Here you can find the best hotels & resorts in Osttirol
Here you can find the best hotels & resorts in Osttirol
Osttirol is home to Austria’s highest mountain, including the famous Grossglockner und den Grossvenediger, magnificent glaciers and countless idyllic mountain lakes.
With nine mountain ranges, 260 three-thousand meter high peaks, a extensive network of well-maintained and marked hiking and trekking trails, and countless huts and refuges, Osttirol is one of the Alps’ prime destinations for hikers and mountaineers. Just as unique as the region’s geology are its flora and fauna, including ibexes, eagles, rare butterflies and many more.
The bottom-line:
From gentle valley walks to steep ascents, peak bagging and multi-day tours – Osttirol offers something for all types of hikers.
The new “Osttirol 360°” long-distance hiking trail encompasses Osttirol in its entirety: the 360-kilometer long hike crosses Osttirol’s nine mountain ranges and has an altitude gain of 25,100 meters. This hike, which can be done in 36 one-day stages or nine weekend stages, is absolutely unique in the Alps.
Below you find an overview of Osttirol’s hiking areas
The Pustertal Panorama Trail leads from the Hochsteinhütte refuge high above Lienz through lush mountain pastures towards Assling and Sillian, with the Lienz and Sextner Dolomites always in view.
Probably the best-known mountain in the Eastern Alps, the Grossglockner is a mountain of superlatives. It is also the highest mountain of Austria and the surrounding Glockner Group, which forms the central part of the Hohe Tauern Range. Located on the foot of the Grossglockner, the village of Kals makes a great base for mountaineering tours.
This largely untouched valley is home to some of Austria’s oldest farms and ancient traditions are still alive here. The Villgratental, which served as location for many local films, is known for its legendary poacher stories, high quality sheep wool products, “Villgrater Nature”, one of the pioneers in natural products, and the Gannerhof, an award-winning restaurant.
The valley is ringed by high peaks and dotted with countless mountain farms and huts, the oldest of which are the Jagdhausalmen from the Middle Ages. In the summer there are still farmers living at this fascinating settlement of stone huts and hikers can stop by to relax and refuel with mouth-watering farm products. There are two crossings into South Tirol: the Klammljoch Saddle and the old federal road across Stallersattel Saddle. With ridges of rocks and snow and a famous icy north face, the Hochgall is by far the highest mountain in Defereggental.
Hofalm – voted one of Austria’s most beautiful mountain huts in 2008 – and the large Lienzer Hütte refuge are located at the end of one of the Alps’ longest side valleys. Surrounded by countless 3,000-meter high peaks, Lienzer Hütte makes a good base to climb Hochschober, the most beautiful mountain of the Schober Group and Glödis, which is also known as Matterhorn of the Schober Group because of its prominent look. Many mountaineers use the mountains here as training area for expeditions into the Himalayas.
The Venediger Panorama Trail and the Lasörling Panorama Trail encompass this picturesque valley. At the far end of Virgental are the beautiful Umball Falls, which attract many visitors in the summer. The Grossvenediger forms part of a spectacular glacier area that is a year-round magnet for (ski) mountaineers.
On the other side of the massive Grossvenediger glacier is one of the Alps’ “most beautiful valley ends”, the Innergschlöß settlement. If you walk from Matrei’s Tauernhaus there is a beautiful old stone chapel on the way; alternatively you can board a horse-drawn carriage to explore the pristine valley.
The high-alpine Carnic Panorama Trail starts in Sillian and winds its way along the Italian border to Plöcken Pass and Nassfeld. The Carnic Alps main ridge was the theater of battle during World War I, and across the whole ridge you can see multiple proofs of the fighting such as trenches, caves dug into the rock, and collapsed forts. The trail runs almost parallel to the Lesachtal (Tirolean Gailtal) with the famous pilgrimage site of Maria Luggau, and affords fantastic views of the Grossglockner and the Dolomites.