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Austria's Alpine Heartland
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 The panoramic ridge near Asitz |
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| Cable cars offer splendid views |
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| Hotel Wiesenegg, Hinterglemm |
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| Try the local schnapps |
Starting point: Hotel Kirchenwirt (4*), Leogang. Cosy and full of history, this intimate family-run hotel has been offering hospitality since the 14th century and boasts an atmospheric restaurant famed for its varied Austrian cuisine. (During July, you stay in the hotel’s spacious apartments just 100 metres away but still dine in the hotel’s restaurant.)
Day 1: take the gondola (pay locally) up to Asizt, where you are greeted with a tremendous 360-panorama which encompasses the Salzburg Mountains and even the snow-capped peaks of the Höhe Tauern range to the south. You then follow a high-level path along the crest of the ridge, with far-reaching views on both sides, before descending across summer pastures and through woodland back to Leogang. (14.5km, 5hrs)
Accommodation: Hotel Kirchenwirt, as above.
Day 2: after a short
transfer, you climb gradually past a string of traditional mountain farms beneath
the rocky walls of the Spielberghorn. If you are feeling energetic, you can detour to its precipitous peak (2,044 metres) for awe-inspiring views that stretch as far as the Tyrol. Continuing on your way, you descend through forest and across alpine pastures into the town of Saalbach, from where an easy riverside path leads to your next hotel. (16.5km, 5.5hrs)
Accommodation: Hotel Wiesenegg (3*), Hinterglemm. Set on the edge of the village, this is a traditional family-run hotel. With excellent food and a warm welcome, you will find this the perfect place to relax - and to enjoy the outdoor pool after a rewarding walk. The views from the dining terrace are spectacular and give a hint of the walking to come.
Day 3: we suggest a circuit in a remote upper valley where paths lead through flower-filled meadows beneath the dramatic headwall of Staffkogel. An hourly post bus offers the opportunity to ride there or back (pay locally). (11km, 4hrs)
Accommodation: Hotel Wiesenegg, as above.
Day 4: the walk from Hinterglemm to Kaprun is the highlight of any visit to
this region. From Saalbach, you take the cable car (included) up to
Schattberg and then enjoy a long, panoramic ridge walk to Schmittenhöhe, where you are rewarded
with truly superior views along the whole length of this undulating
ridge. From here you take the cable car (included) down to Zell am
See and then a short bus ride to Kaprun (pay locally). Please note that the cable car from Saalbach is closed until 5 July and from 21 September onwards, so for holidays during these times we arrange for you to be transferred to Zell am See, from where you catch the cable car up to Schmittenhöhe for a scenic walk part way along the ridge before descending into Kaprun. (19km, 6hrs)
Accommodation: Kapruner Hof (4*), Kaprun. The Kapruner Hof is situated beside a tranquil river on the outskirts of
this pretty village, and offers comfortable rooms (you can upgrade to a Romantik Suite), an excellent restaurant and a small spa, complete with a sauna, jacuzzi and relaxation room.
Days 5 & 6: for your final days around Kaprun, the walking options are endless; your host, Stefan Unterkofler, a keen hiker, will be happy to offer advice. We provide notes for a walk which rises steadily from Kaprun to Maiskogel to explore the remarkable upland scenery. There are many beautiful vantage points with views over the highest glaciers of the Höhe Tauern, as well as the Zell Basin. Our second walk starts with a ride in the post bus and on the cable car to reach the Alexander Enzinger Trail, considered one of the best in the Höhe Tauern. The trail leads across pastures with a wide variety of Alpine flora and unique views, to reach Maiskogel, from where you descend via cable car into Kaprun. (Pay locally for all transport.) Whichever walks you choose, this remarkable mountain scenery will live with you for many years to come. (9km, 4hrs or 8.5km, 4hrs)
Accommodation: Kapruner Hof, 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: Leogang or Hinterglemm so that you can enjoy more walking there.
Extension: for some culture, stay at our 4-star hotel in Salzburg.
Similar holidays: The Chablais Alps (grade 2-3), The Vaudoise Alps (grade 2-3), The Bernese Oberland (grades 2 & 3), The Mountains of the Auvergne (grade 3), The High Dolomites (grades 2 & 3), Villages of the Engadine (grades 2 & 3)
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.
| £ per
person based on 2 in a double rm |
Walk price* |
Self- drive |
Single room |
| 7 nights: 14 June-28 September 2008 | |||
| 14 Jun-4 Jul | 546 | 592 | 86 |
| 5 Jul-29 Aug | 562 | 609 | 86 |
| 30 Aug-28 Sep | 518 | 570 | 86 |
| 3rd+ person saving | 20 | 60 | |
Recommended destination airports: Salzburg
Latest flight arrival time: flexible
Earliest flight departure time: flexible
*Connecting travel: return rail/taxi from Salzburg (out 1h/home 2h15) £58pp
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
Start: any day
Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):
| Extra nights (£ per person per night) | Double room |
Single room |
|
| Leogang | all dates | 51 | 61 |
| Hinterglemm | all dates | 34 | 42 |
> Notes on prices
> Personal holiday insurance
> Any queries? Let us call you back
Dramatic mountains & a deep blue lake