Stretching from the shores of Bodensee at Lindau eastward to the Berchtesgaden valley beneath the Watzmann, this 450-kilometre crossing of the Bavarian foothills rewards you with some of the most layered mountain scenery in central Europe. Most riders spread the journey across seven to ten days, and the cumulative elevation gain — easily nudging 6,000 metres — earns every descent.
This is not a motorway-flat path; expect daily climbs of 400–800 metres through spruce forest and open alm, with the road surface shifting from smooth Bavarian tarmac through rougher rural lanes and the occasional unsealed track near the Austrian border fringe.
The route largely follows the Deutsche Alpenstraße, which means you share the road with cars and campervans for significant stretches. Traffic is manageable midweek and in shoulder season, but summer weekends bring frustrating tailbacks near Neuschwanstein and around Chiemsee. Those two lakes — Chiemsee and the smaller Tegernsee — offer welcome flat kilometres and excellent camping.
Bavarian guesthouses (Gasthöfe) are plentiful roughly every 25–30 kilometres, so wild camping is rarely necessary, though booking ahead in July and August is non-negotiable.
The final push into Berchtesgaden is tough: a long valley climb with steeper ramps near town. The side trip up toward the Kehlsteinhaus — the Eagle's Nest — adds serious gradient but the panoramas justify every laboured breath. Bike hire is available in Lindau and Munich but quality tourers are limited; bring or rent a reliable bike with a wide gear range.
There are excellent train connections at both ends for a one-way point-to-point logistics.
Go in May–June or September for cooler temperatures, lighter traffic, and wildflower meadows that make the hard climbing feel worthwhile.