If you’re looking for classic Austrian Alpine grandeur, then look no further than this walking holiday: picture-postcard scenery with quaint wooden chalets dotted amid jagged peaks, pretty Tyrolean villages with onion-domed church spires, fairytale forests, stunningly blue lakes, wildflower-strewn farming pastures, romantic mountain huts, and rugged valleys.  This is a region where the great outdoors take centre stage and with over 700 km / 435 miles of marked trails the opportunities for walking and hiking are almost endless. 

The spectacular craggy Wild Emperor mountain range, an outstandingly pretty landscape, roughly forms the northeast boundary of the Tyrol.  Here, man and land are inextricably tied to each other; the wildly beautiful countryside has shaped the people - friendliness, openness and zest for life are reflected in ancient traditional customs and the many lively festivals of the Tyrolean people. 

The awesome scenery of the Wild Emperor Mountains and their neighbouring range, the lush green Kitzbüheler Alps, is located in the heart of North Tyrol, which means the area enjoys excellent road and air connections. Germany and Italy are within close driving distance and the cities of Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck are easily reached by plane.

The Wild Emperor Mountains (Wilder Kaiser, in German), which are only a short drive from Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck, are not the highest mountains in Austria but still offer breathtaking scenery thanks to a chain of deep valleys that encircle it.  There are, actually, two main mountain ridges, split by the eastward Kaiserbach Valley: the southern ridge is called Wilder Kaiser (Wild Emperor), the northern is Zahmer Kaiser (Tame Emperor).  The Wilder Kaiser, in its highest areas, is rocky, with jagged peaks rising abruptly out of a landscape of wonderful Alpine meadows and gentle hills to an elevation of almost 2,400 metres / 7,874 feet. The Wild Emperor mountain range is one of the places where Austrian Alpine mountaineering started in the 19th century, when climbers first braved peaks with such chilling names as Totenkirchl (Death’s Church), Totensessel (Death’s Armchair) and Predigtstuhl (The Pulpit). 

In winter, because of its cable car-linked terrain, the whole region becomes one of the world centres for skiing, particularly during the annual ‘Hahnenkamm’ downhill race in nearby Kitzühel – the most exciting event in the World Cup calendar. However, after the snow melts, its mountain serenity returns and the area becomes a walker’s paradise with foothills and mountains offering trails of every kind.  Mt. Astberg, a 1,267 metres / 4,157 feet high peak is a good place for your first day’s walk. It is part of the Kitzbüheler Alps and lined with easy trails.  After taking the chairlift to the top, you can enjoy a first taste of the region’s many spectacular views, including the impressive rock formations of the Wild Emperor (Wilder Kaiser) mountain range. The Wild Emperor Mountains offer an extensive network of well-signposted paths, varying from gentle valley strolls to more energetic hikes amongst magnificent mountain peaks. For those who like to take things more leisurely, the area boasts Austria’s longest mountain funicular railway, the Hartkaiserbahn, and also the largest interconnected cable car experience in Austria. 

Your accommodation is in Going, a small, attractive village that has successfully regained its traditional Tyrolean charm.  It is conveniently set in the valley between the spectacular Emperor Mountains and the verdant Kitzbüheler Alps, with a huge array of idyllic walking trails for exploring the area. The village’s parish church, “Zum Heiligen Kreuz” (Holy Cross), is considered one of the most beautiful baroque churches in the Tyrol.

Where you’ll stay…

Only a couple of minutes walk from the village centre, but still at a quiet location, this traditional chalet-style country inn, plus adjoining guesthouse, offers 22 comfortable bedrooms, each with private bathroom, television and balcony.  Dating back to 1627, the inn is full of character and atmosphere and has been run by the same hospitable family for more than 100 years.  Food is also a source of pride at this country inn and it even boasts its own top wine cellar where you can sample a large selection of Austrian and international wines.  Private car parking is adjacent to the inn.

Hotel availability: in case our partner hotel is booked out will propose alternative dates or the most suitable alternative hotel if one is available.  The alternative will be offered to you at a similar cost via email and you will have 48 hours from the time you made the booking request to accept this alternative, once accepted your credit card will be charged.  If you do not choose the alternative offered your booking request will automatically be cancelled without payment. 

Hotel details: it is not our policy to provide the hotel’s contact details before full payment has been received.  The hotel’s name, telephone number and address will be sent to you as part of your tour pack 3-4 weeks prior to the start of your walking holiday.

In the Leukental, which is the valley between the Kaisergebirge and the Kitzbüheler Alps, the first evidence of humans was found in a cave: spearheads made of bones, dating back to 40,000-20,000 BC. 

Much later, in the 14th century BC, the Urnfield culture (a central European Bronze Age culture) appeared in the area of today’s North Tyrol. The name comes from the custom of cremating the dead and placing their ashes in urns, which were then buried in fields. 

Around 500 BC, the culture of the Rhaetics, a province of the Roman Empire and named after the goddess Rhaetia, succeeded the Urnfield culture.

From the 6th to the 9th century, the Bavarii and the Langobards settled in the region. As part of the Holy Roman Empire, the Tyrol was strategically important as a gateway to Italy.

Later on, in the early Middle Ages, the region became part of the duchy of Bavaria, and from 1369 onwards, the Tyrol was ruled by various lines of the Habsburg family. 

During the Napoleonic Wars, Austria ceded Tyrol to the Kingdom of Bavaria. The Tyroleans, known to be patriotic and proud people, rose up against the Bavarian authority.  Under the leadership of Tyrol’s national hero, Andreas Hofer, they succeeded twice in defeating Bavarian and French troops.  However, in the end, Austria lost the war and the Tyrol remained divided under Bavarian and Italian authority for another four years before reunified and returned to Austria.  From 1867 onwards, it was a Kronland (Crown Land) of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 

During World War I, the frontline mostly followed the historical border of Tyrol, which ran right through the highest mountains of the Alps. The ensuing battles became known as “the war in ice and snow”, as troops occupied the highest mountains and glaciers all year long.  Twelve metres (40 feet) of snow was a usual occurrence during the winter and in 1915-1916 tens of thousands of soldiers disappeared in avalanches. 

The animals and plants that you might encounter in Tyrol’s highly Alpine ecosystem are exceptionally diverse and there are (pre-historic) reasons why Austria is a hot spot for birdwatchers, plant enthusiasts and other worshippers of biodiversity.  In the early tertiary (approximately 70 million years ago), Austria’s vegetation was similar to that of today’s mountainous rain forests of Southeast Asia.  However, in the late tertiary (approximately 25 million years ago), all the heat-loving plants gradually disappeared.

By the time the Ice Age reached the Alps, most of the local vegetation consisted of fir trees and various species of broad-leaved trees. Then, during this period, plant species from northern Europe migrated to those areas north of the Alps that were free of glaciers.  Certain mountains peaked out through the glaciers like islands and, as a result, gained a flora and fauna distinct for this period.

Arctic species of plants often found new ground in the Alps and visa versa - the Ice Age was a period of exchange between alpine and arctic ecosystems.  This included both plants and animals: fauna you would consider to be typically Alpine today consists of animals that have migrated from the Caucasian Mountains, the Baltic region and arctic Europe.

So, what are the highlights in terms of animals and plants in the Tyrol? 

The countryside is rich in birds of prey; in particular harrows and falcons, and the European golden eagle population has increased in recent years.  Mountain jackdaws are also well represented.

In terms of reptiles, the most notable ones are the beautiful green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and the European grass snake (Natrix natrix).  From the mammal point of view, look out for marmots, badgers, chamois, ibex, deer and foxes.  You are unlikely to see any of the very few brown bears of Austria, recent immigrants from Slovenia.

Amongst the more common mountain plants are members of the Alpine carnation (Dianthus alpinus) and the bright red and pink Alpine rose (Rose alpina). The rare and heavily protected Edelweiß is one of the best-known European Alpine flowers. Its name comes from German edel (meaning noble) and weiß (meaning white). A further Alpine gem that thrives in this perfect setting is the stunningly blue gentian (Gentiana verna).  

Take a leisurely stroll through Tyrol’s largest wildlife park. Aurach Wildlife Park is set at an elevation of 1,100 metres (3,608 feet) above sea level, which means that not only can you admire animals in their natural habitat, but you can also enjoy wonderful panoramic views over a pristine Alpine landscape at the same time.  The wildlife park primarily features animals native to the Alps.    

Explore the romantic town of Kufstein. First mentioned in 788, Kufstein is an ancient Tyrolese border town in the lower Inn valley. Lovingly called “the pearl of Tyrol”, possession of Kufstein was much disputed during the Middle Ages, and, as a result, an imposing fortress, Feste Kufstein, was built here.  The majestic fortress is the centre of many activities, and the old town centre represents an attractive counterpart with galleries, museums, shops, hospitality – and simply lots of flair.   

Especially popular on hot summer days is Going’s village lake. The lake has been voted “the most beautiful natural swimming lake in Tyrol” not only because it is constantly supplied by the natural springs of the Wild Emperor mountains, but also because, in summer, the water warms up to a pleasant 24 degrees and there is ample space for sunbathing in the area surrounding the lake.

Nearest Airport(s):  Your holiday resort can easily be reached via Innsbruck, Munich or Salzburg.  The approximate journey times, in good conditions, from the airports to your destination are as follows:

• Innsbruck, Austria – 1 hour
• Munich, Germany – 1½ hours
• Salzburg, Austria – 1½ hours

When to go: this great self-guided walking holiday is available from arrival date 25 May to 15 October. Austria is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe and the weather can be changeable at all times of the year; hikers should always be prepared for sudden changes in weather.  The summer months are the wettest everywhere, but summer rainfall is more likely to be heavy and thundery and therefore shorter in duration.  On average, sunshine amounts are greater than in northwest Europe, but lower than in the Mediterranean countries, peaking with an average of nine to ten hours a day in July. The intensity of the sun increases with altitude. 

For more information and prices please refer to the relevant page on this website.

We are always happy to answer any queries about our walking holidays, so if you need any help deciding whether a holiday is right for you, please contact one of our friendly team on
telephone +49 8161 549795 or email us at touchingnature@email.de