Hi. I'm planning a hiking trip to Tirol in Austria. We are considering the "Silberregion" or "Zillertal"? Does anyone know these places? Which would be the most beautiful place? Or do you have any other suggestions for hiking in Austria?

I don't know those places, but I recently stayed at Neustift im Stubaital, near Innsbruck, and did some walking there, in beautiful surroundings. How strenuous do you want it to be? We went up to the surrounding high points by cable car and walked down what were mostly very well-maintained paths, but it is possible to walk up, and also to do a ring of the high mountain lodges around the glacier there, I believe.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...untain-air.cfm

We were just in Lech am Arlberg in the nearby Voralberg District. Wonderful hiking trails for all skill levels. If you stay overnight at one of the hotels, pensions, etc, you get the Lech card which gives you free access to all of the lifts, gondolas, and hiking buses. Pension Juliana is a very good place to stay at.

Hi,

While not hikers, the Zillertal has some of the most beautiful alpine scenery I've seen in Austria. We stayed in Finkenberg (in the Zillertal) in Sept. 2009.

www.worldisround.com/articles/355538/index.html

www.zillertal.at/en/summer/home/

Another area (valley) you may want to consider is the Oetztal. This starts less than an hour west of Innsbruck. We stayed in Soelden for 4 nights. Again, simply amazing alpine scenery throughout the valley.

www.oetztal.com/main/EN/SO/index.html

Paul

Hi Paul-
What is Finkenberg like as a base? We'd love a town with restaurants, pubs, and hiking nearby. How far is it from the Dolomites? Do you get there by going over the Grossglockner road?

Thanks!

Theresa

Hey Theresa,

Finkenberg is situated in a stunning setting. While alpine peaks are right across from it, the valley is quite a ways down below. The place we stayed sat on a "ledge" looking down at the valley and up at th peaks. Fantastic.Finkenberg is at the southern end of the Ziller valley, the Zillertal. The Zillertal starts about 40 minutes east of Innsbruck. In the Zillertal they have the Ziller Hohenstrasse, which is a scenic drive in the alps.

We have our photos at:
www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

The Zillertal is about 2 hours from the Val Gardena/Dolomites and about 1:30 from the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. I know you're looking for beautiful scenery. In the Austrian alps and Dolomites it wil be virtually everywhere. Don't worry.

Paul