About the King Ludwig Way
Hikers have been enjoying the beautiful trails on the popular König-Ludwig-Weg, a long-distance hiking trail in the foothills of Germany's Bavarian Alps since 1977. The walking route takes its name from the former Bavarian King Ludwig II, Otto Friedrich Wilhelm. But what does a hiking trail have in common with the former King of Bavaria?
King Ludwig II was a passionate builder and created his own monument with numerous buildings, he also loved to express the wondrous and fairy-tale-like in the form of the buildings. Its famous monuments include, for example, Neuschwanstein Castle, Herrenchiemsee Castle, Linderhof Castle, the royal family on Schachen and many more. Join us on a unique hiking tour in the footsteps of the fairy-tale king and experience hiking pleasure set in the beautiful nature of Bavaria.
During our 8-day hiking tour on the King Ludwig Way, you will discover the most beautiful spots of this long-distance walking route through Bavaria. From Bernried am Starnberger, hike through a beautiful nature reserve, around idyllic Bavarian villages with typical beer gardens and relax in today's stage destination in Dießen. From there you walk the next day on quiet meadow paths and through forests to Wessobrunn. The next day, your hiking tour will lead you upwards: the route will take you to Hohen Peißenberg, where you will be rewarded with an impressive panorama.
After a relaxing overnight stay in Peiting, continue to Wildsteig and the next day to Buching. Along the way, you can visit the Wieskerk which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The last day of your hiking tour on the King Ludwig Way also has many sights such as Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle.
On arrival at your final stopping point in Füssen, you can relax with a typical snack and relive your fairy-tale and culturally interesting hiking tour on the long-distance hiking trail in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps.
Highlights of the King Ludwig Way
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On the fourth day of your hike, a unique panorama awaits you. From the Hohen Peißenberg at 988 meters above sea level, admire the impressive Alps from the Großvenediger to the Allgäu.
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This walking tour is a highlight for true culture lovers. Numerous cultural treasures can be admired throughout the journey, such as Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, the Wies Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic clock tower and the Tassiolinde Natural Monument in Wessobrunn.
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Enjoy the walking tour on the King Ludwig Way and treat yourself to a typical Bavarian snack with pretzels, cheese, obazda and much more.
The hiking trail on the King Ludwig Way starts at the Starnberger See where, according to tradition, the former Bavarian King and King Ludwig II, who was also known as the Fairy Tale King, died in 1886. The trails on the long-distance trail are well signposted and the walks are generally considered to be leisurely. The route guidance you receive from us is always very extensive and goes over good hiking and forest trails, but also partly on paved roads. For the stages in the slightly hilly foothills of the Alps, good fitness levels and endurance are recommended.
Facts and details about the popular long-distance hiking trail in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps:
- Location: In the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, Germany
- Length: about 120 kilometers
- Course: The route of our hiking tour on the König-Ludwig-Weg leads from Bernried on Lake Starnberg to the final destination of Füssen.
- Season: The ideal time for hiking on the König-Ludwig-Weg is from April to October.
- Height difference: ascent 2,378 metres/descent: 2,181 meters.
- Highest point: Hoher Peißenberg 988 m above sea level.
- Lowest point: 532 m above sea level.
- Route marking: White sign with a blue "K" and the words "König-Ludwig-Weg"
- Interesting fact: King Ludwig II grew up in Hohenschwangau Castle near Füssen. Did you know that the later Austrian Empress Sisi was the niece of King Ludwig II?
The well-known hiking trail is located in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps in southern Germany.
The King Ludwig Way is 120 km long.
The King Ludwig Way falls into the 'Active' category with us. This means that the walks do not require special skills, but basic fitness levels and good health are sufficient for the stages with occasional height differences. Every day you walk for about 5 hours, so there is plenty of time for relaxation (on the way).
While hiking on the King Ludwig Way, an excellent combination of nature, culture and culinary delights await you. The hiking trails lead you through the picturesque heart of Bavaria to unique cultural treasures such as Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle or the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Church in the Wies".
You cover between 13 and 21 walking kilometres on the King Ludwig Way each day.
The best time to go on a walking holiday along the King Ludwig Way is from April to October.
During our hiking tour on the King Ludwig Way, you will immerse yourself even further in the beautiful natural landscape of the Bavarian Alps at every step of the hike. Follow in the footsteps of the former Bavarian king and have your own fairy-tale adventure. Thanks to our fully organized hiking tours, there is plenty of time for that. We take care of the perfect planning of your hiking holiday including our detailed travel documents, personal support on-site, hotel accommodation and maps, luggage transfer on-site, as well as our service hotline that is at your service 24/7.
