Walking holidays in the Austrian Alps.
With lots of room ro roam.
When you arrive in our traditional mountaineering village at 1,900m above sea level, you’ll immediately sense it: life is more laid-back here. Over 100 three-thousanders all around, unspoilt high-Alpine nature, pure tranquillity. In the mornings, a few roe deer dart across the meadow opposite your room, marmot whistles accompany your walks, and circling protectively overhead are the bearded vultures that make their home at the Ramolhaus hut. These mountains still keep their own ancient rhythm. During your walking holiday in the Austrian Alps, you’ll become part of it.
Reaching new heights while hiking and mountaineering
You lace up your hiking boots, step out of the door of our guesthouse, and simply start walking. Just a few steps out of the village and you’re right in the heart of the mountains. Numerous hiking trails and paths lead off from here, to one of the 8 mountain huts in the surrounding area, to 3,000-metre peaks like Mt Wildspitze and Mt Similaun, and up to the Tiefenbach Glacier – 1,600km in total throughout the Ötztal valley.
If you enjoy exploring the high-Alpine terrain in good company, the guided hikes and activities offered as part of the visitor card programme or the free nature park hiking programme are just the thing for you. On your holiday in Vent, you won’t be ticking off a list of peaks to conquer, but will experience the Ötztal Alps at their wildest and most authentic.
Our favourite hikes for you
High above Sölden, on the Tiefenbach Glacier, a whole new world of bare rock and glacier ice opens up before you. After the ascent on the glacier cable car, the High-Altitude Panorama trail takes you along the glacier for around 4 hours and 30 minutes down to Vent. Once you’ve arrived, treat yourself to a cold beer in our bar, put your feet up, and relax. By the way: with a bit of luck, you might even spot an ibex or two along the way.
From Vent, the trail takes you through the Niedertal valley, past the Martin Busch hut, and up to the Similaun hut at 3,019m above sea level – a prime vantage point in the heart of the glacial landscape of the Ötztal Alps. It takes around 4 hours to reach this high-Alpine base camp, where you’ll be treated to a panoramic view stretching from Mt Fineilspitze to Mt Similaun. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the Hauslabjoch pass from the hut – where Ötzi, the 5,000-year-old Iceman, was found. Anyone who wants to head even higher can venture up to the summit of Mt Similaun: a gentle introductory high-altitude hike across glaciers and a rocky ridge, the approximately 2-hour ascent to 3,606m above sea level requires appropriate equipment and sure-footedness.
Family holidays in the Ötztal valley:
summer fun
There’s plenty of action waiting for you and your family in the Ötztal valley.
Ninja Park Hochoetz
At over 2,000m above sea level, directly at the reservoir on the Hochoetz adventure mountain, Austria’s first floating climbing park awaits young adventurers. 28 obstacles, categorised as easy, medium, and hard, provide thrills at every level. Balancing, climbing, jumping: anyone who loses their footing will end up in the cool water – and that’s exactly what makes it so fun. The Acherkogelbahn cable car lets the whole family ascend in comfort.
Sölden mountain carts
From the Gaislachkogl middle station, mountain carts take you on a thrilling 7.3km descent to Sölden in the valley. Your children aged 6 and over can sit on your lap as co-pilots, and anyone aged 10 and over and at least 130cm tall can whizz down the mountain on their own. Helmet on, sturdy shoes laced, and you're off.
After a day of mountain adventures, Aqua Dome Tirol Therme Längenfeld beckons with 12 indoor and outdoor pools and a 2,000m2 sauna area featuring numerous sauna attractions. What makes it even better: as a guest of Gasthof Weisskugel, you get a 10% discount on admission.
Bends, panoramic views, driving thrills: the Timmelsjoch High-Alpine Road (Passo Rombo in Italian) is one of the most spectacular mountain passes in the Alps and links the Ötztal valley with the Val Passiria/Passeiertal valley in South Tyrol. At over 2,500m above sea level, a series of architecturally impressive museum stops line the road, giving you an insight into the history and landscape of this unique route. From June to October, you can enjoy pure driving bliss here, along with a magnificent view across the Alps.
Views, thrills, and film history: sights in the Ötztal valley
TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum Crosspoint
Perched at the summit of the Timmelsjoch pass is the TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum Crosspoint, both a popular vantage point and Europe’s highest motorcycle museum. You can see 3 countries at once.
ice Q restaurant in Sölden
At 3,048m above sea level, directly on Mt Gaislachkogel, lies ice Q, the restaurant with what is arguably the most spectacular backdrop in Sölden. It gained worldwide fame as the filming location for the James Bond film “Spectre”, and its glass architecture blends elegantly into the rugged glacial landscape.
FAQs about summer vacations in Austria’s Ötztal valley
Numerous trails lead from our doorstep into the high-Alpine terrain: up to 3,000-metre peaks such as Mt Wildspitze, Mt Similaun, and Mt Gaislachkogel, to one of the 8 mountain huts in the area, or along the High-Altitude Panorama Trail to the Tiefenbach Glacier.
Yes, you can enjoy guided walks and activities as part of the visitor card programme, as well as the free nature park walking programme, meaning you can explore the Ötztal Alps with people who know these mountains inside out.
The mountain pass road is open from June to October. At over 2,500m above sea level, a series of architecturally impressive museum stops line the route, and you also enjoy a magnificent panoramic view across the Alps.
The floating climbing park at over 2,000m above sea level has 28 obstacles for children, graded easy, medium, and hard. Balancing, climbing, jumping: anyone who loses their footing will end up in the cool waters of the reservoir on the Hochoetz adventure mountain.