Traverse high-altitude ridges, serene valleys, and glacial lake plateaus.
Breakfast included all days. Dive into the local cuisine with multiple options for lunch and dinner.
Two nights in hotels and four nights in mountain huts. This is a classic hiking tour with basic services.
This tour has luggage storage at arrival and departure, but no luggage transfer from hut to hut.
Hike across Austria's "Valley of 1,000 Springs" on this unforgettable self-guided trek through the Schladminger Tauern. Follow panoramic trails, explore glacial lake basins, and sleep in scenic alpine huts perched high above lush valleys.
Details
ItineraryThe former mining settlement Schladming is now considered one of the biggest tourist magnets in Austria, especially important as a winter sports resort. The location of the city between the south walls of the Dachstein and the Schladminger Tauern, which is very much appreciated by mountain hikers, is magnificent. Schladming is a very good starting point for this hut tour. Handover of the travel documents at the hotel. (1 night)
In the morning you comfortably take the cable car from Rohrmoos to the summit plateau of the Hochwurzen. The alpine panorama trail over the mountain ridge to the south is the perfect start to the hiking tour. Over gentle grass ridges and clear forest, the trail leads first to the Latterfußsattel and over extensive alpine rose fields on the Guschen. A little more demanding, but always secured, is the second part of the tightrope walk. In the alternation of descents and counter-ascents, the first, attractively located mountain lake – the Brettersee – is reached. The Ignaz-Mattis-hut will soon be in sight. It impresses with its unique location on a hill above the Greater Giglachsee.
One of the adventure points of today’s stage is the hike along the high alpine Giglachseen and in the further course of the Knappenseen in the Vetternkar. Until the 19th century, the mountains around were mining sites for various ores – including cobalt, nickel and silver. An old mining dwelling still bears witness to where 200 miners once lived all year round. The trail leads further up to the flat summit ridge of the Rotmandlspitze with a wonderful view of the Giglachkar and Duisitzkar. Over extensive snow or scree fields, the path continues down to the Krukeckscharte. At the foot of the Zinkwand, where ores of cobalt used to be unearthed, lies today’s destination, the Keinprechthut, at 2,187 m above sea level.
6 km
Today you start the high-altitude trail over alpine pastures and rocky sections and cross the Trockenbrotscharte. If you are looking forward to a snack, the Landawirseehütte on the lake of the same name is recommended. From the Gollingscharte one walks in serpentines down a scree field to the green Gollingwinkel. Surrounded by mighty mountain giants, the flat Almboden resembles an open-air theatre and is therefore often referred to as place of gods. A short time later you reach the Gollinghut at the foot of the highest mountain in Styria, the Hochgolling. It is situated not far from a rushing waterfall on a terrain step at the end of the Steinriesental, which is one of the most beautiful valleys in Austria.
Look forward to the royal stage of the high trail today! The abundance of lakes of the Schladminger Tauern is not as complete as it is on this section. From the summit of the Greifenberg you get an excellent overview of the approximately 30 lakes, surrounded by dark green moss carpets, of the Klafferkessel, on a former glacier floor. Like a labyrinth, the path winds from one charming pond to the next. Over a terrain threshold, the so-called Klafferscharte, you leave the protected landscape and reach the Lämmerkar. You find rich alpine flora, which thrives on the way down to the valley floor. Finally you reach the Preintaler Hut.
The way back to the valley first follows a rushing stream to the Kotalm. Continue through an extensive alpine landscape to the deep green Riesachsee. Highly recommended is the visit of the Riesach waterfall, which plunges a total of 140 meters over two cataracts into the valley. The element of water can be felt here in its purest power. From the Gfölleralm, the theme trail “Wild Waters” is supplemented with interesting explanations. This leads over meadows and through the forest with cozy inns and alpine huts that invite you to take a break. Quietly and slowly, the Talbach now meanders through the Tettermoor and continues to the Toteisboden, with its natural canal and ventilation system from the Ice Age, which offers special conditions for this unique plant world. The wild stream Talbach accompanies you until the end of the tour. (1 night in the ***Hotel in Schladming or Rohrmoos-Untertal)
For all those who want to spend even more time in Schladming or the surrounding area, additional overnight stays can be booked. One of many places to visit is Ramsau and the surrounding high plateau at an altitude of 1100 to 1700 m, which is directly adjacent to the south walls of the Dachstein massif. Otherwise individual departure from Schladming or Rohrmoos-Untertal.
LocationSchladming, located in Austria’s Styria region, is accessible via several transportation options.
Nearest airports are Salzburg Airport (1.5 hours by car), Graz Airport (2 hours), and Munich Airport (3 hours). Rental cars are available at all major airports.
By car, take the A10 motorway and exit at Altenmarkt, then follow signs to Schladming.
Public transport trains run to Schladming station, with direct connections from Salzburg and Graz. From the train station, local buses or taxis connect to Rohrmoos-Untertal and surrounding villages.
AccommodationExamples of accommodation on this tour:
Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte
Keinprechthütte
Preintalerhütte
Accommodation
This tour is designed for two participants sharing a double, twin, or family room. Solo travelers should anticipate an additional surcharge for single occupancy. Private rooms in huts may not be available. Shared dormitories will be clearly noted.
Linen & Towels
Most accommodations provide linen and towels. In huts, bring your own lightweight sleeping bag liner and a small towel.
Luggage Transfer
Luggage transfer is not available between huts. You’ll carry a daypack with essentials, and your main luggage will be returned to your final hotel.
Included Services
Add to this tourWhen booking this tour online, you will get the option to add the following services:
GuaranteeThis tour is fully covered by the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund (Rejsegarantifonden), ensuring financial protection and security for all participants. The guarantee covers situations such as company insolvency, securing refunds for canceled trips or necessary repatriation. Importantly, this protection applies to travelers of all nationalities, not just Danish citizens. By booking with a company registered under the Danish Travel Guarantee, you can embark on your adventure with confidence, knowing your investment is secure and your travel experience is safeguarded, regardless of your country of residence. Learn more here.
WeatherFrom July to September, conditions are ideal for hiking. Expect 15–25°C at lower elevations and 10–20°C higher up. Afternoon showers, fog, and sudden changes in weather are possible. Snow patches may linger in early summer. Bring layers and waterproof gear.
Difficulty
This tour is categorized Moderate
Daily stages with up to 1,013 metres of ascent – Ø 3–6 hours walking time – high alpine terrain with exposed sections, scree fields, and steep descents. Sure-footedness and hiking experience are required.
FAQIf you cancel your tour 60 days or more before the departure date, you will lose your deposit. If you cancel your tour between 60 and 45 days before the departure date, you will lose 50 per cent of the total tour price. If you cancel your tour within 45 days of the departure date, you will lose the full amount. If you fail to turn up on the first day of your tour, Outdoor Italy may not be able to make arrangements for you to join the rest of the tour, and you will lose the full payment. If, for any reason, Outdoor Italy has to cancel your tour, you will be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.
You can book your tour directly on the Outdoor Italy website. Choose the tour from the dropdown menu, select the date you would like to start, and the number of participants in your group. You can either pay a deposit (60 days or more from the start of your tour) or pay the full amount. Click ‘book’ and follow the instructions. Once we have confirmed your payment, you’ll receive your confirmed tour itinerary within 10 days. There may be seasonal variations in the time it takes us to arrange everything. Please note that programmes on the tour pages are only examples — there may be several differences in the final programme you receive.
When booking your tour, you can choose to pay by credit/debit card or direct bank transfer. Direct bank transfers will generally take longer to process, while credit and debit card payments are processed instantly. You are, by default, asked to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the tour. If you choose this option, you will be asked to pay the remaining 75% one month before your tour. Please be sure to follow the payment links you receive in your invoice or reminder email, which we will send you when the second payment is due.
This depends on the individual tour and when you book it. When hiking in the Alps, most people stay in dorms or shared rooms as the availability of single, double and family rooms are limited. We can only guarantee your own room on certain tours such as in the Lys and Ayas Valleys — but only if you book in time. If this is your preference, we will do our best to ensure you get your own room, but please expect to spend some nights in shared accommodation if there is limited availability.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service with all our packages. Often, the huts or hotels we work with are in locations that can only be reached by foot or helicopter. Indeed, when choosing a tour that includes baggage transport, there may be one or two exceptions depending on the route. This will appear clearly on the tour page and in the program you receive when your booking has been confirmed.
All our tours include the day of arrival and the day of departure. This means that a six-day tour will include five nights of accommodation, a seven-day tour will include six nights, and so on. On the first day, guests are usually expected to arrive in the afternoon. And the program does not include any activities except for a briefing by our representative on the first evening. On the day of departure, guests are free to decide if they want to leave directly after breakfast or go on a shorter tour before their journey home.
Most of our tours will include Half Board (HB) services, which means breakfast, a three-course dinner, and a light-packed lunch. Please check the individual tour page for details, however, as variations occur with certain tours.
We specialize in self-guided tours. These tours are designed for travelers who love the independence of hiking, skiing, or running on their own but want to know that everything else is taken care of. In some cases, we are able to offer luggage transport to lighten your load as you enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Whether you’re already a group of friends, business colleagues or a sports club looking for an active mountain adventure, we can design and organize your Alpine tour for private groups.
Yes, absolutely! Outdoor Italy can design the perfect mountain adventure for you and your friends or colleagues. Whether you want to hike, ski, run, cycle or climb, we have the expertise and experience needed to create a bespoke package for any level of experience or physicality. Please contact us if you would like us to create a customized package for your group.
There are few better ways to spend time with your children than with an active holiday in the mountains. Sharing a mountain adventure with your child is a memory that will last a lifetime. We try to design child-friendly variations (marked ‘family’) of all our Alpine tours. Children can hike, ski or bike a lot longer than you might expect, as long as you make it entertaining for them. However, they will respond instantly to the way you behave, so please consider whether you are able to create a safe environment for your children when faced with the many different challenges of an alpine environment.
Yes, we are able to offer a discount for children on most of our tours, provided they are not yet 13 years of age on the first day of the tour. Please see the individual tour page for our child discounts.
Many single travellers chose Outdoor Italy due to our high level of service and our expertise in self-guided mountain tours. And the safety of one of our representatives will only ever be just a phone call away. However, please expect additional costs, as our prices are based on two persons — the industry standard for outdoor tours of this nature. Private rooms and other services are often more expensive for individual travellers. You can find information about any additional costs for individual travellers on the tour page.
We are all different. Some of our clients are 70+ and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others may be twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental ability of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for level of physicality, which you can learn more about here. You are of course welcome to call us and we will do our best to advice you. Find your level of physicality here (link to Find your level page).
Our local partners know every square inch of this beautiful Alpine region. During the introductory briefing, you will receive an app, physical maps and a phone number to call if you need advice. In some cases, you’ll be able to forward your location to a local guide with the press of a button. This may prove helpful if you become lost.
We recommend that you speak to your insurance provider to ensure your existing policy covers mountain-based activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. Please note that any costs relating to emergency situations and the potential need for evacuation are the sole responsibility of the client.
We are all different. Some of our clients are more than 70 years old and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others are twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental capabilities of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for the level of physicality involved, which you can learn more about on our Find Your Level page. You are, of course, welcome to call us, and we will do our best to advise you.
Enjoying the mountains with your best friend can be a joyful experience, which is why we try to make our tours dog friendly wherever possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible due to local rules. Selected tours are marked ‘Dog Friendly’ on the tour page. This means that your dog can stay with you in your private room or, in a few cases, the hut will have a separate or external room for dogs. Please refer to the individual tour page for more information.
Additional Information| Month | July, August, September |
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