The Bavarian Alps – My Temporary Substitute for the Himalayas (For 30 Years!)

Let’s be honest: I’m a tropical soul. I love palm trees, balmy nights, and the smell of salt in the air. But there’s another place that managed to capture my heart and, in a way, delayed a long-cherished dream for three whole decades: Nepal and the Himalayas.

Strange as it sounds, my so-called substitute for the Himalayas was right at my doorstep all along – the Bavarian Alps. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to plan a real trip to Nepal, finally. When you have snow-capped peaks, lush meadows, and those intoxicating Alpine vistas just a short ride away on the local train, it’s easy to put off that once-in-a-lifetime Himalayan adventure for… well, a lifetime.

First Love: The Bavarian Alps

My first “mountain love” was the Bavarian Alps. Back then, as an accounting student in Munich, it was ridiculously easy to escape the city. Hop on the train and in no time you’d find yourself in places like Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, or Berchtesgaden. These are the kind of places that make postcards jealous of themselves.

For us, these mountain towns were the easiest way to get a real “high mountains” experience without a plane ticket or a Sherpa. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is famous for the Zugspitze (Germany’s highest peak), and Berchtesgaden boasts dramatic cliffs, the turquoise Königssee, and those mysterious legends about King Watzmann. Mittenwald, meanwhile, charms you with painted houses and the sound of violins—literally, the town is known for its violin-making tradition.

Lizz’s First Time in the Alps

When Lizz first saw the Bavarian Alps, it was love at first sight. She’s more of a flatland person, but those mountains cast their spell. We ended up doing a few hiking tours around Garmisch and Mittenwald, and she handled it like a pro—even though she’d never been hiking before. Maybe it was the excitement, or perhaps it was the fact that we “cheated” a little by taking the cable cars up and down. (No shame—those cable cars are an Alpine institution for a reason!)

The Young and the Restless (a.k.a. My Younger Self)

Of course, in my younger years, I took things much more seriously. No shortcuts, no cable cars. I’d happily walk 30 km in a day—uphill, downhill, through forests and along ridges—only to collapse the next day with the kind of muscle pain that makes you question all your life choices. But back then, it felt like a rite of passage: sweat, blisters, and that unbeatable feeling of standing at the top with the world at your feet.

The Substitute That Ignited the Dream

Here’s the irony: It was those first tours in the Bavarian Alps that lit the fuse for my Himalayan curiosity. The Alps aren’t the Himalayas—but they’re close enough to make you dream. From certain viewpoints, with clouds swirling around the peaks and cowbells echoing through the valleys, you can almost imagine you’re in some far-flung corner of Nepal.

So, maybe it’s no wonder I kept postponing that Himalayan adventure. Why travel halfway around the world when your backyard is this spectacular?

But… after 30 years, the call of the Himalayas never really faded. Maybe it’s finally time to answer it. Until then, the Bavarian Alps remain my faithful substitute—a place of first mountain love, sore legs, and endless, postcard-perfect memories. We are on the brink of making the Himalayas happen, and it feels like closure is coming.

Have you ever had a “substitute” destination that kept you from chasing your biggest travel dream? Or do you have a favorite place in the Bavarian Alps? Let me know in the comments!