Wondering how to get to your adventure with us? We’ve put together some more information and tips for getting your destination. If you have any specific questions then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Depending on which trek you’re joining us for, your adventure either starts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, or at Lake Achensee, Austria. Here’s everything you need to know to get to your starting point, and away from your finishing point, whichever trek you’re doing.
WHICH TREK ARE YOU DOING?
Zugspitze Circuit: Starts and finishes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Karwendel Alps Highlights: Starts at Lake Achensee, Austria. Finishes in Scharnitz, with a short onward train to either Innsbruck or Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Karwendel to Zugspitze Traverse: Starts at Lake Achensee, Austria. Finishes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
NEAREST AIRPORTS
Innsbruck Airport (INN), Austria: The closest airport if you’re starting at Lake Achensee, around 45 minutes’ drive away. It has direct flights from a number of European cities, including Vienna, London and Frankfurt, though the choice of routes is more limited than at larger hubs.
Munich Airport (MUC), Germany: The best option if you’re starting in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and a good alternative for Lake Achensee too. A major international hub with flights from across the world, it’s around 1.5 hours from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and around 2 hours from Lake Achensee.
Salzburg Airport (SZG), Austria: A further alternative for Lake Achensee, around 1.5 hours’ drive away, with connections to Germany, Switzerland, France, the UK, Italy and the Netherlands.
GETTING TO/FROM GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a beautiful alpine town in southern Germany and is easily accessible by train, bus or car. Located at the foot of the Zugspitze, it is well connected to major cities in Germany and neighbouring countries, making it a convenient starting point for your adventure.
By Train
Garmisch-Partenkirchen has its own train station with regular connections from across Germany. From Munich, the journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes by direct train. If arriving from Innsbruck, Austria, trains take approximately 1 hour 45 minutes with a change required along the way.
The train station is located in the centre of town, within walking distance of many hotels, restaurants and local transport connections.
By Bus
The most direct option is to take a bus from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Regular services operate from Munich Central Bus Station (ZOB) and the journey takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic. Buses arrive in the centre of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, within easy reach of local hotels and amenities.
GETTING TO LAKE ACHENSEE
Lake Achensee is a good alternative to Innsbruck for your night before the trek. It’s Tyrol’s largest lake, and staying in Pertisau puts you right at the trailhead, so you can skip the transfer from Jenbach in the morning and start walking straight from your accommodation.
By Train to Jenbach
From Innsbruck: The main rail gateway to Lake Achensee is Jenbach, a station in the Inn Valley.
From Munich: Direct EC (EuroCity) trains connect Munich to Jenbach in around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Train timetables here.
By Bus from Jenbach
From Jenbach, continue on to Lake Achensee (Pertisau) by regional bus, which takes around 25 minutes.
Bus Timetable here. (Bus route 8332 – Jenbach – Wiesing – Eben a. A. – Maurach a. A. – Pertisau)
By Taxi from Innsbruck – Lake Achensee
If you’d like to book a taxi directly from Innsbruck – Lake Achensee, we can arrange that for you.
Please get in touch at hello@adventurebase.com for more details.
GETTING AWAY FROM SCHARNITZ
From Scharnitz, you have two simple onward options:
To Innsbruck: Direct trains run from Scharnitz to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof in around 50 minutes, ideal if you’re flying home from Innsbruck Airport.
Train timetables (Austrian) here.
To Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Direct trains also run from Scharnitz to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in around 30 minutes, ideal if you’re flying home from Munich or want to spend an extra night in Garmisch.
Train timetables (German) here.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS: Important Travel Updates
Europe is introducing two new border systems that will affect non-EU travellers. The Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace manual passport stamping from October 2025, while the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected in 2026, will work like a pre-travel authorisation. It’s worth knowing about these changes before your trip. Read more here.
