What Rother Bergverlag does

Bergverlag Rother GmbH (operating as Rother Bergverlag) is a privately held German outdoor publishing company founded in 1920 and headquartered in Oberhaching bei München. It is the leading publisher of hiking and outdoor guidebooks in German-speaking markets, with a catalog organized into more than a dozen sub-brands including Rother Wanderführer (the flagship hiking series), Rother Wanderbuch, Rother Selection, Rother Skitourenführer, Rother Schneeschuhführer, Rother Bike Guide, Rother Klettersteigführer, Rother Naturführer, and Rother Bergkrimi, plus educational titles such as the official DAV Alpin-Lehrplan climbing certification textbooks. All content is produced by professional outdoor authors and distributed in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish editions.

The company's digital platform centers on the Rother App (iOS/Android), built in partnership with Komoot and offering over 15,000 GPS-verified tours aggregated from more than 300 digitized guidebooks, with offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, GPX import/export, weather overlays, and custom tour lists. The app uses a freemium model: a free Basic tier for general planning and offline use, and a Gold subscription at €2.92/month or €34.99/year that unlocks all premium maps, the full tour library, and advanced features. Rother generates revenue through three primary streams: one-time physical book sales (€9.90–€35.90) and e-book sales (~€14.99) sold via its own e-commerce storefront, individual in-app guide purchases, and recurring Gold subscription fees. Physical fulfillment is outsourced to Freytag-Berndt u. Artaria KG in Vienna under an exclusive arrangement.

Rother serves a horizontal base of leisure hikers, mountaineers, ski tourers, winter sports enthusiasts, cyclists and trail runners, primarily across DACH and broader Europe. Distribution combines owned e-commerce, app stores, third-party booksellers, and marketing alliances with ALPIN, Bergwelten, DAV Summit Club, and the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. The company operates with a lean team of 18 employees and holds no disclosed funding, parent company, or M&A activity, positioning it as an asset-light, content-led niche publisher that has extended its print franchise into a recurring-revenue digital product.

Name

Rother Bergverlag

Legal name

Bergverlag Rother GmbH

Website

https://rother.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rother Bergverlag is a privately held German outdoor publisher founded in 1920, producing the leading German-language hiking and mountaineering guidebooks and the Rother App, serving hikers, climbers, ski tourers, and cyclists across DACH and international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Publishing and Hiking Guidebooks

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA), Winter & Mountain Guides (Ski, Snowshoe, Avalanche, Ice Climbing) (THAAALAF), Climbing & Via Ferrata Guiding / Instruction (THAAALAH), Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC)

Keywords

• Hiking guidebooks
• Outdoor navigation app
• Mountaineering guides
• Ski touring books
• Digital outdoor maps

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberhaching

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Physical Book Sales: Sale of printed hiking guidebooks, outdoor literature, and related materials through the company's e-commerce platform. Product fulfillment is handled by Freytag-Berndt u. Artaria KG. Books range from €9.90 to €35.90.
2. E-Book Sales: Digital versions of guidebooks sold through the online shop. These are non-refundable download items. E-book prices typically around €14.99.
3. Rother App Gold Subscription: Premium subscription service offering access to all digitized books, premium maps, weather forecast, GPX export for all tours, turn-by-turn navigation alerts, and the ability to create custom tour lists. Priced at €2.92/month or €34.99/year (annual billing).
4. In-App Guide Purchases: Individual guides for the Rother Touren App can be purchased directly through the app. These purchases are governed by separate app-specific terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bergverlag Rother GmbH publishes professionally authored hiking, mountaineering, ski touring, via ferrata, cycling, trail running, and nature guidebooks in print and e-book formats under multiple series including Rother Wanderführer, Rother Wanderbuch, Rother Selection, Rother Schneeschuhführer, Rother Skitourenführer, and Rother Bike Guide. The company complements its print catalog with the Rother App, a mobile platform offering more than 15,000 GPS-verified tours, offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and a Gold subscription tier, built in partnership with Komoot and sold through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Product overview

Rother Bergverlag is a German outdoor publishing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of hiking and outdoor guidebooks across multiple product lines, complemented by a digital ecosystem. The core offering consists of the Rother Wanderführer series (the company's flagship guidebook brand), supplemented by specialized sub-brands including Rother Wanderbuch (themed hiking guides), Rother Selection (premium themed titles), Rother Schneeschuhführer (snowshoe guides), Rother Skitourenführer (ski touring), Rother Bike Guide (cycling), Rother Klettersteigführer (via ferrata), Rother Langlaufführer (cross-country skiing), Rother Naturführer (nature guides), Rother Winterwandern (winter hiking), Rother Bildband (photography books), Rother Bergkrimi (mountain thrillers), Trailrunning Guide, Wissen & Praxis (educational texts including official DAV climbing certifications), and Rother E-Books. The company also operates the Rother App (mobile application with over 15,000 tours, Basic free tier and Gold subscription at €2.92/month), regional app variants like the Mallorca hiking app, and GPS track downloads. Products are available in German, English, French, and Italian editions. The publishing partner for physical and digital sales is Freytag-Berndt u. Artaria KG.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rother Wanderführer: The most popular series of hiking guides published by the company.
• Rother Wanderbuch
• Rother Selection
• Rother App
• Rother Schneeschuhführer
• Rother Skitourenführer
• Rother Bildband
• Rother Bergkrimi
• Rother Bike Guide
• Rother Klettersteigführer
• Rother Naturführer
• Rother Gold

Products and services

• Rother Wanderführer Flagship printed hiking guidebook series with maps, elevation profiles, and downloadable GPS tracks for hiking routes across Europe and worldwide destinations. Targeted at individual hikers planning day hikes and multi-day tours.
• Rother App Mobile app for iOS and Android with over 15,000 verified hiking and cycling tours, offline maps, tour planning, GPS navigation, route recording, GPX import and export, and weather forecasts. Available as a free Basic tier and a paid Gold subscription (€2.92/month or €34.99/year).
• Rother Wanderbuch Printed hiking book series with detailed route descriptions, maps, and elevation profiles for multi-day tours and themed hiking experiences.
• Rother Selection Premium printed guidebook series featuring curated themes and destinations, including contemporary outdoor topics and multi-day adventures.
• Rother Gold Subscription Premium in-app subscription tier for the Rother App, providing access to all premium maps, all 15,000+ verified tours, all digitized Rother books, custom tour lists, weather forecasts, GPX export, and turn-by-turn wrong-way navigation alerts. Priced at €2.92/month or €34.99/year.
• Rother Schneeschuhführer Printed snowshoe hiking guidebook series covering alpine winter regions, with maps, routes, and safety information for snowshoeing enthusiasts.
• Rother Skitourenführer Printed ski touring guidebook series featuring routes and route information for alpine ski touring adventures.
• Rother Bildband Printed photography books showcasing mountain landscapes and outdoor destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Rother E-Books Digital editions of Rother guidebook content available for electronic reading devices, typically priced around €14.99. Sold as non-refundable downloads.
• Rother Bike Guide Printed cycling guidebook series featuring routes for recreational cycling and e-bike riders across mountain and nature trails.
• Rother Klettersteigführer Printed via ferrata guidebook series covering fixed-rope climbing routes in Alpine and international destinations, including difficulty and safety information.
• Rother Langlaufführer Printed cross-country skiing guidebook series for Nordic skiing enthusiasts, covering routes and conditions in alpine and northern regions.
• Rother Naturführer Printed nature guidebook series focusing on flora, fauna, and natural history of outdoor destinations for hikers and nature enthusiasts.
• Rother Winterwandern Printed winter hiking guidebook series featuring snowshoeing and winter walking routes in alpine regions.
• Rother Trailrunning Guide Printed trail running guidebook series for off-road running enthusiasts, covering routes and training information for mountain terrain.
• Wissen & Praxis Printed educational and practical knowledge series including official DAV climbing certification textbooks (Alpin-Lehrplan), technique guides for climbing, yoga for climbers, and mountaineering skills.
• Rother Bergkrimi Printed mountain thriller fiction series combining crime stories with Alpine settings, sold alongside the hiking guidebook catalog.
• Rother Wander App Mallorca Specialized regional hiking app variant for Mallorca featuring curated tours, high-quality maps, and offline GPS navigation for the island's trails including Serra de Tramuntana.
• GPS-Tracks zum Download Downloadable GPS track data for individual tours, compatible with the Rother App and third-party GPS devices, distributed via the gps.rother.de portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 verified tours available through the Rother App and guidebooks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ALPINcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partnership between Rother and ALPIN magazine, both alpine media brands sharing values around mountain expertise and respect for nature. ALPIN is described as an essential companion for mountain sports enthusiasts with emotional reports, detailed equipment reviews, and tips. The partnership connects two modern alpine media brands with tradition.
• AlpintrekkerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlpintrekker offers professionally guided hiking trips and benefits from Rother's route descriptions and decades of mountain sports expertise through close collaboration.
• Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World TourcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Banff Tour brings the best outdoor and adventure films of the year to European audiences annually. Rother provides mountain knowledge, experience, safety, and orientation while Banff inspires with impressive imagery and stories. Together they promote enthusiasm for being outdoors in the mountains and respectful handling of nature.
• Berg + TalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBerg+Tal offers personally and professionally guided alpine tours, training, and ski touring trips in Switzerland and worldwide. Rother tour guides support their trip developers in planning European trekking tours. Both share passion for mountains, competence, professionalism, and dedication.
• BergweltencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBergwelten takes people to the most beautiful mountains and breathtaking natural scenery worldwide. The two brands share a commitment to thoroughly researched hiking tours, found both in Rother guides and on bergwelten.com.
• DAV Summit ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDAV Summit Club is the mountaineering school of the German Alpine Club and sustainable tour operator for active mountain travel worldwide. Experience, quality, and alpine competence have connected DAV Summit Club with Bergverlag Rother for years, with high-quality Rother tour guides being a valuable supplement to their travel offerings.
• Minerva VerlagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMinerva Verlag publishes animal magazines and online portals. Their long-term collaboration with Rother is based on shared values and the goal of promoting joy in nature and active living.
• NORR – Natur des NordensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNORR magazine has been taking readers into Scandinavia's fascinating nature since 2005. Like Rother hiking guides, NORR provides knowledgeable experts with in-depth knowledge and passion for the uniqueness of the region.
• Freytag-Berndt u. Artaria KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe exclusive trading partner for all printed and digital publishing products sold through rother.de. Handles order fulfillment, payment processing, shipping, and returns. Located in Vienna, Austria. All orders of books and e-books from the website are contracted through this partner.
• KomootcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Rother App is built in partnership with Komoot, a leading outdoor routing platform. The app is distributed under Komoot's infrastructure and branded as 'de.komoot.rother_touren' in the app stores.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kompass: Kompass is a long-established European publisher of hiking maps and guidebooks, originally Italian and now active across the Alps. It directly competes with Rother Wanderführer in print hiking guides and digital tour content.
• AllTrails: AllTrails is the largest global hiking and trail platform with millions of user-generated routes and a paid membership tier. It directly competes with the Rother App for GPS hiking navigation and tour discovery among outdoor enthusiasts.
• Outdooractive: Outdooractive is a European outdoor platform offering GPS tours, maps, and route planning for hiking, biking, and ski touring. It serves the same DACH-adjacent audience as Rother with comparable functionality.
• Komoot: Komoot is the leading outdoor routing platform in Europe and is the actual technology partner behind the Rother App. Both serve the same hikers and mountain bikers with GPS tour planning, offline maps, and curated routes — making it the most direct peer despite the partnership.
• Cicerone Press: Cicerone Press is a UK-based publisher specializing in hiking, trekking, and climbing guidebooks worldwide. It is a direct comparable in the English-language guidebook market that Rother targets with its English editions.
• Bergfex: Bergfex is an Austrian platform providing hiking, biking, and ski touring tours across the Alps with detailed maps and weather data. It overlaps directly with Rother's core DACH hiking tour offering.

Broad incumbents

• DuMont Reiseverlag: DuMont Reiseverlag is a major German travel guidebook publisher covering cities, countries, and outdoor destinations. It competes with Rother's broader outdoor/travel book catalog in the German-speaking market.
• Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a global travel guide publisher covering destinations worldwide. While much broader than Rother, it competes for the same traveler guidebook wallet, particularly for international hiking and adventure destinations.

Emerging players

• Wikiloc: Wikiloc is a community-driven trail sharing platform with millions of user-uploaded hiking and biking routes worldwide. It competes for outdoor navigation and tour discovery attention, particularly among younger users seeking free alternatives.

Regional players

• Bradt Travel Guides: Bradt is an independent UK publisher known for niche hiking and adventure guidebooks, particularly for off-the-beaten-path destinations. Comparable in editorial approach to Rother but primarily serves the English-speaking market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bergverlagrother
• Instagraminstagram.com/bergverlag_rother
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bergverlag-rother-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rother Bergverlag