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Winter Holidays in Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region
Ski Holidays & Snowboarding
Skiing and snowboarding are the Number One winter sports in the Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region. During your winter holiday, you have 9 top ski areas to choose from. The holiday region Zell am See-Kaprun consists of 408 km of slopes (e.g.: Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe) and can be reached within a few minutes from your ALPS RESORT; either by free ski bus or car.
Other ski areas in this holiday region include the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen, the Weisssee Glacier World Family Ski Area in Uttendorf as well as the Wildkogel Arena in Bramberg Neukirchen. Weisssee Glacier World is particularly popular due its 23 kilometers of perfectly groomed pistes, easy navigability, fair ski-pass prices, and snow conditions you can count on. Families, especially, value the features of this ski area that reaches elevations as much as 2600 meters above sea level. For ski tourers and freeriders, the area surrounding the Rudolfshütte is a paradise and definitely no longer merely an insider tip.
Snowshoeing & Winter Hikes
There are also countless opportunities to experience the beautiful side of winter away from the pistes: Whether you prefer to glide along the tracked cross-country trails in the region, trudge through the fresh snow on marked hiking paths or with snowshoes, enjoy a romantic sleigh ride or a fun-filled adventure on the world’s longest floodlit sled run, all the while absorbing the fantastic nature that surrounds you – the selection of winter sporting opportunities is enormous.
Ski Touring
More and more winter sports enthusiasts search for silence and authentic nature experiences away from the popular ski resorts – and find what they are looking for out on a ski tour. In the Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region, there are even specially designated ski-touring routes that give beginners the opportunity to enjoy a first taste of this trendy sport. One example is the Raurisertal Ski Touring Center, with one route beginning right in Rauris itself. For mountain experiences away from the pistes, we strongly recommend engaging the services of a mountain guide.
For veteran ski tourers, Rauris valley and the Kolm Saigurn valley head are virtually a must: In the “Golden Valley of the Alps”, the opportunities range from a mellow tour of the Kolmkarspitz to sweat-inducing climbs of the Hoher Sonnblick (3106 m) or Hocharn (3254 m). Tours are generally possible until May / June.
Excursions in Winter
We have one more tip for you for your winter holiday: From December until the end of March, a National Park Ranger will lead you on snowshoes to wonderful places such as the Rauris Virgin Forest, or you can participate in a marvelous wildlife feeding in Habachtal.
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Summer Holidays in Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region
Holidays amid intact nature
Mountains, glaciers, lakes and waterfalls. Mighty 3000ers and snowcapped peaks such as the Kitzsteinhorn, Grossglockner and Grossvenediger, gentle green alpine pastures, the Pinzgauer Grasberge and Hohe Tauern. In between, time and again, babbling mountain streams. And every bit as diverse as the nature of Hohe Tauern National Park surrounding our ALPS RESORTS, so, too, the array of opportunities for excursions and memorable summertime experiences.
Hiking & Mountaineering
The hiking boots are quickly laced up (the kids will be equally as eager) and the rucksacks are packed in virtually no time: Countless marked hiking paths and alpine trails – 295 km of them in the Rauris valley alone – as well as theme paths lead you to friendly mountain huts, through cool forests, across the high meadows and past imposing waterfalls. Though there is always plenty of time to take a break next to a mountain spring or river – your tired legs will thank you for it and will definitely appreciate the refreshment!
With a little bit of luck, in addition to marmots and ibex you might also catch sight of a golden eagle or two. Or perhaps even one of the rare bearded vultures that have repopulated Krumltal since 1986. If you are even more fortunate, you might strike it rich in the “Golden Valley of the Alps” panning for gold, or in the “Valley of Emeralds”, Habachtal. And as you well know: whenever there is something to discover, hikes with the kids become twice as exciting!
Excursions in Summer
Two of the most popular National Park Excursions lead into Habachtal and the “Valley of Vultures”. A National Park Ranger will guide you to impressive natural jewels, explaining the special features of Hohe Tauern National Park, the flora & fauna, and the history of Austria’s biggest nature sanctuary. Set out on “A Journey to the Antarctic” inside the Weisssee Glacier Area or follow the call of the “Rauris Virgin Forest” – there is so much to discover!
Summer Lifts
With practically no effort on your part at all, the popular summer lifts in our region will carry you into the mountains, where you are greeted by wonderful scenery and memorable alpine experiences. Our local summer lifts have great offers and exciting destinations in store for everyone, especially families: the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen with a gold-panning site and bird-of-prey station, the Wildkogel Arena with its unique Slide Path (a series of ten slides, each between 22 and 53 meters in length!), the Schmittenhöhe with “Schmidolin’s Baptism of Fire”, “Ghost Mountain” in St. Johann Alpendorf, Kitzsteinhorn glacier with the ICE ARENA, sledding hills and Gipfelwelt 3000, also home to Salzburg’s highest panorama platform, the aptly named “Top of Salzburg”.
Biking & Adventures
Marked mountain bike routes, leisurely E-bike and cycling tours, or challenging trails – on two wheels, you truly can enjoy an extraordinary stay inside Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region! See how well you measure up to the three mountain bike trails on the Kitzsteinhorn which, totaling twelve kilometers in length and 1500 vertical meters, are some of the most demanding trails in all of Salzburger Land. Or cycle via the 270 km long Tauern Bike Path, which leads from Krimml to Passau, also passing by Piesendorf and Taxenbach at the entrance to the Rauris valley.
If you are in the mood to gaze at this holiday region from above, we would suggest either a tandem paragliding flight with “Flieg mit Tom” or a helicopter tour with “SennAir”. You can also explore the National Park by water, for example on a rafting or canyoneering tour.
Water Experiences
The abundant water inside Hohe Tauern National Park is a source of fascination. Whether you gaze in awe at Krimml Waterfalls, refresh your feet during your hike in an icy-cold stream, try your hand at stand-up paddling on Zeller See, or simply take a gulp of spring water from a fountain – the power of water is tangible everywhere.
Additional excursion tips (also suitable for families): The Rauriser UrQuell in the upper Rauris valley is a place of astonishing natural power, while the Waterfall Path in Kolm Saigurn at the foot of the Hoher Sonnblick leads over a suspension footbridge and past five imposing waterfalls. Two gorges in particular, the Kitzlochklamm in Taxenbach and Sigmund Thun Klamm with Klammsee lake in Kaprun, captivate countless summertime visitors. At the swimming lake in Uttendorf, you can spend hour upon hour in the sunshine, with views of the Tauern mountains in the background. With attractions that include a bouldering park, a water trampoline, floating islands, a water slide and playground, it is no wonder that this natural swimming lake is a big hit, especially with families.
Our excursion tips
Grossglockner High-Alpine Road
This 48 km-long scenic road is one of Austria’s most popular excursion destinations. And rightly so: From the toll station in Ferleiten, this high-mountain road – opened in 1935 – meanders its way through 36 switchbacks, flanked by imposing mountains, all the way to the pilgrimage town of Heiligenblut in Carinthia as well as up to the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe: where Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner (elev. 3798 m), the Johannisberg and Pasterze glacier appear almost close enough to touch. You should definitely schedule an entire day for this excursion: Along the Grossglockner High-Alpine Road, there are countless opportunities to take snapshots and stretch your legs. 11 info points also provide you with fascinating insights into construction of this scenic road as well as the flora and fauna of Hohe Tauern National Park. And keep your eyes peeled - there’s always a chance you’ll see a marmot crossing the road in front of you or an ibex perched on the mountainside basking in the sunshine!
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Kolm Saigurn
Kolm Saigurn in Raurisertal is one of the most beautiful valley heads in Hohe Tauern National Park. In summer, it attracts hikers and mountaineers. The most popular destinations are – also suitable for families – Rauris Virgin Forest, the Durchgangalmen as well as the Waterfall Path. And for avid alpinists, the Hocharn (3254 m) as well as the Hoher Sonnblick (3106 m), which is also the site of Europe’s highest permanently staffed weather station. Most mountain tours begin at the Lenzanger car park, reachable by means of a 5 km-long toll road. Incidentally, not far from the toll station you can also put your treasure-hunting skills to the test: at the Bodenhaus gold-panning site, with a little bit of luck you might even pluck slivers of gold from the stream! At the Rauris valley head itself, mountain huts, the Ammererhof and the Naturfreundehaus (tip: children’s playground and Kneipp spa) give you the opportunity to enjoy a refreshment break and take in the magical scenery: In Kolm Saigurn, you will encounter one 3000 m peak and glacier after another, while cows and horses graze on lush alpine meadows and waterfalls rumble in the background.
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Valley of Vultures
In Raurisertal, rare bearded vultures have been circling overhead in Krumltal since 1986. With a little bit of luck, they can be observed along with golden eagles, griffon vultures, marmots and ibex. To improve your chances, we suggest joining a National Park Excursion led by a National Park Ranger. Krumltal is a side valley of Raurisertal, an easy hike along a marked theme path (forestry road) to the Bräualm taking roughly 1 ½ hours. Insider tip: Pay a visit to the Lechnerhäusl, a small alpine inn at the entrance to the valley not far from the car park (their desserts are heavenly!). If you would like to learn more about birds of prey in Hohe Tauern National Park, I recommend the “Kings of the Air” National Park Exhibition in Rauris (in the small community known as Wörth), or attend the Bird of Prey Show at the Rauriser Hochalm, where Peter will be happy to share his vast knowledge about these creatures with you.
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Krimml Waterfalls
Krimml Waterfalls are an imposing excursion destination for the whole family: Via the 4 km-long Waterfall Path with lookout points along the way, you will come right up to the thunderous torrents of Austria’s biggest waterfalls – and don’t be surprised if you get a little bit wet! Dropping a total of 380 vertical meters, Krimml Waterfalls are an amazing natural spectacle and actually the fifth-highest falls in the world. The lowest falls can be reached in approximately 5 minutes from the ticket hut at the entrance (also handicapped-accessible), after which the Waterfall Path gets steeper and leads through cool forest. My tip: Use the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn train to travel from Zell am See or Piesendorf to Krimml.
National Park Worlds
A fascinating 1800 m² exhibition for big and small in Mittersill, introducing you (also playfully) to Hohe Tauern National Park, its inhabitants and unique features. One highlight of this exhibition is a 360° panoramic world. In Hohe Tauern National Park, the biggest national park in Austria, you will find numerous self-guided themed paths (including Rauris Virgin Forest, “Kings of the Air” in Rauris, the Emerald Path in Hollersbach and the Glacier Paths in Uttendorf) as well as exhibitions (incl. the National Park Gallery at Gipfelwelt 3000 on the Kitzsteinhorn). From July until mid-September, you also have the possibility of participating in one of the popular National Park Excursions, with trained National Park Rangers introducing you to some true natural jewels. These guided – and highly recommended!
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Weisssee Glacier World
By gondola it takes roughly 20 minutes to ride from the valley station at the Enzingerboden up to Berghotel Rudolfshütte at 2315 m. When you get there, the first thing to do is enjoy the view. Before you lies the turquoise Weisssee, surrounded by mighty 3000 m peaks. One very popular mountain tour leads to the Kalser Törl (2525 m) and from there to the Medelzkopf (2760 m), past countless cairns that are also excellent photo motifs. For a truly memorable experience we suggest the fixed-cable climbs in the Weisssee area: the Kronprinz Rudolf via ferrata is ideal for beginners, while the “Kristallklettersteig” will definitely pose a challenge, even for experienced climbers. In winter, the Rudolfshütte is a popular starting point for rewarding ski tours to the top of the Stubacher Sonnblick, the Granatspitze or the Hocheiser. And don’t forget: The small-though-delightful ski area in Uttendorf in Salzburger Land is also ideal for families.
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High-Mountain Reservoirs
There are several reasons why the Kaprun High-Mountain Reservoirs in Kaprun are so impressive: the location of the turquoise reservoirs surrounded by 3000 m summits, the fascinating history of how they were constructed as well as the astonishing technological achievement which they represent (guided tours of the dam are possible). Even the journey up to the reservoirs is an amazing experience in its own right: At the Kesselfall in Kaprun, you will board a bus that will take you (including some really dark tunnels) to Europe’s biggest open funicular. Then, you will continue by bus, past the first reservoir and the popular Fürthermoaralm, until you reach the fascinating Moserboden reservoir at 2040 m, reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity for a short hike, we suggest the Herb Path leading from the Moserboden reservoir in roughly 45 minutes down to the Fürthermoaralm, where you will be greeted by delicious blueberry dumplings dusted with cinnamon sugar. This popular excursion destination in Salzburger Land is open from May until October.
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