Walks Team Q&A: Exploring the Austrian Alps with Collett’s
Author : Lara Ehmler
6th December 2024
As the summer season in the Austrian Alps winded down, we sat down with Collett’s Walks Team members, Klaas and Sharon, to chat with them about their favourite moments, local recommendations, and their views on what makes Collett’s walking holidays in Austria’s Zugspitz Arena so special.
On a Collett’s centre-based holiday, you are based throughout your stay at the same fabulous hotel accommodation, which is a sublime springboard for venturing out on magical local walks of all grades. Simultaneously, the holiday provides you with complete flexibility over your day-to-day itinerary.
On top of a detailed Walk Pack, featuring a selection of tried & tested gems, our in-resort Walks Team is on hand to support you in planning your walking itinerary so that it suits your own level of fitness and ambition. After four seasons working with Collett’s, Klaas & Sharon built up a wealth of experience in this corner of the Austrian Alps. So, let’s dive into their insights to help you get the most out of your next walking holiday in Austria.
Walking in the Zugspitz Arena, Austria
Collett’s Team: Hi Klaas and Sharon! You’ve been with Collett’s for several seasons now. How would you describe walking in Austria, particular in the Zugspitz Arena?
Klaas: The diversity of this area is insanely good! Our base in Ehrwald, an authentic Tyrolean village, is surrounded by quiet trails and majestic mountains. It feels like the perfect escape into nature, with every walk offering something unique and different.
Sharon: Agreed! There are no two walks in this area that are the same. All of them have a different reason to be called a highlight. When we ask guests about their favourite walks, they usually start answering with one walk and then they end up listing all the walks they did that week!
Why we chose Ehrwald as a base in the Austrian Alps
Our centre-based walking holidays in the Austrian Alps are based in the charming village of Ehrwald, nestled at the foot of the Zugspitze. We selected it as the base for our centre-based walking holidays several years ago for its unspoilt beauty and outstanding range of hiking options, from easy meadow walks to challenging summit routes, all easily accessible from Ehrwald. As you can tell from Klaas & Sharon’s enthusiasm, it was a good decision!
We’ve since perfected these walking holidays, from the wonderful Hotel Sonnenspitze with it’s authentic feel and fantastic food, to the thoroughly researched walks we provide for walkers of all levels of fitness. And in case you have any questions during your holiday, our Walks Team are at hand to support you. So, let’s hear more about their favourite walks…
Your Favourite Walks in Ehrwald
Collett’s: That sounds absolutely brilliant. Whilst we’re on the topic of walks, what were your Top 3 favourites in Ehrwald this season?
Sharon: It’s so hard to pick just three! We do love remote trails, so our favourites are among the less busy walks. The good thing about the region around Ehrwald is that it’s never crazy busy and you can always find a quiet place to enjoy the scenery.
Igelstorl (the Hedgehog Pass), for example, is the most remote walk in the area and definitely our favourite. It has amazing views, an old miners’ hut and a tunnel built into the mountain. Also, there is a good chance of spotting a large herd of gams (chamois) and hearing the marmots whistling! Even at weekends in the high season, you won’t find many people in this area. The views on this walk are amazing in all directions. Even though the pass is the highest point, there’s many highlights on the way down again. We love the little lake (Brendlsee) and the remnants of a WWII bomber plane is quite a sight to see.
Klaas: Agreed! Another favourite is the ‘Hoher Gang and Coburger Hütte’ trail. This walk has a great mix of terrain—starting with a steep forest trail before the path opens up, offering stunning views over Seebensee, one of the area’s most beautiful lakes. Not only are the colours of the lake unreal, the view on the Wetterstein is as well! After that, you can continue to the Coburger Hütte and enjoy one of the best apple strudels in the region with views over Drachensee.
Sharon: Finally, I have to mention ‘Hollkopf Peak’. It’s a shorter, steeper walk up to a beautiful peak, which again feels remote even on a busy weekend in the high season. The views from the top extend into Italy on a clear day. The most fun part is going down this mountain. You can feel like a kid again by choosing either the mountain carts or the summer toboggan! This really is crazy fun and, of course, some of our guests could not resist trying it out. We loved the excitement in their eyes when a couple of 78-year olds took the toboggan descent! They loved it so much, they went back later that week to go again!
Local Expertise Meets Memorable Walks
Our centre-based walking holidays in the Austrian Alps cater to all fitness levels, offering routes from beginner-friendly to more challenging hikes. The Moderate Classics category are typically the most popular, though many guests also choose options that we grade as Easy & Idyllic or Challenging Treks . Our on-site Walks Team is always available to assist you in picking the perfect routes, whether you’re looking to increase the difficulty or take it easy after a challenging day. While the holiday is self-guided, we provide everything you need for a seamless experience, including comprehensive walk notes, maps, and GPX tracking for your smartphone to ensure easy navigation.
Lazy days are allowed (!) and it’s your choice to take a day-off from walking. If you do decide to be a tourist for the day instead of a hiker, we have an abundance of recommendations, whether you visit Garmisch, Partenkirchen, or another fascinating place of interest. There are also some of our favourite gastronomic secrets to tell you about!
We recently spoke with Collett’s guests Meryl & Jez about their experience in the Austrian Alps, including their favourite walks and their overall experience. Read the interview with them here.
Read Guest Review
Local Food and Drink Recommendations
Collett’s: Austria is known for a few famous dishes. What are your local recommendations that every guest should try?
Klaas: Sharon’s favourite is Käsespätzle, but we also love the knödel at the Gartner Alm and Ehrwalder Alm. Don’t miss the Alpenburek at Gams Alm either—it’s a delicious local dish.
Sharon: When it comes to sweet treats, the apfelstrudel at the Coburger Hütte is a must, and the Kaiserschmarrn at Gartner Alm is another favourite. For drinks, we always recommend Almdudler, or one of the many flavours of Schorle.
Klaas: If you’re looking for a great café in Ehrwald, Theos Genuss has an amazing selection of sweet and savoury treats. It’s impossible to choose just one or two, so we always find ourselves going back!
What Makes Collett’s Centre-Based Holidays in Austria Unique?
Collett’s: What do you think sets Collett’s walking holidays in Austria apart from other walking holidays?
Sharon: I think the local Walks Team adds a lot of value. Being on-site allows us to give up-to-date advice on trail conditions, especially when guests are nervous about specific sections. Some guests have a fear of heights, so we take photos and videos of tricky spots during our recce walks to help them feel more confident.
Klaas: Our Office Hours are another crucial part of the Collett’s experience. Guests often stop by to ask about weather forecasts, walking apps, or public transport, but sometimes they just want to chat about their day. Some guests also drop in to have enjoy drink and a chat about the meaning of life! It’s amazing to see how our guests connect with each other. This seems to be very easy, because we all have one thing in common… a love of walking in the mountains.
The Collett’s Experience
On a Collett’s walking holiday, you’re in the hands of mountain specialists and hiking enthusiasts. Everyone on our team is a lover of the great outdoors with first-hand experience of our holidays and destinations, from the office crew answering your pre-holiday enquiries, to our on-site teams like Sharon & Klaas, sharing their local knowledge.
Another key part of our centre-based walking holidays is Office Hour. Far less formal than its name suggests, guests can join our Walks Team and other Collett’s guests over a sociable pre-dinner drink, where you can ask questions, plan your next walk, connect with other walkers, and enjoy dinner with everything sorted for the following day. Office Hour is optional and over the years, it has become a much-loved Collett’s institution. Occasionally, people call our UK office asking if we are the guys who run the holidays, which their friends just told them about – the ones when walkers meet up in the early evening over a relaxing drink, chat together about their day in the mountains and get everything they need to plan their days. That’ll be Office Hour!
Collett’s: Thank you for being such a valuable part of the Collett’s experiences for guests. What kind of feedback do you hear from them about this holiday?
Sharon: Guests are often surprised by how peaceful Ehrwald is. Many arrive with no expectations, but by the end of the week, they’re blown away by the beauty of the area. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive, especially about our Walk Packs, which open up the area so efficiently for our guests and include a such a variety of routes — from lakeside strolls, to trails through gorges under cascading waterfalls!
Klaas: Our accommodation Hotel Sonnenspitze also gets rave reviews. Guests love the mix of a relaxed atmosphere and top-notch facilities like the pool and wellness area. And of course, the food is a big hit—especially the afternoon snack hour and the salad bar, which could be a meal in itself!
Collett’s Team: Thank you so much for speaking with us. What’s your next adventure with Collett’s?
Klaas: Switzerland! We’ve been hearing amazing things about the Engadin Valley from Taea and Bela, the Collett’s Walks Team in Switzerland, and we’re really keen to experience it for ourselves.
You can read more about our centre-based Switzerland walking holidays in our interview with Walks Team members, Taea and Bela here.
Explore Austria with Collett’s
Collett’s centre-based holidays in the Austrian Alps offer a unique blend of support and freedom. With the expertise of experienced WalksTeams, like Klaas and Sharon, you can tailor each day to your preferences, whether you want a leisurely valley stroll or a challenging peak ascent.
So, whether you’re a seasoned walker or just starting out, our holidays are designed to cater to all levels of experience and fitness. The Austrian Alps are as ideal for flower meadow meanders as they are for precarious, panoramic ridges. All our walks provide a breathtaking backdrop for your adventures, each one a new and exciting experience. Stay at the welcoming Hotel Sonnenspitze and enjoy the local food, stunning alpine scenery, and diverse trails—all without the crowds.
Ready for your next adventure? The Austrian Alps are calling!
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