Hut-trek in High Tauern National Park

What to expect:

The Hohe Tauern National Park is one of the greatest high mountain landscapes in the world. On this 6-day trek we hike through the heartland of the national park always on the watch out for wildlife and especially the Big 5. If we are lucky, we get to see vultures, eagles, ibex, chamois and marmots. I have inherited my fascination for mountain wildlife from my parents who took us into the mountains as children and taught as where to find these animals and how to spot them. I am excited to take you on this trip and find you some if not all the Big 5!

Physical requirements:

The 6 sections of the trek vary in length from 5 to 11 kilometres and in altitude gain  from 600 meters to 800 meters. On average, we hike about 4 hours each day (not including breaktime) on narrow hiking trails in the mountains. There are two crossings on the third and fourth day, which are technically advanced. You don’t have to be experienced in such crossings, but you need to be sure-footed and free of giddiness. The routes between huts are fairly short, but there are various hikes in the afternoons possible to the surrounding peaks.

Service included:

• Organised hiking by a qualified UIMLA Mountain Leader
• A group of max. 8 guests (min. 4 guests)
• 2 hotel nights in Lienz in double rooms
• 5 hut nights in in shared rooms or dormitories
• 2x breakfast, 5x vegetarian half-board
• Public transport from Lienz to the start and from the end of the trek

Extra costs on tour:

• Transport to Lienz
• Dinner on the first and last evening in Lienz
• Lunch and beverages during the trip

Accommodation:

In Lienz we stay in double rooms in a 3-star hotel, which is a 5-minute walk from the main station. The huts are simple mountain huts, and all offer shared rooms, which are shared with other hikers if we don’t fill all beds and the hut is fully booked. Some huts only offer simple dormitories that are shared with other hikers. All huts have shared washing facilities, and some huts offer showers at additional cost. The huts serve buffet-style continental breakfast and a set vegetarian three-course dinner. Many huts offer (at least) one vegan dish by now and the huts aim to cater for dietary restrictions. However, it is not always possible given their simple facilities and remoteness of their location. If you have any dietary requirements, please communicate them in advance.

Travel:

It is possible and highly recommended to travel to Lienz by train. The hotel and meeting point in Lienz is within walking distance from the main station. Lienz is a 4-hour train ride from Innsbruck, where the nearest airport is located. Parking is not available at the hotel. I will travel by train only and am more than happy to assist with booking tickets. Please  get in touch!

Programme:

Day 1 – Arrival
We meet at the hotel in Lienz, where we'll also spend our last night, so extra luggage can be stored at the hotel during the tour. There is a pre-tour briefing and discussion of the packing list in the afternoon, once everyone has arrived, and a joined dinner in the city centre in the evening. 

Day 2 – Glorer Hütte (2642 m)
5 km, ↑ 750 m, 2.5 hrs 
We start from Lucknerhaus on a direct path up to Glorer Hütte. Once we’ve dropped our backpacks, we can continue on a circular walk to Salmhütte in the afternoon.

Day 3 – Elberfelder Hütte (2346 m)
9 km, ↑ 650 m, ↓ 950 m, 4 hrs 
Today we follow the Austria Skyline Trail first slightly downhill to the cross of Peischltörl before the path winds uphill to the Kesselkeespass. From here we can see the Elberfelder Hütte below us. Close to the hut are a few lakes worth exploring in the afternoon.

Day 4 – Noßberger Hütte (2488 m)
6 km, ↑ 800 m, ↓ 650 m, 3.5 hrs 
The crossing over the Hornpass at 2958 meters is advanced, as we climb over bolder and pass some exposed and technically difficult sections before getting to the pass. The path down to Noßberger Hütte is steep and narrow and that secured by a fixed rope railing. At the hut there are multiple little lakes that invite for a swim.

Day 5 – Wangenitzseehütte (2508 m)
7 km, ↑↓ 600 m, 3.5 hrs 
It is again a short crossing to Wangenitzseehütte, yet the path to the Gradenpass at 2800 meters is equally challenging as the day before with exposed and technically difficult parts that are partly prepared with fixed rope railings. This hut also sits next to a big lake that can be circled in about an hour, which makes for a nice afternoon stroll.

Day 6 – Hochschoberhütte (2322 m)
11 km, ↑ 800 m, ↓ 1000 m, 5 hrs 
We hike up to the Lower-Lake-Pass at 2529 meters before descending to Lienzer Hütte at 1977 meters. From here we follow the Mirnitz River up the valley until we reach the Mirnitzpass at 2743 meters. From here it is only a short descend to the Hochschoberhütte and we can decide whether we want to take a detour via Lake Barrensee.

Day 7 – St. Johann (748m)
10 km, ↓ 1600 m, 3 hrs 
We descend to St. Johann im Walde from where we take public transport back to Lienz.

Day 8 – Departure
We finish our hiking week over dinner the night before. Everybody can meet up for breakfast, yet you can start your travel home at any time today.

Note that our hiking days may differ from the described programme due to weather and path conditions or the physical ability of the group.