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The Grand Escape Germany/Austria

Bikepacking 500km through the heart of the Alps. No race. Your pace.
Start: September 5, 2026 - Loop from and to Innsbruck

How to register

Registration opens Jan 12 2026

With limited spots - registration details below.

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This is not a race. It's your adventure.

WHAT IS THE GRAND ESCAPE

The Grand Escape is Europe's premier road bikepacking event series. No rankings. No time gates. No checkpoints.

You start together with hundreds of cyclists from across Europe, then ride at your own pace through some of the most stunning landscapes you'll ever see.

Stop when you want. For as long as you want. Take that photo by the Alpine lake. Have a second coffee at the mountain hut. Chat with the rider you just met on the climb.

This is bikepacking the way it should be: human, unforgettable.

The Germany/Austria edition takes you on a 500km loop from Innsbruck through Bavaria and back. Alpine meadows, fairytale castles, pristine lakes, and some of the best cycling infrastructure in the world.

Your bike is perfect for this. Smooth tarmac all the way. World-renowned cycle paths. Zero traffic anxiety.

The route

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Cross the Alps, explore Bavaria, and discover why this region has the best cycling infrastructure in Europe.

All without climbing impossible gradients.

From Innsbruck, you'll climb into the Tyrolean highlands, cross into Germany through silent forests, loop around glittering Bavarian lakes, and return through valleys where the only sounds are cowbells and your tires on smooth tarmac.

Along the way: fairytale castles, alpine meadows, villages that look frozen in time, and cycle paths so good you'll wonder why they don't exist everywhere else.

What's waiting for you

Innsbruck - Where It Begins and Ends

Your adventure starts in the capital of Tyrol.

A city where mountains meet culture, where Olympic history blends with modern design.

Wander through the Old Town, look up at the Golden Roof, then fuel up with Tyrolean specialties.

Seefeld Plateau

A high Alpine plateau between Austria and Germany.

At over 1,200 meters, you'll feel like you're cycling through the sky. The air is crisp, the panoramas endless.

This is where Grand Escape riders catch their breath and remember why they started.

Border crossing

The border is invisible, but you'll feel the change.

Germany welcomes you with efficiency and charm in equal measure.

The cycle paths become even smoother. The villages more colorful.

The beer gardens more tempting.

Mittenwald

Colorful houses painted with murals.

Traditional Bavarian dress. Local festivals where goats and cows parade through cobblestone streets.

These are the Alps as you imagined them, and it's even better when you arrive by bike.

Füssen

An enchanted town on the German-Austrian border that seems straight out of a fairy tale.

Best known for the nearby Neuschwanstein Castle. Explore the medieval old town with its painted facades and romantic atmosphere.

The surrounding mountains and lakes make this one of the most photogenic stops on the entire route.

Allgäu

If one phrase sums up this region, it's "lush green." Rolling alpine meadows stretch to the horizon, dotted with traditional wooden farmhouses and grazing cows.

The Allgäu is gentle hills, crystal-clear streams, and the Alps always on the horizon.

This is where Germany feels like a postcard come to life.

Munich

A unique blend of modernity and tradition.

Discover the English Garden, the Marienplatz, and the Hofbräuhaus.

Cycle paths lead you through parks and along rivers.

Stop for a pretzel, a beer, or both.

Then pedal back toward the mountains.

Lake Achensee

Tyrol's largest lake.

Turquoise water framed by dramatic peaks.

The descent to its shores is one of the highlights of the entire route.

Many riders call this the most beautiful moment of their journey.

How to join The Grand Escape Germany/Austria 2026

Registration opens January 12, 2026 at 11:00

Registration opens January 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM (Berlin time) on Bike Adventure Series, the first no-race bikepacking event series in Europe.

This will be your hub for all the info and to connect with other riders.

You'll need an account on bikeadeventureseries.com to register.

Limited spots available.

Create your account now
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What's included

  • Route of the event , created after months of scouting
  • Paper map of the route and the information
  • A digital guide for the event to get the best out of your experience
  • Starter and Finisher Package
  • The Grand Escape participation banner
  • The exclusive The Grand Escape high-quality cycling cap, reserved only for registered participants
  • Discounts with partners who support The Grand Escape, including shipping your bike
  • Personal Live Tracking
  • An online map where friends and family can follow you on your adventure
  • Access to the WhatsApp Group to receive quick updates prior to and during the event
  • Professional photography
  • Event video coverage
  • Downloadable Photo Gallery with all the photos taken of the participants
  • Insurance coverage for the entire duration of the event
  • Customer support, led by expert cyclists
  • Digital guide with tips and tricks for bikepacking
  • Event dashboard with all the information
  • Bike Adventure Series Board Points
  • Access to the Bike Adventure Series community
  • High-quality cotton The Grand Escape T-Shirt (special edition for each event)
  • Finisher badge in the Bike Adventure Series Board
  • Live YouTube brief to ask all your questions to the organizers
  • The Grand Escape Bag (special for each event)
Get in earlier

Plus, for the Complete Adventure Bundle...

It includes the limited edition The Grand Escape Jersey, designed and made by RH+.

Ride the Germany/Austria adventure or all three The Grand Escapes in 2026.

For this time only, you can register with one click to all three events and get the exclusive RH+ The Grand Escape Cycling Jersey
Single Adventure

Single Adventure

Get your early spot for The Grand Escape Italy/Slovenia 2026
Early Bird (January 12-31): €157 €137

Complete Adventure Bundle

Complete Adventure Bundle

Register for all three Grand Escape events (Italy/Slovenia, Germany/Austria, Tuscany) at a special price and receive an exclusive limited-edition RH+ cycling jersey, designed only for Complete Adventure riders.
All three events + exclusive RH+ jersey (January 12 -31) €571 €349

What riders say

"When you're not competing and there's no stress about reaching a finish line first, you take things a bit more calmly. And when you meet other participants, you can stop, talk to them, and share experiences."
— Carlos, Spain

"What really surprised me is the amount of cycle paths. You can really ride without worrying about cars, without worrying about dangers. And the cycle paths go through stunning places near villages, lakes, rivers."
— Laila, Italy

"I will remember the feeling of being like I was in The Sound of Music: the scenery, all the cows with bells, all the fantastic climbs, the magical environment, and lots of friendly people."
— Julia, Sweden

"The scenery was wonderful. All the villages and towns look perfect. The route was very well planned and we always had lovely bike lanes. I saw so many bikes, more than I've ever seen anywhere."
— James, UK

"People here seemed so calm, so happy. You can really see that people live well in Tyrol and Bavaria. Truly wonderful people."
— Marco, Italy

"Everyone greeted each other as if we had known each other for 10 years. We created a community, even though we didn't know each other before."
— Tomasz, Poland

Your adventure, our obsession

The Grand Escape routes don't happen by accident. We scout, test, and refine every kilometer obsessively throughout the year.

We are cyclists like you. We don't enjoy straight, busy roads. So we design routes that take you through backroads, cycle paths, hidden secrets, and always great scenery. No impossible climbs. No useless hardness. Just the best roads possible.

What you will ride it's the result of months of work to find roads where you can focus on the landscape, not on traffic.

So you can just focus on the good part: living a true adventure on your bike.

A story worth telling. Yours

We follow the event with our media teams, capturing your best moments in photos and videos.

Professional photographers and videographers ride alongside you throughout the route. They'll be at the stunning viewpoints, the challenging climbs, and the magical moments you didn't even know were happening.

After the event, you'll receive the full downloadable photo gallery

Professional video coverage of the event

Your personal moments to share with friends, family, and followers

Your adventure deserves to be remembered. We make sure it is.

Part of something bigger

The Grand Escape is part of the Bike Adventure Series—the first European no-race bikepacking event series.

The series includes:

Tuscany Trail — The original gravel bikepacking event, 6,000+ riders

NorthCape4000 — 4,000km from Italy to the Arctic Circle

Unpaved Roads — Weekend gravel adventures across Italy

The Grand Escape — Road bikepacking through Europe's most stunning landscapes

More than 20,000 cyclists from around the world are part of this community.

When you join The Grand Escape, you earn points on the Bike Adventure Series Board, receive the Finisher Badge, and become part of a global community of adventure cyclists.

Create friendships that will last your whole life.

F.A.Q.