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The Leutasch Valley

Secret valleys in traditional Tyrol

Scharnitzjoch PassWest of the delightful city of Innsbruck, the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Wetterstein chain mark the border between Austria and Bavaria. Below, tranquil, fertile valleys wind down to meet the River Inn itself. One of the loveliest valleys is Leutaschtal, where a string of pretty villages runs alongside the river and the lower slopes are thickly forested. Exploring here, not only will you have the chance to strike out into the high mountains on flexible routes along well-waymarked paths, but you will also experience the very best of the hospitality for which the Tyrol is renowned. All boasting a swimming pool, sauna and small spa complex, our three hotels are real family affairs, places where, over the years, different generations have created a friendly, convivial atmosphere and built up an excellent reputation for their Tyrolean cuisine. The flowers in spring and early summer (up to mid-July) coat the meadows in spectacular colours, and, after the hot sunshine of summer, autumn brings its mellow colours and numerous fine days, perfect for walkers.

Nights: 7
Grade: 2
Terrain: meadows, forests
Hotels: one 3-star hotel; two 4-star hotels
Meals: dinner & breakfast each day
Climate: Austrian summers are warm and sunny, with pleasant mountain breezes – perfect walking conditions. Temperatures average 16.5°C in June, rising to around 20°C in July and August.

Pass onion-domed churches
Flower-filled meadows
The Leutasch Valley
Hotel Kristall, Ober-Weidach
Far-reaching views
Scenic paths
Hotel Hubertushof, Reindlau

Starting point: Inntalerhof (4*), Mösern. Perched above the Inn Valley, Daniela Neuner's well-appointed hotel offers warm hospitality, excellent cuisine and astonishing views over the Inn Valley. Bedrooms are comfortable and sizeable, with large picture windows, while communal facilities include an indoor pool, sauna and spa facilities. We highly recommend upgrading to a room with a valley view.

Day 1: there are various walking options from Mösern. We suggest a relatively gentle introductory walk along the shores of Lake Möserer to Seefeld, and back through pine forests. A more demanding route ascends steadily to the summit of Gschwandtkopf at 1,500 metres, where you are rewarded with a glorious 360-degree panorama. You then descend to Seefeld and return to Mösern through a mixture of meadows and forest. Alternatively, take the opportunity to visit Innsbruck – trains run regularly from Seefeld (pay locally). (10km, 3hrs or 12km, 4.5hrs)

Accommodation: Inntalerhof, as above.

Day 2: today's walk offers broad views of the upper Inn Valley as you head out of Mösern towards Lottensee (more of a marsh than a lake). The route wanders gently on through sections of forest and across fields to Ober-Weidach. (12km, 3.5hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Kristall (3*), Ober-Weidach. Owned by the same family that owns the Hubertushof, your next base, this chalet-style hotel is a very convivial place with a truly welcoming atmosphere. The service is attentive, the cuisine traditional and the facilities wide-ranging: they include an indoor swimming pool, heated whirl pool, sauna, steam bath and fitness room. Though the bedrooms are simply furnished, they all have a small balcony.

Day 3: on your day at Ober-Weidach, explore the secluded Gaistal Valley. For a gentle walk, simply follow the river, though it is worth striking out up the northern slopes of the valley to best appreciate the beautiful scenery. You can shorten the walk considerably by taking advantage of the hotel's complimentary shuttle bus service which will drop you nearer the valley. (up to 21.5km, 7hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Kristall, as above.

Day 4: this is a reasonably strenuous walk, but thoroughly enjoyable – on a clear day, the views are some of the best of the holiday. You ascend to the saddle at Scharnitzjoch (2,048 metres), where the panorama of the Leutasch Valley is excellent enough. However, even better vistas right to the end of the valley can be enjoyed by ascending to the peak itself. You then descend through open meadows to Reindlau. (11km, 5.5hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Hubertushof (4*), Reindlau. Set amid meadows near the river, the welcoming Pfeffel family's attractive hotel is built in traditional Alpine style and offers excellent Austrian cuisine, a swimming pool, sauna and mountain bike hire. Bedrooms are spacious and some have a small balcony.

Day 5: we suggest two possible walks for your day in Reindlau, both of which lead to the small German town of Mittenwald just across the border, where many of the oldest houses are decorated with frescoes. The low route is our favourite, and takes you through the Leutaschklamm, a dramatic gorge in which the path criss-crosses the river by means of a series of footbridges. (There is an alternative route for vertigo sufferers.) The high route is more challenging, but offers sweeping views and is interesting in that it leads along the border on the route Napoleon took to invade the Tyrol in 1805. From Mittenwald, you can either return by bus (pay locally) or on foot – in which case add another 9km to the distances. (9.5km, 3hrs or 12km, 5hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Hubertshof, as above.

Day 6: your final walk starts with a pleasant riverside section before heading up into the mountains through the beautiful forests of the Schagwald area. As you follow the ridge, you pass numerous viewpoints, some offering a panorama of the Leutasch Valley, others affording vistas of Seefeld and the jagged Karwendel Mountains beyond. You then descend back to your starting point in Mösern. (17km, 5.5hrs)

Accommodation: Inntalerhof, as above.

Walking chart: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.

Recommendations for extra nights: as all three hotels boast excellent facilities, they all make great choices for an extra night. Our favourites are the Inntalerhof (Mösern) and Hubertushof (Reindlau).

Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system.

Similar holidays: Lake Lucerne (grade 2), Lake Geneva to Lake Neuchâtel (grade 2), Towards the Matterhorn (grades 2 & 3), Villages of the Engadine (grades 2 & 3), The Bernese Oberland (grades 2 & 3), The High Dolomites (grades 2 & 3)

Prices & travel 2008:

£ per person based
on 2 in a double rm
Walk
price*
Self-
drive
Single
room
7 nights: 7 June-5 October 2008
7-20 Jun 456 505 55
21 Jun-18 Jul 488 536 55
19 Jul-22 Aug 539 588 55
23 Aug-5 Sep 488 536 55
6 Sep-5 Oct 456 505 55
3rd+ person saving 0 40  

Recommended destination airports: Innsbruck & Munich
Latest flight arrival time:
Innsbruck flexible; Munich 1500
Earliest flight departure time:
Innsbruck flexible; Munich 1400
*Connecting travel:
return taxi from Innsbruck (out/home 0h50) £46pp;
return rail/taxi from Munich (out/home 3h) £70pp
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route, times and price to suit you
Self-drive includes:
P&O Ferries Dover-Calais
Extra nights can be booked at any hotel
Start:
any day

Extra night prices

Extra nights (per person per night) Double
room

Single
room
Mosern 2-15 Jun 39 45
  16 Jun-20 Jul 48 54
  21 Jul-24 Aug 57 63
  25 Aug-28 Sep 48 54
  29 Sep-14 Oct 39 45
Weidach 2 Jun-20 Jul 47 53
  21 Jul-24 Aug 53 59
  25 Aug-14 Oct 47 53
Reindlau All dates 48 54

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