By motorhome over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Your trip starts here. You'll drive south via the A17 and A9.

A quiet site by the Danube on the edge of Regensburg, ideal for the first night. From here it's just a few minutes by bike or a short bus ride into the UNESCO old town with its medieval Steinerne Brücke. A good stopover to split the long journey into two stages.

A terraced campsite with sweeping views over the Zeller See and surrounding mountains, an ideal base for the coming days. From the site you can reach the lake and the lakeside promenade on foot or by bike. The town itself is easily accessible on foot and by public transport, so the big motorhome can stay put.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

The car-free lakeside promenade and the small old town with its Romanesque St. Hippolyt church are perfect for a wander. A level walking path runs all the way round the Zeller See, which you can also tackle in stages. At the market you'll find regional produce and cosy cafés.

The cable car takes you up to around 2,000 metres, where on clear autumn days a panorama opens up over 30 peaks above 3,000 metres. Up top there are easy high-altitude trails and mountain huts serving hearty snacks. A great first taste of the Hohe Tauern before the Grossglockner road.

At 380 metres, the Krimml Waterfalls are among the highest in Europe and can be climbed all the way up via a well-built waterfall trail. The ascent takes one to two hours depending on your pace and rewards you with ever-changing viewpoints. In autumn there's less water, but the air is clear and the path far less crowded.

A simple, practical motorhome parking area close to the waterfalls and the national park centre. From here you can head to the falls comfortably in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive. Water and waste disposal facilities are available on site.

This is where the northern ascent of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road begins. A 3.5-tonne motorhome copes with the gradients without any trouble if you drive in a low gear and use engine braking rather than the footbrake. Set off early, drive at a steady pace and plan breaks at the designated car parks.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

At 2,571 metres, the highest point on the road you can drive to, reached via a short, very steep side road with cobblestones. On a clear autumn day the panoramic view takes in 37 peaks above 3,000 metres. The upper car park is tight for large motorhomes, so if needed park lower down and walk the last stretch.

The famous viewing platform opposite the Grossglockner and the Pasterze, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps. A large, level car park also takes motorhomes. At the visitor centre you can learn how much the glacier has retreated, and look out for marmots and ibex.

A family-run campsite in the Mölltal valley with views of the Grossglockner, right after the southern descent of the High Alpine Road. The village of Heiligenblut with its striking Gothic pilgrimage church is within walking distance. A peaceful spot to round off the long panorama day.

The mighty castle of the Counts of Gorizia towers over Lienz and today houses the city museum, with works by the painter Albin Egger-Lienz. From the towers you get a sweeping view over the Lienz basin and the Dolomites. A great choice if you're interested in castles and history.

A well-kept campsite at the foot of the Lienz Dolomites, just a few minutes from the old town. The view of the rugged rock faces is especially striking in the autumn light. A good base for walks and excursions in East Tyrol.

At the head of the Virgental valley, the Isel river tumbles over the Umbal Falls, made accessible via a largely barrier-free nature trail with viewing platforms. The free-flowing Isel is one of the last protected glacier rivers in the Alps. The path from the Ströden car park is well marked and suitable for families.

A working mountain hut above the Umbal Falls serving homemade Tyrolean specialities and alpine cheese. A great resting point on the walk, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet at the head of the valley. Autumn snacks with a view of the Venediger group.

The toll-charged Felbertauern Tunnel links East Tyrol with the Pinzgau region regardless of weather, and is the comfortable alternative to driving over the pass. A relaxed, well-maintained route for the motorhome. Open all year round, with no height restriction issues.

A terraced site on the outskirts of Salzburg with a view of the Festung Hohensalzburg. You can reach the centre easily by bus, so the motorhome can stay put. A great base for exploring the baroque old town and the city of Mozart.

The UNESCO old town with its Getreidegasse, cathedral and Residenzplatz is easy to explore on foot, while the funicular takes you up to the mighty Festung Hohensalzburg. From the fortress hill the view stretches over the city and the Alps. At the Grünmarkt on Universitätsplatz you'll find regional specialities for the road.

A quietly situated campsite on the warmest lake in Upper Bavaria, a pleasant stop on the way home. The flat shoreline and meadows are perfect for winding down. From here you'll shorten the final long leg to Dresden.

Return to your starting point. This brings your round trip through the Hohe Tauern and East Tyrol to an end.