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Adlerweg
Your trip begins on arrival in St Johann in Tirol, a lively market town in the Leukental Valley with plenty of good dinner options for your first night. Our welcoming hotel in the centre of town gives a first flavour of Tyrolean hospitality.
Hotel in St Johann (Breakfast)
Red 3 (grade) 12.6km with 1100m ascent, 500m descent
The first stage climbs through woodland on the side of the Wilder Kaiser massif. Traverse below towering cliffs and fast flowing waterfalls, before a final pass and descent to the friendly Gaudeamushütte. We think this is a fantastic way to start your hike; with a night in the mountains!
Mountain hut (Breakfast and Dinner)
Red 3 (grade) 10.9km with 660m ascent, 1070m descent
From the Gaudeamushütte, we bypass the Wochenbrunner Alm to cross meadows and climb to the high balcony path which takes you all the way to Kaiser Hochalm in its superb setting below cliffs. The day ends at the pretty lakeside of Hintersteiner See, where a free shuttle bus service takes us to the peaceful village of Scheffau just below the lake.
Hotel in Scheffau (Breakfast and Dinner)
Blue 3 (grade) 16km with 780m ascent, 1160m descent
Forest paths lead up to an wonderful mountain pass, hosting spectacular views across the Austrian Tyrol and a view down to the onwards trail into Kufstein on clear wide tracks. Dropping into the little town of Kufstein with its castle. A cable car can be used to shorten the long descent.
Hotel in Kufstein (Breakfast)
Red 3 (grade) 14.4km with 1110m ascent, 350m descent
Today we skip the long valley section from Kufstein to Aschau by catching the train to Rattenberg and the bus to the small hamlet of Aschau. Leaving the hidden Brandenberg valley, paths and tracks take you to a splendid upland grassy area, through native woodland and Alpine meadows. For the first time the route takes to higher mountainous ground, and descending to Zireiner See, a scenic mountain lake. The final stretch takes you to Bayreuther Hütte perched high above the valley.
Mountain Hut (Breakfast and Dinner)
Red 3 (grade) 13.8km with 630m ascent, 1260m descent
Today we cross the mountains to the Erfurterhütte with its great views towards the mountains beyond Maurach. We recommend an optional detour to the summit of Rofanspitz, which takes you firmly into the mountains. Look out for climbers on the surrounding peaks. After lunch we descend (by cable car if your wish) to the pretty and practical lakeside town of Maurach located on the shores of Achensee.
Hotel in Maurach (Breakfast)
Red 3 (grade) 16.5km with 1040m ascent, 60m descent
We leave Maurach for a long (but very picturesque and enjoyable) valley ascent to the Lamsenjochhütte. The climb is steady and we arrive in a splendid mountainous setting with consistently good views of the valley below.
Mountain Hut (Breakfast and Dinner)
Red 3 (grade) 20.9km with 1200m ascent, 1390m descent
Start by dropping into the Engtal valley before heading up to the famous Falkenhutte (1848m). The rest of the day involves some gentle descent, followed by a steady climb to Karwendelhaus, our end point for the day. The Karwendelhaus sits at the base of the Birkkarspitze and offers impressive views across the Karwendel mountains.
Mountain Hut (Breakfast and Dinner)
Blue 3 (grade) 17.3km with 130m ascent, 810m descent
Start the day with some steeper descent as the path winds down to Angeralm. The rest of the day will see you along a portion of the E4 Alpine trail into the Karwendel valley before reaching Scharnitz. From here take the train to Innsbruck ready for your rest day tomorrow.
Hotel in Innsbruck (Breakfast)
Blue 1 (grade) Zirbenweg - 7.3km with 170m ascent, 100m descent
Purple 3 (grade) Goetheweg - 11km with 470m ascent, 470m descent
Innsbruck is a delightful town with plenty of options for your rest day. We recommend 2 wonderful half-day walks along the hills on either side of the town. The routes are reached by cable car allowing you to traverse the scenic mountains without the long climb and descent. If opting for either walk, you'll have half a day left to explore Innsbruck's charms. Alternatively, you can take this day to rest, relax and recuperate.
Hotel in Innsbruck (Breakfast)
Blue 2 (grade) 10.2km with 565m ascent, 430m descent
Today is a short walking day from the small town of Scharnitz to Weidach in Leutasch, along the valley on a well established path. Arrive into the village of Weidach in Leutasch which is home to many wellness resorts.
Hotel in Weidach in Leutasch (Breakfast)
Blue 4 (grade) 23.8km with 480m ascent, 580m descent
This day is one of long distance and easy terrain, almost all on solid forest tracks. We climb gently to an area in the Gipfel valley known for its alms or pasture farms. To the North throughout, and towering over the sweet mountain resort of Ehrwald, is the Zugspitze, Germany’s high point.
Hotel in Ehrwald (Breakfast and Dinner)
Purple 3 (grade) 16.2km with 1330m ascent, 230m descent
Again we utilise the fanastic Austrian bus services to skip a long and less exciting section of the trail, starting this stage instead at the pretty lakeside village of Fernsteinsee. From Fernsteinsee a path rises through a high valley to two cols with a steep descent and a crossing of a scree slope inbetween, before a walk down to the Anhalter Hütte.
Mountain Hut (Breakfast and Dinner)
Purple 3 (grade) 22.8km with 180m ascent, 1230m descent
Skirt the combe North of the Anhalter Hütte and drop West to the Plötzigtal and round to Egg and Bschlabs. From Bschlabs we drop into and out of the Bschabtal valley and start the traverse path to Gutschau in the Lechtal and then Häselgehr over fields. From Häselgehr we take to the bus, to miss out a final valley section.
Hotel in Steeg (Breakfast and Dinner)
Red 3 (grade) 20.3km with 1220m ascent, 1070m descent
Today is the final link to St. Anton and a fitting end, beginning along a country lane below the village of Kaisers, then a forest track, and then hill paths steeply up to the Leutkircher Hütte. This friendly place overlooks St. Anton and sits in a saddle on the ridge, views superb all ways. We drop on forest paths and tracks to the famous ski resort of St. Anton and walk up the high street lined with shops.
Hotel in St Anton (Breakfast)
After a last breakfast we depart from St Anton. Take to the trains for a departure from the nearby airports of Munich and Zurich. Congratulations on your Adlerweg hike! ✈️
Our Adlerweg trip travels at a good pace through the mountains, skipping some of the more lengthy valley days and giving you the flexibility to enjoy the mountains at your own pace.
Make the trip shorter
We can make the trip one stage shorter by walking from Karwendalhaus to Weidach in Leutasch in one longer day. It is hard to make the trip much shorter without skipping more sections or having some very long days. For a week long trip we suggest our Adlerweg: Karwendel Mountains trip (from Aschau to Hozirl).
Additional Rest Days
As standard we include a rest day in Innsbruck, with an option for a half-day walk along the Zirbenweg or Goetheweg. We highly recommend extending your time in Innsbruck if you are able to - it's a charming, small city, circled by mountains, with colourful houses and plenty to offer for a rest day. Other places which are worth pausing for a rest day are Maurach, on the shores of Achen Lake, and Ehrwald, with its sweet village green and proximity to the Zugspitze.
Hike with a guide
Hike with confidence in the company of our fully qualified International Mountain Leaders (IMLs), with the navigation, accommodation and arrangements taken care of. If your group would like a guide for your trip, please get in touch for more details.
Make the trip longer - our extended Adlerweg Tour
For a longer trip we suggest including the valley sections in the walk from St Johann-in-Tyrol to St Anton, rather than skipping some sections by public transport. On this trip we add in the stage from Kufstein to Aschau, and from Ehrwald to Fernsteinsee. Please see details of these extra stages:
Blue 3 (grade)31.5km with 1120m ascent, 830m descent
Today is a long stage, but with options for shortening using the train. Valley tracks lead from Kufstein to Langkampfen, from where there is a steep climb up the wooded hillside to the grassy meadow of the Hohlensteinhaus. Next we cross a large area of pretty upland terrain on very solid tracks. This is easy walking on which to stretch out and enjoy the wonderful scenery. We end the day at Pinegg (around 2km before Aschau)
Auberge in Pinegg (Breakfast)
Red 3 (grade)16.5km with 760m ascent, 800m descent
Cross the low meadows dotted with barns to Ehrwald’s twin resort Lermoos, where a cable car is an option to skip most of the ascent. Above the Grubigalm our path starts to drop, steeply in places and around a surprise cliff-edge, to the Fernpass and on down to the pretty lakeside village of Fernsteinsee on good tracks. Return to Ehrwald on the efficient and regular bus service.
Hotel in Ehrwald (Breakfast)
Blue 3 (grade) 24.9km with 540m ascent, 420m descent
Follow the Lech before crossing to the Innerhofweg to the North and dropping to Elbigenalp. Valley tracks lead to Bach, then up above Stockach, and down to Holzgau. Climb to the bridge above Holzgau and drop to Hägerau and Steeg.
Hotel in Steeg (Breakfast and Dinner)
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Adlerweg 1 July to 18 Sept 2025 |
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| Classic | Comfy | ||
| Self-guided | |||
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13 stages - no rest day (14 nights) |
GBP 2,255 Singles 330 |
GBP 2,395 Singles 350 |
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| Self-guided | |||
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13 stages - 1 rest day (15 nights) |
GBP 2,340 Singles 370 Main Trip |
GBP 2,490 Singles 390 |
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16 stages - 1 rest day (18 nights) Extended Tour |
GBP 2,660 Singles 510 |
GBP 2790 Singles 550 |
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| Options | |||
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Baggage transfer |
Please ask us | ||
Where we stay
Our classic accommodation mix includes 5 nights in huts, 1 night in an auberge (a basic hotel) and the remainder of nights in 3* and 4* hotels. The quality of Austrian hotels continues to impress us, from those in small towns such as Kufstein to those in villages that are little more than hamlets. For those nights in the mountains, the huts are at a good standard and relatively accessible.
Avoiding Dormitories
We can enquire about private rooms at 4 of the 5 huts; there is no extra charge if we are successful in securing them and we'll confirm your room types when sending your schedule. Please note that the Bayreuther Hütte offers dormitory accommodation only.
Comfy
While our classic option is already quite comfortable, due to the high standard of Austrian hotels, we now offer a more bespoke comfy option. Our comfy trip features upgraded hotel stays on at least 6 of your nights in the towns, utilising some of the more luxurious Tyrolean hotels that we have had the pleasure of discovering.
Solo Travel
We do not take bookings for solo walkers on self-guided trips. If you are still interested in this trip, we do have availability on our guided trips.
Our approach to the Adlerweg
Our Adlerweg trip gives you the best sections of the full Adlerweg from St Johann in Tirol to St Anton, maximizing your time in the mountains and minimizing long valley stages. We have reviewed the route carefully and selected our favourite stages. Our trip follows a route through the Karwendel Mountains, rather than taking to the more industrial Inn valley; this allows us to keep the route mountainous, as well as avoiding the crossing of the Eppzirler Scharte, a difficult stage out of character with the rest of the trail. We also add a rest day in Innsbruck where we have options for a half-day walk on the Zirbenweg (south of the city) or the Goetheweg (north of the city). Both trips offer magnificent views over Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains.
The Terrain
The Adlerweg's terrain comprises wide tracks through forests, tarmac lanes, zig-zagging hillside paths and steep, rocky mountain paths. In some places, on optional variant paths the paths, are more steep and loose sections. The Adlerweg has no via ferrata or climbing sections and is a trek throughout.
Is it for me?
The Adlerweg is a trek of stark contrasts. From remote mountain huts, quiet high-mountain paths, pastoral and immaculate villages comes the contrast with the wide and bustling valley. These contrasts are certainly part of the charm of the Adlerweg, and add to the overall sense of movement across the beautiful Tyrol region. The trip would suit those who wish to experience a true taste of Austrian culture, across a wide variety of settings and accommodation, from high-mountain, to rural, to urban.
Difficulty
We grade the Adlerweg as Red 4 overall. OUr extended Adlerweg Tour includes longer days through the valley, and these are missed on our suggested Adlerweg route, giving a relaxed pace.
Adlerweg Walking Guide - more about the trail
The making of our Adlerweg - photos from our research trips
Travel to and from your trip
Your holiday starts in the small town of St Johann in Tirol and ends in the ski resort of St. Anton. The most convenient airports are Munich and Innsbruck with several transfer options available by train, but Basel and Zurich also work for the return.
Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price. We take care to give the most useful notes possible about all the travel options. We supply these both on booking and in your info pack, and we offer personalised tips at any point. The aim is that our trekkers arrange their travel by the simplest and most scenic means as suits their plan.
Travel in Austria - our general page on Austrian trains
- Bespoke accommodation itinerary - tailored to suit your preferences
- Breakfast on all mornings
- Dinner at 5 huts and in Scheffau, Weidach and Steeg (on 8 nights for our main trip)
- Detailed Routecards of the Exploratory system, printed on waterproof paper
- 6 topographical map covering the route
- Downloadable GPX Tracks covering the route
- Expert advice and local information
- A comprehensive 'Season Update' following our pre-season recce
- Full support during your trip from the Alpine Exploratory team (9am until 9pm in the Alps)
- Travel to and from your trip
- Local transport whilst on the trip
- Travel insurance
- Lunches, snacks, drinks and evening meals in the towns (this would be 9 nights on our main trip)
- Baggage transfers (available as an extra)
Baggage transfer
Let us move your bags between stops. This service takes your bag to each night's accommodation except for the huts, of which there are 5 on our normal schedule. When at huts, your bag goes ahead to the next hotel. Please contact us for a baggage price.
 
Enquiry Form
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If you prefer, please feel welcome to email or call us. Thanks!
| Contact Alpine Exploratory | |
| info@alpineexploratory.com | |
| Phone | +44 (0)131 214 1144 |
| Our times |
9am to 5pm UK time Monday to Friday |
| Australia | 02 8319 2266 |
| Canada | 416-548-4819 |
| New Zealand | 04 889 4515 |
| USA | 646-757-1102 |
Open to the world
Since Alpine Exploratory started in 2005 we have loved getting to know our clients from around the world. Along with the UK, our best-represented countries are the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Please use our national-rate numbers for a cheaper call to contact our office in Edinburgh.
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Hintersteiner See at the end of Stage 2
Alpine Exploratory
+44 (0)131 214 1144
