Holidays in Pertisau

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Each day, a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking holidays in Pertisau

Pertisau offers excellent walking opportunities, with over 500 kilometres of marked hiking paths above the village and into local valleys Gerntal, Falzthurntal and the Tristenautal. Terrain ranges from flat walks to steeper trails up to the highest peaks accessed by two cable-cars. From most paths there are wonderful views of the lake and a great number of excellent mountain huts for refreshment stops.

Guided walks

The Achensee Tourist Office run their own hiking programme, included as part of your Achensee Guest Card given to you by your hotel.

Walks take place across different days of the week and different dates in the season and examples of walks that may be included are:

• Guided herb walk or ranger guided nature walk
• Panorama hike
• Nature watch tour to the Feilkopf
• Nature watch tour to the Moosenalm
• Summit tour in the Rofan or Karwendel mountains

Please note cable cars, tolls and parking fees are not included and will incur an additional charge. These guided walks must be booked directly with the tourist office online no later than 8pm the day before the walk is set to take place.

Subject to change.

Pertisau and lake Achensee has a great network of public transport and lifts that make getting around the area really easy.

Lifts

There are two lifts around Lake Achensee that operate during the summer, helping you reach the mountain tops to unlock a hiking paradise.

The Karwendel cable car departs from Pertisau and transports you to the Zwölferkopf area, where you can then walk onwards to the Bärenkopf or even further to the Stanserjoch.

The Rofan cable car departs from the south of the lake, in the village of Maurach. This cableway takes you up to heights of 1,840 metres, where beautiful walking routes start from the second you step foot out of the lift.

Tickets can be purchased locally from the ticket window in each of the lift stations.

Buses

With use of your included Achensee Guest Card, you can hop on the barrier-free regional buses, offering frequent services between the villages of Pertisau, Maurach, Achenkirch and Steinberg. Wiesing and Jenbach can be reached too, however these routes are not included in the Guest Card and will be payable locally. This is an excellent way to reach new hiking areas, increasing your walking route options excessively.

Boats

The boats on Lake Achensee take you to multiple destinations efficiently, saving your time and energy reaching new hiking points to try out.

The piers around the lake are:

• Pertisau / Bridge 1 and 2 / Cash desk & office
• Gaisalm
• Achenseehof / Seehof Chapel
• Scholastica / Achenkirch
• Seespitz / Achenseebahn
• Buchau

Tickets for the boat services can be booked online in advance, directly from Achensee Schifffahrt, or purchase an Achensee Holiday Card from the hotel reception to include ships, lifts and more to make getting around the area simple.

Pertisau to Achenkirch lake walk

• Easy walk
• 13km
• Expect to take around three to four hours

Make your way south of the lake before a nice stroll along the full right-hand side of Achensee. You can also make a day trip out of this walk, exploring the villages along the way, with traditional guesthouses dishing up locally produced food. Spot the windsurfers as you make your way north, before gliding back to Pertisau on one of the boats.

Feilalm and Feilkopf

• Moderate walk
• 13km
• Expect to take around five hours

From the low-lying village to the fresh mountain peak, the change of scenery you’ll experience on this hike is very impressive. With a stroll in the valley before reaching the forest, your ascent through the trees to Feilkopf summit is sure to get those steps in. As part of the hike you’ll pass the Feilalm hut, stopping to enjoy great views over the lake. Once you reach the top you can take a short break on the wooden bench or recliner before heading back down to Pertisau.

Gschöllkopf Summit Hike

• Moderate walk
• 2.5km
• Expect to take around two hours

Once you have taken the Rofanseilbahn cable car from Maurach you’ll reach the starting point for this family-friendly summit challenge. Make your way to incredible heights of over 2,000 metres, with the most amazing views from the Adlerhorst viewing platform. This is the best walk for panoramic views of the Karwendel mountains, also reaching as far as the Hohe Tauern mountains and Zillertal Alps.

Recommended equipment

Suitable walking shoes with good grip, appropriate clothing, rain jacket, sun cream, insect repellent, sun glasses, rucksack, at least a litre of water, a re-usable water bottle, a snack and cash. You may find walking poles useful.

Walking maps

We recommend Mayr Map number 429, which has a scale of 1:25,000. The maps show the walking routes which are numbered and match the yellow signposts around the area. They will have a key which will help you understand the nature of the trail before you set out on your walk.

Walking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

• Plan your route well and don't overestimate yourself
• Check the weather forecast
• Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
• Take all the recommended equipment
• Make a note of emergency numbers:
  • Austrian Emergency Services: 112
  • Mountain Rescue: 140
• Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
• Let nature stay wild by not picking alpine flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
• Always leave gates as you found them
• Leave no trace

Check out our Responsible Walking insider guide if you want more tips for your summer walking holiday.

The Achensee Guest Card is given to you by your hotel and includes:

• Use of local Regiobus
• Guided walking programme
• Children's activity programme
• Discounted rates for cable-cars and boat trips on the lake
• Discounts on various attractions

Subject to change.

The Achensee Holiday Card (Erlebnis Card) is an upgrade to the Achensee Card, and can be purchased from the hotel reception, Tourist Office or lift stations from around €98 for seven days. It includes:

• Unlimited use of the Karwendel and Rofan cable cars
• Unlimited use of the Achensee ships
• Unlimited use of the Achensee steam cog railway (show your card to the conductors before boarding the train)
• Entry to a range of museums

Cable cars opening times: approx. beginning of May - late October.

Cog Railway and lake boats operate approx. late April - late October.

Subject to change.

Things to do in Pertisau

Lake cruises

All aboard. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the panorama of Lake Achensee from the deck. Leisurely cruises with open air seating take sightseeing to a whole new level. Even better, the Achenseeschifffahrt boat tours combine with the Achenseebahn railway, making a great transport network exploration excursion. You can easily visit popular areas around the lake by boat like Maurach Seespitz, or Gaisalm, the haven of tranquillity.

Lakeside lido

Enjoy a dip in the lake at the Strandbad Pertisau lido. Top up your tan on the sunbathing lawn or cool down your skin in the fresh mountain water. With all the relevant facilities, set up camp as you have everything you need for a full day of shoreside entertainment.

Wind and kitesurfing on Lake Achensee

Take on the waves of Lake Achensee as the wind whisks you up and down across the turquoise waters. Feel the thrill as you wind and kite surf. Due to the lakes positioning and surrounding mountains, its prone to light southerly wind conditions on the lake in the morning, making it the perfect place to skim and jump weightlessly over the water.

Cycling

Ride through the Falzturntal Valley along winding paths until you reach the Gramai Alm hut, perfect for a spot to eat before your seven-kilometre ride back to Pertisau. The Karwendel alpine park offers wide smooth paths down low, as well as rocky routes higher up – you may even need an e-bike to help with these more challenging incline routes.

18-hole golf course

Take to the green, bringing your putting skills from home all the way to the Alps. You can hire clubs, golf carts and trolleys on-site so all you need to do is bring your expertise. The breathtaking views and shining sun are a match made in heaven for any keen golfer.

Tennis

Visit the Sportcentre Pertisau for a game of tennis. You have access to four outdoor sand courts, and two indoor courts, meaning its often easy to snap one up for a game. Swing your racket and tally up the score as you battle to be the best.

Segway hire

Give your legs a rest and glide your way along the lakeside sidewalks and bike paths – letting off zero emissions. Tour the area in style, but remember, sturdy shoes are required, so leave the flip-flops back at the hotel for this one.

Paragliding

Soar above the pastel waters on the south side of Lake Achensee as your flight experience descends from the mountains. On your way down, look out for the other paragliders and hang-gliders as the area is renowned for its air sports. With two common starting points, will you choose the Karwendel zone on the left side, or the Rofan zone on the right?

Cog railway steam-train

Get a sense of history as you visit the 130-year old Achensee steam cog railway – the oldest of its kind in Europe. Puffing out steam, it makes its way from the station at Jenbach, up the mountain to Lake Achensee.

Langlaufstuberl brewery visit

Take a tour of the Achensee Bier brewery, where you'll view the large copper brewing chambers as you tour the most popular micro-brewery in the Tyrol. They also offer beer and cheese tasting experiences, with chance to dine in their own restaurant. Will you find your new favourite beer?

Museums

Wander through the Tyrolean stone oil Vitalberg, a unique adventure museum bringing together natural landscape and modern architecture. At the end, you can shop for hair care, skin care and body care products – made from naturally extracted local oils. Other traditional museums will keep you busy too.

Family activities in Pertisau

Lidos and beaches

Bathe in the lake's clear waters, or relax on the lawn with an ice lolly in-hand. Let the kids go wild with the other little ones within the Pertisau beach area. They can swim in the children's pool, dive off the tower, slip down the slide and play in the large playground – plenty to keep them occupied. Or, discover beautiful shallow water spots in Maurach for a splash around with the kids.

Watersport activities

What better way to cool down than the refreshing spray of fresh lake water as you glide across the surface. You can slide off the pedalo boats, balance on stand-up paddle boards, relax in a canoe or get those arms working on a rowboat. The whole family will love the water sports on Lake Achensee.

Playgrounds

In the heart of Pertisau the little ones can get their imagination fired up as they visit the adventure fire station playground. Climb to the top of the house, crossing obstacles before escaping down the yellow slide. Make a quick escape in the bouncing truck to save the day.

Atoll Achensee

Further down south and on the opposite side of the lake from Pertisau, you can swim in the bluest area of Lake Achensee. This modern leisure centre combines outdoor fun with indoor relaxation. Whizz down the 90-metre adventure waterslide and swim in the pool, or snorkel in the beautiful sand-lined shores of the lake.

Skyglide thrills

Visit the AirRofan Skyglide and Adlerhorst viewing platform, just northeast of nearby Maurach. Accessible by public bus within 20 minutes of Pertisau, you have just a short time of anticipation before you zoom down the head-first zipline. Suitable for ages 10 and above, will you brave the 80-kilometre speeds with the young adrenaline junkies?

High-rope adventure park

On the north-eastern side of the lake you can crawl through raised obstacles and climb over tricky platforms amongst the trees. Perfect for older children and teens, the Achensee adventure park is designed for thrill seekers and up-and-coming climbers.