The best of both worlds: The top 5 Bike&Hike tours around Seefeld

There are many legendary duos in the history of our world. Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, Asterix & Obelix, and depending on your taste, even Gin & Tonic. For me, another dynamic duo belongs on this list: the two natural jewels called Drachen- und Seebensee. The two crystal-clear mountain lakes have a lot in common. Both impress with their turquoise-blue color, both radiate real natural magic, and neither can be reached without breaking a sweat. You will cycle about 13 km and climb 420 vertical meters before parking your bike at the Seebenalm. From there, it is approximately 2 km and 300 vertical meters upwards to Seebensee, which was crowned the most beautiful spot in Tyrol in 2017. If you still have energy left and want to make Columbus proud, you can venture up the steep adventure to Drachensee. In about 40 minutes, you will reach the Coburger Hütte, from where you can admire both lakes. I promise: it is a sight you will not forget quickly.

Route description: Bike & Hike Seebensee & Drachensee

Difficulty: medium

Duration: 04:45h

Distance: 31 km / 820 vertical meters

Highlights: Gaistal, mountain lakes, views

Places to eat: Coburger Hütte, Seebenalm, Gaistalalm, Tillfussalm

Even though they are in the same valley, Tour number 2 and 1 certainly do not come from the same egg. The path to the Gehrenspitze is shorter (21 km), steeper (1,150 m elevation gain), and has a completely different goal: a mountain summit. It's a moderately steep climb up a well-trafficked gravel road, until you are carried by the smell of Kaiserschmarrn 100 meters below the alpine huts. At over 1700 meters, you will find all the alpine delights you can imagine at the Wangalm. However, do not linger in the alpine feeling for too long (or even stay overnight), as the path is not yet finished! A little more than 600 meters of elevation gain are still needed in your calves to reach the Gehrenspitze. The beautiful panoramic view towards Hohe Munde and Leutaschtal is definitely worth every single meter.

Directions: Bike & Hike Gehrenspitze

Difficulty: hard

Duration: 7 hours

Distance: 21 km / 1150 m elevation gain

Highlights: forest paths, delicious refreshments, views

Refreshment options: Wangalm,

The third tour on this list is definitely the most challenging. The Birkkarspitze would not be called the "King of the Karwendel" if it were easy to conquer. You have to overcome 1,800 meters of elevation gain across the Karwendel. What starts in the Scharnitz plain develops into a picturesque biking tour through the Karwendel Valley, ending at the historic Karwendelhaus. Over a distance of 18 km, you will gain 850 meters in elevation here – your calves will already be screaming "Stop!" when you get off the bike. But then comes the fine-tuning: After a rustic rest at the Karwendelhaus, which opened in 1908, follows a three-hour summit ascent through the Schlauchkar with sure-footedness and a head for heights in your luggage. Reward: A breathtaking panorama and the pride of having conquered the highest peak of the Karwendel.

Route description: Bike & Hike Birkkarspitze

Difficulty: hard

Duration: 9 hours

Distance: 41 km / 1800 meters of elevation

Highlights: highest peak of the Karwendel, easy climbing passages and breathtaking views in and out

Rest stops: Karwendelhaus

A clearly more relaxed but still challenging bike & hike tour through the Karwendel leads us to the Halleranger. This pristine alpine pasture in the high mountains appears as a green jewel between the rugged rock faces and dark coniferous forests. Once again starting from Scharnitz, this time we pass the Isarursprung, through the other Karwendel valley towards the Kastenalm. After 14 km and a relaxing 300 meters in elevation, you can refresh yourself here or put on your hiking shoes right away. Now follows a 5 km hike with 530 meters of altitude over alpine meadows and partly steep sections to the Hallerangerhaus or further to the Hallerangeralm. Here you have to make another choice! These videos might help you in your decision-making: Hallerangerhaus, Hallerangeralm

Directions: Bike & Hike Hallerangerhaus-Hallerangeralm

Difficulty: medium

Duration: 6 hours

Distance: 38 km / 832 meters elevation

Highlights: three alpine pastures, romantic alpine pasture, Isarursprung

Restaurants: Kastenalm, Hallerangeralm, Hallerangerhaus

Anyone who has read carefully will have noticed: This is already the third Gaistal tour in this list. Well, what can I say, the title "Almenparadies" doesn't come from nowhere. On this challenging but comparatively short tour, you'll encounter the Gaistalalm and optionally one of my all-time favorite alpine huts: the Rotmoosalm. Those are already two XL arguments for an adventure on the (E-)bicycle. After a steep start and a longer breather, two right turns are the indicator that it’s now heading uphill. Whether you want to take a detour to the Gaistalalm first is up to you. Well, if you can resist the scent, that is. What follows is the winding and steep ascent towards the Rotmoosalm. At the junction to Predigtstuhl, you can decide whether you want to go to the summit first and then to the hut, or vice versa.

Directions: Bike & Hike Predigtstuhl, 2.234 m

Difficulty: hard

Duration: 04:30 hours

Distance: 19.00 km / 1,015 meters elevation gain

Highlights: Gaistal, alpine huts, views

Places to rest: Gaistalalm, optionally Rotmoosalm