Top Tips for Autumn Hiking
Each mountain region has its own charm. At the best alpine hiking hotels, a new, magical diversity of nature opens up right outside the hotel door. For almost 30 years, the hiking hotels have been leaving well-trodden paths with extraordinary nature and adventure programs and are considered pioneers and forerunners of today's outdoor boom. The over 50 member hotels are located in Austria, South Tyrol, and the Black Forest. Each hotel is as unique as the family that runs it. All hosts share a love for the mountains and a passion for showing their guests the joy of the mountains on guided hikes.
Station 1: Hiking Hotel Kirchner – Warmth in Oberpinzgau
Our journey begins in Mühlbach near Bramberg, at the entrance to Oberpinzgau and at the gates of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Here lies the Hiking Hotel Kirchner, one of the founding members of the association. From the very first minute, you can feel what Austrian hospitality is all about: warmth, coziness, and a family atmosphere that feels like a hug.
The house has been expanded and modernized over the decades with a sense of proportion, without losing its original charm. This is particularly evident in the restaurant – cozy parlors, sometimes paneled with wood, sometimes with artistically designed ceilings.
Hiking is a family tradition here: The Kirchners often personally accompany their guests on the guided tours, which are standard at all hiking hotels.
Our destination is the Obersulzbachtal, where the Glacier Trail begins. It leads step by step over moraines, glacial polish, and pioneer vegetation into the past of the Ice Age and impressively shows how nature has changed since the retreat of the Obersulzbachkees. At the newly formed glacier lake, we catch our breath – a spectacle of turquoise water, rocks, and ice that tells of constant change. On the other side of the valley, the Große Rettenstein beckons – the most distinctive peak of the Kitzbühel Alps.
Back at the hotel, it's time to relax. Sauna, steam bath, whirlpool – and as a special highlight, the natural swimming pond. More than 20 years ago, the Kirchner family was one of the first to embrace this natural form of bathing pleasure. A plunge into the cool water after a day full of activity – this is relaxation that can only be found in the hiking autumn.
Station 2: Nature Hotel Outside – Modern Meets East Tyrolean Originality
From here, the journey continues over the spectacular Felbertauernstraße to Matrei in East Tyrol. On the south side of the national park, a completely different house awaits: the Nature Hotel Outside - modern, clear, and youthful. The new generation has taken over and rebuilt the entire wellness area in record time. The result: a nature spa that impresses with its diversity.
Outside, a heated pool with a mountain panorama, inside an indoor pool, several saunas, steam baths, and as a special feature, the Deferegger healing water salt bath, fed by 600,000-year-old mineral water. This is complemented by a natural swimming pond, cozy relaxation rooms, and a kitchen that has been awarded three Falstaff forks – a clear statement for enjoyment at the highest level.
But here too, the mountains are the focus. Several times a week, the senior boss himself still leads tours, knowledgeable and passionate. We choose two of Matrei's local mountains – with Bike & Hike.
First, the Große Zunig (2,776 m), a classic vantage peak with wide views over the East Tyrolean mountain world. The next day, we head to the Bretterwandspitze (2,887 m). The path leads from Matrei over the famous Edelweiß meadow, then over a narrow ridge to the summit. At the top, we are greeted with a panoramic view of the Großglockner, the Großvenediger, and the Granatspitz group – a panorama that leaves you speechless.
After so much muscle power, returning to the Outside is a gift: sauna, salt bath, a dip in the natural pond – and the evening ends with fine cuisine that combines regional products with creative ideas.
(Red)
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