Hiking combines physical exercise in the fresh, healthy air with fantastic landscape impressions. It is a blessing for body and soul and helps to leave the stress of everyday life behind and recharge your batteries. So it's no wonder that hiking is one of the most popular holiday activities. However, for unadulterated hiking fun, you should heed a few tips that we have put together for you below. Hardly anywhere else in Germany can you find such fantastic conditions for hiking as in the picturesque Allgäu. With its green alpine meadows and forests, rolling hills and impressive mountains, the region in southwest Germany promises the best hiking enjoyment for every taste and every fitness level. Whether relaxed hikes in the valleys or around one of the numerous lakes, moderate hikes to rustic mountain huts or challenging tours into the fascinating mountain world - the Allgäu offers hikers plenty of variety.
To ensure uninterrupted hiking enjoyment, there are a few things to consider beforehand and during a tour. The most important thing is to find out about the route of the planned tour and take its length and gradients into account. Some inexperienced hikers tend to overestimate their fitness. At the start of a hiking holiday, it's best to start off with an easy tour that can be easily completed in one day. You can wonderfully combine hiking with exploring your holiday area. Possible tour suggestions can be found, for example, in brochures and hiking maps, which are available free of charge in many holiday destinations from the tourist information centers or directly from the hotel. In addition, numerous hiking portals on the Internet help you find a suitable hiking tour. There are now many apps for smartphone owners that provide useful support when hiking. However, you should definitely always take a hiking map of the region with you.
Before a tour, it is advisable to pay attention to the current weather forecast. Anyone who sets off on a hiking tour with the family should always take the youngest participants as a guide when it comes to walking times and the difficulty of the route. Children move much slower and need more breaks than adults.
Equipment is also important for longer hiking tours. The main focus is on footwear. For easier hikes in the valleys or on well-developed mountain paths, solid sports shoes are sufficient. However, if you are planning a demanding mountain hike, you must wear ankle-hugging hiking boots with a non-slip tread sole. Hiking clothing should also not be neglected. In warmer temperatures, we recommend hiking clothing made from light, breathable materials that quickly wick sweat away from the body. Weather and cold protection clothing is also recommended, especially in autumn and winter. For any longer hiking tour, you definitely need a hiking backpack that is not too heavy and should contain a few important things: In addition to enough food and drink (preferably water), the hiking backpack also includes a hiking map, a first aid kit, a cell phone for emergencies and sun protection in the form of sun cream and a hat. Hiking or telescopic poles are also useful on longer tours as they provide additional support. Backpacks, hiking sticks and sometimes suitable clothing can be rented from various providers in holiday areas.
If you plan to take breaks in restaurants or mountain huts during a hike, you should not forget to check the opening times of the refreshments in advance. During the hike, the destination signposts are important aids, which often not only indicate the remaining distance to a destination, but also provide information about the walking time and level of difficulty. It is strongly recommended to stay on the designated hiking trails during the hike. If you leave them, there is not only a risk of getting lost, but sometimes the flora and fauna can also be damaged. If there is a sudden change in the weather and rain, snow, hail or fog occurs, it is best to turn back straight away. However, it is not advisable to take shortcuts through unknown terrain. Hiking enthusiasts who are surprised by a thunderstorm should leave mountain peaks, damp gullies, exposed ridges and iron ladders as quickly as possible.
Single trees are also particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes. Consideration for the environment should be a given for every hiking enthusiast. Your own rubbish should be packed up again and taken with you. If you take your four-legged friends with you on a hiking tour, you must keep them on a leash, especially when passing through alpine areas and pastures.
If you follow the tips presented, you can look forward to untroubled hikes where the focus is on enjoying nature. Hikes that are enjoyed to the fullest and with all the senses have been proven to help reduce stress and contribute to good recovery and the recharging of empty batteries. Especially in Allgäu with its varied landscapes and fresh, healthy air, hiking is a real treat and the perfect holiday activity. But if you don't want to hike alone, there are also numerous offers for guided hikes in the region that run along scenic and architectural highlights.
TIP: Dreimäderlhaus hiking configurator...
