Tyrol: Trails of the Wilder Kaiser
- Hike scenic high trails around Austria’s Kaiser mountains
- Discover the Alpine town of Kufstein, the Pearl of Tyrol
- Follow sections of the long distance trail, the Eagle’s Way
- Stay in comfortable hotels and spend two nights in authentic mountain huts
- Sample the delights of Tyrolean cuisine like hearty Gröstl and Kaiserschmarrn
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in KufsteinKufstein is easily accessible by train from Munich or Innsbruck airports (just over an hour from both). Take some time to wander the historical centre before visiting the fortress. Take a funicular to the top, or follow the steep path on foot, a great little warm up for the rest of your hiking adventure!
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This is a traditional hotel located in the heart of Kufstein. Enjoy spacious rooms decorated in modern Alpine style and a rich buffet breakfast to set you up for the day.
Set in a colorful building, this unassuming, family-run hotel is a km from the Kufstein Fortress and 9 km from the Hechtsee. The bright rooms feature hardwood floors, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Upgraded rooms include balconies, sitting areas and pull-out couches, and some provide tea and coffeemakers, kitchens and conservatories.
Begin with a chair lift ride on the ’Kaiserlift’ (payable locally, approx.11 euros) to the panoramic station of the Kaiser Mountains. Walk past traditional farming huts and Alpine pastures with the dramatic Wilder Kaiser in the background. Arrive at the picturesque Hintersteiner See and descend to the small Tyrolean town of Scheffau.
Ascent/Descent:Â 486m/996m
Due to minimum stays required by the hotels during the summer months, we may accommodate you for 2 nights in Kufstein (day 1 and day 2) and book a taxi transfer to the start of the hike on day 3.
On day 2 after your walk, take the bus from Scheffau to Söll and from Söll to Kufstein.
This is a modern traditional Tirolean style guesthouse. The small restaurant serves uncomplicated food and a good breakfast. There is a garden and good bus links right outside.
A short bus transfer brings you to the trailhead. Follow a section of the popular ‘Adlerweg’ or Eagle’s Trail, a long-distance route that traverses the whole of the Tyrol.
Spend the night directly amongst the Kaiser peaks at the Gaudeamashütte at 1,270m. Look forward to an evening of fantastic convivial atmosphere in a spectacular location.
Ascent/Descent:Â 938m/590m
Due to minimum stays required by the hotels during the summer months, we may accommodate you for 2 nights in Kufstein (day 1 and day 2) and book a taxi transfer to the start of the hike on day 3.
A traditional hut owned by the Austrian Alpine Club. Spectacularly situated at the foot of the ‘Wilder Kaiser’, the private twin rooms are simple with shared bathroom facilities. Cosy lounge areas await, as well as a fantastic atmosphere unique to mountain huts.
From the Gaudeamashütte, continue to follow the Adlerweg as it gently descends to the cosy Gasthof Rummler; the ideal place to stop for a refreshing drink or bite to eat. Continue on a narrow mountain path to the small town of Welier Hintermeister, finally arriving in the centre of St, Johann. A pretty Alpine town with a traffic-free centre, perfect for a relaxing evening walk.
Ascent/Descent:Â 684m/1,298m
Stay in a boutique hotel, built-in 1720 with distinctive wooden balconies is located in the heart of Sankt Johann in Tyrol. The individually designed rooms reflect the fun-loving character of the historical house.
This hotel, in the Kitzbühel Alps, is a trendy design hotel and impresses with its modern design and relaxed atmosphere on the outskirts of St. Johann.
UPGRADE
This hotel is situated in the pedestrianised centre of St. Johann. Recently renovated to a modern, alpine style, this traditional building has bright, comfortable rooms and a lovely wellness area which includes a sauna, steam bath, relaxation and fitness room.
A 9am transfer brings you to the peaceful town of Gasteig, the start of today's walk. On to the Kaiserbach Valley, a deep gully separating the Wilder and Zahmer Kaisers before a challenging, steep ascent that brings you to the spectacularly located Stripsenjochhaus, at 1,580m.
Ascent/Descent:Â 1,014m/195m
The Stripsenjochhaus is an alpine hut, it is part of a collection of huts belonging to the Austrian Alpine Club in the Kaiser Mountains in Tyrol and is located at an altitude of 1,580m.
After enjoying watching the sunrise from the terrace of the Stripsenjochhaus with a fortifying coffee, continue on your adventure via a high trail, walk through beautiful mountain vistas to the ’Hochalm zum Heuberg’, where you will catch a first glimpse of the Walchsee in the distance. Descend steeply to the scenic Walchsee, where you will be staying for the next two nights.
Ascent/Descent:Â 389m/1,305mÂ
The Ilgerhof is located in the heart of Walchsee, a charming village in romantic surroundings at the foot of the Zahmer Kaiser Mountain. The rooms are furnished in a country house style with attention to detail.
This family run, traditional guesthouse is centrally located in Walchsee. It is known for it's cozy atmosphere and friendly service.
Nestled in the sunny, panoramic location of the picturesque Kaiserwinkl area, the family-run Hotel Garni Tirol am Walchsee welcomes you with open arms. This cozy traditional guesthouse has a great atmosphere and prides itself on the attention to detail.
Today you have the opportunity to finish off your adventure with a scenic loop walk on the Brennkopf. Although only 1,355m in height, the small peak still offers fantastic views of the Walchsee and the mountain world of the Kaisers, through which you have just walked. Reflect on your journey before descending to Walchsee. Be sure to bring your swimming gear and enjoy a refreshing dip in the lake after your hike.Â
Ascent/Descent:Â 758m/758m
The Ilgerhof is located in the heart of Walchsee, a charming village in romantic surroundings at the foot of the Zahmer Kaiser Mountain. The rooms are furnished in a country house style with attention to detail.
This family run, traditional guesthouse is centrally located in Walchsee. It is known for it's cozy atmosphere and friendly service.
Nestled in the sunny, panoramic location of the picturesque Kaiserwinkl area, the family-run Hotel Garni Tirol am Walchsee welcomes you with open arms. This cozy traditional guesthouse has a great atmosphere and prides itself on the attention to detail.
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and begin your onward travel. From Walchsee, catch a bus or take a taxi back to Kufstein from where you can catch a train to all major destinations in Europe.
This trip has a carbon score of 9kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 9kg is equivalent to 5.5 avocados. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you are a keen walker who enjoys following mountains trails with beautiful views, and 1,000m of ascent and descent is not a problem for you, then this tour is ideal. Enjoy the balance of staying in culturally and historically interesting towns in 3-4* hotels and spending two nights in the mountains in authentic huts. Finish your hiking day off by indulging in some delicious regional specialities and enjoying the friendly hospitality of the locals.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years
This tour is rated moderate to strenuous. Distances vary from 10– 16km, and the ascent/descent is considerable, ranging between 540-1,100 m each day. To get the most from this tour you should be in good physical shape, be sure-footed and comfortable using a chair lift. The terrain is alpine, and paths are a mixture of woodland trails, rocky mountain paths, gravel tracks, boulder strewn-paths and faint, narrow grassy trails. There are cables, ropes and chains to aid ascent/descent in some places.
Stay 5 nights in comfortable 3 & 4* hotels and guesthouses and 2 nights in mountains huts. All the hotels we use have been chosen for their Tyrolean hospitality, cosy atmosphere and high standards. In the huts, we will always try to book you into private 2-bed rooms where possible. You will need to bring your own sheet sleeping bag liner for the nights in the mountains huts. At the Gaudeamashütte, the bathroom facilities can be found on the landing and are shared. The Gaudeamashütte has a limited number of private rooms, in case these are not available we will book you into a mixed dorm, which will be shared with other hikers. Please be aware that twin & double rooms in Austria (Doppelzimmer in German) are typically 2 single mattresses side by side in one double bed frame with two separate duvet covers and pillows.
Meals
7 breakfasts are included in the cost of your trip. In hotels and guesthouses, breakfast is always buffet-style with various options available. Expect a continental breakfast with bread, jams, pastries, yoghurt and muesli available. Usually, there are also local meats and cheeses, eggs and fruit on offer. Breakfast in mountain huts will be more modest, we suggest taking a couple of energy bars to supplement if you prefer a larger breakfast in the morning.
5 Dinners and all lunches are not included so you have the freedom to choose from what’s on offer each day. You may be able to order a packed lunch at your accommodation for the following day, or you can find bakeries and shops in each town to stock up on food for your hikes. There are plenty of options for dinner each night, either at your hotel or in nearby restaurants. Dinner is included at the Gaudeamashütte & Stripsenjochhaus huts. Food in Austria is hearty and traditional, with meat and cheese being some of the dominant ingredients! Tyrolean specialities include ‘Tiroler Gröstl’, bacon, onion and potato fry-up topped with a fried egg, or ‘Kiachl’ a fried yeast dough pastry that can be served sweet or savoury. Kaiserschmarrn (translates as Emperor’s mess, named after Franz Joesph the first) is another ubiquitous Tyrolean dish and is chopped, fluffy, warm pancakes served with icing sugar and home-made jam or compote – absolutely delicious!
The trails are well way-marked, and together with detailed route notes, maps and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS, you will have no problems finding the way.
- 5 nights accommodation in 3 & 4* guesthouses & hotels
- 2 nights in a 2 bed dorm in a mountain hut
- Daily breakfasts
- 2 dinners (day 3 & 5)
- Door to door baggage transfers as per your itinerary (excludes days 3 & 5)
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents including a detailed information pack provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- Telephone support from our offices in the event of a problem
- Travel insurance (required) and personal equipment
- Travel to the start and from the end point of the tour
- All lunches, 5 dinners, drinks, and snacks
- Any additional transfers or public transport required to shorten the walks or skip a stage
- Public transport & cable cars
- Additional nights before, during or after the tour
- Private airport transfers to/from the start/end points of the tour
- Room upgrades
This walk is available to start on any day of the week from the middle of June to the end of September.
Fly into Munich Airport or Innsbruck Airport from where you can take a train to Kufstein (both direct and both just over an hour) We can also organise private transfers from either airport to the start point, just ask us for more information.
From Durchholzen take bus no. 4030 to Kufstein train station, from where you can retrace your steps to Munich or Innsbruck airports. We can also organise taxi transfers back to Kufstein if you prefer. Train times and more info can be found in English at www.bahn.de/en (German railways) or www.oebb.at/en/ (Austrian railways).
Bag transfer of one bag per person (up to 20kg/44lbs) is included as standard. Your bags will be moved from Kufstein to Scheffau, from Scheffau to St. Johann, and from St. Johann to Walchsee/Durccholzen. There is no bag transfer to the Gaudeamashütte (day 3) or to Stripsenjochhaus (day 5) due to their remote locations. On these days, you will carry a few overnight necessities in your day pack (sheet sleeping bag liner, travel towel, toothbrush etc), and you will be reunited with your luggage the following day at the next accommodation.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example proper rain gear, sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. You will need to carry a sheet sleeping bag for your overnights in the mountain huts.Â
Your detailed information pack will be sent to you after you book. This has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack. You will also need a sheet sleeping bag for the nights in the huts and you do not have access to your main bags on these nights.
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