Just a few kilometers from Innsbruck, in the southern part of Tyrol, opens a wide and sunny valley that surprises with a golf course, bike paths, an alpine playground and unparalleled wellness. This is the Zillertal valley, perfect for sports enthusiasts and family travelers: here nature, with its forests and lush green meadows, is the absolute star.
Exciting discoveries among hiking and endless trails for trekking or biking, mountain karts with which to get off the mountain for an adrenaline rush, and a world of outdoor experiences for all tastes.
Zillertal, a world to discover in Austria
Surrounded by mountains, pastures, and a bucolic landscape, located only 40 km from Innsbruck, the Zillertal is the largest of the Inntal side valleys in the Austrian Tyrol. Marked by a unique panorama of 55 peaks exceeding 3,000 meters, crossed by the Ziller River and located in the southern part of Tyrol, it is a constant surprise for travelers with children and beyond.
Characterized by a profoundly Tyrolean soul, it is a destination off the usual routes, for those looking for a vacation full of “authentic” experiences, to be lived in close contact with nature and with total respect for the environment. Here, in fact, the green policy is in force, for a conscious tourism that is as sustainable as possible: the valley is teleheated and completely energy independent, moreover, a good part of it is protected as a High Mountain Nature Park.
A playground in nature
In Fügen, one of the very first resorts one encounters, taking the Spieljoch gondola and descending to the top station, one is confronted with a giant natural adventure and playground with exciting views, offering families with children numerous activities all to experience, in total contact with nature.
Here there are games, slides, swings, a magnificent artificial lake to cross on a raft, a path where you can walk barefoot and free reconnecting with nature and experiencing different sensations in contact with the earth and stones. Plus: a thrilling Flying-Fox, a Kneipp path and the chance to try your hand at SUP(Stand Up Paddle).
A must try, absolutely, “mountain karts”: they are beginning to be seen in Italy as well and, in the summer, are an adrenaline-fueled blast. The mountain kart looks like a maxi tricycle for adults and children (it is allowed to those who measure more than 130 cm in stature) with large toothed tires, a comfortable seat, powerful brakes but, here’s the curiosity, without pedals and only works downhill. They are rented at the Spieljoch mountain station and are a unique experience.
An endless variety of hiking trails
For those who love to walk in the green, the Spieljoch offers a wealth of hiking trails for all abilities, many suitable even for young children, with breathtaking views of the Karwendel Massif, Achensee Lake, Wilder Kaiser and Kufstein, and the Kitzbühel Alps of the Zillertal and Tux.
In addition to the trail leading to the top of Spieljoch, there are several opportunities for nature hikes. A nice walk of about 45 minutes along the Knappensteig via ferrata takes you to the interesting mine-museum, where you have a chance to learn all about 40 years of mining history: on slag heaps in front of the old tunnels you will find iron ore, copper, cobalt, quartz and many others.
After visiting the mine, it is possible to walk on a trail to the Falschegg summit via the Onkeljoch and thus return to the starting point.
For a snack or lunch, right next to the playground, at the arrival of the cable car, is the Mountain Loft, an address to mark in your diary: here you can enjoy excellent pizza and the gourmet dishes of Venetian chef Gian Paolo Pacchiele, while your gaze from the windows opens onto a unique panorama.
In Kaltenbach, on the other hand, starting from the Kaltenbacher Hut, you comfortably reach Hubertus – The Wildlife Trail, just under 4 km long, with 8 educational stations where little explorers meet the animals that inhabit the mountains. Along the trail, which is comfortable to walk on even with little ones in strollers, there are also plenty of games to be found among streams on whose banks to stop and rest, life-size marmots, logs where you can practice your balance, comfortable loungers for relaxation, and a viewing platform where you can admire the extraordinary spectacle of nature.
Passion trekking
Zillertal is a true paradise for trekkers. Here you can find your ideal itinerary, from the simplest family walk to long multi-day treks at the foot of the glaciers. In fact, there are more than 1,400 km of hiking trails and as many as 25 equipped routes for via ferrata enthusiasts throughout Zillertal.
All in the saddle
The flat Zillertal cycle path, which is surrounded by fields, leads 31 km through a wide and sunny valley floor along the Ziller River from Mayrhofen to Strass. The easy route and various leisure options such as adventure parks, outdoor swimming pools, and playgrounds make the Zillertalradweg bicycle path an ideal tour for families with children and for those who take up cycling again.
Those who want to shorten or extend the route can use the romantic Zillertalbahn train . From the last stage location, you can continue on the “Inn cycle path,” an unparalleled scenic, cultural and culinary experience as the Inn cycle path, with its total length of 520 km and 5 stages, ranks as the longest cycle path in Europe.
Relaxation for the whole family
After so much open-air activity a stop at the spa is what gives the vacation a special touch. Fügen is home to the “Zillertal Therme,” which combines relaxation and fun. In fact, the spa offers plenty of opportunities for children to play and an ad hoc relaxation program for adults.
There is a slope for babies, numerous slides, a playground. And you can experience the thrill of a ride down the “Black Hole,” the longest water slide in all of western Austria (133 meters). The large thermal pool is heated year-round to 34° and is accessible daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Here you can soak in the illuminated grotto while listening to the roar of the waterfalls, but also swim in the running water channel or the heated outdoor channel.
Schlitters Bathing Lake
Schlitters Lake is located directly at the mouth of the Zillertal valley. The magnificent location, with a large manicured lawn for sunbathing, walkways, vegetation resembling that of a park, and a pond with a mild temperature (about 23 degrees) and excellent water quality, invite you to dive in for a refreshing swim well into September. In a sheltered corner of the lake, water lilies bloom next to a reed bed. And there is also a café where you can enjoy excellent coffee.
Where to sleep in the Zillertal
There is a very wide range on offer throughout the valley with solutions for all tastes and budgets. You can choose accommodations in exclusive chalets, vacation homes, apartments, farms, lodges with a very ancient history, farmhouses, campsites and in family hotels.
Perfect for those who are looking for a sophisticated establishment devoted to well-being, Hotel Wöscherhof****s(https://www.woescherhof.com), in Uderns, a stone’s throw from the golf course, promises to satisfy even the most discerning travelers, who can, for example, try the exclusive Suites with direct access pier to the natural pond, surrounded by a beautiful park. The hotel has a superb wellness offering: it has an indoor and outdoor pool and a wellness area with various saunas and relaxation zones as well as an excellent activity program.
Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that it is located just 400 meters from the 18-hole Zillertal Uderns Golf Club course. The hotel is an ideal solution for those seeking unforgettable gourmet experiences and a family-friendly yet refined ambiance. On a weekly basis you also have the opportunity to participate in wine tastings with an experienced sommelier.
For those who enjoy a vacation en plein air the Zillertal offers plenty of options in campsites surrounded by nature, equipped with every comfort and with decidedly glam accommodations. Spread throughout the valley, the modern campsites offer the best you could wish for from a vacation: from the spa to the adventure park, and then indoor and outdoor pools , top services and the possibility of practicing a great many sports to which are added proposals for different activities every day to get to know and explore the area.
Some tips? The “Natürlich… Hell,” in Fügen, right at the entrance to the Zillertal, a 5-star campground that focuses on eco-sustainability with super SPA, luxury private bathrooms to rent for the duration of your stay, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools(www.hell-tirol.at).
In Aschau is theErlebnisresort Aufenfeld, which for more than 40 years has been a true benchmark in the camping and glamping industry for the quality of its services and facilities, with a swimming lake, various restaurants, shop, tennis courts, spa, heated swimming pools and an adventure park (www.camping-zillertal.at/en).
Among family hotels, a good choice is the Seetal Alpin Family Resort****(https://www.seetal.at) in Kaltenbach, a 10-minute drive from Fügen, in a beautiful scenic location. Its wellness area is immense: its three pools, one of which is indoor, and a natural swimming pond offer just the right refreshment after a nice walk or bike ride. For children, there is a super playground of 20,000 square meters, with an educational farm, a giant trampoline, and a climbing tower.
An articulate and refined entertainment and baby-sitting service is available, with fun and educational activities that change daily, lunch and dinner together, and fun cooking classes for the little ones.
Info: www.best-of-zillertal.at