AUSTRIA
EXPERT VIEW
HANNAH ELDRIDGE
AGENCY SALES EXECUTIVE, INGHAMS
ROCOCO BACKDROP: The Helblinghaus is near the Hofburg in Innsbruck
urge to get out of it as fast as possible. All credit to those canny Austrians – aching legs definitely felt better the next day than they would have without it. As it turned out, a session in the sauna at the Rosenplatz later on more than made up for the cold. If we’d not been hiking,
we could have been e-biking. In Europe there’s a growing popularity for sitting atop a contraption that’s pretty much the same as an ordinary bike except that its battery builds up a charge as you’re cycling on the flat and downhill which the integrated electric motor then uses to help you up the hills. It’s perfect for the less able or those who simply don’t like slogging their way uphill so much. Kirchberg has direct access to more than 600 miles of cycle trails
and 500 miles of mountain bike trails. The town is also the base for the annual KitzAlpBike Festival, one of the biking world’s top events (
kitzalpbike.com).
Add all this to the opportunities
for climbing, rafting, canyoning, paragliding, horse riding, golf and more that it’s possible to have a go at in the Kitzbühel area, and you’ve got a place that’ll keep the most energetic holidaymaker happy.
INNSBRUCK
If you’re flying in or out of Innsbruck, you really ought to stop over in the city, which is the capital of the Tirol, for a day or two, as I did after my time in Kirchberg. Tucked away in a valley between three mountains, and gorgeous at both ground level and from above, Innsbruck brims with historical
Europe’s mountain resorts are typically associated with snow and skiing, but for many of our guests summertime is when the hills truly come alive. The longer days, snow-free paths and mild climate make May to September a great time to explore the Alps on foot, by bicycle and even horseback. Visitors can also make use of the ski lifts in many resorts to reach higher walking trails for breathtaking panoramic views, fresh air and the delights of the local fauna and flora, which is at its most vibrant during the summer months.
Inghams offers activities and experiences
for those looking for something different on a lakes and mountains break, including bridge lessons in Belle Plagne, France, chocolate making in Opatija, Croatia, and wine tasting in Slovenia, which has over 28,000 wineries. In Austria, our guests can take a pottery class in Zell am See, learn to cook a classic strudel in Seefeld, and even learn to yodel on a yodel hiking trail in Königsleiten! Our city-break add-ons to eight destinations let guests team their holiday in the great outdoors with a three or four-night stay in some of Europe’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities, including Vienna, Venice, Innsbruck and Munich.
aspire september 2015 — 67
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