This year, I’ll be celebrating two personal firsts once again: I’m going on vacation with my own car—and staying within Europe. Sounds funny, but it’s true. In the past, my trips always started by plane and usually ended with me leaving the continent. Okay, I’ll admit it: I often rented a car once I arrived at my destination, but it was never my own—and at the end of the trip, we simply handed it back. For many people, traveling with their own car is completely normal. For me, it’s not.

And that’s exactly why I find it so exciting—because it feels like a journey back in time. The last time I traveled by car was with my parents and my brother, back when we drove to places like Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, or Austria. Those were amazing vacations filled with beautiful memories, and I’m endlessly grateful to my parents for them.

We always set off in the middle of the night, the car packed to the brim—including two coolers loaded with food. Lovingly prepared by my mom: sandwiches, meatballs, little schnitzels, and of course, hard-boiled eggs were a must. Cans of drinks—back then still without annoying deposits—were nicely chilled. Everything was ready so we’d never go hungry or thirsty on the road. We were packed like for a real expedition. It always started off feeling like an adventure!

Now I want to relive those childhood memories—experience what it’s like to follow in my parents’ footsteps and create my own road trip adventure. In September, I’ll be heading to the Alps with my best friend Ramona from Berlin. Honestly, I can’t imagine a more stunning setting for such a grand road trip.

From Düsseldorf, we head south, all the way to the southernmost tip of Bavaria – to Berchtesgaden. This is where our great Alpine rally will begin. Since I love visiting places steeped in history during my travels – like the legendary prison island of Alcatraz in San Francisco – we’ll definitely kick off our first day with a visit to the Kehlsteinhaus. Known as the “Eagle’s Nest” from many American war films, it remains one of the few undestroyed structures from the Hitler era. A symbol of delusions of grandeur, it has operated as a mountain inn since 1952. Today, it not only offers visitors breathtaking views of a stunning alpine landscape, but also serves as a place for remembrance and education about the horrors of a dehumanizing dictatorship.

Around midday, we’ll ascend the 1,874-meter-high Jenner, which offers a spectacular view of the famous Watzmann mountain and the Königssee lake, lying 1,200 meters below.

After admiring the lake from above, it will become the main focus of our next day. A boat ride will take us past the pilgrimage chapel of St. Bartholomäus to the far end of the lake, where our hike is set to begin.

Now we head deeper into the valley behind, past the Obersee all the way to Germany’s highest waterfall – the 380-meter Röthbachfall. This day will definitely be a blast for my drone. I’m already looking forward to it. 🙂

If we’re lucky with the weather, we’ll hike the entire way back – along the Königssee too – all the way to the point where we set off by boat earlier that same morning.

The next day will be a bit more relaxed. We might visit the Flying FOX XXL attraction in Saalfeld, where you soar across a valley at up to 70 km/h while hanging horizontally from a steel cable. Pure action – and a little bit like being a bird. What could be better, right? 🙂

Then it’s time to say goodbye as we head off to Austria, passing the famous Wolfgangsee. Who doesn’t know it? Well, probably the younger ones… but surely the others do – thanks to Peter Alexander and his classic hit “Im weißen Rössl am Wolfgangsee.”

But we’re continuing our journey, because our actual destination is the charming village of Hallstatt, nestled right against the mountains and situated by the lake of the same name. The town isn’t just stunningly beautiful – it also gained international fame when, in 2012, the Chinese built a large-scale replica of it in their own country. Just crazy. But we’re visiting the original, where we’ll also explore a former salt mine and its underground salt lake.

This is also the easternmost point of our journey – because from here on out, it’s time to heed the call of the Wild West. 🙂

To visit the Wolfsklamm the next morning – a narrow gorge that can be climbed via wooden walkways – I chose the town of Schwaz for tonight’s stay.

And now, brace yourself: we’re heading into the homeland of the Zillertal Schürzenjäger. Say what you will about the band, but they were one of Austria’s most commercially successful music groups. Practically a national treasure. So I do feel quite honored to visit this epicenter of bliss – the Zillertal. *laughs

In the charming town of Mayrhofen in the beautiful Zillertal, we’ll spend two nights and take it easy while hiking through the mountains.

Oh, it’s going to be lovely – because next up are two nights in Seefeld in Tirol. From there, we’ll visit the Leutasch Ghost Gorge, also known by locals as the “Realm of the Gorge Spirit.” This walkable gorge promises to be quite the experience, having only been made accessible in August 2005.

And the next day brings two more highlights on our travel itinerary:

  1. Climbing Germany’s highest peak – the Zugspitze, and

  2. Crossing the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Tibetan style – 406 meters long – at Ehrenberg Castle.

Both spots are bound to deliver some epic videos and photos. I can’t wait already!

The next day, it’s once again time to head deep into the Alps — to Sölden. There, not only are the next two nights waiting for us, but also Area 47 – known as Austria’s largest outdoor adventure park. If the weather plays along and it’s reasonably warm, we’re in for a seriously wet and wild experience before heading off to one of the most thrilling high ropes courses in the world. Suspended 27 meters above the ground, we’ll make our way under a bridge across swinging logs, swaying platforms, and airy nets — and then back again. It’s going to be an adrenaline-packed adventure!

The next day, we head from Sölden to the Timmelsjoch Pass, also known as the Top Mountain Crosspoint. This is the highest alpine crossing between Austria and Italy, located at an impressive altitude of 2,474 meters. From up there, you get a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and the winding serpentine roads leading down into the valley. Just let that sink in: it’s mid-May, and the pass is still closed due to snow. According to their website, it’s expected to reopen by the end of May or early June.

Next day, next adventure: In theory, it’s just a hop over a mountain ridge from Sölden to the neighboring valley. But since things often look easier on a map, we actually have to leave the Zillertal first and loop around to get to the adjacent Pitztal. At the very end of the valley, a cable car — which even featured in a James Bond movie — takes us up to Austria’s highest café, Café 3440. A slice of cake with a spectacular Alpine view? Yes, please. *smile

Now, the trip is slowly but surely coming to an end. We’ll leave the Alps behind us in the west and make our way to Lake Constance, where we’ll spend our final night in Bregenz. After a visit to the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, we’ll begin the journey home.

Whether the trip will go exactly as planned? We’ll find out by September at the latest. I just hope the weather gods will be kind and gift us with the best of summer sunshine.

Of course, I’ll be sharing a detailed travel report once the trip is over — so stay tuned!