Hiking Transalp: Füssen - Merano

Füssen offers a charming old town center with cafés, historic buildings and proximity to the royal castles. It's well worth strolling around and perhaps managing a visit already on the first day.

At the mighty Lach Falls you cross the Lech ravine and continue along Alpenrosenweg to Alpsee, where you get one of the area's best views of Neuschwanstein Castle (which Disney took as inspiration). The trail continues past the cliff walls up to Sternschanze and over the border to Tyrol. Here you reach the village of Pflach. If you want, you can make a detour through the bird reserve and up to the observation tower in the Lech delta before taking the train onwards to Ehrwald, which is the evening's destination.

The day begins on Alte-Mühl-Steig before you take the gondola up to Ehrwalder Alm. From there you hike on Koatigen Weg to Igelsee, which reflects the high mountain peaks all around. Through idyllic Gaistal you pass several alpine huts where you can stop for buttermilk or a classic Kaiserschmarrn (a kind of fluffy pancake). Easy hiking down along the valley takes you to Leutasch and the small resort by Salzbach.

You follow Weidachsee and continue through forests and wetlands along the Way of St. James towards the Buchner Höhe pass. At Ropferstubm a magnificent view opens up over the Inn valley and the impressive cliff walls of Hohen Munde. In Telfs you visit the historic pilgrimage church before a transfer takes you onwards on a panoramic journey through Tyrol's Oberland to Nauders at Reschen Pass.

With the cable car you take yourself up to Mutzkopf and continue on a high alpine trail towards Schwarzsee and Grünsee. A steady climb takes you up to Dreiländerstein where Italy, Austria and Switzerland meet. The continuing high trail leads to Rescheralm where South Tyrolean specialties are served. The final stretch goes along Lake Reschen's shoreline to today's overnight stay.

The bus takes you to St. Valentino, where you can admire the famous church tower in Lake Reschen on the way. At Haidersee snow-covered mountain peaks are reflected in the water. From here you hike up to Faulersee and onwards through the peaceful Bergwiesental valley to the village of Burgusio. Via colorful meadows and sunny slopes you reach Churburg in Sluderno and then take the train to Silandro.

The last day you follow a well-deserved panoramic trail along sun-warmed slopes to Vezzan and up to the dramatic suspension bridge over the Tisser ravine. Here you continue on the spectacular Latschander Waalweg, high above the Etsch valley, through vineyards and on to Kastelbell. Then you take the Vinschgau railway to the elegant resort of Merano. Here the journey ends with a bit of Mediterranean feeling. Congratulations on the traverse!

After breakfast it's time for the journey home or why not a few extra days in Merano and surroundings?