Winter walking in the Kaisertal Valley, © Tirol Werbung/Oliver Soulas
Winter walking in the Kaisertal Valley, © Tirol Werbung/Oliver Soulas

Ten Winter Walking Highlights in Tirol

A sunrise walk followed by breakfast in a mountain hut, exploring the Alps in the company of experienced park rangers, and therapeutic walking holidays combining exercise and healthy eating. Winter walking in Tirol is as diverse as the region itself.

There are few better feelings in winter than letting the sun warm your face as you crunch your way through the snowy landscape step by step and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Many places in Tirol offer guests and locals a wide range of winter walking options during the cold months of the year. Highlights range from arts and crafts (St. Johann) to fine food (Untermieming), multi-day walks into the mountains (Seefeld) and guided tours of a nature park with experienced rangers (Achensee and Hall-Wattens). Most of the options have been designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

Kartitsch in winter

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All-Inclusive Winter Walking in Kartitsch

All-Inclusive Winter Walking in Kartitsch

The pretty mountain village of Kartitsch in East Tirol was in 2018 awarded the title "first winter walking village in Austria". For guests this means that they can look forward to nine winter walking trails which are clearly signposted and kept clear of fresh snow in winter. The village at 1,356 metres above sea level is home to a number of hotels and guesthouses specialising in winter walking and offering the option of borrowing rucksacks, walking poles and waterproof cushions. The area also offers a number of guided walks as well as bus transfers.

For more information visit East Tirol online, send an e-mail or call +43.50.212212

Great balls of fire!, © pixabay

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Firey Winter Hike in the Wilder Kaiser Mountains

Firey Winter Hike in the Wilder Kaiser Mountains

Snow, darkness and a fire burning bright – those are the perfect ingredients for a romantic winter hike in the mountains. The "Funkenflug" hike in the Kitzbühel Alps offers all of these and more. It is a guided hike held once a week with fabulous views of the Wilder Kaiser Mountains. After a stop off at a farmhouse for a rest and a hot drink the participants have the chance to make their own "fireballs" and light them on the snowy plateau in front of the building.

Wednesdays from 26 December 2018 until 27 March 2019. Meeting point is at 15:30 by the tourist information office in St. Johann in Tirol. Holders of the St. Johann Card pay €15, all others €25. Please register at least one day in advance by calling +43.5352.633350 or sending an e-mail to info@kitzalps.cc. More info

Winter walking in the Kaisertal Valley

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Austria's Most Beautiful Sunrise Walk

Austria's Most Beautiful Sunrise Walk

This very special walk takes place once a month at full moon. Leaving from the town of Kufstein, walkers make their way into the Kaisertal Valley (voted the Most Beautiful Spot in Austria in 2016) under the light of the bright moon. After climbing the famous 280 steps which lead into the valley, walkers attach snowspikes to their boots for the final 670 vertical metres to the Ritzau Alm hut. The reward for all that hard work is a stunningly beautiful sunrise and a delicious farmhouse breakfast in the hut.

21 December 2018, 21 January 2019 (5:50am), 19 February (5:30am) and 21 March 2019 (4:30am). Meeting point is at the foot of the 280 steps leading into the Kaisertal Valley. Free for holders of the KufsteinerlandCard. Hire of snowspikes costs €3. Breakfast is not included. Please register at least two days in advance: +43.5372.62207 or by e-mail. More info 

Nature park rangers in the Karwendel Mountains, © Tirol Werbung/Lisa Hörterer

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Explore the Alps with Nature Park Rangers

Explore the Alps with Nature Park Rangers

These guided walks into the winter wonderland of the Karwendel Nature Park are led by experienced park rangers. First stop is a vantage point high above Lake Achensee with fine views of the Hinterunutz and Vorderunutz mountains, before walkers move on to the Falkenmoosalm hut. Along the way the rangers tell you all about how the park's animals survive the harsh winter. Each walk lasts 4-5 hours.

Fridays from 21 December 2018 until 15 March 2019. Meeting point at 10:00 at the Falkenmoos car park in Achenkirch (pay and display). Price per person €15 including hire of snowshoes and walking poles. Please register at least one day in advance: +43.59.53000 or via e-mail. More info

Therapeutic winter walks in the Wipptal Valley

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Therapeutic Winter Walk in the Mountains

Therapeutic Winter Walk in the Mountains

The "Well-Aktiv" winter walking concept combines two key elements for staying fit and preventing illness: exercise and healthy eating. Qualified hiking guides from the region will help you explore the beautiful Wipptal Valley as well as the remote neighbouring valleys such as the Navistal Valley and the Gschnitztal Valley as well as Maria Waldrast place of pilgrimage and the pretty Obernbergtal Valley. All the hikes are easy and lead along well-maintained paths. A daily transfer to the start point of each hike is included in the price, alongside use of the hotel saunas.

Available 9 to 13 and 16 to 20 January, 27 to 31 March and 3 to 7 April 2019. Four nights with breakfast in a three-star hotel in the Obernbergtal Valley for €169 (double room) or €217 (single room). Information and bookings: +43.5272.6270, by e-mail and online.

Winter hiking in Seefeld, © TVB Olympiaregion Seefeld

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Four-Stop Journey Across the Seefeld Plateau

Four-Stop Journey Across the Seefeld Plateau

Thought multi-day walks were a summer-only activity? Think again! The Seefeld Plateau recently opened the first multi-day walk designed for the winter months. As you make your way through the snowy landscape you will have plenty of time to learn about the flora and fauna in this region to the north of Innsbruck. Included in the price is a luggage transport service from one hotel to the next. The stages lead through the idyllic Leutaschtal Valley, the Wildmoos nature reserve, past two viewing platforms to the "peace bell" in Mösern and on to the Wettersteinhütte hut, where guests stay the night. The paths are kept in good condition throughout the winter, meaning snowshoes are not required.

This four-day hike can be booked for the period 7 January until 14 March 2019 starting on a Monday. Four overnight stays. €198 per person (bed & breakfast, single room surcharge €20) or €298 (hotel with half board, single room surcharge €70). More info

Winter in the region around Pfunds, © Tirol Werbung/Verena Kathrein

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"Spür.Dich.Winter" - Back to Nature

"Spür.Dich.Winter" - Back to Nature

Every winter, the period from Tuesday to Friday is walking time in and around the village of Pfunds. The brand new initiative "Spür.Dich.Winter" gives guests and locals alike the chance to explore this beautiful region on foot. On Tuesdays a professional wildlife photographer teaches participants all about taking photos in nature. On Wednesdays there is a guided hike to the Altfinstermünz fortress. Thursday is "digital detox day" and invites hikers to leave their phone at home and simply enjoy being out in nature with no distractions. And Friday is family day as children and their parents are invited to hike up to the Feichti animal park and observe the moufflon and fallow deer who call this place home. The tourist information office and several accommodation providers offer guests the chance to hire a fully equipped hiking rucksack for €5 per day.

From 11 December 2018 until 28 February 2019. The walk to Altfinstermünz fortress costs €10 per person, while all other hikes cost €20 per person. The "Spür.Dich.Winter." map costing €45 (€20 concessions) shows all four hikes and includes additional services such as use of hiking buses and the chance to have a go at ice climbing. For more information contact the tourism office in Pfunds via +43.50225.304 or visit the website of the tourist information office.

Traditional dumplings

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Culinary Delights High in the Mountains

Culinary Delights High in the Mountains

During the cold months of the year, 17 of the mountain huts and restaurants in the region around Reutte and in the Lechtal Valley get together to offer a wide range of delicious local food. These huts are connected by clearly signposted trails that are kept clear of fresh snow in winter. The initiative, known as "eppas Guats" aims to enable visitors and locals alike to discover some of the best huts in the region and enjoy the beauty of nature away from the hustle and bustle of the ski slopes..

For more information visit the websites of the Lechtal nature park region and the Reutte nature park region.
 

Chamois in the nature park

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On the Trail of Owls, Ibex and Chamois

On the Trail of Owls, Ibex and Chamois

Once a week rangers from the Karwendel Nature Park invite visitors to explore the snowy mountains to the north of Innsbruck. The walks focus on how the animals manage to survive the harsh winter, in particular the owl species which are native to this region as well as ibex and chamois. The walks lead through the village of Absam, up to the Thaurer Schlössl and to the Romediwirt inn with an exhibition on owls. Walks take around four hours and are suitable for children.

Fridays from 1 December 2018 until 31 March 2019. Meeting point at 10:00 at the car park at the start of the Halltal Valley. Free for guestcard holders, €10 for all others. Please register at least one day in advance with the Hall in Tirol tourism office via +43.5223.455440 or office@hall-wattens.at. More info

Winter hiking on Mieming Plateau

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Homemade Farmhouse Produce on the Mieming Plateau

Homemade Farmhouse Produce on the Mieming Plateau

This culinary journey of adventure across the Mieming Plateau will leave foodies and walkers alike spoilt for choice. Measuring 12km in length, the route connects several mountain farms and regional producers in the villages of Obermieming, Untermieming and Wildermieming selling homemade juices, jams, dried bacon, schnapps and cheeses. The trail is mostly flat and is kept clear of snow in winter, making it also suitable for families with children.

For more information contact Innsbruck Tourism at +43.512.59850, office@innsbruck.info or on the internet.

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