Sustainable Hiking Holidays: Experience the Mountains and Green Accommodation
Hiking is the perfect leisure activity for many. When walking, we can switch off, let off steam and gather new energy and inspiration for everyday life. Whether long or short, flat or high alpine - the main thing is to be surrounded by nature.
In this newsletter, we would like to showcase some alpine tours that can be perfectly combined with a stay at one of our Green Pearls® partners. They have embraced the uniqueness of the nature that envelopes them and have created a green accommodation offer for holidaymakers. Most of them have been rooted in their region for generations and are available to their guests as enthusiastic and experienced advisors for activities of all kinds. The following tours are only a small selection of the diverse hiking possibilities.
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Naturhotel Outside and the Hiking Region of East Tyrol
The Adlerweg is a long-distance hiking trail that stretches almost 100 kilometres from Ströden am Großvenediger to Kals at the foot of the Großglockner. It requires a good level of fitness and surefootedness. The trail offers a spectacular view down into the valleys and of the most diverse mountain ranges - as if from the perspective of a majestic eagle. A total of nine stages of the Adlerweg lead through East Tyrol, including two in the community of Matrei. The Naturhotel Outside in Matrei is a wonderful starting point not only for one of the Adlerweg stages, but also for many other tours. The Hohe Tauern, with the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps and around 250 three-thousand-metre peaks, are a true hiker's paradise. The National Park is the largest protected area in the Alps.
The Outside Hotel team advises its guests on the most suitable hiking route for them. One of their hiking highlights is the Innergschlöss-Schlatenkees glacier trail: the medium-difficulty trail is 9.4 kilometres long and climbs over 680 metres in altitude. On their way, hikers reach the middle of the "Eternal Ice", the core zone of the Hohe Tauern National Park. The starting point is the Matreier Tauernhaus. From here the trail leads into the Gschlösstal valley - according to the locals the most beautiful valley head in the Eastern Alps! The educational trail begins with an ascent of about 500 metres in altitude to the Salzbodensee lake. Here, hikers reach the so-called "Eye of God" and finally the glacier gate of the Schlatenkees at the foot of the Großvenediger. On the glacier trail hikers will learn about the power of the glaciers in the Alps and their ability to shape the landscape. Visitors will also discover the impacts of climate change and experience the retreat of the ice fields at first hand. The estimated time for the hike is about five hours.
Eco Park Hotel Azalea and the Hiking Region Val di Fiemme
Whether you are looking for leisurely trails or challenging high alpine treks, the Val di Fiemme in the Dolomites World Heritage Region offers hiking opportunities of all kinds. From the Latemar mountains, to the Lagorai chain, and all the way through the Trudner Horn and Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Parks. The Eco Park Hotel Azalea is located in the middle of this hiking paradise. From the colourful and friendly family hotel with vegetarian cuisine, the wide variety of natural beauties of the Val di Fiemme can be discovered. Eco Park Hotel Azalea itself offers two guided walks and two-day excursions with a guide every week in summer. A shorter trail with a great view is the tour from the Paion del Cermis over the Cimon del to della Trappola to the Bombasel lake. The route climbs for 6.1-kilometres up to 2,376 metres.
Only half an hour away from the hotel, experienced hikers can set out on the Lagorai crossing. Starting from the Manghen Pass, the 43.6-kilometre trail leads through pristine nature to the Forcella Lagorai, continuing over the Cadinon and Coltorondo passes, the Paneveggio Nature Park, up to the Colbricon peak and down to the Rolle Pass. The 4-day hike, for which you need your own tent, is particularly appealing due to its unexplored nature. The Latemar, Rosengarten and the Sella Group along with the Pala Group of the Dolomites opposite, and the mighty south face of the Marmolada are always in view along the entire trail.
Paradiso Pure.Living and the Alpe di Siusi
The Alpe di Siusi is the largest high plateau in Europe and offers 450 kilometres of hiking trails for all levels of difficulty. Schlern, Langkofel, Plattkofel and Rosengarten are among the most famous peaks in the Dolomite region. The Paradiso Pure.Living, the first vegan-vegetarian hotel in the Dolomites, is located in this fairytale landscape that is steeped in mystery.
A classic, is the hike around the Langkofel group with the Langkofel and Plattkofel. The high-altitude trail requires a bit of fitness, but leads around the Sassolungo and Sassopiatto for about 17.5 kilometres without any major climbs and offers wonderful views of the neighbouring Val Gardena and Val di Fassa. Visitors should plan about five hours for the tour. The Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail is also highly recommended. This 175 km long Geotrail through some of the most beautiful mountain groups of the Dolomites consists of a total of ten stages. The third and fourth stages lead through the Dolomites region of Alpe di Siusi. For holidaymakers without their own car, it is worth noting that the entry and exit points of the Dolomites Geotrail can almost always be reached by public transport.
Pavilions Himalayas and the Annapurna Circuit
The Pavilions Himalayas Hotel & Resorts with its 14 luxury villas is nestled in a lush forested valley on the edge of the majestic Himalayan mountain range. The boutique resort, with its own farm, generates all of its required energy from renewable sources and produces its own organic products. The associated Lakeview satellite resort with 8 luxury tented villas offers exclusive glamping accommodations and great views of Lake Pokhara.
Hiking is what most visitors want to do here. The most famous and versatile tour is certainly the Annapurna Circuit, which circles the mountain range on a length of about 230 kilometers and 21 daily stages. The official routes can be partially shortened by jeep transfers or stays in guesthouses. The best time to hike the Annapurna Circuit is in spring or autumn.
However, visitors don't have to tackle the entire circuit; several shorter excursion and hiking tours also start in Pokhara, such as the tour to the Sarangkot viewpoint. From Pohkara, hilly paths lead to Lake Fewa, which can be crossed by boat. The route continues up to the World Peace Pagoda at 1592 metres, from where breathtaking views over Pokhara and its beach promenade populated with colourful boats open up. If you start early enough before sunrise, you will experience the spectacular peaks of the Annapurna mountains bathed in the light of the rising sun.
Leisurely Hikes on the Alpe-Adria Trail
The Alpe-Adria hiking trail leads from the Grossglockner through Carinthia, on towards Slovenia and the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the Adriatic Sea. The long-distance hiking trail covers a total of 750 kilometres, divided into 43 stages. In contrast to most other long-distance hiking trails, the individual tour sections are comparatively short, as there should be enough time for relaxing and indulgent moments. For each stage there are tips for culinary and cultural detours. The trail network is very well developed and the rather easy routes are suitable for beginners. A luggage service, shuttle service or return transport to the starting point also complete the comfortable offer of the Alpe-Adria-Trail.
La Subida Country Resort and Friuli
Stages E31 and E32 end, and in the case of the latter also starts, in Cormóns in Friuli, Italy. The La Subida Country Club is a hotel where spoiling oneself is doubly important. For example, the family that owns the hotel, the Sirk family, delights their guests with regional delicacies in the Michelin-award-winning Trattoria al Cacciatore and in the Osteria. The sustainable resort includes 18 individually and exclusively furnished cottages in traditional style.
Genießerhotel Die Forelle and the Weissensee Nature Park
Those who want to join the Alpe-Adria-Trail from Carinthia should plan for a few additional days at Lake Weissensee and the Genießerhotel Die Forelle in advance. A hiking, swimming and relaxing vacation all in one. The hotel is located directly on the crystal-clear Lake Weissensee, the highest bathing lake in Carinthia. The water temperature gets up to 24 degrees in summer. The Weissensee Nature Park with its healing climate was awarded the "European Prize for Tourism and Environment". Hiking tours on and around the peaks of Gaisrücken, Golz with their charming places to stop for refreshments such as the Kohlröslhütte or the Naggler Alm make the nature park a popular hiking area.
The list could go on and on as there are many ways to experience unforgettable hiking moments around the Green Pearls. Further information and recommendations are available on the websites of the Green Pearls partners as well as at the destinations themselves.
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ADULTS ONLY AND CHILD-FREE ZONES ON VACATION
Furtive glances, a secret touch, a quick hug. Does your togetherness also seem like this? For many new parents, quality time together can easily come up short—small children, after all, take up a lot of time. Here are some recommendations for romantic destinations and adult only hotels.
SUSTAINABLE VACATION WITH KIDS
In the hectic day-to-day life with school and work, time for a quiet and relaxed time as a family quickly comes up short. With homework, housework, and hobbies for big and small, there is always something to do. Taking a vacation together can help and is an important counterbalance to everyday stress.
SUSTAINABLE HOTEL GARDEN AT THE ADLER LODGE RITTEN
The ADLER Lodge RITTEN in the Italian South Tyrol has this year started a particularly large project in the garden area - even 4000 square meters in size. With the next harvest, summer wheat, potatoes, various vegetables, berries and herbs directly from their own cultivation should then come into the kitchen or on the plate of the guests.
FARM-TO-TABLE: WHEN FOOD LANDS ON THE PLATE DIRECTLY FROM THE FARM
Local foods can be sustainable for so many reasons: you’re supporting the local economy, getting fresh food, and having a better carbon footprint because of the shorter distances. All the better, therefore, when food comes straight from the fields to your plate fresh, as the chefs of our Green Pearls® partners agree.
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The BBC Documentation The Green Planet Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, reveals the strange and wonderful world of plants like never before.
Kathryn Kellogs Blog ‘Going Zero Waste’ is filled with actionable tips, and informative pieces on things like the circular economy and finding your very own zero waste community.
It's strawberry time. The vegan magazine ‘Our Green Planet’ lists ‘The Ins and Outs of Growing Your Own Strawberries’