where you even take a beautiful ferry ride on the Königssee? Then see if the Watzmann Tour suits you. Easily accessible from Munich, it is a perfect tour for a long weekend in the mountains, or a quiet hiking week in a historic setting.

Whether you are hiking a hut trek in Austria, Italy or Germany, the season generally falls within the same months. Between mid/late June and mid-September, the trails are mostly snow-free and you can reach the huts well.

In general, southern Germany has warm summers with pleasant temperatures at altitude and plenty of sunshine. However, the Alps are unpredictable and the weather can easily turn. If one day you can enjoy plenty of bright sunshine, the next day it can rain gallons of rain. Fortunately, rain often comes in the afternoon, so if you start the stage early, you could possibly avoid the rain.

Because you are dealing with altitude, you might find snow on the trails at the beginning and end of the season. This means that temperatures are also lower but this is not a problem with the right equipment. You see, preparation is essential for a hut trek.

In Germany they realized early on that there were many opportunities in the mountains. To take full advantage of these, the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV) was formed in 1869 and merged with the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV) in 1873. The result was the DÖAV. After years of cooperation and many changes, the two associations permanently split again after World War II. Good relations remained and to this day the DAV and the ÖAV work closely together. They are constantly concerned with the well-being of the mountain trails, the surrounding nature and the maintenance of their member mountain huts.

Consequently, most of the mountain huts where you will stay during the Watzmann Tour are affiliated with the DAV. These huts are often cozy and simple and this creates a unique mountain hut culture. Together with other hikers, you can enjoy a piece of history before heading to your dormitory, where you'll snuggle up in your warm sleeping bag liner. The next day you will get up early to start the next stage. Of course you will first enjoy breakfast and the beautiful surroundings.

If you have done a trek in Austria before, that is a good comparison for Bavarian mountain huts. However, there are also some differences. Namely, in Germany it is common for the huts to offer dinner a la carte, instead of half-board. In addition, you have to bring your own trash back into the valley, for which you have to bring your own bag. To help you prepare for your stay in a German mountain hut, we have compiled a packing list later in this blog. That way you can be sure you won't forget anything essential.

The Watzmann Tour has an ideal location and because it is a circular route, you also have the same starting and finishing point: the Königssee. This small but cozy village is just steps away from Berchtesgaden and right below the great Austrian city of Salzburg. In addition, Munich is 160 kilometers (99 miles) to the east, so both Salzburg and Munich are good starting points for when you start planning your trip.

Plane
Munich and Salzburg both have international airports. Salzburg is closer and thus the subsequent journey by public transport is also shorter. However, finding a flight to Munich is easier in some cases, so consider both airports.

Public transportation
Because Munich is relatively close, from there you can be at the starting point of the Watzmann Tour within 3.5 hours. The fastest connection is via Salzburg in Austria so should you come from another part of Europe you can travel on from there. In just over an hour you will reach Königssee.

Car
Due to the perfect location of the Königssee, traveling by car is fast and comfortable. In Köningssee you will find a large (paid) parking lot where you can park your car, even if you decide to spend the night in Berchtesgaden, for example.

An emergency occurs when a human life (yours or someone else's) is in danger and there is nothing you can do to resolve the matter. You should call for help if there has been an accident, if someone is stuck, if you are lost or in trouble and can't go any further because of the time of day or weather conditions, or if you are stuck because of technical climbing challenges beyond your capabilities.

The most important thing to do in an emergency situation is to stay calm and survey the situation. Do not panic or take useless risks if those in need are difficult to reach. In case of an emergency, call the rescue services first and foremost. When you do so, be sure to communicate the location, number of victims and type of injuries. Then protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and provide first aid, if you can.

• General emergency number: 112
• Police: 110

A hut tour through Germany really doesn't have to be expensive. Huts are usually simple, but offer everything you need to recharge your mental and physical batteries for the next hiking day(s). For the 4-day Watzmann Tour, you can expect to pay around 80 EUR/USD per hiking day. This includes route description, navigation aid, your accommodation in a mountain hut and halfboard. For hut tours in general, we then recommend taking 40 to 60 EUR pocket money with you. This is for lunch and your drinks. Most of our pocket money usually goes to that ice cold beer in the next hut!