Bavaria In Search of the Swan King

Germany
Bavaria
In Search of the Swan King
• A Self-guided walk from the Allgaeu to Garmisch
through beautiful landscapes
• Fairytale Castles ‘Schloss Neuschwanstein’
• Follow the trails of King Ludwig
Self-Guided Departure for a minimum of 2 persons travelling together
Tour Grade – B/C Tour Code - TISK
For dates and prices visit: www.walksworldwide.com
Introduction
It is entirely controversial that King Ludwig II, the ‘Swan King’, was mad, but one thing is for sure, this
somewhat eccentric King of Bavaria left behind a legacy intertwined with the history of art and
extravagant architecture. The Swan King is probably best known for creating the fantasy castle of
Schloss Neuschwanstein, which is without doubt the most famous and iconic landmark in Bavaria.
During the course of this amazing walking holiday through the stunning scenery of Bavaria you will
see and discover more about the fascinating Swan King. From the outset, a short stroll on the
‘Panoramaweg’ sets the tone with delightful views of distant Neuschwanstein, as well as the Bavarian
and Tyrolean Alps. Walking through delightful Bavarian villages, there are more fantasy castles to
enjoy, including Falkenstein, the highest castle in Germany. Reaching Füssen, it’s time to pay a visit to
iconic Neuschwanstein and if you have the energy a stiff hike to the top of Tegelberg (1730 metres) for
fine Alpine views. Of course you can always take the cable car up/down instead.
Moving on, the trail of the Swan King continues upwards to King Ludwig’s old, historic hunting cabin at
Bleckenau (1167 metres) and beyond to the Alpe Jägerhütte (1435 metres). Descending to another
fairytale castle of the Swan King, Schloss Linderhof you spend the night in a true Schloss Hotel, very
close to the castle itself. As hard as it may be to leave here, there is more to look forward to as you
then walk along the scenic ‘Via Alpina’, through delightful Bavarian Alpine forests, where eagles dare
to reach the Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From Garmisch you can take a ride up to
Zugspitze (2964 metres), the highest mountain in Germany for utterly sublime views over the Bavarian
Alps, take a swim in the crystal clear Eibsee and appreciate the beautifully painted, colourful Bavarian
homes. Your final day of hiking is a choice between a challenging walk up, up and up to Schachen
Schloss, King Ludwig’s high Alpine castle, or to Mittenwald. This easier walk is one of the most scenic
in Bavaria passing Schloss Elmau and glittering lakes along the way to reach the exceptionally
attractive, traditional village of Mittenwald, famous as the home to violin craftsmen in a picture
postcard setting surrounded by high mountains. Whichever you choose, both are a wonderful way to
end an even more wonderful week on our Bavarian walking discovery, ‘In Search of the Swan King’.
For this journey there’s a choice of our standard accommodation, or our “Superior Collection” option
with upgraded accommodation on 5 nights.
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average daily walking time of around 5-8
hours.
The Holiday
Routine As this is a self-guided holiday you
can of course dictate your own schedule. As a
general rule, usually you will walk for 2-4 hours
in the morning, and then halt for a leisurely
lunch (either at a café/restaurant en route, or a
picnic lunch in a scenic place). After lunch
you’ll walk for 3-4 hours to your next overnight
accommodation. Your main baggage is
transferred to your overnight accommodation,
so during the day you will only need to carry
your usual daypack.
A full explanation of the trip grading can be
found in our brochure or online at
www.walksworldwide.com. You should ensure
you are comfortable walking at this level of
grading and are physically prepared for the
trip.
Self-Guided Holiday As the name suggests,
self-guided holidays are for those that prefer to
be independent. Within reason you are able to
dictate your own schedule, as well as walk at
your own pace with the aid of route notes and
maps. All your accommodation has been
reserved in advance and unless otherwise
stated within this trip dossier, your main
baggage is transferred between each
accommodation along the way, so there’s no
need to worry about carrying heavy loads and
having to back pack. This means you only
need to walk each day and carry your usual
lightweight daypack. However, it is important
that you are entirely comfortable with being
independent whilst on a walking holiday.
Walking conditions From lower level valley
walks to higher walks in the mountains you’ll
be following waymarked trails, primarily with
good conditions underfoot. These can vary
from rocky trails to forest trails. There will also
be sections of both ascent and descent, which
may be steep at times, but rarely sustained.
The walk to the summit of Tegelberg involves
950m of ascent and descent on a steep,
winding trail. There is the option to take the
Gondola up and/or down. Average daily
walking distance is approx. 15km, with an
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For detailed information as to what a selfguided holiday entails please read the selfguided walking holidays section at
Types of Trip section on
www.walksworldwide.com before booking
your self-guided walking holiday.
Itinerary
Before booking you should read our
“Types of Trip” and “Essential and Useful
information”
sections
on
www.walksworldwide.com
including
our
‘Important Warning’.Due to the specialist
nature of our holidays, day to day
itineraries should be taken as a guide only,
and as statements of intent and not
contractual obligations. We regularly
update our trip dossiers to take into
account changes to trekking routes,
accommodation, local transport etc. Such
changes are a factor of this type of holiday
and when made are out of necessity. Other
factors
such
as
adverse
weather,
unforeseen circumstances and other
matters entirely out of our control etc can
also lead to enforced changes during the
course of the holiday. It is not possible to
guarantee that any of our holidays will
operate exactly as per the anticipated
itinerary. The most current trip dossier will
be made available on our website. We will
also send you the most up to date trip
dossier
with
your
“Final
Joining
Instructions” approx. 2 weeks before
departure and you should carefully check
this for any changes that may affect your
plans.
Route Notes - help keep them up to date
Things can and do change along the routes
that self-guided walking holidays follow. A sign
may have been changed, or even removed, a
path may have been obstructed, even rerouted, a landmark the route notes refer to
may simply no longer exist. It is clearly
impossible to keep track of all the changes that
may occur outside the local tour operators
control and knowledge. It may be the route
notes translation can be improved (they are
translated into several languages by the local
operator after all) too. Clearly a case of “last
person to walk the route” has the most up to
date information. In the spirit of camaraderie
amongst walkers and in an effort to constantly
keep route notes updated and improved upon,
the local operator (contact details in your final
joining instructions) will always welcome
notification of any changes along the
way/recommendations for improvement if you
would care to forward any useful and specific
information to them. Alternatively, send to
Walks Worldwide and we will forward
accordingly.
What you need to provide Your personal
equipment as detailed in the clothing and
equipment list later in this trip dossier.
Outline Itinerary
Day
Your 'at-a-glance' Itinerary
Overnight
Standard Accom.
Superior Accomm
Meal plan
1
Arrive Munich/Memmingen and take train to Oy-Mittelberg
Oy-Mittelberg
Gasthof
Hotel Tannenhof*
B
2
Walk through Bavarian villages to Lake Grunten
Eisenberg-Zell
Burg Hotel Baeren
Burg Hotel Baeren
B
3
Hike to the Falkenstein to Lake Forggen
Schwangau/Fussen
Gasthof
Hotel Sommer*
B
4
Visit Schloss Neuschwanstein and climb Tegelberg
Schwangau/Fussen
Gasthof
Hotel Sommer*
B
5
Walk up to the Alpe Jagerhutte , descend , transfer to Schloss Linderhof
Linderhof
Hotel Linderhof
Hotel Linderhof
B
B
6
Follow the "Via Alpina" to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch
Gasthof
Treffhotel Alpina*
7
Walk to Schachen Schloss, or visit the scenic village of Mittenwald
Garmisch
Gasthof
Treffhotel Alpina*
8
Take train back to Munich
B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner.
* see note in accommodation section
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B
B
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Day 1
Arrive at Munich (or Memmingen) and travel to
the Bavarian village of Oy-Mittelberg by
train/bus (see joining arrangements and
transfers section). Upon arrival at OyMittelberg you’ll be met and then visit the
offices of our local agent where you’ll be given
your route notes and maps, as well as advice
as to some of the options available. Depending
upon your arrival time, a great short afternoon
option would be to take a stroll along the
‘Panoramaweg’ (1-3 hours, 200m elevation
gain) beneath the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps.
Gasthof or 4* Hotel*, Oy-Mittelberg
Day 2
This is a fairly easy day to get things started
with some low level walking passing through
several delightful Bavarian villages. Along the
way you’ll come to the lovely Lake Grunten
where a dip in the lake will cool you down on
warmer days. You can also pay a visit to the
Klettergarten by another small lake where you
can go on an aerial walkway high in the tree
canopy, or simply relax and enjoy a snack at
the café. You then head towards the tiny
villages of Eisenberg and Zell, where your
hotel is located beneath the ruins of Freyburg
and Eisenstein. From the sauna of your hotel
you can enjoy breathtaking views of the
Bavarian Alps. Walking distance approx.
15km, walking time approx 4-5 hours, approx
300m ascent.
Burg Hotel Baeren, Eisenberg-Zell
Written by Liz
Day 3
You now head across countryside of the Allgäu
towards the mountains across the valley floor
and to the small town of Pfronten. Here you
ascend 400m up to the ruined castle of
Falkenstein (1203m) where you can look
forward to wonderful panoramic views. The
Falkenstein was intended to surpass
Neuschwanstein in splendour; however, a
“credit crunch” halted this! There’s a great
restaurant at the top to reward your efforts.
Skirting the border with Austria the route then
descends to a beautiful alpine pasture area
known as Salober Alm, where a mountain café
does a well deserved coffee and cake.
Following the ridgeline of this small mountain
you continue to descend to the medieval town
of Füssen, home to two castles of King Ludwig
and your delightful hotel, complete with Spa on
the shores of Lake Forggen. Walking distance
approx. 16km, walking time approx. 5-6 hours,
approx. 450m ascent.
Gasthof or 4*Hotel Sommer*,Schwangau/
Füssen
Day 4
The number one and ‘must see’ attraction here
is the most famous landmark in the whole of
Bavaria (and probably Germany too), the truly
magnificent
fairytale
style
Schloss
Printed on 3/21/2014
descend quickly down into the Ammerwald
valley and onto the Hotel Ammerwald. From a
here a short transfer brings you to yet another
fairytale castle, Schloss Linderhof. Tonight you
will stay ‘next door’ to the castle in a true
Schloss Hotel (980m). Walking distance 16km,
walking time approx. 5 hours, 400m ascent.
Schloss Linderhof Hotel, Linderhof
Neuschwanstein. Here you can take a guided
tour (in English) of this truly amazing castle, a
mere 45 minute walk up from Füssen, as well
as take a visit to Hohenschwangau where King
Ludwig spent much of his childhood. In the
afternoon it’s time to ascend to the 1730m
summit of Tegelberg. The hike is around 6km
and a steep up, up, up, with 950m of ascent
and will take you between 3-4 hours to climb to
the top. There’s always the option of taking the
cable car up and hiking down, or taking the
cable car both ways. The views from the
summit are genuinely breathtaking as you look
over the Alps of both Bavaria and Tyrol and
down to the forests, valleys and lakes below.
Walking distance 16km, walking time approx. 6
hours, ascent 1150m (Neuschwanstein and
walking ascent of Tegel, cable car descent).
Gasthof
or
4*Hotel
Sommer*,
Schawngau/Füssen
Day 6
Before
leaving
Linderhof,
it’s
highly
recommended to visit the Schloss Linderhof
itself. You can always visit it the previous day
too and enjoy a stroll around the landscaped
parkland surrounding the Schloss. You’ll then
hike to Garmisch through the mountain valleys
and forests following the “Via Alpina”, that runs
all the way from Trieste to Monaco along old
forest tracks. Walking distance approx. 20km,
walking time approx.6-7 hours,600m of ascent.
Gasthof or Treffhotel Alpina*, Garmisch
Day 5
It’s now time to head into the Bavarian Alps
proper. Leaving the lake behind you head into
a valley surrounded on both sides by the steep
mountain slopes of Tegel and Säuling. The
trail rises steadily to reach the old, historic
hunting hut of the last Bavarian King at
Bleckenau (1167m). Close by is the Berg
Gasthaus where you can get a delicious meal
and refreshments. The route continues
upwards to reach a pass and the Alpe
Jägerhütte (1435m) before beginning to
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Day 7
Today you have choices from Garmisch, one
moderate and one more challenging. The
challenging hike (and remaining true to the
theme of “In Search of the Swan King”) is to
walk to King Ludwig’s High Alpine Castle,
Schachen Schloss. Lying at an altitude of
1866m in the shadow of Dreitorspitze peak
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(2633m), the strategically located Schloss
commands magnificent views of the valleys
below. This challenging hike of some 20km
involves around 1200m of ascent and descent
and takes approx. 7 hours. The more
moderate option is arguably one of the most
scenic walks in Bavaria to the utterly charming
village of Mittenwald. Along the way as you
walk along the valley floor to Mittenwald you
pass Schloss Emau and a couple of delightful
alpine lakes.
Gasthof or Treffhotel Alpina*, Garmisch
Day 8
Depart Garmisch by train/bus back to Munich
(or Memmingen).
See www.deutschebahn.de for train and bus
times from Garmisch to Munich (or
Memmingen)
Practical Information
Joining Arrangements and Transfers
You will be met on arrival at the joining point
which is the train/bus station in Oy-Mittelberg
on day 1 of the trip itinerary. The nearest
Airports to Oy-Mittelberg are Munich and
Memmingen.
It is very easy and straightforward to travel
from Munich and Memmingen to OyMittleberg.
From Munich there is a regular train service to
Oy-Mittelberg (journey time approx. 2hrs
30mins, cost approx. €15).
From Memmingen there is a regular bus
service to Oy-Mittelberg (journey time approx.
1 hour)
To arrange your pick-up at Oy-Mittelberg, you
would simply telephone our agents office
(number supplied in your Final Joining
Instructions) just prior to boarding whichever
train or bus you subsequently take to OyMittelberg to advise our agents (who are based
in Oy-Mittelberg) with your scheduled arrival
time.
Train times and bus times for Munich and
Memmingen to Oy-Mittelberg can be found at:
www.deutschebahn.de
Reaching Mittenwald you can discover at the
museum here why Mittenwald is world
renowned for Violin makers. Exploring this
colourful Bavarian mountain village with its
bright fresco painted homes, elegant shops
and cafes is a delight. An option here would be
to take the Karwendel Cable car from
Mittenwald to quickly whisk you straight up to
2244m for stunning alpine views. The walk to
Mittenwald is 18km and should take around 56 hours with approx. 400m of ascent. To return
to Garmisch simply take the train (cost
approx.€6).
International Travel
Memmingen is the closest International Airport
for arrival and to make your way to the joining
point, although there are very limited flight
options. Munich Airport is a little more distant,
but has a great deal more flight options.
For total flexibility and choice, the price of our
holidays often excludes flights. However, as an
ATOL bonded agent we are able to arrange
competitively priced tickets with the majority of
international airlines. Where low cost airlines
offer a better option, we are also able to
arrange these, subject to a small booking fee.
Only by arranging your flights with us can we
offer you the peace of mind and 100% financial
protection that booking with a licensed tour
operator brings.
However, if it’s a clear day and you want to
experience one of the most amazing Alpine
panoramas, we highly recommend giving the
legs a day off and take the mountain railway
from Garmisch and subsequent cable car to
the summit of Zugspitze, the highest peak in
Germany. The journey as the train travel up
steeply inside (yes, inside) the mountain is
worth it alone.
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Baggage
Please make sure that your baggage is clearly
marked with your name, inside as well as
outside, in case the labels get detached. Your
main baggage will be transferred by vehicle
between accommodations. Please restrict your
main baggage to one piece per person. As
your main baggage will be transported by
vehicle a normal suitcase can be used for your
main baggage.
Contact us to discuss your regional flight
options for this holiday.
If you would prefer to make your own
International travel arrangements you can
book this holiday as Land Only. You will need
to book flights that enable you to arrive in
Munich or Memmingen, no later than midafternoon on Day 1 of the trip itinerary in order
to subsequently arrive in Oy-Mittelberg no later
than early evening by train or bus on the same
day. Return flights should be booked to depart
from Munich or Memmingen Airport no sooner
than the afternoon of Day 8 of the trip itinerary.
Please note if you are booking Land Only it is
your sole responsibility to ensure you arrive at
the joining point for the contracted
arrangements in good time before these
commence. No refunds will be provided in
respect of any unused services contracted as
a result. Similarly our contractual obligations
cease at the end of your contracted
arrangements.
Passports and Visas
British passport holders (and other EU
passport holders) do not require a visa for
stays up to three months for visit to Germany
(please ensure your passport has at least 6
months validity).
Accommodation
Accommodation will be reserved for you on a
twin-share basis unless you have already
requested a single room. The accommodation
you will stay in during the course of this trip
depends upon whether you choose our
standard or Superior Collection option. The
Gastfhofs on our standard option offer
comfortable, en-suite accommodation. For
both options 3* Schloss Linderhof and the 3*
Burg Hotel Baeren are used, as there are no
alternatives on these 2 nights. *On our
Superior Collection option 5 nights are spent in
4* Hotels, including the Hotel Sommer Spa on
the shores of the Forgensee in Füssen and the
delightful Treffhotel Alpina in Garmisch. If any
of these are not available alternative 4* hotels
may be used for one or more of these 5 nights.
IMPORTANT- MAKE SURE YOUR CHOSEN
HOLIDAY IS GUARANTEED TO RUN
BEFORE YOU PURCHASE AIR TICKETS
AND MAKING ANY OTHER TRAVEL
ARRANGEMENTS.
Please contact the Walks Worldwide office to
check the status of your chosen holiday
BEFORE purchasing your International Air
ticket. You should not book your International
flight tickets or make any other travel
arrangements until your chosen holiday is
guaranteed to run. If you are purchasing your
own air ticket, you should be aware that most
of the cheaper airline tickets available for sale
on the Internet or from low cost carriers are
non-refundable in the case of cancellation. For
this reason we strongly advise you check the
rules of the ticket when you make a flight
booking, and check the limitations of any
cancellation insurance policy you have. We
cannot be held liable, for losses incurred
relating to any flight bookings or subsequent
travel arrangements you have made yourself.
Food
All breakfasts are included in the Land Only
price of this holiday. Lunches and dinners are
intentionally not included to afford the
opportunity to enjoy the wide variety of
wonderful Bavarian cuisine to suit your own
particular tastes and budget. During the course
of the walking you will pass by villages and
towns, mountain restaurants, cable car
stations etc where you can take lunch, or
simply carry a picnic with you to enjoy in a
scenic place, which you can obtain from your
overnight accommodation or village shop.
Travel by Train If you would prefer to travel
to/from Munich by train www.raileurope.co.uk
provides an online booking service for
European rail services, including Eurostar. You
should not book your International rail tickets
or make any other travel arrangements until
your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run.
Germany- In Search of the Swan King
Climate
It is of course impossible to predict the precise
weather conditions you will encounter during
the course of your holiday. However, we do
schedule our holidays to coincide with what
should be the most suitable weather periods
for walking. Summer in the Alps is usually
quite warm, with frequent dry periods, although
rain and thunderstorms can occur at anytime.
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Tipping
Tipping is at your discretion. However, if you
have received good service a tip is the normal
way of saying ‘thank you’.
Mountains are notorious for creating their own,
localised weather conditions, so you should
always be prepared for inclement weather
conditions. For climate statistics visit
www.worldweather.org
Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by
approx. 1ºC for every 200 metre increase in
altitude.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking any of our holidays
that you have comprehensive travel insurance.
It is your to responsibility to ensure you are
covered for medical and personal accident
risks for the part of the world you intend to
travel and the activities involved. This cover
should
include
repatriation
costs,
air
ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also
advisable to take out cancellation insurance as
all deposits paid are non-refundable.
You may arrange either single-trip or annual
multi-trip travel insurance through Walks
Worldwide. Please call us on 0845 301 4737
or e-mail us- [email protected] for a
quotation.
Altitude
The altitudes on this trip are moderate and you
should not anticipate any problems.
During the walking day you will simply carry
your usual walking daypack.
Vaccinations and medical precautions
We always recommend visiting your doctor
and dentist for a check up before travelling.
Your doctor will also have access to the most
up to date information on vaccinations and
medical precautions for the country you are
about to visit. In general, no vaccinations are
necessary for Germany and health problems
here are quite rare. A useful travel health
online resource is www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Inclusions and exclusions
Inclusions
All breakfasts
All accommodation
All baggage transfers in the itinerary
Route Notes and Maps
Local advice on arrival in Oy-Mittelberg
Pick up on arrival at Oy-Mittelberg
Transfer Ammerwald-Linnderhof
Please make sure that you obtain form
EHIC either online www.dh.gov.uk or from
your local post office – you will need to
produce this if you have to see a doctor.
First Aid
You should always carry your own small,
personal first aid kit. This should consist of the
following: A general anti-biotic, throat
lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids),
blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET),
rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea
treatment (e.g. Imodium).
Exclusions
Drinks
Gondola/Cable Car Fees, public transport
used in the itinerary.
Entry Fees
Lunches and Dinners
Souvenirs and personal items
Insurance
International Travel
Airport transfers
Currency
The currency used in Germany is the Euro (€)
Please refer to www.xe.com for up to date
rates.
ATM machines are common in the main towns
visited during the course of this holiday.
Language
The language spoken in Germany is German.
In many of the places you visit English may be
understood, but this may not be the case
everywhere. It is always a good idea to learn a
few simple phrases, common greetings and
courtesies in both German and taking along a
phrasebook can be very useful in this respect.
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Clothing and Equipment Lists
At least one set of casual / non-walking clothes will be useful for wearing in hotels on this holiday.
Whilst walking you must not worry about how you look: comfort and protection against bad weather
are of prime importance. Because mountain weather is so very variable, we recommend a number of
thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The following list is our recommended guide to help you with
your packing based upon our many years of travelling/walking. Using your own judgment for packing
is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to
contact us if you have any questions about packing for your holiday, or are uncertain as to the
suitability of your clothing and equipment.
CLOTHING
Walking boots and spare laces
Lightweight Trainers/approach shoes
Socks – 3+ pairs (Walking and Casual)
Underwear 3+
T-shirts 3+
Trekking Pants
Short trousers 1+
Light fleece 1-2
Thick fleece 1
Thermal Baselayer shirt 1-2
Waterproof jacket with hood
Waterproof trousers
Warm Gloves
Sun Hat
Warm Hat
Gaiters (optional)
Swimwear (optional)
EQUIPMENT
Daypack/rucksack (25litre-35litre capacity)
2 Large water bottles ( 1 litre each)
Torch (and spare bulb and batteries)
Camera & accessories
Binoculars (optional)
A variety of dry bag/plastic bags (kitbags are not waterproof)
Sunglasses
Trekking poles (highly recommended)
Reading material (optional)
Washing/Shaving kit
Insect Repellent
Small personal First Aid kit (see section above)
Anti-Bacterial Handwash
Water purifying tablets (iodine based are best)
Sun Cream & lip salve
Blister plasters – i.e. Compeed
Tickets/E tickets
Passport
Money
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The following items should also considered as being useful on a walking holiday
Penknife/small scissors (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Moisturising cream
Baby wipes
Snacks/Energy bars
Safety pins (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Padlock for your kitbag
Small sewing/repair kit (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Small mirror
Nail clippers (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Spare glasses/contact lenses
Earplugs (against snorers)
Cold water Travel Wash (preferably biodegradable)
Travel adaptor
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