The E5 Alpine Crossing

This self-guided tour is perfect for experienced Alpine hikers looking for their next challenge. It is ideal for those who don’t want to sacrifice on comfort, and enjoy hiking away from the crowds. Stay in 3* hotels/guesthouses and spend one night in a mountain hut (private room). It is graded extreme with an average daily ascent/descent of 1000-1500m and terrain that covers scree, rocky and exposed paths with sections of rope to aid ascent/descent.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Groups > 10

This trip is graded ‘extreme’ overall, as the walks are tough, crossing high mountain passes over rocky, rough and exposed terrain. The weather can also change quickly in the mountains, making progress more difficult if it becomes wet underfoot. Some sections include rope which is bolted into the rock face to aid ascent/descent. This itinerary includes long hiking days with times ranging between 6-9 hours of walking each day. The highest point of this tour is 2,995m. It is likely, even in the height of summer, that you will walk over late-lying patches of snow or snowfields. Average daily ascent/descent is 1000-1500m. You should have Alpine hiking experience, a head for heights and be in great shape to undertake this tour.

The tour includes long hiking days with walking times of 6-9 hours. Each day, you climb up or down an average of 1000-1500 vertical meters. You should have a very good condition to be able to enjoy this unique experience. We recommend you to train regularly before travelling. Expect the alpine paths at high altitude to run over scree, rock and alpine pastures, some of which are very exposed to the elements and have rope fixes in place to assist you.

Stay 6 nights in high-quality, friendly 3-star standard hotels and guesthouses and 1 night in a comfortable mountain hut in a private room.

Please be aware that twin & double rooms in Austria and Germany (Doppelzimmer in German) are typically 2 single mattresses side by side in one double bed frame with two separate duvet covers and pillows. In Oberstdorf, we cannot guarantee you will be staying in the town centre as it is such a popular base for walkers and many hotels have a two-night minimum restriction in the high-summer months. This also applies to Meran. Accommodation in the city itself is quite hard to come by so in these cases we will accommodate you in Meran’s environs; Naturns, Rabland, Algund or Vernago/Vernagt. If unavailable then we will book you into accommodation of the same or a higher standard.  

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This trip is not available to solo walkers due to the nature of the tour. Single rooms are on request and  a supplement is payable.

Hotel Upgrades

Hotel upgrades are available at each overnight location (with the exception of the Bella Vista Mountain hut) to a 3 or 4* hotel. Please see the itinerary for the options.

Meals

7 continental breakfasts are included. This is usually in buffet form and there are many filling breakfast items available which are perfect for hikers; e.g. boiled eggs, ham, cheese, fresh bread and muesli. Lunch is not included and can be picked up at local supermarkets or ‘Backerei’ along the way. If you are staying in a remote area, most accommodations will also be able to provide you with a packed lunch for the day, ask upon arrival (payable locally). There are also various lunch options along the way in typical alpine chalets and huts.

Dinner is included in the Bella Vista hut and consists of three courses. The Explorer Hotel in Oberstdorf does not offer a full restaurant service. There is a Bistro-Bar where you can pick up small dishes like Flammkuchen (pizza like, but without the tomatoes!), Sandwiches and Salad. For more dinner options in Oberstdorf, we recommend a short walk into the town itself where there is a large choice of restaurants. 

In Bavaria, sausage is king so be sure to try one of their specialities like ‘Weisswurst’. ‘Käsespätzle’ is a kind of eggy pasta topped with melted cheese and sometimes crispy fried onion– it’s the ultimate comfort food! Typical Austrian dishes include the classic ‘Schnitzel’ (can be made from chicken, veal mutton, but usually from pork, the original is made from calf) and be sure to try some ubiquitous home-made ‘Apfelstrudel’. Tiroler specialities include ‘Tiroler Gröstl’, a bacon, onion and potato fry-up topped with a fried egg, or ‘Kiachl’ a fried yeast dough pastry that can be served sweet or savoury and of course the famous ‘Kaiserschmarrn’. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know at the time of booking.

The E5 and other trails are well way-marked. The Macs Adventure Smartphone App enables you to follow the route using your phone's GPS. You will have no problems finding the way. Although the E5 Alpine crossing follows well-maintained mountain paths, sometimes forest or alpine paths, and is usually well marked, you will need to be able to orientate yourself in the terrain at certain points. 

This walk is available to start on any day of the week from July to the middle of September.

On 31 August 2025 the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon will take place in the Ötztal. We will not be able to book accommodation in Sölden and the surrounding area from 28th of August to 1st of September. In addition, roads will be closed and bus services will be irregular. We are therefore unable to confirm any trips with overnight stays in Sölden during this special weekend, as you will not be able to complete your walk as planned.

The Alps have generally warm and sunny summers and cold and snowy winters. Storms can develop rapidly in the Alps and hiking trail becomes prone to landslides, avalanches, or flash floods due to the swelling of nearby water sources. If rain is forecast make sure that you are prepared with extra gear and footwear that is mud-friendly. However, the weather in the Alps can change very quickly, particularly at altitude. You should be prepared for all weather eventualities as even snow can fall in the summer in the mountains, regardless of the time of year.

Fly into Munich, Stuttgart or Zurich Airport and then take a train to Oberstdorf (2.5, 3 or 4 hours). The national railway of Germany is operated by Deutsche Bahn. 

From Meran you can travel by train to other Italian destination, or to Venice or Milan Airports (both about 5 hours). You can also travel to Munich Airport by train which takes approximately 5 hours. The national railway of Italy is Trenitalia. We can book a transfer back to your starting point in Oberstdorf. Please contact your Adventure Specialist for details.

Bag transfer of one bag per person (up to 20kg) is included as standard. Bag transfer is only possible on the following days; from Oberstdorf to Zams (day 3), from Zams to Sölden (day 5) and from Sölden to Meran (day7). On the days where bag transfer is not possible (day 2, day 4 and day 6), you will need to carry your overnight things in your day bag and then you will be reunited with your main bag the following night.