Embark on an unforgettable 125-kilometre journey along the Lechweg Path, immersing yourself in untouched nature and exhilarating hiking adventures. Your adventure begins at Formarinsee in Lech am Arlberg, winds through the Tyrolean landscape, and concludes at the awe-inspiring Lech Falls in Allgäu.
This hiking holiday promises an exceptional nature experience as you follow the course of the glistening River Lech for approximately 125 kilometres. Starting from its source near Lake Formarinsee in the Austrian town of Lech am Arlberg, you'll traverse one of Europe's last remaining wild river landscapes, eventually reaching the Lechfall waterfall in Füssen in Bavarian Allgäu.
Along the way, you'll not only encounter the untamed and rugged beauty of the border-crossing Alpine regions but also hike through one of Europe's largest ibex colonies and witness a waterfall that seemingly disappears each year, only to reappear in all its glory. You'll also cross a spectacular suspension bridge for pedestrians and marvel at King Louis' palaces. The enchanting turquoise waters of the River Lech and its thundering roar will be your constant companions on this extraordinary journey.
Details about the hiking holiday on the Lechweg Path
The starting point of your walking holiday on the Lechweg Path is in Lech am Arlberg. The start of this multi-faceted active tour is a fantastic circular hike around the Formarinsee. This is exactly where the Lechweg originates at around 1,793 metres. The following stage leads to Steeg and on the following day to Elbigenalp, where a particularly adrenaline-pumping highlight awaits you: the crossing of the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Europe.
On the last day of your walking holiday, you hike across the border into Bavaria. You will already be able to see the picturesque castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein from a distance. The final stage destination is the impressive Lech Falls, as well as Füssen and the endpoint of the walking tour.
The highlights of this walking holiday at a glance:
Sparkling Formarinsee: Idyllic, glittering and nestled between countless mountain peaks lies the Formarinsee at an altitude of approximately 1,793 metres. This is where the Lechweg-Path begins.
Cross the longest pedestrian bridge in Austria: 200 metres long and suspended 110 metres above the Höhenbach Gorge – spectacular and not for the faint-hearted. From Holzgau to Elbigenalp there is no way around the breathtaking suspension rope bridge.
Mystical waterfall: Numerous legends and myths surround the Doser waterfall. No wonder, because it is only active from 23 April to 11 November every year. The rest of the time there is no waterfall to be found here.
Worth knowing about the hiking tour on the Lechweg
On this hiking tour in Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria, as well as in Bavaria in Germany, you will always walk on good hiking paths, forest trails and gravel paths. With a little fitness and sure-footedness, this cross-border active holiday will be a wonderful adventure amid nature. You are welcome to shorten the longer stages at any time by bus with the included tickets.
Route summary
Hiking tours along well-maintained paths and in parts on asphalted vineyard paths. Depending on the route you can either enjoy the tours at a leisurely pace or make it more challenging. Summits along the Lechweg area are not high, but partly steep. Hence surefootedness is required in a few places. This week of walking offers a beautiful combination of nature, sights and enjoyment.
In the morning, the hiking bus takes you to the idyllic Lake Formarinsee, where the Lechweg-path starts at an altitude of about 1793 metres. Enjoy the stupendous view of the sparkling mountain lake before you proceed via the Lech-riverside path back amidst the mountain world to Lech am Arlberg.
Initially, you walk high above the river through idyllic farmland and across lush mountain meadows before fascinating views deep down into the wild Lech-ravine present themselves. The route ascends gently through the high-altitude forest to the Walser village Warth, where a natural bathing lake and the highest situated Alpine dairy and butchery invite for a rest. Onwards you proceed across the stream Krumbach to Gehren and now find yourselves on Tyrolean soil. Enjoy the marvellous views of the Lechtal-valley.
Leisurely on the Jochweg-path always along the Lech riverside until you reach the beautiful village of Holzgau, which is characterised by its colourful painted houses. They're a very special highlight awaits with the crossing of one of Europe’s longest and most spectacular pedestrian suspension bridges. You proceed across blooming meadows and forest paths to Elbigenalp, the geographic centre of the Lechtal-valley and heartland of traditional woodcraft.
A picturesque nature reserve leads you to Häselgehr, where we highly recommend you visit the lovely parish church with its opulent interior before continuing with the route uphill to the Doser waterfall. There are many legends and stories about this mysterious natural phenomenon. Via a high-altitude path with fabulous views of the ‚wild river, ‘ you reach Stanzach, a tranquil village situated amidst an amazing mountain world.
Today the river Lech presents itself once more from its wildest side: you hike across a rugged river landscape, past the Lechzopf to Forchach, where another suspension bridge taunts brave hikers to cross over. Across the Johannesbrücke bridge and through the Moosberg-nature reserve you hike to Weissenbach, cross the river Rotlech and via gentle riverside paths reach the quiet little village of Höfen.
Via the panorama path to a beautiful viewpoint. Past the glistening Lake Frauensee, you proceed into the ‚Pflacher Au‘. Here you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the wetlands near the river from the so-called ‚Bird Tower‘, a 20-metre-high wooden construction. A little later you leave the river Lech and walk through meadows and forests uphill across the border all the way to Bavaria. Soon you can already make out the palaces Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in front of you in the distance! The impressive Lechfall-waterfall finally marks the end of the Lechweg-path.
ca. 5,5 hours
16 km
400 m
450 m
Day
8
Departure or extension
Route information
You walk on easy, well-maintained hiking paths, forest paths and partially also on forest and gravel roads. For all daily tours, a good basic fitness level is required. You always have the option to comfortably cut longer tours short by taking the bus at any time. In some parts of the tours some surefootedness is necessary, if required the spectacular suspension bridges can be easily bypassed.
1 Lech Card (reductions for cable cars, entrance fees etc.)
4 guest cards for all other hiking days of the holiday (reduced entrances, free bus rides etc.)
1 original „Lechweg-cheese“, provided by the organic dairy Sojer in Steeg
Carefully elaborated route description
Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
App for Navigation and GPS data available
Service hotline
Information
Arrival / Parking / Departure:
By train to St. Anton am Arlberg and by bus to Lech am Arlberg.
Innsbruck or Munich airport.
Car parking: limited number of hotel parking spaces available free of charge, no reservation possible. Public covered car park near the hotel, cost approx. EUR 20 per week.
Return journey from Füssen by bus to Lech am Arlberg, duration approx. 3 hours (2x change).
Important information:
Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
Journeys by public transport to shorten the stages, optional
Sample hotel list
This is a sample hotel list. Hotels will be booked depending on availability.