Around Easter 2026, I treated myself to a very special trip (that was originally already planned for 2020): a visit to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan (with a few days in Nepal before and after).
In late summer 2025, I enjoyed three weeks at the French Riviera and in Provence, with a side trip to Monaco. On the way there and back, I also travelled through Italy and Switzerland, respectively.
The Lofoten Islands were on my travel bucket list for quite a while. In early summer 2025, I finally made it happen: I spent a week taking the train up north (with stops in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden). Then, I spent two weeks in the Lofoten Islands and Vesterålen.
In early autumn 2024, a (to me) previously unknown European mountain range was on my agenda: the Pyrenees. I explored both the French and the Spanish side, and I also spent some time in Andorra.
After quite a long time, I finally visited Switzerland again in early summer 2024. This time, I also explored the Swiss Alps in depth (or should I say: heights?).
Unbelievable, but true: From October 2023 to February 2024, I went on a round-the-world trip for the second (!) time. The main focus was New Zealand, but I also visited the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
The Corona pandemic really put the brakes on my travel plans: For two years I traveled (almost) exclusively within Austria. Only in early summer 2022, I slowly started to travel again (within Europe).
In the early 2010s, I traveled extensively in Europe. However, especially in the second half of the decade, I was criss-crossing the globe on my travels a lot, even by my standards.
A term abroad in New York (including a trip through California before the start of the term) awakened my wanderlust. As a result, between 2003 and 2009, I traveled extensively overseas –including an eight-month round-the-world trip. But I also spent some time abroad in Europe.
Lake Formarin was actually already on my wish list during my last stay in Lech. However, with heavily overcast skies (and the possibility of rain), I deemed the (even then) rather expensive hiking bus not to be worth it. This time, however, I treated myself to the Lech Card, which includes all hiking buses and mountain lifts. Therefore, with brilliant sunshine, nothing stood in the way of a hike. Continue reading Lech, or: Finally Lake Formarin!→
Today was another travel day. Actually, the distance between my two accommodations was only about 15¾ (!) kilometers (as the crow flies). Unfortunately, there is no direct road from Kleinwalsertal towards the Arlberg region. Using public transport made things even more complicated. To break up the long journey a bit, I made a short stop in Lindau on Lake Constance. Continue reading Taking a break in Lindau→
The summer heat has also arrived in Kleinwalsertal, albeit probably on a different level than in the big city. However, since I can certainly go swimming in Vienna, but mountains are rather scarce there, I decided not to visit any open-air swimming pool. Instead, I took the bus to Baad, the last village in Kleinwalsertal, and explored different side valleys from there. Continue reading Hiking, not swimming→
Although I spent the last two days in Kleinwalsertal, I often hiked right along the border with Germany: This border runs precisely along the mountain ridge around which the hikes of the last two days revolved. Continue reading Ri(d)ght(e) at the border→
Why spend a whole day traveling by train and bus when you could go hiking? Especially since the Breitachklamm gorge, a true natural gem, is practically right on the way! Continue reading Gorge (hiking) across the border→
That even my Austriaholiday begins in another country might surprise even those familiar with my travel style. But the Tyrolean Außerfern region, my first destination, is actually easier to reach from Germany by train – at least theoretically. Continue reading Sightseeing from the Train Window→
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250915_133329-1038x576.jpg "View of Monaco")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250611_102153-1038x576.jpg "View from Reinebringen")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240929_143951-1038x576.jpg "Vall d'Ordino")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240626_085529-1038x576.jpg "Grindelwald")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20240107_121025-1038x576.jpg "View from Avalanche Peak")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/trips2020-23.jpg "Travelling in COVID times")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/trips2010-19.jpg "Europe and the wide, wide world")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/trips2003-06.jpg "Trips 2003-08")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260625_144626-1038x576.jpg "View from Rüfikopf towards Rüfispitze")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260402_113543-1038x576.jpg "Punakha Dzong")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260625_092544-1038x576.jpg "Spitziger Stein Reservoir and Widderstein mountain")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260624_093944-1038x576.jpg "Lake Formarin and Rote Wand")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260623_113557-1038x576.jpg "Lindau Harbour")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260622_103225-1038x576.jpg "View of Schwarzwasser valley and Ifen from Grünhorn summit")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260618_134408-1038x576.jpg "View of Fellhorn and Kanzelwand from Rote Wand viewpoint")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260617_130807-1038x576.jpg "Upper Breitachklamm")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260616_125550-1038x576.jpg "View of Neuschwanstein Castle from Queen Mary's Bridge")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260615_145733-1038x576.jpg "View of Reutte valley from Tälerblick⁴")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260613_152342-1038x576.jpg "Lake Starnberg")