As you arrive into Pertisau the first thing to catch your eye is the mesmerising colour of Lake Achensee. Shifting from aquamarine to a deep sapphire, the water is incredibly enticing. Since my arrival, I have explored the surrounding area as much as I could. There are over 500km of marked hiking trails in the Karwendel and Rofan Mountains surrounding Achensee and these cater to all abilities and ages.
One of the easier trails I have walked is the Dien-Mut-Weg, a trail dedicated to the patron saint of peasants, St Notburga. Starting in Pertisau the route has seventeen contemplation points. Each point has a phrase carved into it. The phrases relate to St Notburga’s life and her aim to help the less fortunate.
I feel lucky to guide Inghams’ guests along this route on Sunday afternoons. The gradient of the walk is light. It ascends slowly above the lake until you reach the Rodelhutte, a perfectly placed ‘Alm’ with amazing views of the lake from the sun terrace.
When staying in Pertisau I’d recommend taking the local boat, which travels to all the resorts around the lake. One of these is Buchau, the village directly opposite Pertisau. Buchau, although the smallest of villages on Achensee has a hidden gem – their waterfalls.
I walked up to the waterfalls from the village of Maurach, but you can also take a pleasant forest track all the way up from Buchau. Gaining 300m in height, this path brings you to an opening where the waterfalls cascade into the lake. The mountain path, along which you return, provides you with stunning views of Pertisau across the lake.
The hardest hike I have done so far was climbing the Rofangebirge, the mountain on which the Rofanseilbahn cable car is situated. Starting in the centre of Maurach, a village located 935m above sea level and 5km to the east of Pertisau, a steady winding path brought me to the Buchauer Alm.
From here, the path weaves in and out of woods, rocks and tree stumps that essentially mark the route. The hike ascends almost 1000m and it takes roughly 3 hours to reach the isolated Erfurter Hutte. On the way up there are many delights to see: the Alpine gentian flowers and the craggy Ebner Joch mountain were two of my favourites.
All of these hikes have allowed me to witness the lake from different perspectives and find new places to visit. I am looking forward to many more beautiful walks over the next few months.