HIKING HOLIDAY IN AUSTRIA

Located between the Großglockner (3,798 m) and the Großvenediger (3,674 m)—Austria’s two highest mountains—Matrei in East Tyrol is nestled within the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Goldriedbahn cable car takes you up to 2,163 meters to the Europa-Panoramaweg; from the Goldried summit, you can see 66 three-thousand-meter peaks. Free regional buses run to the Gschlösstal—the valley head at the foot of the Großvenediger glacier tongue—and to the Virgental. From the AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Montana Matrei, it’s 500 meters to the Goldriedbahn and 100 meters to the town center.

Kirchberg in Tirol is situated at an elevation of 860 meters, where the Spertental Valley flows into the Brixental Valley. The Brixental Valley has more than 500 kilometers of marked trails, and the Vitalarena Kirchberg alone offers 88 kilometers of Nordic walking and running routes. The local mountain, the Gaisberg, rises to 1,770 meters; popular destinations include the Bärstättalm and the Auer Hochalm; families enjoy the Alpinolino themed trail. The KitzSki access point is 500 meters from the AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Taxacher; the “Taxacher” bus stop is right outside the hotel, and the Kirchberg train station is about two kilometers away.

Around the Schmittenhöhe and the Kitzsteinhorn, you can hike between Lake Zell and the glacier. In Zell am See, you can choose from 144 marked trails of all difficulty levels. There’s still snow on the Kitzsteinhorn even in August. The gondola takes you up without you having to climb a single meter. There are three AlpenParks properties in the region: Central Zell am See, AreitXpress Zell am See, and Orgler Kaprun.

The Hochkönig region includes the towns of Maria Alm, Dienten, and Mühlbach and features 340 kilometers of hiking trails. The Hochkönig mountain range rises to 2,941 meters. Guests staying at any of the four AlpenParks properties in the region—Hotel Maria Alm, Apartments Maria Alm, Hotel & Apartment Hochkönig, and Wildbach Lodge Dienten—receive the Hochkönig Card free of charge on the day of arrival.

The Gastein valley stretches over 40 kilometers between Dorfgastein, Bad Hofgastein, and Bad Gastein. You can hike along the Gasteiner Ache on flat terrain, and the Gastein mountain railways will take you up to Schlossalm and Stubnerkogel. The AlpenParks Residence Bad Hofgastein is centrally located in Bad Hofgastein.

At 1,377 meters, the trails start right in town and lead up to over 3,000 meters. The region boasts more than 300 kilometers of marked hiking trails and around 600 peaks, as well as high-altitude trails offering views of the glaciers of the Ötztal Alps. The AlpenParks The Secret Sölden is located 250 meters from the Gaislachkogl cable car and features indoor and outdoor pools with a sunbathing area, as well as its own restaurant.

Four AlpenParks properties are located in Saalbach and Viehhofen in the Glemm Valley. You can hike up via Kohlmais and Schattberg or hike into the valley along the Saalach River. Properties: Sonnleiten in Saalbach, Rehrenberg in Viehhofen, Glemmrise in Viehhofen, and Steve Lodge in Viehhofen.

In the Ausseerland region of Styria, you can hike among lakes and limestone peaks. Four trails start from the cabin village: around Lake Altaussee, up to the Loser, up to the Trisselwand, and to the Blaa Alm. The AlpenParks Hagan Lodge Altaussee consists of individual cabins, designed for groups who don’t want to dine at the hotel restaurant in the evening.

Warth and Schröcken are situated between the Lechtal Alps, the Bregenzerwald, and the Lechquellengebirge. The Lechweg trail runs through this area; it was the first hiking trail in Europe to receive the “Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe” seal of quality. For children, there are climbing walls, an archery course, and nature adventure playgrounds. The AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Arlberg is located in Warth.

The Salzburg Lungau region is home to over 70 mountain huts and 60 mountain lakes. The Lungauer Tauern Krone trail stretches over 108 kilometers and climbs more than 8,000 meters in elevation around the region. The AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Carpe Solem is located in the center of Mariapfarr; guests receive the LungauCard.

The high plateau of the Seefeld Olympic Region stretches between the Karwendel and Wetterstein Mountains: Hiking without a long approach, since the starting point is already at the level of the first alpine pastures. The AlpenParks Chalet & Apartment Alpina Seefeld offers vacation apartments with a breakfast buffet.

From Alpendorf, above St. Johann im Pongau, you can set out to explore the Salzburg Sports World. The most famous attraction in the area is the Liechtenstein Gorge, one of the deepest whitewater gorges in the Alps. The AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Alpendorf is located at the entrance to the hiking area.

Yes. All AlpenParks regions feature marked valley trails and alpine pasture loops that require no prior alpine experience. Mountain railways, such as the Goldriedbahn in Matrei or the Gaislachkoglbahn in Sölden, handle the ascent, so that once you reach the top, you’ll only be walking on flat high-altitude trails. It’s important to honestly assess your fitness level and the weather conditions.

Three things are essential: broken-in hiking boots with tread, a backpack with enough water and snacks, and a waterproof jacket. Cotton shirts and jeans aren’t suitable because they get heavy when soaked with sweat. Above 2,000 meters, it can get significantly cooler even in July. Always pack a warm layer in your backpack.

East Tyrol and the Ötztal Valley. Matrei is located in the Hohe Tauern National Park between the Großglockner and the Großvenediger, while Sölden offers hikes to altitudes of over 3,000 meters in the Ötztal Alps. Those who prefer a more leisurely pace can hike along alpine trails below 2,000 meters in the Lungau, the Brixental Valley, or the Ausseerland.

Yes, through the regional tourism associations. In the Hohe Tauern National Park, rangers lead guided tours through the glacier and alpine pasture landscapes around Matrei. In Kirchberg, the local office of the Kitzbüheler Alpen–Brixental Tourism Association offers guided half-day and full-day tours during the summer months, for example to the Gaisberg or into the Spertental.