Austria tips and advice

Heather Godbert from our leading walking and cycling holiday company in Austria, Headwater:
“Austrians love to take time out of their daily routine to indulge in Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake). But there’s so much more choice than the ubiquitous Apfelstrudel. You can find all manner of cakes and delicacies even in the smallest Konditorei, often served with a generous helping of cream or Vanillasosse. If you are travelling to Salzburg and the nearby Austrian Lake District of Salzkammergut, you’ll also see Mozartkugeln. Dedicated to the composer who lived in the city, these chocolate covered marzipan and nougat balls pack a punch and have to be tried!”

“Our hut is next to Hoe Tauern National Park, it’s the largest nature reserve in Central Europe. We have ibex, golden eagles and bearded vultures in really high concentrations compared to the rest of Austria. You’re actually more likely to see wildlife in the valleys in the winter. In the summer the wildlife goes up high, but when the snow falls, the animals descend to the valleys. The golden eagles come down and you can actually see them from our hotel – they nest nearby.”

“We run two types of trip for hikers, one in summer and one in winter. In summer we have a maximum of 14 guests at a time. After a morning yoga session you’ll go out for a hike with our guide. She’s National Park qualified, which means she’s studied for two years and knows nearly everything about the area. You can ask her about the local flora and fauna – she knows all about the animals in the park: even down to family specifics and how many offspring they had last year. A lot of guests like learning about the flora and edible plants. We cook a lot with edible plants gathered from the hillsides.”

Heather Godbert, from our supplier Headwater, shares her Austria packing tips:
“If out trekking, take walking poles – when on Austria’s multitude of mountain and valley paths, they come in really handy for summer hiking and winter walking (although a ‘basket’ on the end is recommended when it gets snowy). And don’t forget the sun cream – over the summer months, it can get surprisingly hot in Austria.”