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Nearly every country or region in the world boasts a majestic natural peak that everyone dreams of conquering. Vietnam has Fansipan at 3143m, while Nepal and India have the iconic Everest in the Himalayas, towering at 8848m, a must-visit for all trekking enthusiasts. In Germany, there's a mountain just like that, with breathtaking landscapes. It's Zugspitze, the true peak of Germany.
Where is Zugspitze?
Zugspitze is considered the highest peak in Germany. Standing at approximately 9,718 feet or 2,962 meters, Zugspitze stands out among the rest, offering an incredibly fascinating destination for hikers and mountaineers alike.
Located in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region, on the western slope lies the German-Austrian border. Since both countries are part of the Schengen Area, crossing the border is extremely convenient.
The Journey to Conquer Zugspitze
Zugspitze, majestic and iconic, is considered a symbol of a region in Bavaria, Southern Germany. The mountain exudes a tranquil beauty yet uniquely captivating, leaving every first-time visitor in awe.
At the foot of the mountain lies the town of Garmisch and Partenkirchen, with charming little houses lining the narrow roads around the mountain. In winter, the entire village is blanketed in pristine white snow, with the surrounding mountains resembling scenes from fairy tales.
How to Get to Zugspitze?
Once you've entered Germany, the mode of transportation to Zugspitze depends on your departure location.
Long-distance Train from Munich to Zugspitze
Note to book train tickets early before each trip
If you want to stay, which hotel should you choose?
In reality, if you have the financial means and time, you should consider staying overnight in this incredibly beautiful and dreamy town. You'll have plenty of options for your trip. You can ask to stay with locals, rent a beautiful homestay for the night, or book a room in hotels right at the foot of the mountain. Here are some suggestions for you:
If you have the chance to come here in the cold season, you'll witness a truly fairytale-like scene when the early snowflakes fall. It'll be incredibly romantic to enjoy wine while admiring this beautiful and peaceful snow scenery of the mountain through the window pane.
Tips for Trekking at Zugspitze
Signboards Guiding the Way
1. It will take you around 8 to 10 hours to complete the trekking journey exploring Zugspitze (if you are in really good health, you can do it in 6-8 hours). Note that you should start as early as possible to finish it in a day and catch the last cable car back to the starting point.
If hiking during the day, it takes about 10 hours to climb.
Explore Zugspitze by Cable Car
In reality, for those individuals who are not particularly fond of mountain climbing, exploring Zugspitze by cable car is the optimal choice and reduces the time burden. However, taking the cable car depends on whether you choose the starting point from Germany or Austria.
The Stunning Landscapes of Zugspitze
The most popular starting point is from the town of Grainau near Lake Eibsee (in Germany). From here, you can easily explore Zugspitze by elevator with costs ranging from 30 - 80 Euros (750,000 VND - 2,000,000 VND) depending on the season. However, in January and December, the cable car may be closed for maintenance, so be sure to check for information before starting.
On the Austrian side, there's a cable car from Ehrwald, where you can easily purchase tickets online about 3 days in advance.
And here is the hiking journey
What to Prepare for Mountain Climbing?
Thoroughly Prepare Equipment Before the Journey
Remember to bring some light snacks
The Journey
Starting the Journey
The journey by car begins by passing through the Partnachklamm Gorge from the parking area in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A small note is that if you intend to start before 8:00 AM, you have to take a detour because the gorge is still closed. After circling around it, you can easily walk towards the Reinstall valley.
Scenery in the Early Stages
Throughout the journey, there are several huts where you can use the restroom or grab some essential items to fuel your journey.
Rest Stops Along the Way
After leaving Reintalangerhutte, the terrain will become increasingly challenging and will require both technique and endurance as the path becomes steeper. From this point onwards, it's advisable to equip yourself with the best mountaineering gear as the journey ahead will be quite demanding.
Difficulty of the Path Increases Gradually
After reaching Knorr Hutte at an altitude of around 2052 meters, you'll have two options. You can either stay here and tackle the remaining part tomorrow, or if you're fit and well-prepared, continue your exploration. You can grab some extra food here, take a short rest, and admire the scenery. At this altitude, you may still encounter snowfall in June or July. Moving forward, you'll ascend to an altitude of 2600 meters, which is the Zugspitze plateau, the top station of the cable car.
The Path to Zugspitze Plateau is Extremely Challenging
From here, the remaining journey will take about 1.5 hours on foot and will still involve many difficulties due to the steep terrain. If your energy is running low, you can take the cable car. This area requires significant technical skills and experience as the terrain is rocky and sharp, necessitating careful movement.
As your feet touch the highest point of Zugspitze, it's time to rest and queue if you want to touch the famous cross here. Some may not enjoy this scene much, but be patient to capture this moment, as you deserve it.
Upon Reaching the Summit...
On the way back, a piece of advice for everyone is to take the cable car down, especially from an altitude of around 2600 meters, as you don't necessarily have to struggle with the difficulties of the slippery terrain here. Upon reaching the plateau, you can comfortably decide whether to hike back or choose to continue with the cable car for a quicker descent.
Accommodation is Extremely Simple
A small note even with somewhat limited conditions in the mountain hut, if you plan to stay and enjoy Zugspitze for 2 days, it's advisable to book well in advance, even several weeks or perhaps months ahead, as beds here are almost fully booked and very difficult to secure during peak season around May and June.
Booking Accommodation at Zugspitze in Advance
Visiting the Snow Resort Area
If you're simply someone with the means and time, this is an extremely fitting suggestion. At the Zugspitze plateau at 2,600 meters, snow sliding activities are highly favored. It's one of those exciting experiences that you don't always get a chance to try in life.
A challenging journey well worth it
Conquering Zugspitze is truly no easy feat as it's Germany's rooftop with countless obstacles along the way. The landscapes and experiences throughout the journey will be unforgettable. After the pandemic, the desire to explore the world is stronger than ever, join me and Mytour in conquering Germany's rooftop.
Author: Pham Xuan Thanh
*Article participating in the Mytour Goglobal program
Mytour Goglobal is a blog writing program introducing beautiful destinations around the world, within the framework of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a great opportunity to promote new and exotic travel destinations worldwide to everyone. For each qualified article, you will receive 1,200,000 VND and the chance to become a contributor with Mytour. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/goglobal
