Holidays to Niederau

The valley village of Niederau is a lesson in the joys of slow living – and with mountain adventures always in easy reach

Niederau is a rambling village – in more ways than one. Its streets meander between valley slopes, leading to a bakery here and a flower-bedecked hotel there. Plus, it welcomes those who love to wander, filling their days with alpine strolls. There’s also the chance to step things up a little. Niederau is one of four villages of the Wildschönau valley, where paragliders wheel around in the sky and over 300 kilometres of marked walking and cycling trails zigzag to distant peaks. The excellent bus network makes exploring easy, leading the way to the dairy farms, distilleries, museums and gorges just over the hills.

The Markbachjoch gondola

You could climb the 1,000-plus metres to the Markbachjoch mountain ridge… or you could jump aboard the gondola in Niederau’s village centre that takes you straight to the trails and huts up top. Here, walkers and cyclists weave between tiny chapels, lakeside sculptures and mountain huts, with the peaks of Feldalphorn and Rosskopf always in view. Keep an eye out for eagles above and marmots below… or perhaps that’s not an eagle - paragliders at the Wildschönau flying school also love to launch themselves from the plateaus here.

Farm to fork feasts

The farmers of Niederau have grazed their cows in the Wildschönau valley for centuries, bringing with them the soothing soundtrack of cowbells – and some delicious cuisine. Follow footpaths to dairy farms to stock up on herby krauter-schnitt cheese. Some farms also produce a heady schnapps called krautinger – a digestif and traditional cure-all distilled from white beetroots and made exclusively in this valley since the 18th century. To learn more about farming in this neck of the woods, take the St. Frances Path to the z’Bach Mountain Farm Museum to see how people eked out a living here in the 18th century.

Village hopping by bus in the Wildschönau

Buses weave their way between Niederau, Oberau, Thierbach and Auffach, the four sister villages of the Wildschönau valley. Oberau has an outdoor pool and cathedral-like baroque church. Thierbach is a tiny, picturesque hamlet. And Auffach has a woodcraft museum and a cable car that leads up to some of the highest peaks in the Wildschönau.

But don’t stop there – the Austrian Tyrol lies just beyond the valley, with buses connecting you to the cracking canyon of Kundl Gorge or nearby Wörgl, where trains head off to Innsbruck, Munich and Salzburg.

Family mountain adventures

Niederau is filled with warm welcomes – whether that’s in the alpine hotels or cosy restaurants. The great outdoors welcomes families too, with well-signposted trails designed for kids and prams, e-bike hire, and loads of mountain hut restaurants for strategic refuelling. Surrounding villages also come with outdoor pools, tree top rope walks and farms that reveal how the local dairy delicacies are made. Bands often spring up in the summer evenings too – just follow the foot-tapping sound of horns.

Why book a summer holiday in Niederau with Inghams?

At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of the Wildschönau’s best walking routes and activities at your own pace.

With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Niederau include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.

Added value

Free use of lifts in the Wildschönau Valley - with resort card

Free Guided Walks with resort card

Hotels in Niederau

  • from£989pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    4 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

  • 142 rooms
Hotel Sonnschein Pool2

The friendly team at Hotel Sonnschein provide an authentic taste of Austrian hospitality. The excellent half board meals include a salad buffet and great veggie options every day. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, as well as a garden and loungers for soaking in the sun.

  • from£969pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    3.5 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

  • 88 rooms
Hotel Harfenwirt New Wing Room 2

Hotel Hafenwirt is surrounded by meadows and has balconies overflowing with flowers. This traditional hotel sits on the edge of the village, a short walk from the Markbachjoch gondola. There's a small spa, and the indoor pool opens onto a lovely terrace with mountain views.

  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    3 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

  • 47 rooms
Hotel Austria Niederau Indoor Pool (2)

The traditional Hotel Austria sits in a quiet location, surrounded by rolling hills and meadows. Each room has a private balcony - the perfect place to enjoy the views. There are walking trails on the doorstep, and it's also opposite the Markbachjoch gondola.

Excursions

Pre-book your excursions online or give us a call

Grossglockner from £48/32 per adult/child (full day)

This spectacular journey takes you over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, an incredible feat of engineering with stunning views. From the Franz-Josef's Höhe you'll see the Pasterze glacier and maybe catch a glimpse of 3,798-metre summit of the Grossglockner. Keep a look out for the wild marmots and Ibex too - they love the high alpine conditions. You can visit the free museums and exhibitions to learn about the National Park or enjoy a walk round the area and a tasty Austrian mountain meal.

Departs: Tuesdays

Salzburg from £42/26 per adult/child (full day)

Salzburg is a city full of culture, history and music. Visit Mozart’s birthplace, enjoy the view from the Hohensalzburg Fortress, or wander the famous Getreidegasse shopping street. Immerse yourself in history as you explore the medieval Old Town, discover museums and Baroque churches or visit the Salzburg Residenz Palace - the DomQuartier. There is an optional guided walking tour which is a great way to see more of the city (payable locally, approx. €12 per person).

Departs: Thursdays

Berchtesgaden from £42/26 per adult/child (full day)

There's a few options for you to choose from on this interesting trip to Berchtesgaden. Spend the day discovering the pretty Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden itself, or choose one of the optional extras that you can add on to your day (difference payable locally).

The most famous is the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest). Explore the historic building and surrounding area, with spectacular views on a clear day over the King's Lake. The house is famous for being Nazi-constructed and was used for government and social meetings by Hitler and the Nazi Party. Alternatively, head underground to see the Salt Mines. A network of tunnels and slides take you on an underground adventure discovering this once very important industry (optional add-ons are payable locally - Eagle's Nest approx. €30.80 per person, Salt Mines approx. €22.50 per person).

Departs: Fridays

Bookable Locally

Hidden Treasures from approx. €45/25 per adult/child

Discover some of the area's best kept secrets on this trip which combines three unique destinations. Our first 'treasure' is Kufstein, located on the banks of the River Inn. You'll have time to explore and admire this border town with its dominating Fortress. Next, you're off to the beautiful local Hechtsee lake, surrounded by forests and steeped in folklore. Our final destination is Rattenberg, rich in history and famous for Kisslinger glass - watch a glass-blowing demonstration and explore the picturesque streets of this tiny city.

Departs: Wednesdays

We act at all times as a selling agent for the suppliers. All excursions require minimum numbers to run and are subject to change. Some excursions may not be available to pre-book in low season but may be available to book locally subject to numbers. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Please see our terms & conditions.

Things To Do

In & Around The Wildschönau Valley

  • Over 300km marked walking trails
  • Popular area for cycling and E-Bike hire
  • Outdoor pool in Oberau
  • Nordic walking
  • Tree-top rope walk
  • Horse riding
  • Horse-drawn buggy rides
  • Tennis
  • Silver mine
  • Sculpture park
  • Kundl gorge
  • Cheesemaking farm
  • Herb and spice garden
  • Various museums

Wildschönau Card - free to all guests

The Wildschönau Card is provided by your hotel upon arrival and gives you:

  • Free use of the lifts in the Wildschönau Valley (Markbachjoch and Schatzberg)
  • Wildschönau hiking bus between Niederau, Oberau and Auffach
  • Hiking bus between Roggenboden, Thierbach and the Schönanger Alm
  • Free entrance to the outdoor swimming pool
  • Free use of tennis courts in Oberau
  • Free entrance to silver mine and museums
  • Free guided walks (Mon-Fri)
  • Free children’s activity programme (Mon-Fri, from around 3 Jul - 1 Sep)
  • Discounted rates on many other attractions

Subject to change.

Lift and cable-car approx. opening times 

The opening dates of summer lifts vary in resort. Please find the latest update for the summer:

  • Markbachjochbahn, Niederau (normally open from around 6 May - 15 October)
  • Schatzbergbahn, Auffach (normally open from around 8 Jun - 8 Oct)
Walking

A wonderful area for walkers with over 300km of marked hiking paths, from rambles through meadows and hillsides up to higher peaks and trails accessed by gondola. Popular walks include the ‘Path of Contemplation’ (1 hour) between Niederau and Oberau, and the stunning Kundl Gorge at the end of the valley. There are many mountain alms dotted around the walks including the ‘Käsealm’ above Niederau for fresh milk and cheese. For more adventurous walkers there are plenty of longer trails and peaks to climb and the tourist office operates a hiking badge system for those that complete various ‘bronze’, ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ level walk.

 

POPULAR WALKS

GETTING AROUND | Villages are easily connected by an efficient bus service which transports walkers to all points around the valley. There are two free gondolas (the Markbachjoch in Niederau and the Schatzberg in Auffach).

The Tourist Office runs a fantastic programme of five free guided walks each week, which are very popular with Inghams guests. Example itinerary:

Markbachjoch to Norderberg Alm | 4 hrs | Moderate
Take the gondola to the top of the Markbachjoch and via Halsgatterl to the Rosskopf Peak. Purple and white crocuses cover the meadows and beautiful yellow globeflowers grow beside the mountain streams. A peek into the tiny Horler Stiege Chapel and the Käse Alm and a rest stop at the Norderberg Alm Hut, then it’s back to the gondola for the return trip.

Sonnberger Joch and Eisstein | 3 hrs | Easy
A gentle walk to Zauberwinkel in Oberau and then along the forest path to the demanding Eisstein ascent to enjoy the marvelous view into the Inn Valley. After a short break continue on towards the lovely farms of Leitschwend and Adelsberg and inspect the alpine flora along the way. (Option 2: 5 hrs challenging hike to Feldalphorn).

Schatzberg and Joel Spitze | 4 hrs | Moderate
Take the cable car to the top of the Schatzberg Mountain (cable car is not open during summer 2017 but accessible by car or on foot) and start the walk at 1.903m to the Joel Spitze. Enjoy fantastic views on the way into the Alpbach and Inn Valleys. Make a stop on the Joel peak at 1964m to enjoy the peace and take. Return to the Schatzberg via the Gern Alm and take a refreshment break at the end of the walk in the Schatzberg Alm.
(Option 2: 3 hrs easy Family walk around the Thierbach Kogl).

Kragenjoch Mountain | 4 hrs | Moderate
Start at an altitude of 938m, highest point 1356m, continuous climb, partially steep. Take the Minz path from Oberau up to one of the loveliest viewpoints in the valley, the Boarstadl hut. A further 20 minutes uphill and you arrive at the Achental hut. From here it’s just a short ascent to the wonderful Kragenjoch peak. Stop at the hut on the way back for a well-earned rest. The return journey takes you through blueberry fields and mountain moors back to Oberau. (Option 2: 6 hrs challenging hike to the Gradlspitz Mountain).

Filzmoos Moor in Niederau | 3 hrs | Easy
The Filzmoos Moor on the Niederau Bruggberg is a wide plateau which offers a fascinating insight into the alpine plant and animal life. Frogs, dragonflies, butterflies and songbirds can be observed in this untouched biotope. Afterwards watch the deer in a nearby deer park. The gentle walk takes you north to Stockeben through the fragrant pine forests full of bilberries. After about an hour and a half, you reach the moor at 1,000m altitude. Return via Klausen and back to Niederau.

NB. No mountaineering experience is required but participants should have good physical fitness and suitable footwear with ankle support.

Good to know

Walking trails: 300km of walking trails

Terrain: Diverse terrain from Alpine meadows, forest trails and rolling hills with some steeper routes

Best time to go: end of May to end of September. It can get hot in July and August but heading up the lifts is a great way to cool off

Recommended for: Walkers of all abilities, families with kids, nature

Fly into: Innsbruck or Salzburg (approx. 2 hours)

Transfer time: approx. 1 hour 15 mins from Innsbruck or 2 hours 30 mins from Salzburg by coach

Rep service: In resort

Resort card: Wildschönau card included for all hotels

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