Fasting and hiking in autumn: The second fasting season of the year

The essentials at a glance

• The transition into the darker months of the year is the ideal natural moment for a cleansing Buchinger therapeutic fast.
• Stable autumn alpine weather minimizes the risk of thunderstorms and, thanks to temperature inversions, provides hikers with mild air on the peaks.
• The eight-day Hiking & Fasting program at the Tannerhof is conducted in small groups of no more than ten participants.
• The reintroduction days following the fast take advantage of the culinary harvest bonus with fresh organic food in the style of the Planetary Health Diet.

The second fasting season: Why autumn calls for a physical fresh start

As we feel the transition from bright summer days into the darker season, our biorhythm responds. It is a natural turning point that calls for a conscious pause. This is precisely where the concept of the year's second fasting season comes in: a retreat with our Hiking & Fasting program at the Tannerhof creates space to leave the old behind and prepare your body for winter. The combination of crisp mountain air and a mindful break from solid food helps us slow down and gather renewed energy for the cold months ahead.

From a medical perspective, this autumn reset is an effective way to relieve the immune system. The attending physicians at the Tannerhof emphasize that conscious abstinence according to the Buchinger method gives the body the chance to minimize chronic inflammatory stimuli and guide the metabolism into regeneration. It is a time of relief, during which the cells can perform their own internal cleanup.

• Resetting your biorhythm: Shifting light levels signal the body to turn inward. Conscious fasting supports this transition and realigns your metabolism.
• Strengthening your defenses: Buchinger therapeutic fasting relieves strain on the entire body, allowing the immune system to recharge well ahead of the winter cold season.
• Finding inner peace: As the mountain trails quiet down in autumn, the soothing atmosphere of our retreat makes it noticeably easier to calm the mind as well.

In this autumn transition phase, the power of reduction unfolds in its own unique way at the Tannerhof. While nature outside lets go of its leaves, a similar, liberating cleansing takes place within. Amidst the autumn mountain scenery of Bayrischzell, this conscious abstinence is achieved almost effortlessly, supported by medical expertise and the clear air of the Bavarian Alps. This way, you enter the darker half of the year feeling strengthened, refreshed, and full of vitality.

Stable mountain weather and clear views: Ideal conditions for hiking and fasting in autumn

As summer slowly says goodbye and nature prepares for its retreat, the most consistent hiking season of the year begins in the Upper Bavarian Alps. While oppressive heat and sudden afternoon thunderstorms often complicate tour planning in midsummer, autumn presents itself with remarkable meteorological calm. For active people who want to cleanse their bodies and clear their heads, this phase offers ideal conditions: the risk of heat-induced thunderstorms in the mountains drops to a minimum in early autumn. On the paths around the Naturhotel Tannerhof, you can hike with a reassuring sense of planning security that perfectly mirrors the inner retreat of fasting.

A special physical phenomenon characterizes these weeks: the autumn temperature inversion. While cool morning mist often lingers in the valleys, bright sunshine and noticeable mildness prevail up on the mountain.

• Relief from summer heat: Mild autumn temperatures take significant strain off the cardiovascular system during your body’s adjustment period.
• Sensational panoramic views: Thanks to the dry air of thermal inversions, clear days offer sweeping views that extend far across the Alpine peaks.
• Greater sure-footedness: Free from the constant worry of sudden weather shifts, you can walk more mindfully and settle into a steady, rhythmic pace.

Autumn fasting and hiking in practice: routes, rhythm, and the clarity that comes from day four

Our autumn hiking & fasting program follows a proven, calm rhythm from Sunday to Sunday. The program spans eight days and is intentionally limited to a maximum of ten participants to ensure personal, professionally sound guidance at the Tannerhof Nature Hotel. While the mornings are dedicated to movement in the crisp Alpine air, the afternoons are entirely focused on regeneration and targeted treatments at the hotel. After the hikes, Kneipp alternating showers, fasting massages, and breathing therapies gently support the body in regulating itself rather than pushing it to its limits.

• Five guided tours ranging from six to twelve kilometers, personally accompanied by Vroni Waller and Jonas von Mengershausen with a keen sense for the fasting pace.
• The classic mountain hike over the Taubenstein to the deep blue Soinsee, which offers an eleven-kilometer view of the Bavarian Alpine foothills.
• Gentle, mindful routes through the valleys near Geitau and Osterhofen that allow you to experience the autumn forest in all its facets.

The first few days require the body to adjust. On Monday, we clarify your starting point during a medical intake interview before the actual hiking week begins on Tuesday. Around the fourth day of fasting, a noticeable change occurs in the body. Once glycogen stores are depleted and ketosis sets in, the brain releases increased amounts of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. This hormonal shift brings about the often-described fasting euphoria. Your mind becomes remarkably clear, your step on the autumn paths lighter, and the cool, pure air of the late season enhances this feeling of inner freedom and vastness.

Culinary autumn bonus: refeeding days that taste like the harvest

Breaking the fast at the Tannerhof is not just an incidental moment, but a celebratory ritual of transition. Tasting that first freshly picked apple from the Bayrischzell region after days of conscious fasting turns eating back into a deeply sensory experience. Every bite carries the crisp clarity of the autumn mountain soil. These gentle hours mark the start of the essential breaking of the fast and transition days, during which your body gradually readapts to solid food and long-lasting regeneration takes root.

In our kitchen, we celebrate this delicate phase in the spirit of the Planetary Health Diet, where human health and the protection of our planet go hand in hand. This means: harvest-fresh, regional vegetables take center stage, accompanied by gentle, warming soups and textures that mindfully reintroduce the digestive tract to solid food.

To help you plan your personal autumn reset, we offer several dates throughout the season. Arrivals and departures for our Hiking & Fasting program are always on Sundays, giving you a full week of eight days with us at the Tannerhof. Reserve your spot early in one of our intimate groups of up to ten guests as the days grow cooler and nature settles into quiet repose.