Guided Walking at Solden

• Our experienced leaders offer the choice of two different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness
• We provide flexible holidays. Choose easier walking one day and harder the next or just explore independently or relax around the resort
• Our leaders are friendly and welcoming making your holiday fun and sociable

       Easier Walks    Harder Walks      High Routes

On good paths which can be rough and stony on the Harder walks some steeper and rougher routes.  

Early and late season dates will consist of a mixture between itineraries 1 and 2 to suit local conditions.

Mixture of itineraries: Sat 1 September 2012

Itinerary one

Sat 30 June; 14, 28 July; 11, 25 August

Day 1: Arrival Day

You should arrive in time to settle into your room before the evening meal. On the first evening our leaders will explain more about the walks.   

Day 2: Above Sölden

Both the easier and harder walks start from the hamlet of Hochsolden which has fine views of Solden area. It can be reached by bus or cable car.

Easier Walk: 6 miles with up to 1,250 feet of ascent and 1,030 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 8 ½ miles with up to 2,090 feet of ascent and 1,840 feetof descent

Day 3: Windachtal and the Brunnenkogel

These walks head into the Windachtal, a narrow wooded valley close to Sölden. Our walks head to opposite sides of this valley, either to the Kleblealm Hut, or the summit of Brunnenkogel, before descending to the hotel.

Easier Walk: 5½ miles with up to 640 feet of ascent and 2,180 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 7¾ miles with up to 2,900 feet of ascent and 4,700 feet of descent

Day 4: Pibergersee or the Wetterkreuzkogel

Today we take the bus down the valley to enjoy two contrasting walks which finish in Oetz, the lowest of the valley villages. The easier walk follows the valley floor, whilst the harder option uses the gondola to reach a mountain circuit that includes the summit of Wetterkreuzkogel.

Easier Walk: 7½ miles with up to 470 feet of ascent and 1,100 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 7¾ miles with up to 2,230 feet of ascent

Free day

Each week there is a free day where no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest.

Options include:

• Aqua Dome: Situated in the village of Längenfeld, the Aqua Dome spa complex is well worth a visit, especially if you want to relax after a few days’ walking. The complex includes pools, spa pools and saunas. The Ötztal card provides one free admission to the Aqua Dome
• Glaciers: It is possible to take the glacier bus high up the mountainside to the glaciers overlooking Sölden. On a clear day the views across to peaks on the Italian border are spectacular
• Activities in Sölden: If you are feeling more active, Sölden has a large swimming pool and leisure centre. A range of activities including mountain biking, paragliding and canyoning are all available locally
• Stuibenfall Waterfall: If this walk doesn’t feature in your programme of guided walks, you may enjoy a walk to the Stuibenfall, an impressive single cascade. Take the bus down the valley to Umhausen, from where it is a pleasant stroll up to the falls
• Innsbruck: Reached by bus or train, Innsbruck, the historic capital of the Tyrol, offers an interesting day out. Places to visit include the Imperial Palace, the Royal Gardens, the cathedral and various churches of particular interest. Guided coach tours are available whilst the old town is an attractive area for strolling and sightseeing

Day 6: Along the Ventertal

The Ventertal is the principal side valley of the main Ötz Valley which splits just south of Sölden. A superb balcony path along the north slopes forms the basis for both these walks, either in descent for the easier walk, or a longer walk in reverse as the harder option.

Easier Walk: 6½ miles with up to 640 feet of ascent and 2,920 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 11¾ miles with up to 2,510 feet of ascent and 3,300 feet of descent

Day 7: Around Obergurgl

Situated at the head of the valley, Obergurgl is famous as being the highest parish in Austria. Now a popular ski resort it is also a useful starting point for walks in the upper valley. Either choose from the easier balcony path or a higher walk to the summit of Hohe Mut and the Rotmoos Glacier

Easier Walk: 6.5 miles and up to 720 feet of ascent and 2560 feet of descent.

Harder Walk: 10 miles and up to 1000 feet of ascent and 3545 feet of descent.

Itinerary Two

Sat 7, 21 July; 4, 18 August

Day 1: Arrival Day 

You should arrive in time to settle into your room before the evening meal. On the first evening our leaders will explain more about the walks.   

Day 2: Traverse of Gaislachkogel

The towering summit of Gaislachkogel is situated high above Sölden. Both walks make use of the superb traversing path which circles the mountain, offering excellent views of the surrounding area.

Easier Walk: 7 miles with 690 feet of ascent and 2,900 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 9½ miles with up to 3,018 feet of ascent and 2,705 feet of descent

Day 3: Above the village of Vent

The Ventertal is the principal side valley of the main Ötz Valley which splits just south of Sölden. At its head is the small village of Vent, a cluster of houses and farms around its traditional ‘onion-domed’ church. From this beautiful, peaceful spot we can enjoy walks into the remote landscapes above the village.

Easier Walk: 7 miles with up to 1,770 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 6 miles with up to 2,430 feet of ascent and descent

Day 4: Stübenfall or Wockelwarte

Today we travel down the valley to enjoy two contrasting walks. The easier route visits the superb Stubai Waterfall whilst the harder option ascends to the summit of Wockelwarte.

Easier Walk: 8¼ miles with up to 1,790 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 8 miles with up to 3,300 feet of ascent and descent

 Day 5: Free Day 

Each week there is a free day where no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest.

Options include:

• Aqua Dome: Situated in the village of Längenfeld, the Aqua Dome spa complex is well worth a visit, especially if you want to relax after a few days’ walking. The complex includes pools, spa pools and saunas. The Ötztal card provides one free admission to the Aqua Dome
• Glaciers: It is possible to take the glacier bus high up the mountainside to the glaciers overlooking Sölden. On a clear day the views across to peaks on the Italian border are spectacular  
• Activities in Sölden: If you are feeling more active Sölden has a large swimming pool and leisure centre. A range of activities including mountain biking, paragliding and canyoning are all available locally
• Stuibenfall Waterfall: If this walk doesn’t feature in your programme of guided walks, you may enjoy a walk to the Stuibenfall, an impressive single cascade. Take the bus down the valley to Umhausen, from where it is a pleasant stroll up to the falls
• Innsbruck: Reached by bus or train, Innsbruck, the historic capital of the Tyrol, offers an interesting day out. Places to visit include the Imperial Palace, the Royal Gardens, the cathedral and various churches of particular interest. Guided coach tours are available whilst the old town is an attractive area for strolling and sightseeing

Day 6: The Upper Valley from Obergurgl to Sölden 

These walks explore the upper valley between Sölden and Obergurgl. Either select a pleasant riverside walk along the valley floor or a high-level traverse of the slopes above.

Easier Walk: 7 miles with up to 700 feet of ascent and 2,200 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 8¼ miles with up to 2,510 feet of ascent and 3,265 feet of descent

 Day 7: Hochsölden

Situated high above Sölden, Hochsölden is a small hamlet of mountain chalets, cafés and hotels which serves principally as a base for skiing in the winter. For our walks we can use the chairlifts to reach these attractive high pastures and mountains.

Easier Walk: 8¼ miles with up to 1,330 feet of ascent and 1,985 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 7¾ miles with up 2,445 feet of ascent and 3,080 feet of descent

Day 8: Departure Day or free day for guests staying 14 nights

Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and on the website four weeks before departure. Your leaders will brief you every evening about the next day’s walks.

High Routes - 21 July 2012

Our high level walks venture to high summits and cols that are normally 'off-limits' on our Guided Walking holidays. Using cable cars and rough steep paths, that may be exposed or have fixed ropes, we'll aim for some of the area's best summits. Most holidays have opportunities to bag some 3,000m (10,000 feet) peaks: a memorable achievement that you'll want to savour. 8 to 13 miles with up to 4,500 feet of ascent.

The spectacular mountains of the Oetz Valley have many high-level traverses and achievable 3,000m summits including the Gaisachkogel and Nederkogel.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at the hotel. On other days we’ll use the public transport to explore the surrounding area. The cost of transport to and from the walk is payable locally.