One of the most beautiful hut tours in the region leads through the untouched nature of the national park. Those who lace up their boots here and set off from the parking lot at Königssee to the Gotzenalm (1685 m) say goodbye to the wilderness for four days and are on the move for about five hours each day. The hikers first have to overcome about 1000 meters in altitude to reach the highest alp in the Berchtesgadener Land. Before the evening snack, you should slip into your hiking boots once again. "Just a few minutes' walk away is the Feuerpalven lookout pulpit, from which you have the most beautiful view of Königssee anywhere," says Herbert Wendlinger, hiking guide and head of a ski school, who knows King Watzmann's kingdom like the back of his hand.

With the Wasseralm, to which you leave directly after breakfast, he reveals a special insider tip for hut hopping. Only a few years ago, the small alpine pasture, which lies in the midst of mountain meadows at 1400 meters, was a purely self-sufficient hut. Today, you can enjoy hearty fare along with cool drinks and even spend the night here - reservations are required, however, because there are only a maximum of 40 sleeping places," advises Wendlinger. After all, the small hut with its camps is considered the most beautiful and rustic spot in the entire national park.

A breath of comfort in grandiose mountain world promises against it the Kärlingerhaus, also Funtenseehaus mentioned, which invites in the evening of the third moving day to the stop. Over the Halskopf past the Grünsee and over the approximately 300 steps of the "Himmelsleiter" you reach the hut after a varied tour peppered with alpine pastures, charming vantage points and lakes.

Locals are rarely seen jumping into the alpine waters. "It's really only the coastal residents from the north who do that. For us, the water is usually too cold," Wendlinger admits with a smile. A weather-technically prominent wet invites with the Funtensee (1638 m) at the Kärlingerhaus to the special bath: The mountain lake became famous through the TV meteorologist Jörg Kachelmann, who had a weather station set up here and determined that the Funtensee is the coldest place in Germany due to a geographical curiosity. This is because in the cauldron of the high valley, cold air accumulates in winter and ensures record-breaking sub-zero temperatures. "In midsummer, however, the lake can reach quite pleasant temperatures of around 18 degrees," says Wendlinger. So it's ideal for at least giving your feet a little treat after a hike.

After a hearty breakfast on the sunny terrace of the Kärlingerhaus, the hikers set off for the last stage the next day. Down it goes over the notorious Saugasse - 36 hairpin bends and 400 meters of altitude difference the Wanderer descends again to St. Bartholomä. There a final boat trip over the king lake crowns the hut route, which one can shorten with good fitness by the way also on three days.

Info to the huts
Gotzenalm: open from 25 May to 25 October
Wasseralm: open from 30 May to 11 October
Kärlingerhaus: open from probably the end of May to mid-October