Being close to nature is a playful way to live in the mountains - just feel the grass under your feet and walk, walk, walk. But you don't necessarily have to hike to learn to stay grounded and live down-to-earth: Biking is high on the list, from downhilling to e-biking; but so is horseback riding. One thing is certain: All paths lead to the destination.

BEST OF HOTELS

KRALLERHOF
"HOME WHERE SUMMER IS AT HOME"

"We at the Hotel Krallerhof in Leogang in Salzburger Land stand for relaxation, a special devotion to design, ambience and true luxury of our time: relaxation that is only available with us", is the promise at the Hotel Krallerhof, which titles itself as a "manufactory for the beautiful things that make life worth living". Refined is the culinary art, which is characterized by handcrafted perfection. Selected materials and lots of art turn every room into a kind of gallery. The holistic Eastern and Western wellness philosophy comes to fruition in the spa: in addition to the indoor pool with sound dome and the sauna pool in the garden, there are several relaxation rooms, eight saunas, steam baths and the exclusive "Private Spa". In addition to classic massages, lymphatic drainage as well as hot stone, shiatsu and Ayurveda treatments are offered. Double room from € 200,- incl. pampering board. Let's be there.

Hotel Krallerhof****S
Rain 6, 5771 Leogang, Austria
T: +43 6583 8246
krallerhof.com

ALPENHOTEL MONTAFON
HOST FOR "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THIS WORLD

The recently renovated four-star superior hotel "Alpenhotel Montafon" is a hot tip for a holiday in the Vorarlberg mountain valley - and a successful example of harmonious togetherness: tried and tested meets new here, such as the new fitness or yoga room, the family spa or the alpine spa. A number of sports can be practiced in the area: tennis, golf, fishing, biking or hiking. The hotel is proud of the privilege of being "host to the beautiful of this world" - meaning motorized beauties à la Porsche, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Morgan or classic cars. The location of the house is a perfect starting point for extended tours. While guests can recharge their batteries in the hotel's own wellness area, which has been given a new lease of life, their motorised electric and hybrid companions can be refuelled at e-tank pumps. Double room from € 142,- per person with breakfast.

Alpenhotel Montafon****S
Silvrettastraße 175, 6780 Schruns im Montafon, Austria
T: +43 5556 75700
alpenhotel-montafon.net

HOTEL LAMARK
AT A PRIVILEGED ALTITUDE

The hotel "Lamark" is managed by the third generation of the Fankhauser family. The spacious rooms and suites have a chic alpine lifestyle look, the cuisine is upscale with a Tyrolean twist. The "Lamark-Stube", which has received awards from Falstaff, is the domain of the hotel's chef, Alexander Fankhauser. The culinary offer is rounded off by a large selection of wines, champagnes and fine spirits. The "Lamark" is an ideal starting point for hikes. A privilege of the altitude is that it is almost pollen and mite free and in summer you can escape the valley heat. Cool air ensures a perfect sleep. The summit peace is "disturbed" at most by the ringing of the alpine cows' bells and the murmur of the mountain stream. The hotel is also a stage destination on the very popular Tegernsee-Sterzing Alpine crossing.
Double room from € 105,- per person with half board.

Hotel Lamark****
Hochfügen 34, 6264 Fügenberg, Austria
T: +43 5280 225
lamark.com

NATURHOTEL LEITLHOF
CHARACTERIZED BY SUSTAINABILITY AND REGIONALITY

"Nature is our luxury" - this is the guiding principle at the "Leitlhof" in San Candido. With its own wood-fired power plant, the South Tyrolean domicile is one of the few energy self-sufficient hotels. The hotel's own farm also places a high value on regionality. In the kitchen, chef Markus Auer has the scepter in his hand - inspiration is sought and found in nature. Fine wines, which are stored in the hotel's own wine cellar, round off the culinary experience. There is more to the list of extraordinary details, such as the perfect location with the spa area, which is also influenced by nature. Guests are also able to get off the beaten track thanks to a creative activities programme with guided walks; there's also an equipment service and, as a treat, plenty of insider tips from the locals. Double room from € 124,- per person with breakfast.

Naturhotel Leitlhof****
Via Pusteria 29, 39038 San Candido BZ, Italy
T: +39 0474 913440
leitlhof.com

PANORAMA HOTEL ALPENSTERN
PROMISING AND EXTREMELY TASTEFUL

"Damüls is an idyllic place where tranquillity is omnipresent, where far-sightedness takes on a new dimension and hospitality is so much more than you expect" - this is the promise of the Bischof and Steinfeld host families. The "Alpenstern" more than lives up to the epithet "panorama hotel": the domicile, situated at an altitude of 1600 metres, is a central starting point, lies directly on the network of hiking trails in the midst of the mountain world and offers a panoramic view over the rooftops of Damüls. The holiday destination itself has over 300 kilometres of hiking trails. The offer includes mountain bike tours and trails or guided hikes with the hotel's own hiking guide. The four-star superior hotel itself is a "Berg Aktiv-Mitgliedsbetrieb", a certified hiking operation and offers the guided hikes several times a week, e-charging stations are also available. A longer stay is rewarded: from three nights guests receive the "Bregenzerwald Card" with special additional offers. After an active day, relaxation is recommended in the hotel's own spa area with spa treatments, outdoor infinity pool, indoor pool, adults-only relaxation oasis or a sauna with panoramic views. The cuisine is also dedicated to the motto "rich in views and tasteful". The processing of regional products is the top priority. The evening menu can be excellently accompanied by excellent wines. The à la carte offer in the "Panorama Restaurant" including sun terrace is also top. You can also relax in your rooms in chic alpine style - with fragrant wood, warm colours and natural materials dominating the interior design. A panoramic view is of course guaranteed, as well as free high-speed internet, flat-screen TV, fresh mountain spring water, a safe, a separate WC, a wellness bag with cosy bathrobes and sauna towels, and a minibar. Double room from € 123,- per person with half board.

Panoramahotel Alpenstern****S
Damüls 191, 6884 Damüls, Austria
T: +43 05510 5130
hotel-alpenstern.at

HOTEL THE KRONTHALER
IN POLE POSITION BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND LAKE

The four-star superior hotel DAS KRONTHALER is situated in a secluded location between mountain and lake in the middle of the Karwendel nature park and very close to the largest lake in Tyrol - the Achensee. The characterful Alpine lifestyle and Adults-only hotel is probably the place of longing for a perfect summer holiday. Almost all guest wishes can be fulfilled - no matter what you are looking for. A hideaway in the lush green forest? A house by the lake? A chalet on the mountain? A spa where you can recharge your batteries? Or a gourmet spot where you can be pampered with healthy slow-food cuisine at will? DAS KRONTHALER will make these wishes come true. The excellent cuisine is rooted, cosmopolitan, refreshing and creative in equal parts - "cuisine with roots", so to speak, and always light, vital and healthy. The architecture of the house includes a variety of stylish spaces. Each of the rooms, chalets and suites is unique - and every day at Hotel DAS KRONTHALER is an experience. In addition to the stylish ambience and the adults-only philosophy, the activities, which are virtually added on top when you book your accommodation, make the hotel something really special. Among the activities on offer are guided forest bathing, summit tours, climbing adventures and yoga sessions. Stand-up paddling is currently experiencing a lot of hype - Lake Achensee is predestined for this trend sport. Biking, horseback riding or golfing are also wonderful and multifaceted possibilities in this region. The ambience in the hotel is unique, nature is close enough to touch. In the 2500 m2 spa with indoor and outdoor pools, which are connected to each other, as well as with a selection of saunas, steam baths and infrared cabins, guests can also enjoy a view of the mountain, forest and lake ... Double room from € 160,- per person with full board.

THE KRONTHALER****S
Am Waldweg 105a, 6215 Achenkirch, Austria
T: +43 5246 6389
daskronthaler.com

NATUR & SPA HOTEL LÄRCHENHOF
IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH NATURE

"Located at the highest, closest to nature" is the claim of the Natur & Spa Hotel Lärchenhof in Seefeld in Tyrol. The hotel is the perfect starting point to experience, feel and enjoy nature up close. Not only because there are numerous meadows and forests around the hotel, but also hiking and biking routes start right outside the front door. The "Natur & Spa Hotel" also offers an extensive and varied activity programme, including guided e-bike tours including free e-bike hire with activity guide Andreas. The hotels of the Marcati family also include five apartment houses or hotels and two a la carte restaurants. During the summer there are also specially arranged active offers. Guests can book guided e-bike tours including e-bike, a guided hike with guide Andreas, yoga - in good weather on the roof terrace - and numerous other activities. Optionally, you can also rent e-bikes, hiking poles, backpacks and much more in the house, subject to availability. The rooms and suites are furnished in a classic-modern, sought-after alpine style - natural tones are clearly the focus here. The philosophy of the spa area is also exciting: the guiding principle and the marVita philosophy are based on a lot of knowledge and the effect of the four elements fire, water, air and earth. The hotel's own restaurant offers a calming view of the adjacent forest thanks to large panoramic windows. The "Lärchenhof" kitchen team conjures up exquisite dishes from the best local products for its guests from morning to evening, creatively combining regional ingredients with international gourmet standards. By the way, the Seefeld region presents itself as a top summer destination in general, with over 650 kilometres of marked hiking, mountain and via ferrata routes in all degrees of difficulty. Double room from € 107,- per person with half board.

Nature & Spa Hotel Lärchenhof****S
Geigenbühelstraße 203, 6100 Seefeld, Austria
T: +43 5212 2383
hotel-laerchenhof-seefeld.com

And another trendy hotspot....

3 battlements

"The Dolomites are the most beautiful building in the world", once stated architect Le Corbusier. And this "most beautiful building" is joined by captivating views and "Pure Nature. Probably the most famous peaks of the Dolomites are the Three Peaks - impressive natural wonders.

The chalky Dolomite massif in northern Italy has been part of the Unesco World Heritage since 2009 and is therefore officially one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The region of the same name not only impresses with its unique natural scenery, it also presents itself as a multi-award-winning ski resort in winter as well as a perfect travel destination in summer. Top accommodation is also not too hard to find in this region; it is also known as a hiker's and climber's paradise. The moment when you reach the summit is hard to express in words - it has to be experienced for yourself.

However, the imposing Three Peaks themselves do not have to be climbed straight away; there is also no shortage of opportunities to walk around them. The view from the top is rewarding in any case. There is also a climbing garden - and a lot of unique natural scenery: the imposing Braies and Sesto Dolomites, the charming valleys and the Three Peaks and Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Parks. If you don't want to walk up the mountain, you can also use the cable cars. Near the mountain stations of the excursion mountains there are also various family parks, which provide the necessary fun and entertainment. A very attractive time to visit the 3 Peaks region is also autumn, when the air becomes clearer and the leaves of nature appear even more colourful and impressive ... dreizinnen.com

For mountain lovers

BIKEHOTELS SOUTH TYROL 

For an all-round carefree cycling holiday in the Alps there is only one choice: the BikeHotels South Tyrol. Advertorial

The 34 BikeHotels are passionate about bringing their guests closer to South Tyrol, its cuisine and its local specialities on two wheels. The hosts of the hotel association are themselves passionate mountain bikers and road cyclists and know their way around their respective biking areas.
They advise their guests personally and individually and are never at a loss for good insider tips. The bikes of the guests are parked in the BikeHotel in safe and spacious bike garages, where there are also reasonably equipped repair corners. The uncomplicated bike and e-bike rental is also a hobbyhorse of the hotel group. Local guides invite you to join daily guided tours on different levels and show you a South Tyrol you may never have experienced before. In South Tyrol, the biking season lasts from mid-March to mid-November, making it longer and sunnier than anywhere else in the Alps. Already at the beginning of spring the trails in the Vinschgau and Merano regions are dry as dust. From the end of May or the beginning of June, numerous lifts in the Dolomites and in the Eisack Valley transport mountain bikers up into the mountains, making countless tours easier. Finally, in autumn the days become shorter, but the biking season continues and thanks to mild temperatures and mostly dry conditions is extended extensively into November. In addition, there are bike events and races throughout the season as well as car-free days, where the focus is clearly on enjoying the landscape and cycling together. bikehotels.it

PLEASURABLE EXPERIENCES

Thanks to its technical development into e-biking, mountain biking is experiencing the most enormous boom of all sports - a perfect infrastructure has been created in all tourist destinations. Many guests also seek "happiness on earth" on horseback, as the saying goes, and last but not least, hiking is probably the mountain sport par excellence. But you don't necessarily have to climb to the top of a mountain or go to a mountain hut: More and more hiking trails lead past cities, allow you to discover culture and enjoy culinary delights along the way. The same is true for cycling: the 300-kilometre-long premium cycle path "Donautäler" (Danube valleys) in Bavaria, for example, connects impressive landscapes of the Danube tributaries with each other. In the Alpine region there are a multitude of great routes for cyclists. Something for everyone: from recreational athletes to professional cyclists. From city bikers to mountain bikers. From the connoisseur to the culture lover ...

Our top tips:

Acceptance of e-mountain bikes on the rise
Even the most die-hard organic mountain bikers have long since realized: The triumph of E-MTBs can no longer be stopped.

Mountain biking as a family sport
Cycling is one of the most popular sports. The first generation of mountain bikers now has children of their own who have long practiced the sport themselves.

Down-country bikes conquer the market
The term "down country" is a term of art made up of downhill and cross country - ultimately these are race bikes with an extra dose of riding fun.

Mountain bike tourism is growing
Tourism destinations that are dedicated to this clientele are able to record increases in overnight stays.

New trend: Climbing
It doesn't necessarily have to be high alpine terrain, the foothills of the Alps are also ideal for climbing. From Franconian Switzerland to the Bavarian Pre-Alps: Bavaria is home to most of Germany's climbing areas. Franconian Switzerland and the Altmühltal Nature Park, for example, are ideal for anyone who wants to climb high or indulge in this sport with the whole family. Tip: In the Amberg-Sulzbacher Land you will find climbing routes of all levels of difficulty. bavaria.by

Picture perfect
They are probably the most famous rock trilogy in the Alps: the Three Peaks, at the foot of which a hut defies the weather in a picturesque setting. The famous Three Peaks are located in the Sesto Dolomites between the Italian provinces of Belluno and South Tyrol. The Große Zinne, with its 2999 metres, is the highest peak of the mountain range and lies in the middle of the trio. Next to it, the Western Peak (2973 m) and the Small Peak (2857 m) rise to the heights. However, the massif does not only consist of these three peaks. There are many others, such as the Punta di Frida or the Prussian Tower. three-peaks.info

GOOD TO KNOW
1200 Km
The Alps, which are also the highest high mountains in the interior of Europe, extend over this length. The mountain range, which is between 150 and 250 kilometres wide, stretches from the Ligurian Sea to the Pannonian Basin.

The highest mountain in the Alps ...
... at 4807 metres is Mont Blanc, which lies on the border between France and Italy.

High up
The Capanna Regina Margherita in Switzerland is at an incredible height of 4554 meters the highest hut in the Alps and at the same time the only managed hut in the Alps, which was built above the limit of 4000 meters. By the way, the hut is supplied by helicopter. Impressive!