The focus was on appreciation of Alpine plants in the late spring/early summer. The client group were all really enthusiastic about this and the guides very knowledgeable. It was at a relaxed pace and we used different cable cars or chairlifts on most days to walk short distances and appreciate the beautiful surroundings. The hotel and food was excellent! Naturetrek run trips focussed on some aspect of the beauty of the natural world and with each of my three trips with them I have always found the guide to be extremely knowledgeable, the holiday well thought through and well organised. It’s probably my favourite holiday company.
J.W. Nottinghamshire, Jun 23
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Go Slow in the Austrian Alps
Tour Code: AUT02A leisurely 8-day botany and birdwatching holiday to the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol, based in the charming village of Ehrwald.
£2,095 (Inc flights)
£1,850
Highlights
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Summary
The breathtaking Austrian Alps support a rich diversity of mountain birds and plants, all amidst astonishing alpine scenery. On this leisurely tour, we’ll stay for seven nights at the 4-star Alpen Residence Hotel, situated in the centre of the small Tyrolean village of Ehrwald. Over the course of the week, we’ll use an extensive network of cable cars and chairlifts to explore the surrounding area in depth, never walking more than three miles a day over flat or gently rolling terrain. On our excursions, we’ll botanise and birdwatch past lakes, peaks, woods and meadows, searching for special highland species, and enjoying the sweeping mountain vistas as we go. Each day’s activities will end in mid-afternoon with tea and cake at the hotel, allowing us ample time to relax, wander the nearby woods, or simply slip into the heated pool.
- Enjoy the Austrian Alps’ epic scenery & fascinating wildlife at a gentle pace
- Chairlifts take you straight to the best areas – no need for long hikes!
- Flowers including Alpenrose, Sword-leaved Helleborine & Lady's Slipper Orchid
- Many other orchids possible too, including the rare Chamorchis alpina
- Alpine birds such as Snowfinch, Lammergeier, Nutcracker & Golden Eagle
- Take a spectacular cable car ride up the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain
- Stay in a delightful 4-star hotel, with heated pool, spa & large gardens
Set in the beautiful Austrian Tyrol, close to Austria’s border with Germany, the picturesque village of Ehrwald sits at the base of the mighty Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. The 4-star Alpen Residence Hotel, lying at the heart of this small Tyrolean village, will be our base for the week. From it we will enjoy a range of leisurely botanical and wildlife excursions, exploring the magnificent surrounding alpine landscapes of the Tiroler Zugspitze Arena by means of the region’s extensive network of cable cars and chairlifts. These will allow us a very flexible programme of activities, with each day of excursions ending in the mid afternoon with tea and cake back at our hotel, leaving ample time to relax, enjoy the extensive gardens, wallow in the hotel’s warm pool or spa, or take a gentle stroll in the nearby larch woodlands.
Our plan will be to use chairlifts to ascend each day, then walk for up to three miles over flat or gently undulating terrain. On one day we will visit an alpine lake, Heiterwanger See, where a stroll along the shoreline may yield such plants as One-flowered Wintergreen and Fly, Butterfly and Burnt-tip Orchids. On another day, at the top of the Grubigstein cable car, we should find abundant Alpine gems including gentians, rock jasmines, Alpenrose, Red, White and Swordleaved Helleborines and perhaps even Lady’s Slipper Orchids. Time exploring the woods should also be worthwhile – a chance to find such species as Astrantia bavarica, Pink Globe Orchid, Small White Orchid and Lesser Twayblade. We will try to choose a clear and sunny day for the spectacular cable car ride to the top of the Zugspitze itself, where the flora and fauna will be more limited but the views will be breathtaking. The region’s birdlife is typical of the Alps, with Golden Eagle and Lammergeier always possible overhead, Nutcracker and Western Bonelli’s Warbler in the forests, plus Snowfinch, Alpine Chough and Alpine Accentor on the higher slopes. If the weather is kind, there should be numerous colourful butterflies on the wing too. After a leisurely week of botanising and wildlife-watching, we will return to Munich Airport to catch our flight home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We are based for the week at the 4* Alpen Residence hotel in Ehrwald. We will be staying in spacious ‘Deluxe’ rooms which each have a balcony and sitting area. The hotel’s spa includes a warm pool, two steam rooms, sauna and comfortable relaxation areas.
- Food:
All food is included in the tour price. An excellent buffet breakfast and evening meal will be taken at the hotel each day, and we will plan to take picnic lunches to keep us going during our daily excursions.
Reviews
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The arrangements from start to finish were excellent. The hotel was outstanding - good food and very comfortable. The daily trips out were wonderful and well-planned, taking into account the needs of the group, variety, length of trips etc. The area was outstanding - beautiful scenery, great nature, knowledgeable leaders, etc . . . . . All transport was taken care of - comfortable and safe drivers.
M.S. Leicestershire, Jun 23
Dates & Prices
2025
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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