Thanks to "gentle tourism", the picturesque mountain region in the Imst-Pitztal-Kaunertal Glacier Park has preserved its originality. The home of the ibex offers an El Dorado for hikers and winter sports enthusiasts - always with a sensational view!
The roof of Tyrol offers superlative Austrian holidays! In the Imst-Pitztal-Kaunertal Glacier Park, numerous highlights are waiting to be discovered: Austria's highest and youngest glacier, the highest café with the highest cable car, the highest lake and the largest herd of ibex. The wonderful valley of records is one of our top 10 sights of Austria.
Take a deep breath, you're going high! The dramatic panorama of the main Alpine ridge at over 3,000 metres is normally only seen by extreme mountaineers. The vegetationless, rugged peaks in the glacier park are snow-covered even in summer and soar to a height of 3,774 metres - this is the Wildspitze, Tyrol's highest mountain.
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Pitztal Glacier - Austria's highest glacier
The Pitztal is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt side valleys in the Eastern Alps. Thanks to its remoteness, the Pitztal is far removed from mass tourism, and the atmosphere here is familiar and cosy. Romantic alpine music on the Hochzeiger and cultural concerts round off an active holiday in the Pitztal.
The Pitztal Glacier is the highest glacier in Austria and presents itself as a wonderful excursion and holiday destination all year round. In winter, it delights skiers and snowboarders with challenging slopes and guaranteed snow, while in summer, hikes through the Eternal Ice entice you. The Pitztal Glacier can be reached with the Wildspitzbahn, Austria's highest cable car, which takes passengers comfortably up to 3,440 metres above sea level.
Article: Pitztal Glacier in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Pitztal Glacier in Tyrol
Rifflsee - Austria's highest lake
At Austria's highest lake, breathtaking mountain landscapes, sunny meadows and an excellent infrastructure thanks to the Rifflsee cable cars await nature lovers, hikers and winter sports enthusiasts. Highlights at Rifflsee include Austria's highest raft trip and the exclusive breakfast at the Sunna Alm, one of the highest passive houses in the country.
Article: Rifflsee in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Rifflsee in Tyrol
Café 3.440 - Austria's highest coffee house
Café 3.440, Austria's highest café, is also located at the Wildspitzbahn. Austria's highest breakfast is served here and Austria's highest wedding ceremony is held here. From the tables behind huge glass fronts, you have a view of over 50 three-thousand-metre peaks up to 150km away!
Swiss Pine Park Hochzeiger
It is also worth stopping at the middle station of the Wildspitzbahn. Here you will find the ZirbenPark Hochzeiger, which presents the "Queen of the Alps". The ZirbenPark circular hiking trail provides information about the health-promoting coniferous tree and a huge adventure playground delights the little hikers.
Fendels and Fendelsberg
The Fendelsberg is known for its family-friendly skiing area and is also one of the most popular destinations in the Kaunertal valley in summer. As a base camp and lunch break, the Sattelklause is the perfect place. The dignified mountain restaurant at around 1,900 metres above sea level fortifies its guests on a skiing or hiking holiday in Tyrol with international cuisine and specialities from the region. In summer there is an adventure playground, in winter night skiing and night tobogganing including an all-you-can-eat farmer's buffet.
Article: Sattelklause at the Fendelsberg in Tyrol
Nature Park House in the Kaunergrat Nature Park
The Kaunergrat Nature Park region has been a protected area since 1998. Several themed trails on moor, forest and game bring Tyrolean holidaymakers closer to the fascinating nature of the Kaunergrat.
The gentle approach to tourism is also reflected in agriculture. Nowhere else in Tyrol is the density of organic farms higher. In the untouched nature, where fox and hen still say goodnight in the evening, it is easy to recharge your batteries and gather new strength.
Between the 84 three-thousand-metre peaks and almost 50 alpine pastures, more than 1,000 different butterfly species and the largest ibex colony in Austria with 1,200 animals cavort. On hikes through high mountains, wet meadows and moors you will encounter red deer, marmots, chamois and golden eagles.
Tyrol's first Nature Park House, which presents the Kaunergrat Nature Park with all its facets, has been located at "Gachenblick" since 2007. The multimedia exhibition "3000m VERTIKAL" introduces visitors to the whole diversity of nature, which is best experienced live afterwards!
Article: Kaunergrat Nature Park with Gachenblick in Tyrol
Kaunertal Glacier Road
The toll Kaunertal Glacier Road leads through the glacier-formed Kaunertal valley in the middle of the high mountains and is one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in the Alps. In just under an hour's drive, you can experience all levels of vegetation here, from secluded mixed forests to the edge of the Eternal Ice.
At each of the 29 hairpin bends, information stations offer explanations about historical sites, vantage points or scenic features along the route.
Article: Kaunertal Glacier Road in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Kaunertal Glacier Road in Tyrol
Skiing and hiking on the Kaunertal Glacier
At the end of the Kaunertal Glacier Road, the Karlesjochbahn cable car takes you up to over 3,000 metres above sea level and thus to the Kaunertal Glacier. Probably because of its secluded location, the Kaunertal Glacier with its fascinating mountain and natural landscape is one of the most pristine and relaxing holiday destinations in Tyrol!
In winter, strap on your skis and snowboards at the glacier restaurant - by the way, the winter sports season at the Kaunertal Glacier lasts from September to June!
A visit to Austria's youngest glacier also pays off in the summer months! Hikes on the Eternal Ice can then be done on your own, even without mountaineering experience.
Article: Kaunertal Glacier in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Kaunertal Glacier in Tyrol
Walkable crevasse
There is another reason to visit the Kaunertal Glacier in summer. From the beginning of July to mid-September you can explore a real glacier crevasse here - and it's completely safe.
Right at the car park at the end of the Kaunertal Glacier Road, a comfortable walk leads through a V-shaped crevasse of the mighty Weißseeferner. You can experience the pleasant coolness and the 100-year-old glacier ice up close.
Article: Kaunertal Glacier in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Kaunertal Glacier in Tyrol
Three-country view
Another attraction awaits you at the valley station of the Karlesjochbahn: the impressive viewing platform Dreiländerblick is one of the most beautiful panoramas in the entire Alpine region. A barrier-free path paved with wooden planks leads to 3,108 metres above sea level - and suddenly you find yourself at eye level with the mighty three-thousand-metre peaks of three countries!
Article: Kaunertal Glacier in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Three-country view in the Kaunertal valley in Tyrol
PICTURES: Glacier Park Imst-Pitztal-Kaunertal in Tyrol
Photo gallery: Glacier Park Imst-Pitztal-Kaunertal in Tyrol
Related links:
Official website of the Glacier Park and information on the Glacier Park Card
