dossier

Walking in the Leutasch Valley

Day 1: Arrive at Innsbruck
We pick you up at Innsbruck train station for the 40-minute drive to the hotel.

Day 2: Hochmoos Orientation Walk 15km/9mi/6hr
This circular route from the hotel starts gently past the Weidachsee (trout hatchery and fly fishing) to the Kreith chairlift, which whisks you up to the sunny terrace at the Katzenkopf restaurant (1363m). A shady forest path winds up to 1540m and a succession of dramatic viewpoints in a wonderful geography lesson: the bare-topped Zugspitze, sweeping Leutasch valley and neighbouring Seefeld, backed by the jagged Karwendel mountains.

Day 3: Frenchman's Climb and the Leutaschklamm Gorge 12km/7mi/6hr
A taxi (included) takes you to the end of the valley, where you follow the steep Frenchman's Climb (the route Napoleon took to invade Tyrol in 1805), through cool forest to a broad ridge along the German border. A leisurely lunch at a mountain restaurant (pretty views) begins your short incursion into Bavaria, down a woodland nature trail to the sheer Leutaschklamm Gorge, which you can explore along a boardwalk above the ice blue waters to a thundering 23m waterfall. Hop on the bus back to the hotel to enjoy a swim in the pool and the afternoon sun on the terrace.

Day 4: Gaistal Balcony Walk 15km/9mi/51/2hr
This dead-end valley, closed to vehicles, is a Tyrolean idyll of lush Alpine meadows, pretty wooden chalets and burbling brooks, topped by jagged grey mountain peaks. Starting from the hotel, there's a steep climb then a marvellous treat of constant views from benches along an easy balcony walk: not only the Leutasch valley and familiar mountains, but over to the spiky snowbound line of the Stubai Alps beyond Innsbruck.

Day 5: Rest day
Why not spend the day in Innsbruck, just 40 minutes away? The romantic mediaeval Altstadt is the best starting point, but the whole city centre, small enough to explore on foot, is a jumble of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. There's excellent shopping too. Alternatively you could book a day trip to the top of the Zugspitze (2962m) by cable car.

Day 6: Walk on the Wild Side 12km/7mi/41/2hr
You take the bus and train to Scharnitz to begin today’s walk which follows part of the E4 Gibraltar-Crete long distance footpath. It feels like a really wild walk although you are still close to civilisation. The climb through the mixed woodland - we saw roe deer and a lone chamois grazing in the lunar landscape of the Kastental cliffs - takes you to the grassy High Saddle (1495m). From this wonderful picnic spot you descend by a choice of routes direct back to the hotel for a relaxing sauna and swim.

Day 7: Seefeld High Mountain Walk 9km/5mi/31/2hr
Today you get a taste of 'high mountain' walking, along straightforward paths and using mountain lifts to cut out the hard work. From the top of the Seefelder Joch (2074m) you have a magnificent 360º panorama, and you can see the routes of all your walks. The Gaistal, dominated by the Zugspitze, looks magnificent! After dinner at the hotel, perhaps celebrate your last night with a fun Tyrolean music evening in a local bar.

Day 8: Return home after breakfast