Berchtesgadener Königstour

The Berchtesgadener Königstour is a week-long circular trek around the ridgelines of the Berchtesgaden Alps in Germany, starting and ending in Berchtesgaden itself, so you return to your beginning point. Over 75 km across 7 days, you'll navigate the most prominent summits of the range and sleep at six different huts, each with its own character. The difficulty is rated as hard, expect long alpine stages, significant elevation gain, and sustained physical effort throughout the entire week, not just during a single summit day.

The route changes character daily. The start is a relatively gentle valley approach, but day two brings a steep climb to Watzmannhaus, an iconic hut below Watzmann, Germany's second-highest peak. Day three leads to Blaueishütte, perched in a dramatic rocky basin below Germany's last remaining glacier, one of the most visually striking sections of the entire tour. Day four turns toward Reiteralpe and the quieter Neue Traunsteiner Hütte; day five continues over Untersberg to Stöhrhaus, offering legendary views of Salzburg and the surrounding foothills. The final stage, sleeping at Schneibsteinhaus along the Austrian border, closes the loop with a descent back to Berchtesgaden.

No via ferrata equipment is listed as mandatory for this route, so rope protection is unlikely to be necessary, nonetheless, this is demanding high-mountain terrain, not a walk. The Königstour suits experienced trekkers with multi-day trek experience and solid fitness who can handle seven consecutive alpine stages with a full pack. For complete beginners to alpine trekking, it's not an ideal first choice.

The best season for this route is summer's high season, when alpine huts are open and operating, outside these months, many close and ridge traverses become risky due to snow. Huts like Watzmannhaus, Blaueishütte, Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, Stöhrhaus, and Schneibsteinhaus are busy destinations, so don't delay on booking. The standard approach is via the official Alpenverein reservation system, which covers these huts and allows you to check availability and opening dates for your planned dates.

Overall, the Berchtesgadener Königstour exemplifies what the Berchtesgaden Alps offer in a compact area: glacier scenery, border ridges with Austria, and views of Salzburg, all within one self-contained week-long loop with a return to the start.