This post was long due 😴 & no. 7 is certainly the This post was long due 😴 & no. 7 is certainly the best! Save it for your summer in the Alps and around Munich 📩

✨ My TOP day & weekend trips from Munich✨

1️⃣ Plansee, Austria 🇦🇹
Crystal-clear lake, peaceful vibes, and perfect for a swim! Distance: ~1.5 hrs from Munich.

2️⃣ Dalfazer Waterfall, Austria 🇦🇹
One of the most impressive waterfalls in Tirol, plus epic views over Achensee. Distance: ~1.5 hrs.

3️⃣ Schrecksee, Germany 🇩🇪
A tough hike, but that turquoise alpine lake at the top is so worth it — one of Germany’s most beautiful spots! Distance: ~2 hrs.

4️⃣ Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany 🇩🇪
A fairy-tale medieval town that feels like stepping into a storybook. Perfect for wandering around with a coffee. Distance: ~2.5 hrs.

5️⃣ Zittauer Hütte hike, Austria 🇦🇹
A glacier-fed lake surrounded by dramatic peaks — a must for mountain lovers. Distance: ~2.5 hrs.

6️⃣ Archenkanzel viewpoint, Germany 🇩🇪
The best view of Königssee from above, seriously breathtaking! Distance: ~2 hrs.

7️⃣ Dolomites, Italy 🇮🇹
Nothing beats the jagged peaks of the Dolomites — ultimate bucket-list vibes. Distance: ~3.5 hrs.

8️⃣ Stöhrhaus, Berchtesgaden, Germany 🇩🇪
A sunrise spot above the clouds with insane views of the Watzmann. Distance: ~2 hrs.

Hi! I’m Sophia, the face behind @thealwayswanderer — a vanlife girl at heart, outdoor enthusiast, and your go-to guide for finding hidden gems away from the crowds. I live in Munich and spend every free moment hiking, exploring alpine lakes, or chasing waterfalls🙃

💬 Let me know which one is already on your bucket list or which you’re adding right now!

✨ Want to plan these trips in detail? Check out my full blog guide where I share exact hiking routes, tips, parking, best times to visit, and hidden photo spots! Link in bio 🌲✨

📌 Save & share this post to inspire your next adventure. See you out there! 🚐💨
Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites, Italy 🇮🇹 on Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites, Italy 🇮🇹 on a moody day in July 🙃 

Who has already been here? 🤗
Staying overnight at the 📍Zittauer Hütte was one o Staying overnight at the 📍Zittauer Hütte was one of the highlights of the summer - it is at 2328m altitude and one of the few mountain huts where bringing a dog is allowed 🫶🙃
(In fact, with a dog you are guaranteed a room of your own so it’s even an advantage 😀)

Save it for your Alps bucketlist and hurry up because the summer is almost over 🤷‍♀️🥲

1. Unterer Gerlossee and the Zittauer Hütte
2. Fun transition as we reach the hut with @ashatravelss 
3. Late afternoon, as the day hikers leave, it gets empty around the hut 
4. The rooms are very cozy and spacious
5. From the hut, we continued the hike upwards and found a river at around 2600m
6. Boards games night at the Hütte :)
7. 30 minutes from the hut, there is another lake
8. My family 🙃

The hut is located in the Zillertal Alps, and anywhere you see around are waterfalls and lakes. We saw marmots too 🙃
Circular Hike around Plansee, Tirol 🇦🇹 Still can’t Circular Hike around Plansee, Tirol 🇦🇹
Still can’t believe it took me 7 years of living in Munich to finally do this hike… and it did not disappoint!

This route is perfect when you want to spend time in nature without tackling steep elevation—just stunning alpine views and crystal-clear water all the way.

🥾Hike Details:
• Starting Point: Parkplatz am Plansee (6€ day ticket)
• Distance: 14.5 km
• Duration: ~3.5 hrs (without breaks)
• Elevation Gain: Minimal
• Dog/Kid Friendly: Yes
• Water: One natural water spring along the way
• Extras: 9.5 km of lakeside trail = plenty of swimming opportunities on hot days!

Save this for your next sunny weekend adventure!

#plansee #tirol #austriahiking #hikingadventures #munichdaytrip #lakehike #dogfriendlyhike #alpineescape #planseewanderung
How can a frog be so cute? 🤍 📍Sri Lanka How can a frog be so cute? 🤍
📍Sri Lanka
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Destinations
    • Austria
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Malaysia
    • Philippines
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
  • Travel Essentials
  • Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Nav Social Icons

The Always Wanderer

Travel Blog for Unique Destinations

  • Destinations
    • Austria
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Malaysia
    • Philippines
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
  • Travel Essentials
  • Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Nav Social Icons

Destinations

Austria

  • Scenery of an alpine glacier during the month of July. It`s great to understand the scenery to expect to get a sense what to pack for the Alps in summer.

    Complete Alps Hiking Packing List for Summer in the Alps

  • Golden hour at at the Dalfazer Wasserfall in Austria. In front of a waterfall, a blonde girl sitting on a rock - a great photospot.

    How to Visit the Dalfazer Wasserfall at the Achensee in Austria

  • plansee viewpoint

    Plansee Viewpoint Hike: How To Find This Hidden Gem

  • The Lake Unterer Gerlossee is located next to the Zittauer Hütte

    Zittauer Hütte: A Spectacular Hiking Trail Overlooking a Glacier


Germany

  • 3 Days in Munich Itinerary: See the Best of the City & Beyond

  • Day 1 of the 5 Days in Munich Itinerary starts at the Marienplatz, featuring the New Town Hall.

    5 Days in Munich: The Best Places in the Region

  • Historical old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany, featuring towers and old houses.

    6+ Best Things to Do in Rotherburg ob der Tauber

  • Archenkanzel Hike – The Best Viewpoint Above the Königssee

    Archenkanzel Hike – The Best Viewpoint Above the Königssee

  • This list is an ever growing list, including the Best Hikes in Bavaria. Categorized by difficulty, including tips and key attributes of the trails.

    Best Hikes in Bavaria: An Ever-Growing List

  • Scenery of an alpine glacier during the month of July. It`s great to understand the scenery to expect to get a sense what to pack for the Alps in summer.

    Complete Alps Hiking Packing List for Summer in the Alps

  • Relaxing at the Schrecksee - a well-deserved rest after a tough hike.

    How Hike to Schrecksee: 8 Essential Things to Know

  • Views from the top of the Herzogstand mountain at 1731m in Bavaria, Germany. In the background, the Walchensee and hundreds of mountains peaks are visible.

    How to Hike to Herzogstand in Bavaria Year Round

  • at the end of the jochberg hike, we are rewarded with a view of the Alps, the Walchensee and the neighbouring Herzogstand.

    Jochberg Hike Near Munich: An Easy, All-Season-Hike

  • Stöhrhaus, a Mountain Hut in the Berchtesgaden National Park

    Stöhrhaus, Berchtesgaden: Hiking to and Sleeping at an Alpine Hut


Italy

  • Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Three Peaks National Park in the Dolomites in Italy in sunny weather.

    How to Get to Tre Cime di Lavaredo in 2025 (New Rules)

Malaysia

  • Mulu Marriott Resort Review. Pool area of the Mulu Marriott in Malaysian Borneo.

    Mulu Marriott Hotel Review: Jungle Luxury in Borneo

Sri Lanka

  • A Wild Elephant Encounter in the Hurulu Eco Park is one of the best things to do in Sigiriya.

    6+ Unique Things to Do in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

  • Two wild elephants close-by in Sri Lanka, photographed from a Jeep. The wildlife in Sri Lanka is unbeatable.

    Bali or Sri Lanka: Which Destination is Better for You?

  • View from our hotel in Sigiriya: the Lion Rock

    Best Hotels in Sigiriya with Views of the Sigiriya Rock

  • Well-paved road in Sri Lanka lined with large trees and local vendors selling goods by the roadside.

    How to Get Around in Sri Lanka: Tuk-Tuk, Taxis & Public Transportation

  • Swimming in the Natural Pool of the Diyaluma Falls in Sri Lanka. It belongs to the Diyaluma Falls Sri Lanka Travel Guide.

    How to Hike & Swim at the Diyaluma Falls in Sri Lanka

  • how to rent a tuk tuk in sri lanka - main picture

    How to Rent a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka in 2025 (With a Discount!)

  • 10 days in Sri Lanka Itinerary

    How to Spend 10 Days in Sri Lanka: The Perfect Itinerary

  • Into the Green: How to Visit the Sinharaja Forest Reserve

    Into the Green: How to Visit the Sinharaja Forest Reserve

  • The empty Rekawa Beach in Sri Lanka. A real hidden beach of Sri Lanka.

    Rekawa Beach – The Most Beautiful Hidden Beach in Sri Lanka

  • This beach is a real hidden gem in Sri Lanka.

    Sri Lanka Hidden Gems: Unique Places to Avoid the Crowds

  • sri lanka packing list

    Sri Lanka Packing List: The Perfect Packing Guide

  • Beautiful beach on Hong Island in Thailand from above. Limestone cliffs in the back.

    Thailand or Sri Lanka: Which Destination is Better for you?


Thailand

  • A full set of travel gear laid out on a beige sheet, ready for packing. The items include clothing, backpacks, packing cubes, tech gadgets like a camera and chargers, a reusable water bottle, toiletries, and travel essentials such as a first aid kit and sunglasses. This packing setup is organized for traveling in Southeast Asia.

    Complete Southeast Asia Packing List: 67+ Items

  • Buddhist Temple in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai.

    First Time in Thailand? 11+ Thailand Travel Tips You’ll Be Glad You Knew

  • Hidden Gems in Thailand – 8 Places For a Unique Experience

    Hidden Gems in Thailand – 8 Places For a Unique Experience

  • View from the Bottle Beach Viewpoint (a rock) in Koh Phangan, Thailand

    How to Visit Thong Nai Pan: Koh Phangan’s Calm Paradise

  • Towering Limestone Cliffs at Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

    Khao Sok National Park: Beautiful, But Is It Worth The Hype In 2025?

  • Koh Kradan Beach in Trang Province, Thailand

    Koh Kradan, Thailand: Trip to the World`s Most Beautiful Beach

  • Koh Mook Travel Guide, includig the best things to do, the most beautiful beaches, restaurants, hotels, and insider tips

    Koh Mook, Thailand: Travel to an Authentic Thai Island

  • Koh Yao Noi Beaches

    Koh Yao Noi, Thailand`s Best Kept Secret – Complete Travel Guide

  • Railay Beach in Krabi Province, Thailand, in the morning hours. Sea and the limestone hills in the morning. The Railay Beach is a must-see spot in Thailand.

    Railay Beach: How to Avoid the Crowds (6+ Things to Do)

  • Beautiful beach on Hong Island in Thailand from above. Limestone cliffs in the back.

    Thailand or Sri Lanka: Which Destination is Better for you?

Primary Sidebar

— ABOUT ME —

I´m Sophia, a Hungarian traveler who is always looking for places off the beaten path.

Why off the beaten path? To witness wildlife and find authentic travel destinations.

My aim with this travel blog is to inspire you to visit places that are less visited, and to fall in love with nature and being outdoors.

 

  • Impressum
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2026 The Always Wanderer · Theme by 17th Avenue

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}