Germany Trip Plan:
Beautiful Ostrach-Valley in the Allgäuer Alps

Oberjoch, GNU-Daniel Stenglein
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 1: Arrival

You will absolutely enjoy your vacation apartment and your new surroundings. Consider to share the eco-friendly efforts of the villagers and arrive by train. It is comfortable and stress free and you are able to reach many destinations by their regular bus or train services. The available 7-day-ticket guarantees a week of free bus or train rides, valid in the whole southern Upper-Allgäu.

Salt Fountain, reminder of the salt trade, GNU-woxe
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 2: Bad Hindelang and surroundings

After a healthy breakfast you will be ready for your first excursion. The fresh air around 2,710 ft above sea level will add to your energy. Bad Hindelang itself is a healing climatic and Kneipp spa resort since 2001. The municipal area stretches from the Ostrach-Bridge close to Reckenberg at an altitude of 2,559 ft to Mount Hochvogel, at an altitude of 8,507 ft. The district Bad Hindelang includes Vorderhindelang, Hinterstein, Unterjoch and Oberjoch, and Bad Oberdorf, which received the status of a Spa already in the year 1900 because of its rich sulfur-moor-baths. Oberjoch on the other hand is the highest located village in Germany at an altitude of 3,727 ft!

While you walk around in gorgeous nature make stops at the many little architectural and cultural jewels along your way such as the Church of Our Lady and Chapel St. Jodokus, which contain many local religious monuments of former centuries. A guide book with all information is available at the Church. Bad Hindelang belongs to the former Salt Road, with salt being transported over the Joch-Pass already in 1500. This path leads to the larger Oberstrass, the old pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. On your way back visit one of the many dairies in Bad Hindelang and experience how cheese is made. Just ask a cheese maker any questions you have and by the end of the day you might like to take some cheese home for your own supper.

View from Hoernerbahn chairlift to Bolsterlang and Fischen im Allgaeu, GNU-Thorsten Hartmann
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 3: Hiking and skiing in the Allgäuer Alps

Summer or winter, what could be better then enjoying breathtaking mountain views on a clear day? When you are looking for a comfortable way up to mount Iseler start from Oberjoch and use the new Iseler mountain railway. It leads to a wide hiking and touring area, stretching even into the Tannheim and Hinterstein valley. The trails include comfortable ascents for family hiking tours, but also for demanding ones, leading to the highest summits of the Allgäu. The rotating cable railway in Bad Hindelang takes you comfortably up to mighty heights. Marvelous views of majestic mountains and the valley deep down will leave memorable impressions. Enjoy a sunbath in relaxing silence or a sociable round in the mountain restaurant. And when you have become tired, the mountain railway comfortably takes you down again. Other mountain railways are available around Bad Hindelang: Nebelhorn- and Fellhornbahn, Söllereckbahn, Kanzelwandbahn, Alpspitzbahn, Breitenbergbahn and many more. Tip: the Allgäu-Walser guest card will give you reductions at all mountain railways.

The winter season in the Oberallgäu offers an extraordinary program with horse-carriage tours, toboggan-rides, ice-stick shooting, winter hiking tours, snow-shoe hiking tours or balloon trips. The ski, carving and snow board fans will be very happy with demanding downhill courses for specialists, and soft and easy ski runs for families. 4 ski schools, 11 lifts, one 6-person mountain railway, 20 miles of runs, 28 miles of classic and freestyle cross-country courses, a 1 mile long illuminated night course, 31 miles of cleared hiking paths, toboggan-runs and a natural ice lake await all winter sport enthusiasts.

Oberstdorf, GNU-Ciwi
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 4: Oberstdorf

Oberstdorf is a charming village and easily explored on food. Large areas of the village are a car free zone and walking around and maybe shopping is very pleasurable. Around Oberstdorf more ski and hiking fun can be experienced. Panoramic views of the Alps are guaranteed including the famous and majestic mountains Nebelhorn and Fellhorn. A big cable car will bring you up the Nebelhorn or enjoy the ride on the unique, diagonal elevator to the top of the Heini-Klopfer-Ski-Jump. Every New Year the first part of the famous Four Hills Tournament in ski jump is held in Oberstdorf. The whole area of Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal is a very popular winter sport region, but it is also very attractive for nature lovers and families in any other season. Tip for the evening: If you are looking for some special fun visit the Casino Kleinwalsertal. The ambience is rustic and cozy, be it at the gambling table or in the farmhouse room. Good luck!

Moor-bath in Oberjoch, PD-Xocolatl
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 5: Wellness day

Bad Hindelang and the whole region have plenty of options to relax and get pampered in beautiful surroundings. The natural high moor swimming pool in Oberjoch, or the Kneipp Spa Garden Prinze Gumpe in Hinterstein are definitely worth a visit. The Alpspitz-Bade-Center in Nesselwang with an adventure pool, a 377 ft long Crazy-Bob, the large whirlpool, a water kindergarten and the sauna section awaits its visitors and you can also dive into the Aquaria in Oberstaufen. A water chute, diving tower, outdoor pool, sports pool, top-shaped torrent, water landscape with underwater music, diving pool and much more provide for unalloyed, weather-independent fun in the refreshing wet. Also very recommendable is the the wellness oasis Wonnemar in Sonthofen with its hamam, rhassoul, water chute tower and lots of fun for the whole family. You can choose from various massages and beauty treatments or enjoy the sauna world and some healthy food and drinks at their restaurant. The Kristallbad in Oberstdorf is also worth visiting, offering a marvelous mountain panorama. Public hotel indoor swimming pools in Bad Hindelang can be used at: the Kurhaus Schofer, the Kurhotel Prinz-Luitpold-Bad, the Kurhotel Bären and the Alpenhotel Oberjoch.

Hammer-smithy in Bad Hindelang, picture: Armin Kuebelbeck
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 6: Bad Hindelang Klimaschaukel, the climate-swing

The highest air quality turned Bad Hindelang into a preferred Kneipp spa and climatic health resort. The different altitudes of the districts six villages with their individual local climate gave it the name climate-swing. The nightly exchange of air between the mountains and valley guarantees a constant flow of fresh air. Take the morning and go for an easy hike through the valley. A vast network of hiking paths invites you to get into move in Bad Hindelang. The terrain Cure Hiking Paths as well as the Kneipp Hiking Path are selectively adjusted to the Kneipp demands. The hiking paths connect the Kneipp cure facilities of the village area from Vorderhindelang to Hinterstein. A more detailed description is available at the Tourist Information Office.

Later that day you might like to visit the local history museum in the Upper Mill near Bad Oberdorf. The mill itself is a historical building and around 500 years old. Inside you will learn about the lives of the farmers in the past centuries and in addition, nostalgic reviews of the beginning of winter sports and the arduousness of washing in earlier times, hunting and poaching scenes are displayed. Also very interesting are two more museums of a special kind: The, full of surprises, Carriage Museum Hinterstein and the Hammerschmieden, which started producing weapons in the 15th and 16th century. Later that industry was turned into hammer and nail smithies and nowadays they still produce shovels, frying-pans and other popular items.

Bad Oberdorf, PD-Xocolatl
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 7: Departure

Take the opportunity and start your day with fresh and tasty local products before leaving this beautiful valley, heading home. One more special tip: If you happen to stay during the Advent season you will witness Hindelang Adventure Christmas. It has the reputation to be the most beautiful Christmas Village in the whole of Allgäu. Around 200,000 lights illuminate the most romantic village and every Friday and Sunday a special procession, the one and only in Germany, takes place. Around 140 fairy tale characters present themselves and will take you on a journey to a different world.

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