Hiking from Austria to the Dolomites
This walking holiday leads over the Kitzbüheler Alps into the Hohe Tauern National Park with its glacially shaped valleys and extraordinary floral diversity. The area is getting rougher, the cliffs are steeper and in the distance the iron-covered summits of the three-thousanders and ever closer peaks of the Dolomites come nearer and nearer. Via the Gsieser Törl you finally cross from Austria to Italy. Past lush alpine meadows and huts, you descend into the Gsiesertal valley. Stately courtyards with sun-drenched balconies seem to be scattered randomly over the flower and herb meadows. The stage destination is not far away and another highlight awaits you at the end of the tour: the Three Peaks, located in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
About the route
The hike runs along marked mountain and hiking trails. The tour is suitable for anyone with a good basic condition. Climbing skills are not necessary. Larger climbs are overcome by cable car and it is possible to shorten the stages by using public transport and/or taxi.
The hiking trip is suitable for children over 14 years.
Great things about this tour
Itinerary See all daysClose all days
You arrive to your first hotel in Kitzbühel. Upon arrival you will be shown to your room and after that you are free to explore your surroundings.
Hotel (example): Hotel Resch***
Starting from Kitzbühel, you walk comfortably below the Kitzbüheler Südberge. You will pass small villages and rustic farms with wonderful floral decorations. The village character of Aurach in Tyrol, the various hamlets and settlements and the wonderful location at the foot of the Kitzbüheler Südberge make Aurach special. It is not for nothing that the great Kitzbüheler artist and painter Alfons Walde has chosen the church and the small village square of Aurach as motifs again and again, thus helping them to achieve worldwide fame. Overnight stay in Jochberg.
Short trip: 4-5 hours, ca. 16km +540m / -380m
Long trip: 5-6 hours, ca. 20.km +680m /-1.110m
Hotel (example): Gasthof Jodlbühel***
A shuttle will take you to the starting point of your trip. Passing through lush alpine pastures below the valley heights, you will continue to hike up into the beautiful mountains. Enjoy the tranquility and the flora and fauna. Via the Gauxjoch you reach the Trattenbachalm and the Hartkaserhöhe. Along the hilltop runs the border between the two provinces of Tyrol and Salzburg. If you want to avoid the descent from the Resterhöhe, you can use the Panoramabahn Kitzbühler Alpen II to shorten some altitude meters (not included in the price). A bus will take you to Mittersill.
Walking time: 4-5 hours or 5-6 hours
Distance: 13 or 16km
+850m / -250m or +850m / -800m
Hotel (example): Hotel Heitzmann****
In the morning transfer from Mittersill to the Matreier Tauernhaus. If you like, you can also walk from lake Hintersee over the Felbertauern and the St. Pöltener Hütte to the Matreier Tauernhaus. At first, the trail climbs steadily through meadows and larch forests to the Venedigerblick. At the highest point you have a wonderful view of the glacier world of the Großvenediger. Over a well signposted hiking trail, the Großvenediger and the surrounding mountains always in view, you hike in the direction of Innergschlöss and over the beautiful alpine pastures back to the Matreier Tauernhaus. From there you can get to Matrei by public transport.
Today you can choose between two different routes
Trip 1: 4-5 hours, ca. 10km +650m / -650m
Trip 2: 6-7 hours, ca. 14km +1.240m / -1.040m
Hotel (example): Hotel Hinteregger***
After a bustrip to Mariahilf you start today‘s hiking day. Over shady forest paths you go higher and higher up to the first alpine pastures and the Gsieser Törl around which many old smuggler stories rank. It was a smuggler route between Italy and Austria, especially in the 1920s and 1930s. The view sweeps over the valley to the Pragser Dolomites. On your way to the contemplative Gsiesertal, one hut joins the next: Oberberg-, Kradorferalm or Messnerhütte to name just a few. Almost everywhere the local food is amazing. The many traditional dishes are simply too tempting to resist: bacon dumplings on cabbage, cheese dumplings, Kaiserschmarrn, apple strudel.
Walking time: ca. 4½-5½ time
Distance: ca. 12km
+780m / -750m
Hotel (example): Aparthotel Germania***
The tour leads further and further south and the Dolomites are only a stone‘s throw away. From the Gsiesertal valley, the trail climbs steadily and comfortably to the crossing of Frondeign. The hike is mostly in the shady forest. If you prefer, you can take the more athletic option towards the „Schuieralm“. The path winds its way down to Wahlen. The valley widens and offers a view of the Neunerkofel, Haunold, Dürrenstein and the Höhlenstein valley.
Walking time: ca. 3-4 hours eller 5-6 hours
Distance: ca. 16km
+470m / -440m or +850m / -810m
Hotel (example): TBA
You start your tour at the Auronzo hut, which is rechable by public transport (ticket not included in the price). Along the south side of the Drei Zinnen you first walk towards the Lavaredohütte and then up a path to the Paternsattel. Here, at 2,454 m above sea level, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the 500 m high north walls of the Drei Zinnen. Arrived at the famous Drei Zinnen hut you can enjoy the view of the northern walls. A hiking trail leads you to the Lange Alm and past the west side you get back to the starting point. Those who want to finish the trip with a sporty end can climb up from Rienzboden to the Lange Alm, circle the Drei Zinnen and take the bus from Auronzo to Dobbiaco (ticket included in the price).
Walking time: ca. 3-4 hours or 4½ - 5½ hours
Distance: ca. 15km
+350m / -350m or +1025m / -125m
Hotel (example): Aparthotel Germania***
Individual departure or possibility to extend your stay.
Price includes
- 7 nights in 3-star hotels
- Breakfast every day
- Luggage transfer between hotels
- Detailed travel information (route maps or overview maps, route description, tourist attractions, important telephone numbers)
- Transfers according to the program
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to/from Austria
- Bus tickets Mittersill, Gsiesertal and Drei Zinnen (one way and roundtrip) and Drei Zinnen Viewpoint
- Tourist tax (if due)
- Handling fee (EUR 20)
Practical info
The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Munich, Salzburg or Innsbruck are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
Getting to the first hotel
By car: Coming from the north (D, NL, B, GB, ...): A8 direction Salzburg - Inntal - Dreieck direction Kufstein A93
- exit Kufstein South - Loferer federal road B178 direction St. Johann in Tirol - Pass Thurn federal road B161 direction Kitzbühel.
Coming from the west (CH): Inntalautobahn A12 - Exit Wörgl Ost - Loferer Bundesstraße B178 direction St. Johann in Tirol - Pass Thurn Bundesstraße B161 direction Kitzbühel.
Coming from the east: Westautobahn A1 direction Salzburg - A8 direction Munich first exit Bad Reichenhall - B20 direction Lofer - Loferer federal road B178 direction St. Johann in Tyrol - Pass Thurn federal road B161 direction Kitzbühel
By train: Tyrol can be reached quickly and easily by train, via Munich with one of more than 25 daily direct connections to Tyrol.
By plane: Airport Munich, Salzburg or Innsbruck. There are many taxi companies that offer trips from all these cities to your starting point.
Book a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.
Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.
Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.
Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 20kg each.
On this tour you will be accommodated in 3-star hotels with breakfast included.
In the itinerary you can see some examples of the hotels we use on this tour. Notice that the hotels are examples and you may end up staying in different hotels. It depends on availability when you book the tour.
Breakfast is included every day. It is easy to find lunch in the small villages before the walks and you will have plenty of choices for dinner in the many restaurants.
This tour has difficulty grade 2-3. Which means that most days are difficulty 2 and some days are difficulty 3.
Grade 2
Easier walking at reasonable good paths. The walking time will be 4-6 hours usually in hilly terrain. Every one in good health and a normal physical fitness can participate. Luggage is mostly transported and you only go with a lighter backpack. Requires good footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.
Grade 3
Walking in hilly or mountainous terrain, with longer ascents and descents. You will walk 5-7 hours a day. Requires good fitness and good health, but no technical experience. Requires good footwear such as trekking or hiking boots.
Read more about our Grading System
You will recieve the following documentation
Upon booking
You recieve practical information about the tour in a digital format
One month before arrival
You recieve your hotel list and your voucher (hotel list is often supplied upon booking)
Upon arrival
You recieve the welcome package which contains the printed version of the road book, luggage tags, local specific vouchers and if you have rented bikes then they will also be delivered and fitted at the first hotel.
Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.
Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, you can see the data below:
The statistics are from yr.no.
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. This covers you regardless of your nationality. Read more about that here.
Call our experts on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
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Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
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