Walk Austria's Stubai Alps

Distance: 5 miles (8km)

Total ascent: 1,400 feet (400m)

In summary: We take a cable car to the slopes of the Elfer, then ascend to a high hut for coffee before following a balcony path through flower meadows with superb views of the Stubai valley. We return initially by the same route, then take another pretty path back to the cable car.

Highlight: The views from today's walks give a spectacular taste of the magnificent week's walking ahead.

Distance: 8 miles (13km) 

Total ascent: 2,500 feet (750m)

In summary: We take the same cable car but ascend beyond the hut to traverse across the top of the Elferspitze through magnificent rock scenery, giving an immediate taste of our walking for the week. We descend to the col and pick up the easier group’s return route to the cable car.

Highlight: Ascend Elferspitze, one of the Stubai ‘Seven Summits’.

Distance: 4 miles (6½km) 

Total ascent: 600 feet (180m)

Total descent: 2,600 feet (760m)

In summary: We take the gondola lift up to the Eisgrat and first of all admire the view of the glacier world. From here we hike downhill to the middle station along the glacier path. We then take the gondola back to the valley station to explore the end of the valley and hike to the highest waterfall in the Stubai Valley, fed by glacier water. An impressive natural phenomenon.

Highlight: The cable car trip, first thing, up to the Stubai glacier which provides the largest glacier skiing area in Austria.

Distance: 7½ miles (12km)

Total ascent: 2,000 feet (600m)

Total descent: 4,000 feet (1,200m)

In summary: We begin at the middle station and ascend past a small lake to a summit which gives panoramic views of the area. Descending to the pass, we take a high level route which passes another beautifully situated lake before descending to the valley floor for the bus home.

Highlight: The emerald green water of the Mutterbergsee Lake. Soak up the idyllic location and if you are lucky you might observe marmots playing on the boulders nearby.

Distance: 8 miles (13km)

Total ascent: 1,500 feet (450m)

In summary: We take the cable car, then a good forest track to the impressive monastery of Maria Waldrast. After coffee, we walk through alpine meadows and on forest trails. Back at the cable car, we can descend sedately – or try the summer toboggan run!

Highlight: The summer toboggan run is a great way to complete our walk. Descend the mountain in style! 

Distance: 10 miles (16km)

Total ascent: 3,300 feet (1,000m) 

In summary: We also head to the monastery and then continue to ascend across the rough slopes of Serles, with increasingly stunning views, until we reach the pass of the Serlesjochl, our high point. Returning by the outward route, we enjoy views to the east. At the cable car we have the same choice of return as the easier group.

Highlight: At Serlesjochl we have incredible views across the valley.

Distance: 5 miles (8km)

Ascent: 900ft (270m)

In summary: We start in the valley and take a path up to a beautiful alpine meadow with a rustic hut dominated by a ring of crags and a waterfall. Retracing our steps, we can follow the ‘Wild Water Way’ downstream passing other impressive waterfalls and cataracts, finishing at a hut to wait for the bus.

Highlight: The wild water way passes impressive waterfalls.

Distance: 10.5 miles (17km)

Ascent: 2700ft (830m)

In summary: We take the same route as the easier group, but then zigzag our way above the waterfall up to a higher hut. We then ascend further along the ‘Wild Water Way’ through dramatic rocky cascades up to a beautiful glacial lake. We return by the same route.

Highlight: The glacial lake is a superb spot to take in the views.

Distance: 6 miles (9½km)

Total ascent: 500 feet (150m)

Total descent: 2,700 feet (810m)

In summary: We ascend by cable car, then continue to a welcoming hut for coffee. Our descent takes us under towering crags and through flower meadows, using an informative heritage trail, to the Schlickeralm hut, and then on down to the middle cable car station for refreshments before our return to the valley.

Highlight: After disembarking the cable car, we are at an incredible viewpoint.

Distance: 7 miles (11km)

Total ascent: 2,700 feet (810m)

In summary: An opportunity to ascend another of the Stubai’s ‘seven summits’. From the top station we traverse and then ascend steeply, reaching a rocky pass and then crossing scree to gain our final ascent route, via a short fixed rope section, to the airy cross of the Hoher Burgstall. We descend to complete our circuit to the cable car and maybe a celebratory drink!

Highlight: Reaching the summit of the Hoher Burgstall.