Arrive at your welcoming hotel in Oberstdorf, in the Allgau region of the Bavarian Alps. Positioned at the foot of the Nebelhorn (2224m), this resort town is popular year round with outdoor enthusiasts, and little surprise too as the area boasts an extensive network of summer hiking trails and winter skiing opportunities. Depending on your time of arrival, enjoy a walk around the characterful village and its car free centre to stretch your legs and drink in the fresh Alpine air.

OBERSTDORF FESTIVALS: Over the summer months, Oberstdorf hosts a number of festivals bringing an exciting buzz to the town. The Oberstdorf Photo Summit takes place in June; Culture in the Park in July; the Oberstdorf Summer of Music over July and August; and the Village Festival in August.

Fuelled up with a hearty breakfast and full of excitement this morning, you will strike out on the first stage of your E5 trek. A short bus journey takes you the start point of the trail, from where you make your way up the prettily wooded valley of the Trettach river – a good warm up for the legs before you start your committing ascent.

From the tiny stone-built chapel of Maria am Knie, the impressive trail climbs through the Sperrbachtobel ravine to reach the Kemptner Hütte (1846m), a route that calls for surefootedness and a good head for heights. The way is steep and rocky, and sometimes rather wet – difficult or slightly more exposed areas are fitted with steel safety cables to aid your ascent.

Emerging from the head of the gorge and on reaching the welcoming mountain hut, you can take a refreshment break here in the knowledge that you only have a further short climb to tackle to reach the high point of the day, the Mädelejoch pass at 1977m, also the German-Austrian border. Entering your second country of the week, sumptuous views accompany you on your descent into the Lechtal valley. The trail will take you across the spectacular suspension bridge of Holzgau – the longest and highest pedestrian suspension bridge in Austria at 200m in length and more than 100m above the valley floor – a truly memorable Alpine experience! Reaching the valley floor, make your way to your hotel where you can settle in for a good night’s rest.

Today’s hike takes you off the beaten track and deep into the dairy pastures of the Lechtal Alps, with the gentle ringing of cowbells providing a musical backdrop to your day. From your hotel, a transfer by public bus takes you to the trailhead. The path undulates through wooded glades and peaceful meadows abundant with wild alpine flowers. Leaving the valley floor, you start your steady ascent to reach the high point of the day at Leutkircher Hütte (2251m), positioned in the wide saddle between the imposing peaks of Hirschpleiskopf (2549m) and Weißschrofenspitze (2752m). From this vantage point, you gain a stunning vista over the rugged granite peaks of the surrounding ranges, and of the Arlberg valley below where you are headed. The trail then descends past the Putzenalpe hut to reach the Tyrolean town of St Jakob am Arlberg, where you can catch a local bus for the scenic journey through the valley to reach your hotel in Landeck, at the confluence of the Inn and Sanna rivers.

From Landeck, take the cable car to reach Venet (2212m). With most of the ascent taken care of, you can enjoy a stunning hike along the ridge with a fantastic 360 degree panorama of snow-capped mountains and jagged peaks. A steady climb takes you to the summits of Glanderspitze (2512m) and Piller (2480m); from here you might be able to make out the hut of Galflun Alm on your descent path. After a brief rest to savour the superb mountain views, drop down from the ridge and begin your descent, making your way through picture-postcard pretty meadows and forested trails. Soon enough you reach Wenns, where you might like to enjoy a refreshing beer before taking the bus to your accommodation further down the Pitztal valley.

After breakfast, hop on a public bus to reach the trailhead. A gradual ascent takes you up the picturesque valley and past the thundering Pitze waterfall, becoming steeper to reach the Braunschweiger mountain hut. Here you might like to have a refreshment break ahead of hiking to the highest point of the trip: the rocky pass of Pitztaler Jöchl at 2996m.

Achieving the crux of your trek, take a moment here to catch your breath and drink in the awesome Alpine panorama. Your descent takes you past glacial lakes and the impressive slopes carved by the Rettenbach glacier. From the Gaislachkogel middle station, you can make your way either on foot to the resort town of Sölden, or end your hike here and take the bus or cable car into the valley and your home for the night.

This is the day you will cross the border into Italy and your third country of the week.

A short bus journey from Sölden takes you to the start point of your hike, where you will take the old smugglers’ trail via the Timmelsjoch pass (2474m) that crosses from Ötztal in Austria into Passeier in Italy. There is evidence to show that this ancient path had been in use as far back as 6300BC and served as a trade route over the centuries. Along the way you will pass the distinctive cube-shaped Smugglers landmark and the Timmelsjoch Pass Museum, both giving you an insight into the history of the High Alpine Road and the incredible endeavours of the pioneering Ötztaler Kraxenträger (basket bearers).

From the pass, you descend into Italy’s South Tyrol surrounded by magnificent Alpine scenery of flower meadows and towering rock faces. The gradient eases off by the time you reach Moos (Moso) in the Passeier valley, from where it’s a gentle walk alongside the Passer river (Passirio in Italian) to your welcoming hotel in San Leonardo.

Today you will follow in the footsteps of freedom fighter Andreas Hofer, born in San Leonardo in Passiria, who was a key figure in the Tyrolean Rebellion of 1809 when South Tyroleans rose against Bavarian rule. When the battle at Mt Isel was lost, Hofer fled to the Pfandler hut where he hid in the mountains before he was captured by French troops and subsequently executed.

Setting off on foot from your hotel in the valley, you walk along forested trails to ascend the flank of the Rifflspitz and past the Pfandler hut, gaining height to reach a breath taking trail hugging the mountain range at around an altitude of 2000m. You can enjoy the wonderful far-reaching views as the high path undulates above the treeline to eventually reach the Hirzer hut (1983m). You might like to enjoy a well-earned refreshment break here to savour your last moment high in the mountains, before the short hop to the cable car station to descend to Saltaus (Saltusio) in the valley. Once in the valley, make your way to your hotel in Merano by public bus; or if you prefer you can also walk the final section along the picturesque Passirio valley, passing lush vineyards and charming villages on your way to Merano.

Settling in to your hotel, you can enjoy a celebratory meal at a restaurant of your choice this evening, and reflect on your achievements and highlights over the last week.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of your accommodation and making your onward journey. If you would like to enjoy this magnificent region a little longer, we would be happy to assist with arranging additional nights’ accommodation for you. You could even tag on another Italian adventure to your week, such as Self-Guided Walking in Italy: Wine & Alpine Pastures, or Self-Guided Cycling from Bolzano to Venice. Just speak with one of our sales team for further details.