Touring Bike (EB)
£96 for 6 days
Bavaria's lake district is one of the region's most rewarding cycling grounds, and this version of the route pairs the scenery with a run of handpicked ‘hotels with charm’ — individually styled stays with real personality, rather than standard chain accommodation.
Starting and finishing in Munich, the loop heads south through Forstenrieder Park to the shores of Lake Starnberg, continues past the Osterseen lakes to Murnau on the Staffelsee, and follows the Loisach River into Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with an optional cable car ride up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. From there the route loops north again via Wallgau and the turquoise Sylvenstein reservoir to the spa town of Bad Tölz, before a final riverside ride back into Munich along the Isar.
Daily stages are gentle, mostly on cycle paths and quiet country roads, with only a few short climbs — well suited to cyclists with moderate fitness who'd like a bit more comfort in their evenings than a standard 3-star tour offers.
Highlights
Bavaria's capital delights with its historic old town and numerous sights. Stroll through the English Garden, take a photo in front of the town hall at Marienplatz, and stop by the Hofbräuhaus or a beer garden for a hearty Bavarian meal. It's worth arriving a day early if you can, to make the most of the city before you set off.
Example accommodation: The Dean Munich – Autograph Collection
You'll cycle through the peaceful Forstenrieder Park on your way to Lake Starnberg. From there, a bike path hugs the lakeshore all the way to Seeshaupt, before leading through traditional Bavarian villages. Passing the scenic Osterseen lakes and the Riegsee, you arrive in Murnau on the Staffelsee, a lively artists' town set against a striking Alpine backdrop.
Example accommodation: Hotel Griesbräu zu Murnau ****
You'll begin by cycling through the Murnauer Moos nature reserve, the largest moorland in Central Europe, before following the Loisach River to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This stage is deliberately kept short to leave time for an optional ride on the Zugspitzbahn cable car up to 2,962 metres, for breathtaking panoramic views over the Alps.
Example accommodation: Wellnesshotel Staudacherhof
From Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you'll cycle through Klais to the beautiful Barmsee. From there, you can either head straight to your overnight stop in Wallgau, or take a longer detour (adding around 34 miles in total) through Mittenwald and Scharnitz to visit the source of the Isar River, climbing around 1,000 feet before gently descending through wild, romantic gorges and lush alpine meadows back to Wallgau, a village where Bavarian traditions are still very much alive.
Example accommodation: Parkhotel Wallgau ****S
Today you'll pass through the Isarwinkel region, following the crystal-clear, turquoise waters to the impressive Sylvensteinsee reservoir. Continuing through Lenggries, you'll arrive in the charming town of Bad Tölz, once a bustling trade hub at the crossroads of the Isar River and the old salt road from Reichenhall to the Allgäu. Its richly decorated historic townhouses still bear witness to this prosperous era.
Example accommodation: Hotel dasDietmanns ****
The Isar bike path leads you through Geretsried and Wolfratshausen towards Grünwald. After a few gentle climbs, you'll arrive back in Munich, Bavaria's vibrant capital, with plenty of time to revisit favourite spots or enjoy a final Bavarian feast.
Example accommodation: The Dean Munich – Autograph Collection
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end — unless you'd like to stay on and explore more of Munich and its surrounding countryside.
We recommend flying to Munich Airport (MUC) and returning from Munich Airport (MUC).
£96 for 6 days
£168 for 6 days
£264 for 6 days
Not available for hire
Getting to and from Munich (start and end of tour)
By plane: Munich Airport (MUC) is one of Europe's best-connected hubs, with direct daily flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted on Lufthansa, British Airways and easyJet, plus connections from regional UK airports. The S-Bahn S1 and S8 lines run from the airport to Munich city centre in around 40 to 45 minutes.
By train: Munich Hauptbahnhof is the city's main rail hub, centrally located and served by U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses. From London, flying is the most practical option, though an overnight train from Paris via the Austrian NightJet network is possible.
By car: Munich is around 1,100km from Calais, taking approximately 9 to 10 hours via the A26 and A5 through Germany. The city is well-served by motorway connections to Salzburg (1.5 hours), Vienna (4 hours) and Innsbruck (1.5 hours).
Bikes are not included. You are welcome to bring your own bike or hire one. Please see our bike hire section for details.
Flights are not included. Please refer to the what's included section for full details.
We will confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your enquiry. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Most itineraries include cycling on most days, with some rest or shorter days built in. Please check the itinerary for day-by-day details.
The latest you can book is 9 days before departure. This gives us enough time to confirm arrangements and accommodation.
You will receive full travel details, including accommodation, meeting points and local contacts, 3 to 5 weeks before departure.
Self Guided • 6 nights
Leisurely
From £850
Guided • 7 nights
Easy
From £875
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