Our tour begins on the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee), at the Hotel Wilder Mann in Meersburg, Germany. We recommend participants fly into Zürich, Switzerland (ZRH), and make their way to the train station in the airport, where they can purchase a combined train/ferry ticket to Meersburg (Bodensee). A typical itinerary will include a direct train (64 min) from ZRH to Konstanz, a walk (8 min) to the Konstanz Hafen ferry terminal, and a short wait followed by a ferry (40 min) across the lake to Meersburg: total travel time a little over 2 hours. From the Meersburg ferry terminal to our hotel is a 10 min walk, where the Rivendell Cycling team will meet you. After checking in you will be free to explore the town, until we meet late afternoon for your bike fitting.

Bodensee

Perched on a steep hillside above the shimmering waters of Lake Constance, Meersburg is one of southern Germany’s most picturesque and historic towns. With its medieval architecture, vine-covered terraces, and breathtaking views of the Alps across the lake, Meersburg embodies the charm and serenity of the Bodensee region. It is a place where time seems to move at a gentler pace, inviting visitors to wander, taste, and dream amid centuries of culture and natural beauty.

The town is divided into two distinct levels — the Oberstadt (Upper Town) and the Unterstadt (Lower Town) — connected by narrow, winding stairways and cobbled lanes. This vertical design gives Meersburg its unique character and offers spectacular vistas from almost every corner. From the lakeside promenade, where boats glide in and out of the harbor, one can climb through terraced vineyards to reach the old town, a maze of half-timbered houses, colorful façades, and flower-decked balconies.

Dominating the skyline is the Alte Burg (Old Castle), dating to the 7th century. It has been expanded over the centuries into a romantic fortress overlooking the lake. Inside, the castle’s rooms and armory evoke the life of medieval knights and noble families. From the battlements, visitors can gaze across Lake Constance toward the Swiss Alps, where snowcapped peaks shimmer above the water on clear days. Just a short walk away stands the Neues Schloss (New Castle), a Baroque masterpiece built in the 18th century as the residence of the prince-bishops of Constance. Its elegant façade, grand staircase, and ceiling frescoes reflect the splendor of the Rococo age, contrasting beautifully with the rugged medieval character of the Old Castle nearby.

Meersburg’s charm, however, extends far beyond its monuments. The town’s atmosphere is infused with warmth and vitality. Outdoor cafés line the narrow streets, offering local wines and views of the lake. The region’s mild climate, moderated by the vast expanse of water, makes it ideal for growing grapes and fruit. Meersburg’s vineyards are among the oldest in Germany, and the local white wine — especially the Müller-Thurgau variety — is a source of great pride.

After our bike fitting we will enjoy a welcome dinner together overlooking the lake, where you will be provided with an overview of the week’s activities.

Hotel: https://meersburg-wilder-mann.de

Bodensee2

The Ride:
Meersburg, Germany to Eichenberg, Austria | 57 km (35 miles) | 660m (2,220 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
Given this is our first day in Germany, and many in our group will be a bit jet-lagged, we will start our first cycling day an hour later than we will the rest of the week, and our optional inspirational morning devotions will begin at 8:30 AM, breakfast following. At 9:30 AM riders will bring all luggage and day bags to the vans, prep bikes, and visit our pre-ride table. At 9:45 we will have a safety briefing and a leisurely roll-out, headed southeast along the lake towards the Austrian border. We will be cycling one of the most beautiful and popular cycling routes in Germany — part of the famous Bodensee-Radweg (Lake Constance Cycle Path) that loops around the entire lake through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The section we will cycle will take us through a landscape of vineyards, orchards, and medieval lakefront villages, with constant views of the water and the Alps. When we arrive Friedrichshafen, the largest city on this day’s route, we will stop at the Zeppelin Museum, with its fascinating exhibits on airship history. Shortly thereafter we will stop for a lakeside lunch, before continuing to the stunning island town of Lindau, connected to the mainland by a causeway. After cycling past the harbor and its lighthouse — one of Germany’s most iconic lakefront views — and the Old Town with its pastel-colored houses, arcaded squares, and cafés (where we may stop for a coffee and a pastry), we will reach the Austrian border and our one-and-only climb of the day.

Our destination is the charming Hotel Schönblick in Eichenberg, Austria, which overlooks the lake. But to get there we have a 4 km climb at an average 9% grade, with some sections considerably steeper. The effort is well worth it, with stunning views of the lake and three countries, and since we will arrive the hotel mid-afternoon, after enjoying our post-ride table, there will be time for rest and recovery, including a pool and spa features to enjoy. At 7:00 PM we will meet for dinner on the terrace overlooking the lake.

Hotel: https://www.schoenblick.at/en

Bodensee3

The Ride:
Eichenberg, Austria to Füssen, Germany  | 115 km (71 miles) | 1,620 m (5,450 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
While our prior day was designed as a relatively easy ride to get over jet lag, today we have the longest distance of our seven days in store. After taking one last look at the glorious expanse of Lake Constance and the Swiss alps in the distance, we start our day riding into the Bavarian alps on amazing, lightly trafficked backroads that wander through sleepy villages. While we start in Austria, we will soon cross the border into Germany — and before the end of the day we will cross the border back into Austria and then back into Germany!

15 miles (25 km) into our route we will descend into a valley that we will cycle for the next 22 miles (35 km). As we approach our lunch stop at the Cafe Bistro Relax in the town square of Immenstadt im Allgäu (popular with cyclists), we will cycle past the largest natural lake in the Allgäu region, Großer Alpsee. This popular lake is framed by gently rolling hills, forested slopes, alpine meadows with lush green pastures, traditional Bavarian farmhouses, and distant mountain peaks.

Path

Our ride through the valley ends when we reach the health resort town of Bad Hindelang, whose sulphur springs have been used for cures since the 19th century, and we begin the first named climb of the trip, Oberjoch Pass. Officially 9.6 km at an average 3.8% grade, it is the 5 km of switchbacks at a 5.1% grade early in the climb that presents the biggest challenge. At the top of that section we will stop in a parking lot for a feed stop, and then walk to a panoramic overlook where we can look down at the twisty road we just summited from the valley. Four kilometers later (which are at a more modest grade) we reach the summit, and a few kilometers after that cross back into Austria.

Over the next 40 kilometers we will cycle a combination of bike paths and roads through alpine meadows and farmland, and pass Haldensee, a lovely alpine lake. A few kilometers before we reach our destination, Füssen, we will cross the border back into Germany. Famous today as the gateway to Bavaria’s most iconic landmarks, Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, and also for violin manufacturing, Füssen’s history dates to Roman times, when it was a key town on the Via Claudia Augusta, the road that connected northern Italy with Augsburg, Germany. After arriving our hotel, enjoying our post-ride table, and cleaning up, riders will want to explore the car-free old town of Füssen. With its cobbled streets brimming with medieval charm, and pastel-colored buildings and flower boxes that contrast gorgeously with its mountainous backdrop, it is hard not to be enchanted. Our dinner will be in the biergarten (the “Hirschgarten”) at our Hotel Hirsch.

Hotel: https://hotelhirsch.de/en/

Fussen

The Ride:
Füssen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen | 89 km (55 miles) | 1,225 m (4,125 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
After starting our day with an early breakfast, we will take the vans to the parking lot near Neuschwanstein Castle and hike to Mary’s bridge in our kit, wearing comfortable walking shoes. Perched dramatically on a forested hilltop, Neuschwanstein looks like a dream from a medieval legend, even though it was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II. Nearby, tranquil mountain lakes like the Alpsee and Schwan See will invite us to pause and take in the view of snow-dusted peaks mirrored in their waters, together with that of magical Hohenschwangau Castle. Today’s inspirational talk will take place with these majestic views surrounding us.

We will then make our way back to our vans, where our bikes will be staged and ready to ride. After changing into our cycling shoes and preparing our water bottles, we will start our ride. Not far into the route we will cycle across the border into Austria, and after about 20 km, make our lunch stop alongside the stunning Plansee, the second largest alpine lake in the state of Tyrol, known for its crystal clear water. After lunch we will get to cycle alongside the lake for a few more kilometers, and then continue on a delightfully serene road that will take us back into Germany 35 km into our route. Not long after that we will cycle past the fabulous Schloss Linderhof, the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. This one was used as his primary residence, and it is the only one completed during his lifetime.

15 km past the castle we reach our afternoon coffee stop in Oberammergau, a picturesque village where time seems to have stood still. Famous in part for its once-every-ten-years Passion Play, the village is also renowned for its incredible Lüftlmalerei — colorful frescoes adorning many of its houses, depicting religious scenes and folk motifs (think murals on steroids).

Our route then curves to the south, and we will cycle some of the nicest bike paths on the planet to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany’s premier alpine resort town and the site of the 1936 Winter Olympics. Surrounded by towering mountains, including the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, Garmisch offers year-round outdoor activities: skiing and snowboarding in winter, hiking and paragliding in summer. The town itself blends Bavarian hospitality with a touch of cosmopolitan flair, offering lively cafés and traditional guesthouses decorated with frescoed façades similar to what we will have seen in Oberammergau.

Garmisch

After cycling through Garmisch we will arrive at the turn to our hotel in Grainau, but unless the time is late or the weather is terrible, riders will have the option to head to our hotel or continue on with a small climb to end the day. Only 4 km further west is a lake at the northerly base of the Zugspitze, the Eibsee, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the Bavarian Alps: visitors are often struck speechless by the lake’s emerald waters surrounded by majestic, snow-capped peaks. Those tackling the climb will ascend 850 feet (260m) at a 6.5% grade to the Zugspitze parking lot, and then, after marveling at the view, turn around and enjoy a fast 4 km descent back to the turn to our hotel, another one kilometer at a small uphill grade.

Eibsee

Dinner will be at 7:00 pm in the hotel biergarten, after which we have the option to take the vans into Garmisch for a gelato or a digestif.

Hotel: https://haus-hammersbach.de/de/

The Ride:
Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Schliersee | 100 km (62 miles) | 1,300 m (4,380 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
Today’s route will take us past four beautiful alpine lakes, one man-made, three natural. We will be in Germany virtually the entire day, although we will skirt the border with Austria at one point in the afternoon and may theoretically enter that country.

Our day starts with a 2 kilometer descent, at which point we will make an out-back detour that requires a 1.5 km climb, at an average 4.5% grade, to the first - and smallest - lake of the day, the privately owned Riessersee. Here is where the 1936 Olympic bobsled events were held, on what was considered one of the most dangerous bobsled tracks ever used in competition. After descending back to our main route and riding a few kilometers of rolling terrain, we will begin to climb steadily for over 10 kilometers, most at a moderate grade of 3-4%. 45 kilometers into our route we will reach Sylvensteinsee, an artificial reservoir created in 1954 to control flooding of the Isar River. Today it is a popular destination for hiking and water activities, with the turquoise water reflecting the stunning scenery of the surrounding mountains.

Soon thereafter we begin our second climb of the day, about 850 feet (260m) to Achenpass, where we will stop for lunch at a classic German restaurant, Gasthof Glashütte. 12 miles (20 km) after lunch we will reach another glorious and much-loved alpine lake, Tegernsee, and cycle through the resort town of the same name. As we enter the town we will pass Kloster Tegernsee (Tegernsee Abbey), a former Benedictine monastery that dates to the eighth century. The northern wing of the abbey is the home of one of Germany’s oldest breweries, the Ducal Bavarian Brewery of Tegernsee. Late in WWII the abbey building was serving as a military hospital, and an SS division moved into the town to challenge advancing American forces. Right before the Americans began an artillery bombardment that would have destroyed the town, a wounded German officer in the hospital persuaded the SS troops to withdraw, and after waving a white surrender flag, the town was spared.

8 miles (12 km) after leaving the shores of Tegernsee we arrive a smaller, but equally beautiful alpine lake, Schliersee. We will circumnavigate the lake, and arrive at our hotel in the resort town of the same name, a sports mecca. Once we enjoy our post-ride table and clean up, we will have the vans drive us to the Schliersberg-Seilbahn Talstation to take a cable car up the mountain behind the hotel to an overlook of the lake. If the weather is good, it will be a truly happy hour as we enjoy the stunning views from the terrace/biergarten.

Hotel: https://karmagroup.com/find-destination/karma-resorts/karma-bavaria/

Schliersee

The Ride:
Schliersee to Inzell | 91 km (57 miles) | 1,330 m (4,485 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
Today’s route will traverse beautiful Bavarian countryside on smaller, quieter roads and bike paths. We will begin the day by cycling south along the eastern side of lake Schliersee (the opposite of the way we arrived the day prior), and then work our way east on relatively flat roads to the charming village of Bayrischzell, about 10 miles (17 kms) into our route. The village is considered a hidden gem in the Bavarian Alps, with its classic atmosphere, traditional wooden chalets, flower-filled balconies, and stunning mountain backdrops. Bayrischzell is also highly regarded for its clear Alpine air and therapeutic climate. As we leave the town we begin a named climb, Sudelfeld, but from its shorter side: we only have to cycle up 4 km at a 7.7% grade (with one of those kilometers at 9.6%), and then we get to descend its classic side, which is nearly 16 kilometers long.

Our descent will end in the town of Oberaudorf, where we cross the border into Austria for the next 15 miles (24 km). During that portion of our route we will pass lake Walchsee, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the state of Tyrol, where we will enjoy a lunch stop overlooking the lake. Because the lake is not very deep, it gets warm in summer, which makes it very popular for swimming. The lake is also the only one in this Austrian state that permits waterskiing.

Walchsee

The last 18 miles (30 km) of our day will be in Germany, at an almost imperceptible upward grade. When we stop for the night it will not be in a town or village, but in a small and quiet Bavarian hamlet that is tucked into green meadows and surrounded by forests and mountains. Our lodgings will at a classic alpine Gasthof (Inn) that has been run by the same family for three generations. You can be assured the beer and food will be excellent!

Hotel: http://www.aktivhotel-schmelz.de/en/

The Ride:
Inzell to Königssee/Berchtesgaden | 53 kms (33miles) | 1,400 m (4,720 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
Today’s ride is not long, primarily because we have non-riding activities in store. We will leave our classic alpine lodgings and roll southeast on winding roads through splendid valleys surrounded by steep mountains to Berchtesgaden and on to the Königssee, perhaps Germany’s most stunning alpine lake. Surrounded by steep cliffs, its emerald-green waters are so clear they reflect the jagged summits above like glass. [Many will know the lake from the initial scenes in The Sound of Music.] When we arrive at the ferry boat dock at the northern end of the lake, we will swap our cycling shoes for walking shoes, leave our bikes at our support vans, and board a silent electric boat that will glide for 35 minutes across the lake to St. Bartholomä. After visiting the iconic Wallfahrtskirche (Pilgrimage Church) built in the 12th century, with its red onion domes mirrored perfectly in the water, we will have lunch at the Gasthaus before boarding the ferry back to the vans. On our boat ride we will enjoy not only the incredible scenery, but also the famous echo demonstration performed with a flugelhorn (trumpet).

Konigsee

It is only 10 miles (16 km) from the Königssee parking lot to our hotel that is partway up a mountain above Berchtesgaden, but there is one section that is not for the faint of heart: 4 kilometers at a 12% average grade, with some ramps over 20%. Participants who are not up for the challenge can ride in the vans from Königssee to our lodgings.

Not far from our hotel is the hamlet of Obersalzberg, where Hitler maintained his Bavarian retreat, the Berghof (literally “mountain farm”). The Berghof served as one of his primary residences and was a center for important political decisions. The sprawling estate, expanded into a luxurious compound with other Nazi leaders' homes and extensive bunkers, was where many of Hitler's headquarters meetings occurred and where he was often photographed for propaganda purposes. The site's Nazi-era buildings were mostly demolished after the war, but the haunted ruins can be visited, and the history of the site and time period is preserved at the nearby Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg museum. Depending on time, weather and interest, we might: (i) visit the fascinating and thought-provoking museum (where you will also get a chance to visit the extensive underground bunker system); (ii) walk the Berghof ruins, or; (iii) take the two hour excursion to the famed Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), a WWII-era mountaintop conference center perched high above Berchtesgaden that was built as a 50th birthday present to Hitler. What we don’t do on this afternoon can be scheduled for the next morning, again weather and interest permitting.

For dinner, we will drive into charming Berchtesgaden and dine at one of its highly regarded biergartens, the Gasthof Neuhaus.

Hotel: https://www.alpenresidenz-berchtesgaden.com

The Ride:
Berchtesgaden to Salzburg, Austria | 48 kms (30 miles) | 725 m (2,450 ft) elevation.

What to Expect:
Depending on what time, interest and weather motivated us to do yesterday afternoon, today, after an early morning breakfast, we might: (i) visit the Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg museum; (ii) walk the Berghof ruins, or; (iii) visit the famed Eagle’s Nest. We are hoping that it will be a blue-sky day and we can be among the first of the morning to take the combined Kehlsteinhaus bus + elevator trip up to the Eagle’s Nest, where we can enjoy an inspiring morning devotional message as we gaze all the way to Salzburg, Austria while enjoying a morning coffee or hot chocolate.

After returning to the hotel, we will kit up and prepare to ride to Salzburg, our shortest ride of the week, but one not without the beauty that has been known to trigger heartache and longing. After rolling past the famous Salzbergwerk salt mine we will cross the border into Austria (our last border crossing of the trip) and cycle a quiet farming backroad through an amazing valley that leads us to Weistalstausee, the last picturesque alpine lake of our trip, where we will stop for a picnic lunch.

Not long thereafter our route will bring us into the suburbs of Salzburg, and then we will make our way through the city to our last climb of the trip and our hotel on Mönchsberg, a small mountain in the center of the city that is named after monks who used it for prayer and reflection. Our remarkable hotel, Johannes Schlößl (which may make you think you’ve landed on a set of The Sound of Music), was originally built as a home in the 14th century, later becoming an educational facility and dormitory for divinity students at Salzburg University. The family that owns and runs the hotel makes a motto of one of their ancestors their mission and obligation: Caritas Christi urget nos (the love of Christ pushes us).

The Mönchsberg location of our lodgings for the night is special. We are outside the bustle of the city, but with a short walk we can reach the MönchsbergAufzug, where there are not only breathtaking views of the city, but a 60m tall elevator inside the rock of the mountain that will drop us into the most historic part of the city, near Mozart’s Geburtshaus (birthplace) on the popular pedestrian-only Getreidegasse. A short walk across the Salzach river is Schloss Mirabell and the famed Mirabellgarten, which you may recognize from its scenes in The Sound of Music. Alternatively, a slightly longer walk on the Mönchsberg will take you to the famous Festung Hohensalzburg (Fortress), which is well worth a visit.

There is so much to see and do in this wonderful, magical city that those that have not been here before will be challenged to decide what to do with their limited afternoon free time. Our tour officially ends early the next morning, but you may want to plan to extend your stay here a day or two (we strongly encourage first time visitors to consider doing so). The key is to make your decision well in advance and book your hotel room for additional nights, since Salzburg is highly popular in summer.

We will meet this evening for a final celebratory dinner, a fitting end to one of the most incredible tours you will have ever experienced.

Hotel: https://johannes-schloessl.at

Salzburg

Sadly, our epic tour through the Bavarian Alps will have come to an end, and we will need to wish one another Godspeed. While some may want to stay over and explore Salzburg in greater depth, we will have one or two early morning shuttles to the Salzburg train station, where, among other options, you can get a train to Munich airport (~2h 30m travel time) for flights back to the U.S. or other destinations.