Trip in the Alps
 

Hi everybody!
My girlfriend an I are planning a trip to the alps starting from Munich. As we like hikking and nature and trying to avoid all the masses of tourists and get to nice isolated spots we thought about getting a motorhome, which seems to be very expansive. We found in Munich something that looks nice- a small camper for an affordable price (www.sleeponwheels.co). Would you reccommend something like that for exploring the Alps in Germany, Austria and Switzerland? If not any other recommandations?
Thanks a lot for your answers:)

welcome Fodors John

Thanks:)

Have you considered simply hiking and spending nights in alpine huts along the way?
More info on the topic:
www.germanyiswunderbar.com/southern-Germany
page 2 is Hut-Hiking in the Alps

I would not get a motor home. I's expensive, gas is expensive and frequently German roads into the alps are clogged. I would take the train (see. ww.bahn.de) and use the excellent bus syetm to the lesser traveled hiking and touring areas. For lodgings, I would depend on the "Zimmer Frei" pattern of private homesrenting out bedrooms, sometimes with, sometimes without breakfast. The local tourist offices (almost every hamlet has one), can be helpful in finding these places.

One section of the alps that is often overlooked by AmeriAan tourists is the Allgaeu, the western most section of the alps. There are many excellent hiking tours to nearby mountains and valleys from towns like Obestaufen, Immenstadt, Hinelang, Sonthofen, Fischen, Obersdorf (a bit more touristy). Check these towns on the German Internet. Tere is a whole chain of hiking huts a day's hike apart, starting from Oberstdorf. Ceck out Edmund Probst Haus.

Hi johnjohn123,

I concur that the best way to travel is by train and by foot! You can't really drive through the mountains as you do in the US -- you would just park your vehicle and use cable cars, trains, and your feet to get to the isolated spots. Gas is very expensive, roads are very congested, and parking can be a hassle or paid.

Better all around and more convenient to use the trains & busses.

Have fun as you plan!

s

I'd look at the swiss train system.

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

Or, better yet, look at the Swiss buses. They get you deep into the mountains. And are very comfortable.

Thanks a lot for all the quick comments! The only thing about train is that we are less free and need to pack our stuff every couple of days and move on and cant be flexibel... this company that i found (www.sleeponwheels.co) has very good rates, starting at 49 Euros per day. The Gas is a good point though. And if the swiss busses can take me deep into the mountains why cant a camper do so?
thanks again

Certainly the roads I've seen some swiss buses on, I'd not take a car let alone a camper.

I have just spent the weekend in the German Alps. Sleeponwheels looks like a good idea of two guys who have made a small business from their private interest in travelling.

The car is not a real camper but just a station wagon. So, it is good for sleeping and nothing else. On a rainy day, you will not spend time inside the car. And you will not have much space for your luggage. In Europe, you have to use campgrounds which are found everywhere. There you have showers, a restaurant etc. Or you ask a farmer wether you can park the car overnight on his grounds.

Of course, the Renault Kangoo can drive all mountain roads (which are in excellent condition anyway - all roads are paved). You find hiking trails practically everywhere. At the trailheads, there are usually parking lots, and you start hiking. But make sure to buy a good hiking map (Wanderkarte) at a local store, gas station, tourist office etc.

From München, you just drive southwards. Berchtesgaden and Bad Reichenhall have access to the mountains and many other options, e.g. salt mines. Near Berchtesgaden is the Königssee with spectacular scenery (although crowded by Japanese tourists). However, once you are on a steep trail, you leave the hordes behind you.

A quieter, smaller place is Reit im Winkl. Besides mountains, you find a most scenic valley with several small lakes.

To explore the region, look at the viamichelin.com maps. Zoom to the scale, where scenic roads are marked with a green line. Or use Google Earth with satellite view to see how the terrain looks.

Thanks a lot, Traveller1959!
Well it looks like that there is also a kitchen, that means we are pretty independent... where about have you been in the alps?

It may not matter if you only want to hike, but a number of towns in Switzerland allow no cars, let alone campers. For example Zermatt and the entire mountain area of Rigi, also Murren, Wengen and Gimmelwald in the Bernese Oberland.

Good to know,mimar.
Thanks!

>>>where about have you been in the alps?<<<

From East to West:

Berchtesgaden, Bad Reichenhall, Reit im Winkl, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein/Füssen, Oberstdorf, Luzern, Interlaken, Gstaad..

..and the French Alps along the Route des Grands Alps..

..and the Southern Side of the Alps in Southern Switzerland and Northern Italy.

The mountains are pretty much the same, whereever you are. You have scenic lakes practically everywhere. Although I have to say, Königssee is the best - like a fjord in Norway or Alaska (it IS a fjord, formed by an ancient glacier).

In addition to mountains and lakes, at some places you have salt mines (Salzburg, Hallein, Berchtesgaden, Bad Reichenhall - a lot of fun to visit, really), Hitler's retreat (Berchtesgaden), castles (Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, Neuschwanstein), old towns (Luzern).

Hey John,

Since you say: "As we like hikking and nature and trying to avoid all the masses of tourists..."
Maybe the Oetztal and the Vinschgau/Val Venosta (between Meran/Merano, Italy and Val Mustair, Switzerland) would be of interest to you.

http://www.venosta.net/en/welcome.html

http://www.oetztal.at/en/home.html

These two area's are pretty much "joined" by the spectacular Timmelsjoch Pass.

http://www.timmelsjoch.com/en/extras.../overview.aspx

Paul