Whether with or without an ‘E’, focusing solely on women, flow trails or long enduro descents – the range of guided Transalp routes on offer is still vast. Of course, the advantages of a guided tour are obvious: no heavy rucksack, and accommodation and return transport are also taken care of. Above all, however, you don’t have to worry about the route. There are now hundreds of them available, covering every level of difficulty. And yet, year after year, the organisers present newly devised routes. We’ve already picked out three new Alpine crossings that look particularly interesting for 2027:
1. From the Watzmann to the Hochkönig
- Length: 250 kilometres
- Ascent: 6,650 metres in altitude
- Stages: 6
- Difficulty: medium
- Price: from 1,895 euros
From Niederaudorf (near Rosenheim) to Großarl (near St. Johann im Pongau): Alps Biketours’ new route stays within the Northern Alps, follows the German-Austrian border and climbs to a maximum altitude of 1,800 metres. This means there are no hours-long climbs over the main Alpine ridge; instead, there’s more time to enjoy the local scenic highlights: the Kaiser Mountains kick things off right from the start. The route then passes Walchsee in Tyrol and crosses the Winklmoosalm into the Loferer Steinberge, before continuing through the Wildenbachtal and Saalachtal valleys into the Steinerne Meer in the Berchtesgaden Alps.
Once past Maria Alm, the peaks of the Salzburg region finally come into view. To the left, the Hochkönig beckons; straight ahead, the Hohe Tauern tower on the horizon – a veritable wall in the main Alpine ridge. Even for the fittest Alpine crossers. That’s why this tour ends earlier, coming to a gentle close in the lush alpine meadows of the Großarl Valley.
Speaking of relaxation: some stages include stops for a dip in natural pools and lakes; the trails are all fairly easy to ride; on the last two days, cable cars are used; and you’ll be staying seven nights in 4-star hotels with spa facilities.
The tours on offer are intended to provide even more relaxation: on one in three tours, “e-bike riders are also welcome”, whilst there are to be three “e-MTB only” tours.
Further information on the stages, services and dates: go-alps.de
2. From Sesto to Kranjska Gora
- Length: 302 kilometres
- Ascent: 10,420 metres of elevation gain
- Stages: 6
- Difficulty: medium
- Price: from 1,698 euros
Bikealpin has also scouted a new route that avoids the main Alpine ridge. The tour starts in the classic Transalp region of the Sesto Dolomites, crosses the Carnic Alps on their southern Italian side, and heads into the white limestone cliffs of the Julian Alps. The final destination there is Kranjska Gora in Slovenia.
The highlights of the tour: panoramic views of the Dolomites at the Leckfeldsattel, the Forcella Moraret and the Rifugio Marinelli at the foot of the mighty Hohe Warte, and the historic military roads through the Julian Alps, complete with panoramic views and the turquoise-green Fusine Lakes.
This tour is available as a guided e-MTB tour or as a self-guided tour. It includes accommodation and half-board in 3- or 4-star hotels, luggage transport and return transfer.
All the details about the tour: bikealpin.de
3. Enduro Transalp: Nauders – S. Caterina
- Length: N/A
- Ascent: 3,200 metres in altitude
- Stages: 5
- Difficulty: difficult
- Price: from 1,590 euros
Anyone wishing to offer their tour guests particularly long descents simply cannot afford to leave out the main Alpine ridge. The new tour from Alpenevent therefore really makes the most of it. The focus here isn’t on distances, but on making the most of every possible corner of this range of 3,000-metre peaks. And it seems to have worked, as this five-stage tour takes in one iconic trail after another.
The main highlights: the Nauders Trails, the Stelvio Pass followed by the Piz Umbrail Trail, and finally the ascent to the eternal ice of the Fornig Glacier, where the Supertrail descent through Val Zébru is likely to follow. By the end of this tour, you’ll have clocked up 14,000 metres of vertical descent and unforgettable high-mountain panoramas etched in your memory.
On the ascent, we’ll make use of any available lift facilities or, where possible, arrange for a shuttle vehicle. But this is the main Alpine ridge: here, you simply have to earn some of those high-altitude metres yourself. Sometimes even by carrying and pushing your bike. Important: E-MTBs are not permitted!
What’s included: 4 nights’ accommodation in good hotels with spa facilities, one night’s accommodation in a mountain hut, half-board on each occasion, luggage transport, return transfer, shuttle service and lift passes.
All the details about the tour: alpenevent.de
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor