As Theodor Heuss said once,” The point of traveling is to arrive at a destination, but the point of hiking is to be on the road.”

With this wisdom in mind, we kick off today’s blog post. On Tuesday, we already presented you some hiking trails around South Tyrol, in the Allgäu and on Tenerife. As hiking is a fantastic activity, today we are going to take a look at a few recommended hiking routes in the DACH region around our Green Pearls® partners.

We start with an Austrian high valley called Pfunds. This mountain destination is located in the top section of the Tyrolean Inn Valley, at the border triangle where Switzerland and Italy meet—a perfect starting point for hikes of all degrees of difficulty. The Summit Lodges are also situated there. The two vacation homes in Canadian-inspired log cabin style are perfect for you if you want a little more privacy or feel like a vacation with the whole family.

Picturesque round trails through the Upper Inn Valley

If you spend your vacation here, you have to plan for a hike through the Pfundser Tschey. The scenic loop trail leads first over the Pfundser Frudiger – a gorgeous lookout high above the Pfundser Tschey and the Upper Inn Valley.

Views into the Ötztal Alps, to the Samnaun Group and north to the Lechtal Alps area are impressive and definitely worth the climb! Then the highlight is the hike back through the natural jewel Pfundser Tschey, with its wooden chalets and the beautiful little church “Maria Schnee”.

Alpine landscapes can also be enjoyed in Sölden. The famous vacation destination in Austria offers you numerous opportunities. However, an insider tip of LENI MOUNTAIN is the trail to Peerler Lake. The trail can start directly from the chalet. From there, the high-altitude hike leads you across alpine mountain meadows and rocky gorges to the lake, which is located at 2,467 meters.

Views of the Wildspitze, the Brunnenkogelhaus, the Hochstubai Hütte are special moments, making this hike a panoramic tour of a special kind.

Lake tour near Kitzbühl

Similar to the intensively researched Schwarzsee near Kitzbühl in Austria, sediments at the bottom of the lake allow conclusions to be drawn about the climate of the past 10,000 years. A high-alpine, colorful landscape with a magnificent mountain lake—what are you waiting for?

After your tour you can either relax in the wellness area of the LENI MOUNTAIN apartments or enjoy the private spa of the LENI MOUNTAIN Chalet outside Sölden. Also located in Sölden are the apartments and chalets of The Peak.

The host family Kneisl are passionate mountaineers and particularly appreciate the trails of the Ötztaler Wasserläufer. The six circular trails lead you from gentle streams and calm lakes to thunderous cascades and the perpetual ice of the glaciers. This way, you will discover the element water in all its richness.

The highest waterfall in Tyrol

For many, the Stuibenfall—the highest waterfall in Tyrol—is of particular interest. This round trip to the waterfall is short and crisp. On nine kilometers you cover 607 meters of altitude and need good surefootedness.

In the center of the trail is an exposed 80-meter long suspension bridge. About 700 steps will lead you up to the highest observation platform. Cross the fixed suspension bridge at the top of the waterfall and enjoy the natural spectacle it offers. You will be able to catch a fantastic view of the depths as you continue to approach the highest platform. This dizzying height experience completes the experience of Stuibenfall in all its uniqueness.

Take advantage of the bread service of The Peak, then you don’t have to leave the house even before breakfast, and you start the hiking day well strengthened. What could be better than lunch at the top of the waterfall, when you can enjoy the magnificent view and the roar of the water?

Hiking in the German Harz Mountains

Many hiking tours in the Harz Mountains are steeped in legend. Like the trail that takes you from Blankenburg along the Teufelsmauer (Devil’s Wall) to the spectacular natural monument Hamburger Wappen. Three steeply towering rock needles of the sandstone formation remind of the coat of arms of the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, with its three towers. You should also take a look at the Kuhstall Cave—this mysterious sandstone cave is located in the immediate vicinity of the Hamburg Coat of Arms.

You can relax at the historic Schlosshotel Blankenburg. The present Schlosshotel is located in barracks formerly belonging to the “Herzoglich Braunschweigische Leibbataillon “of Duke Wilhelm. Between 1857 and 1860 the barracks were built. At Easter 1860 the Leibbataillon was accommodated here. Until the First World War, the Schlosskaserne was used as an educational facility for recruits of various military units.

Nowadays, the historical ambience is combined with modern luxury. The wellness area in the castle’s vaults is particularly worth a visit after a strenuous hike in the Harz Mountains.

On castle tour in the southern Harz

If you prefer the Southern Harz, you should pay a visit to the Naturresort Schindelbruch. There are several routes in the middle of the nature park Südharz that will make your hiker’s heart beat faster.

Some even pass through the forest behind the nature resort, so the hotel couldn’t be more suitably located. One nice loop that you can do from here is the route from Schlossblick on the lower Bandweg up to Josephshöhe. On your way back, cross the Obere Zechental and catch a great view of Stolberg and its castle before heading back to the hotel.

Moreover, our newest green pearl in Switzerland has some hiking trails ready for you. The region around Saas Fee with 18 four-thousand-meter peaks is a very popular outdoor sports and hiking paradise. The network of trails extends to over 350 kilometers. The Waldhotel Fletschhorn, is located in the middle of this spectacular scenery.

Traveling in the Swiss Alps

A recommended route begins at the Felskinn mountain terminal and leads you over the Fee and Chessjen glaciers to the Egginerjoch. At Egginerjoch, the path turns right and takes you along the rock face to the end of the plateau. But beware: the path leads across many screes and stone slabs! And is ending on Plattjen just below the Mittaghorn.

From Plattjen, the trail “On the tracks of the Saas-Fee Ski World Cup” zigzags down to Saas-Fee. A secret tip along the tour is the Swiss cairn at the Brandgrabe below the Mittaghorn. From this vantage point, you have a unique view of the entire Saas Valley, including Lake Mattmark and the Bietschhorn.

Then you can enjoy a meal and relax in the restaurant of the Waldhotel Fletschhorn. The Restaurant Fletschhorn is famous far beyond the borders of Saas Fee for its delicious creations. The cuisine is seasonal and regional (including an impressive selection of Swiss cheeses). In the wine cellar with 13,000 bottles you are sure to find the right drop for you. 

Where do you want to go hiking, do you have a dream route?

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