Intermediate. From 3 to 7 hours of walking and up to 1100m/3615ft of elevation gain and 1100m/3610ft of elevation loss during the day. Some days are optional. The tour follows mostly main hiking trails, but there are a few technically difficult areas that are supported with handrails and cables; especially in the Dolomite’s stages.

The need of carrying your personal belongings for the night has been reduced to a minimum.

• Hikes with "Daypack to carry": 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, & 12. You only carrying a small bag pack with the necessary items for the hike such as water, lunch/snacks and a warm layer/rain jacket.
• You are carrying the necessary things for staying the night in a mountain hut on the days 7, 8 & 9. You will have all your luggage on the evenings of the following days: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13.
• On public transportation: You are responsible for transporting your luggage to the train station, on the train and on the bus on day 1.

Groups are 5-13 guests accompanied by an English-speaking EU certified mountain guide

14 days / 13 nights / 12 days of hiking

Start

Day 1 in Munich at the Aloft Hotel near the central train station @ 9am.

End

Day 14 in Venice after breakfast & hotel check-out (~11am).

Accommodation / Catering

Accommodation

In comfortable mountain huts (2 nights), in private double rooms with ensuite bathroom or (shared) on the same floor. In hotels (11 nights), in a double/twin room, with ensuite bathroom (1 night with shared bathrooms – Lago di Braies). Single room: It is possible to have a single room with a supplemental fee, subject to availability.

*Twin room: Hotels in Germany and Austria do not always have rooms with twin beds. However, rooms always have a double bed with two separate mattresses and their own sheets and duvets. If this configuration is not suitable, you will have to opt for 2 single rooms (see options).

Meals

- Breakfasts are always included at our accommodations. - Lunches are included (except on day 6 & 13). Provided lunches are a combination of trail picnics prepared by your guide and restaurants/mountain hut meals. - Dinners are included (except Day 6) and are at hotel restaurants or out in town near our accommodations.

It is possible to add extra nights before or after your tour in Munich or Venice. Please contact us for availability.

Trip Starting Destination

This tour starts in Munich, Germany

Trip Ending Destination

This tour ends in Venice, Italy

By Plane

We recommend flying to Munich, Germany to start this trip. Munich Franz Josef Strauss International Airport - MUC: Welcome to MUC - Munich Airport (munich-airport.com)

We recommend flying out of Venice, Italy at the end of this trip. Marco Polo Airport - VCE: Venezia Airport – Airport in Venice Marco Polo (VCE) Venice Airport Transportation Information: Bus and shuttles, Train & Water transport

By Train

Arrival: Plan trains to arrive at Munich central train station (Hauptbahnhof – Hbf).

Return: Venice to Munich by train takes about 10 hours, via Verona. Some choose to visit Verona on the route back to break up the train travel into 2 days. There are also overnight sleeper trains that go from Venice to Munich.

Venice has 2 different main departure train stations. The Venezia Santa Lucia train station is the closest to the city center and historic area most frequented by tourists. The Venezia Mestre train station serves the Venetian mainland and is in the Mestre area.

Find out about schedules and tickets: - German Railway: DB - Austrian Railway: ÖBB - Italian Railway: Trenitalia

By Bus

Schedule and tickets: - Flix Bus: https://www.flixbus.com - Bla Bla Car (bus and carpool options): https://www.blablacar.co.uk/bus

By Car

Long Term Parking – Available in Hohenschwangau, Füssen or Munich. But the best way to arrive and depart for this trip is really by plane, train or bus.

The return from Venice to Munich by train takes about 10 hours, via Verona.

Travel story

Would you like to share your best moments of the trip and share your experience with the greater Grand Angle hiking community? Send us your story and some photos illustrating your words that we can consider publishing on our blog.

It is the client’s responsibility to arrive prepared with the items listed below to help insure a safe and enjoyable trip.

CLOTHING CHECKLIST:

The following items are required for this trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.

• Hiking Boots/Shoes – waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in (Note: buy boots/shoes 1/2 size to 1 size larger than street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks)
• Hiking Socks – one pair for every day or two days of the trip. Hiking/Sport specific padded socks, no cotton please!
• Sun Hat – wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
• Warm Hat & Gloves – lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
• Hiking Shirts – non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts (Note: long sleeve shirts provide better sun protection)
• Warm Top – mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
• Insulating Jacket – down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
• Hiking Pants & Shorts – nylon pants AND shorts, zip-offs or leggings
• Base Layer/Long Underwear – 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
• Rain Gear – waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon. For the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear.
• Casual Clothing & Footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

Important Note: Please, no cotton hiking/cycling clothes. Synthetic clothing is very efficient in drying quickly. Merino wool material clothing is also efficient in drying quickly, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of not developing a bad odor after use.

GEAR CHECKLIST:

• Backpack – a 40-50 Liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking. Must be able to carry extra overnight items for the hikes on day 7, 8 & 9.
• Personal Luggage – small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack – for extra hiking clothes and casual clothes.
• Hydration System – 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
• Trekking Poles – telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain. (Note: strongly recommended)
• Headlamp – preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries (Note: always test headlamp before trips and travel/pack without batteries in device)
• Picnic/Lunch Kit – knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
• Phone & Charger – local sim card or international plan may be needed. Consider bringing a small power bank to use to recharge devices during trip activities.
• Waterproof Travel Case or Pouch – used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen, & Lip Balm
• First Aid Kit – see first aid kit suggestions below*
• Personal Toilet Paper Kit – most public restrooms outside of lodging will have toilet paper available, but it is good to be prepared with a personal toilet paper kit to potentially use during portions of this tour. Along the trail, there may be the need to use natural settings for toilets (i.e. digging catholes, etc.) when there are no public toilets available. Kits should include toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitizer & sealable plastic bag(s) for carrying out used paper/wipes.
• Toiletries
• Contact Lenses & Glasses – if wearing contact lenses, please also bring back-up pair of glasses and contacts.
• Prescription Medication – with emergency back-up supply.
• Money – It is good to have some local currency, often smaller local businesses do not accept credit cards and/or prefer cash. Some public restrooms require small amounts of cash to use. Gratuity for guide(s) is optional but always appreciated; (The industry average for this trip type is 5-15% of total trip cost. Local currency is preferred. If desired, tipping private drivers is acceptable and the average amount is just a few Euros per ride, but it is not expected and fully optional.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:

• Face Masks; Over-the-counter Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests (Note: recommended but optional)
• Travel Power Adapter – Electric power voltage in Germany/Austria/Italy is 230 V / 50 Hz and the most common plugs are E/F & L type
• Support Braces – consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc.)
• Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs
• Bug Repellent
• Quick Drying Towel or Bandana(s)
• Swimsuit

*FIRST AID KIT SUGGESTIONS:

After years of experience planning adventure travel around the world, we've learned that anything can happen, and every traveler should carry a basic personal first aid kit. We want to ensure our guests are well-prepared and make smart informed travel decisions. In many of the places we operate trips, it may be challenging to find certain medications and/or first aid supplies, and sometimes common items you desire may not be available in the destination you are travelling. That's why it's good to be prepared and carry a small supply of first aid supplies, any prescription medication, and/or over-the-counter medications you may require during your travels.

We recommend discussing your travel plans, vaccination requirements, and any medication usage with your primary healthcare provider before embarking on our trips. This helps ensure you have a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

During our “Guided” trips, our staff always have emergency equipment on hand to assist anyone in need, including our guests. This equipment includes communication devices and a comprehensive first aid kit with items we've found to be effective for the most common health issues we encounter.

Here is a basic list of what we think makes a good personal travel first aid kit:

• Medications – Brands of your choice, all medications should be either prescribed directly by your doctor or discussed with a doctor prior to use.
• Electrolyte Replacement/Drink Mix – brand of choice
• Creams – Antibiotic ointment, Anti-Itch: Hydrocortisone, Arnica
• Eye Problems: Dry/Itchy – Eye drops
• Feminine Hygiene – Tampons
• Wound Care – a various pack of bandages, antiseptic swabs
• Blister Care – blister kit made up of items of your choice
• Sun Protection – sunscreen, SPF lip balm
• Various Items – Athletic tape/”KT Tape”, Nail clippers, Tweezers, Small bottle of hand sanitizer, Sewing kit (clothing/button repairs), Disposable surgical gloves (1-2 pairs)

PACKING FOR TRAVEL: It is recommended that you prepare your items in the following manner for your travels to this trip.

“Carry-on Bag(s)” - This is the bag you will bring with you on the plane. We recommend all your pertinent information be in this bag (passport, travel documents, etc.) as well as your most important gear items (hiking footwear, jacket, prescription medication, etc.) in case any checked luggage items becomes lost or delayed.

“Checked Bag(s)” - This bag will be checked and contain the rest of your personal items (clothing and gear, etc.).

Important Note: Again, it is recommended to either wear or pack in your “Carry-on Bag” the main gear items you need for this trip vs. putting them in your checked “Travel Bag” (in case luggage is delayed). Hiking footwear is probably the hardest item to replace last minute if items become lost or delayed past the intended start date of the trip. Lost or delayed luggage has become increasingly common in major airports for international travel since the global pandemic.

LUGGAGE MANAGEMENT DURING TRIP: During this trip, the packing system needs to be in 2 bags.

Extra Luggage - “Checked Bag(s)” & ”Carry-on Bag(s)”: This bag will contain all the items you want to bring along on the trip. It will be transferred by vehicle, and you will have access to it at the end of each day of activity (except day 7 & 8), but not throughout the day. Extra luggage is not easily stored due to the one-way logistics of this trip and therefore not allowed, beyond the 1 bag limit with a maximum weight of 20kg/44lbs.

- For your transported luggage: a backpack or a travel bag in good condition works best.

Day Backpack (not provided): All guests will need a backpack, which they will be responsible for carrying during trip activities. Items in this bag should include anything you may need throughout the day during the trip. (i.e. rain gear, warm layers, water, sunscreen/lip balm, snacks/food, camera/phone, etc.).

Documents

Travellers from the European Union, including children, need a valid identity card or passport. Check with the authorities in your home country for the conditions of entering this destination.

Health

Do not forget your card and/or policy details for your health insurance and/or travel insurance.

German/Austrian in Germany and Austria. The Dolomites are bilingual: German and Italian. Italian in Venice. At least some English is spoken in most tourist areas.

Italy: +39; Germany: +49; Austria: +43

Eastern European Time. Eastern European Time (EET) is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2). In the summer: Eastern European Summer Time (EEST).

European Emergency Services: 112

Tourism Office in Germany Visit: Germany: Discover the best attractions - Germany Travel

Tourism Office in Austria Visit: Holidays in Austria | Your Official Travel Guide

Tourism Office in Italy Visit: Discover Italy: Official Tourism Website - Italia.it

Germany, Austria and Italy are Member-States of the European Union and use its uniform currency – the Euro €. Germany, Austria and Italy, as is the case with the other Member-States of the E.U. uses eight coins as follows: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. The banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while credit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. Banks are generally open for the public from 8:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:30 Monday through Fridays. They are closed on Public Holidays. Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and certain main ports, in the larger cities, as well as at many tourist destinations. A passport is required when exchanging currencies.

This trip uses multiple maps including the Alpenvereinskarte: BY6 Ammergebirge West, Freytag & Berndt: WKD4 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kompass: 07 - Werdenfelser Land mit Zugspitze, Alpenvereinskarte: 5/1 – Karwendelgebirge West, Alpenvereinskarte: 35/3 Zillertaler Alpen Ost, Tabacco: 031 – Dolomiti di Braies - Marebbe, & Tabacco: 010 – Dolomiti di Sesto.

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