Tyrolean Traverse: Your Primer to Transalp Mountain Biking
We purposefully set the dates for this gem of a mountain bike tour to coincide with the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich – as you will likely need some fresh air, exercise and quiet before or after plunging yourself into the party. A 4-day mountain bike ride among the steep crags of the dramatic Karwendel Alpine Park provides just the right burst of alpine adventure…less than 2 hours from Munich Central Station.
The attraction of this short tour among our guests is readily explained not just by its proximity to major travel destinations such as Munich or Innsbruck.
The real reasons are the serenity of jaw-dropping limestone cliffs, the rich history of homesteading and mountaineering in the area, and especially the superb trail system blazed nearly a hundred years ago for WW1 mule trains. The steady gradient of this legendary trail network is renowned among MTB racers of the annual Transalp Challenge. While the pros wouldn’t dare taking time out to enjoy the spectacular vistas from mountain meadows, taking a dip in one of the clear mountain streams or savoring the hearty regional dishes at century-old mountain inns – we are going to!
| Quick Facts | Tyrolean Traverse |
| Tour Length | 4 days |
| Days of Riding | 4 days |
| Tour Rating |  |
| 2006 Tour Dates | 17 - 20 September 2006; 21 – 24 September 2006 |
| Tour Price |
€ 645.- (rental bikes included; no single supplements available - doub;e occupancy only) |
| Tour meeting point | Mittenwald, Germany (quick rail access from Munich, Innsbruck, Garmisch w/o transfers) |
| Tour starting point | Mittenwald (near Garmisch, Germany) |
| Tour destination | Mittenwald (loop tour) |
| Countries visited | Germany, Austria |
| Max. # of participants | 6 riders in two groups plus 1 guide |
| Min. # of participants | 3 riders in one group plus 1 guide |
| Total vertical | 3,900 m / 13,000 ft. |
| Total distance | 160 km / 100 miles |
| Services included | 3 x accommodation, breakfast, lunch & dinners; all fees & gratuities for 3rd-party services; accredited & multi-lingual guide(s); all transportation needs from rendezvous to final tour destination. |
| Additional info. avail. | comprehensive e-itinerary (tour prep. guide) upon your booking |
The Tyrolean Traverse is a coveted classic among locals and a perfect primer for anyone who would like to get a taste of what a traverse of the Alps by mountain bike may hold in store (before committing to the real thing). Our first two days on this tour are virtually identical to the original opening stage of the international Transalp Challenge race, while we use the third and fourth day to loop back to our starting point, covering a different but equally spectacular part of the Karwendel Alpine park.
Despite relatively short daily distances and very reasonable vertical gains by alpine standards, the demands of this ‘quickie’ tour should not be underestimated. But see for yourself by reading through the trip log below and get in touch with us once you’re convinced that this tour suits your style. But you may want to book some time ahead since this popular tour typically fills up quickly already months ahead of the Octoberfest.
| Day | Tyrolean Traverse: stage itinerary |
| 1 | meet us at the Mittenwald Train Station in Germany; hop on your bike for a relaxing 30-minute warm-up spin to Scharnitz, Austria, where we start the real -although gentle- climb into the Karwendel Range and the car-free alpine park region. Grab a late lunch atop our first major mountain pass on the panoramic terrace of the Karwendel Inn before enjoying an exciting descent into a hanging valley with attractive maple groves. Our last climb gets us to our pastoral accommodations at the Falcon’s Inn, a high-elevation Alpine Club hotel at the base of the Laliderer Pinnacles where climbers of world fame continue to cut their teeth. |
| 2 | start the day with a short stroll for photo opportunities, then descend steeply into the charming Riss Valley from where the day’s only but prolonged climb takes us well above treeline to Plums Saddle. The ensuing descent is not for the faint-of-heart but we’ll allow for sufficient time to walk your bike if white-knuckle downhills aren’t your thing. We’ll wash off any excess adrenaline with a plunge in Lake Achen before continuing to our cozy accommodations near the lakeshore. |
| 3 | spoil yourself with a chairlift ride high above the fjord-like lake for fantastic photo opportunities of the rugged terrain before dropping into the broad, glacially-shaped Inn Valley. After a low-elevation lunch at a medieval castle we begin our day’s ascent to the precipitous Lampsen Pass. While we’ll leave some time to soak in the serene setting we’ll yet have to drop 1,000 ft. to Bins Alm, a remote but very comfortable mountain inn. |
| 4 | ready yourself over a hearty, homemade breakfast for another full day of riding, fun and awesome scenery. We roll through enchanting maple groves and streamside forests enjoying the pleasant murmur of Riss Creek before climbing along the Austrian-German border back into the tall mountains. Once we’re beyond the days’ only pass we free-wheel for an hour towards our final destination Mittenwald, Europe’s violin-building capital and a pleasant Bavarian resort town of some renown. If you aren’t heading back to Munich, give Innsbruck or Bressanone in nearby Italy a try. |
This tour itinerary is for guidance only. Forces of nature, trail closures or extraordinary opportunities may compel us to change the program at short notice for the sake of your safety, comfort and satisfaction. Our Transalp rides are de facto mountaineering endeavors and require some flexibility on your part.