Are there food options for vegetarians and vegans?

If you'd like to eat a vegetarian meal, it's usually available at most accommodations. Vegan options are harder to find in huts, but we'll let you know about them in advance so you can plan accordingly.

We do not demand that you have insurance before booking, but it is advisable to do. Joining the Austrian Alpine Club gets you covered in case anything unexpected happens to you on your way.

What kind of accommodation do the mountain huts provide?

Mountain huts are not luxurious, but they are cozy and comfortable. You will not lack a warm bed, delicious meals, and toilets. They offer private rooms and dormitories, so you should be prepared to book enough time in advance if you do not want to share a room with other people. Read more about the Austrian mountain huts .

The Ötztal Trek Highlights

6 days / 5 nights

1/7

Show all 7 photos

Hike the Ötztal Trek's most stunning section, crossing high alpine ridges with panoramic views of the Ötztal Alps, including Tyrol's highest peak, Wildspitze.

Starting point

Ötztal

Finish point

Ötztal

Season

From June to September

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

3/5

Tour type

Hut-to-Hut

Hike the Ötztal Trek's most stunning section, crossing high alpine ridges with panoramic views of the Ötztal Alps, including Tyrol's highest peak, Wildspitze.

Starting point

Ötztal

Finish point

Ötztal

Season

From June to September

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

3/5

Tour type

Hut-to-Hut

Conquer the most accessible and stunning parts of the Ötztal Trek
Experience the Ötztal Alps' dramatic landscapes of glaciers, rugged peaks, and remote valleys
Hike high-altitude passes like the Finstertaler Scharte, reaching nearly 2800 meters
Challenge yourself on steep alpine trails passing remote valleys and high-altitude lakes
Stay in rustic alpine huts like the Schweinfurter Hütte
Enjoy breathtaking views of Wildspitze, Tyrol’s highest peak

Itinerary of the trip

Upon arrival in Ötztal before beginning the Ötztal Trek, you will reach the Ötztal-Bahnhof, the main transportation hub in the area. The village serves as a gateway to the Ötztal Alps, offering access to various hiking and trekking routes. The Ötztal region is known for its dramatic alpine landscapes, including glaciers, rugged peaks, and scenic valleys, setting the stage for the upcoming trek.

Accommodation

APART Landhaus Gstrein

Note: This accommodation is an example of the type and level you will stay in.

Gallery

The hike starts from Ötztal-Bahnhof and first follows a trail climbing through the forest in switchbacks before reaching the small hamlet of Larchet. From here, the path winds toward the village of Grün, offering expansive views over the Inntal valley. After passing through meadows, the hike ascends to Lake Brandsee, also called Lake Ambergersee. Continuing from Lake Brandsee, you'll hike to the Sattele area and toward Marlstein. After crossing the Marail section, the trail takes the Kaiser-Franz-Josef path, which involves a final ascent of about 200 meters before reaching the Dortmunder Hütte.

Hiking

21 km and 1550 m of elevation gain / 300 m of elevation loss

Accommodation

Dortmunder Hütte

Note: Listed accommodations are subject to availability; we will find similar alternatives if necessary.

Gallery

Starting from Dortmunder Hütte, the trail begins relatively flat through scenic pasturelands before gradually climbing alongside the road to the Finstertaler Reservoir. You'll continue along its eastern shore. From here, the hike becomes steeper as it heads toward the Finstertaler Scharte at 2777 meters, offering impressive views of Wildspitze, North Tirol’s highest peak, and the Mieminger Kette range. After reaching the pass, the descent winds down through meadows, leading to the Schweinfurter Hütte, located at the confluence of Horlachtal and Zwieselbachtal valleys.

Hiking

11 km and 950 m of elevation gain / 850 m of elevation loss

Accommodation

Schweinfurter Hütte

Note: Listed accommodations are subject to availability; we will find similar alternatives if necessary.

Gallery

Leaving Schweinfurter Hütte, the route leads deeper into the Zwieselbachtal, passing by the Zwieselbacher Sennhütte and continuing through the lush, woodless valley. After the road ends, the path climbs gradually through rocky terrain, with scree slopes towering on both sides. As the ascent steepens, the trail crosses a scree slope near the Zwieselbach Glacier. Beyond the Zwieselbachjoch ridge, the descent into the Winnebachkar basin begins, and the trail becomes easier, eventually leveling out near Winnebachseehütte, with a scenic high-altitude lake nearby.

Hiking

10.5 km and 850 m of elevation gain / 520 m of elevation loss

Accommodation

Winnebachseehütte

Note: Listed accommodations are subject to availability; we will find similar alternatives if necessary.

Gallery

After leaving Winnebachseehütte, the trail descends via a series of switchbacks, offering views of a cascading waterfall feeding into the Winnebach brook. As you continue, the trail gradually eases, winding through a valley shaped by glaciers with unique stone formations. Upon reaching the forest, the descent becomes steeper, leading down to the village of Winnebach. From there, an asphalt road takes you to the mountain village of Gries im Sulztal, and the final stretch follows a scenic gravel road along the Fischbach stream, gently descending toward Längenfeld.

Hiking

10 km and 10 m of elevation gain / 1200 m of elevation loss

Accommodation

Gästehaus Sissy

Note: This accommodation is an example of the type and level you will stay in.

Gallery

After completing the Ötztal Trek and arriving in Längenfeld, any necessary private transfer can be arranged from the village. Längenfeld, known for its thermal springs and alpine landscapes, is well connected, and transportation to Ötztal-Bahnhof or Innsbruck for onward travel can be coordinated smoothly.

Gallery

FREE ITINERARY

Get Your Travel Itinerary

Loved the itinerary? Enter your email below, and we'll send a copy straight to your inbox.

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

3 nights in mountain huts with half-board

2 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast

Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information

GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app

Tour design and organization

Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Airport transfer

Extra nights

Hotel upgrades

Private rooms

Single supplement

What to bring to the tour

Hiking shoes/boots
25 to 45-liter backpack
Base layer
Sports T-shirts
Hiking shorts
Hiking water-repellent pants
Waterproof jacket
Midlayer
Sports socks and underwear
Leisurewear for evenings
Down jacket
Gloves
Shade hat/cap

Warm headwear
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Headlamp
Hiking poles
ID card or passport
Snacks
Cash
Water bottles or hydration pack
Sleeping liner
Toiletries
Toilet paper
Small first aid kit

This highlight section of the Ötztal Trek offers a less daunting but equally rewarding experience than the entire epic, a multi-stage adventure that stretches deep into challenging high-alpine terrain and involves glacier crossings, navigating crevasses, and rope work.

These first few stages are perfect for experienced hikers who want a taste of the region's stunning landscapes but are not equipped for the more technical and extreme portions of the trail. It introduces hikers to the wild beauty of the Ötztal Alps, known for their striking glacier views, jagged peaks, and scenic high-mountain lakes.

From the moment you set off, you are greeted by panoramic alpine vistas, lush meadows, and towering peaks that define the Ötztal. The trek covers a range of terrain types, from steep, rocky ascents to open valleys and dense forests.

You'll find yourself traversing a landscape shaped by glaciers and time, where clear alpine streams cut through valleys and high-altitude pastures. The mountain huts along the way, like the Dortmunder Hütte and Schweinfurter Hütte, provide much-needed rest and a taste of the traditional alpine hospitality.

A particular highlight of this route is the Finstertaler Scharte, where the trail crests at nearly 2800 meters, offering unmatched views of the surrounding alpine giants, including the Wildspitze, the highest mountain in North Tyrol.

One of the trek's most rewarding aspects is the contrast between the high-alpine terrain and the lush valleys below. On the descent from Winnebachseehütte, you'll pass cascading waterfalls, glacial rivers, and valleys that seem to have been carved directly out of the mountains.

We ensure a smooth experience by booking your accommodations in the mountain huts, providing detailed maps and GPS support, and offering round-the-clock assistance.

Our services can also include helping with transfers to and from Ötztal, so all logistical concerns are taken care of, leaving you free to focus on the unforgettable alpine adventure ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

The hiking season usually lasts from mid-June to late September. It depends on the snow conditions in the higher sections of the Alps, as lots of hiking routes go over high mountain passes. You should check the current situation if you are visiting in early summer, especially for Stubai High Trail, as large parts of the route run above 2000 meters of elevation.

The huts close their doors once the season ends as well, so you cannot plan any multi-day tours outside this time window.

You can read more about the hiking season in Austria here.

We've rated our tours on a difficulty scale from 1 to 5 — with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult.

The difficulty level of a tour tells you how fit you need to be and how much hiking is involved. Most of our tours are appropriate for people who are regularly active and can hike for about five to seven hours per day.

Technical difficulty means how skilled you need to be to hike on the path. Level 1 means the trail is smooth and wide (like a gravel road), while 5 means the surface is uneven and exposed, and you have to use your hands to help yourself move forward. In practice, that means that the higher the level, the more surefooted and skilled in scrambling you need to be.

You should book your tour as soon as possible, as many accommodations along the trail fill up quickly. That way, you can ensure that you have a place to stay.

In case of an injury, it is best to call the local emergency services. You might find yourself in the wilderness, unable to continue without worsening your situation.

Do not worry too much, though. You will be hiking along popular trails, so you will not get stranded even if something happens.

On the other hand, if you feel too tired to continue hiking, you can always stop in any of the towns and villages along the way and use public transport to get to where you want to be in Austria.

Most huts along our hut-to-hut hikes are equipped with showers, but they might be a matter of whether there has been any rainfall lately. Do not expect too much, as mountain huts are not luxurious hotels.

Ratings & Reviews

5.0 average rating

+15

Birgit Kindler

Verified customer · 1 year ago

We had a lovely hike today with our guide Klemen. He personalized the tour on our needs and interests, so that we saw places we wouldn't without his experience. The hike was a little bit slippery after the rain from the last days and it went a lot upwards, but it was totally worth it! Thanks again :)

Show all 3 photos

Claudia Ossa

Verified customer · 2 years ago

9 day hiking trip including rafting and mountain biking. Sadly the weather didn’t help, we had a lot of rain, but Klemen modified our plans, making it a great experience after all. Klemen is an excellent guide and I highly recommend him!!!

Show all 5 photos

Ann Swainson

Verified customer · 11 months ago

Thank you so much for a fantastic trip. It was absolutely stunning, well organised, and a brilliant trip. Special thanks to Jan for his kindness & support on what was a personally challenging trek.

Show all 3 photos

Robert Backlund

Verified customer · 11 months ago

Our Guide Luka was amazing! And the three-day hike was a Memory for life, really beautiful. Cant recommend it enough.

Show all 4 photos

Rebecca Lawson

Verified customer · 10 months ago

Our 3 day hike had to be rearranged 2/2 weather, so a one day hike was arranged for us. We appreciated the concern about weather and conditions. Our hike was with Matevz, who was a great guide. Very helpful and knowledgable. Would definitely recommend and will be back for a longer hike one day!

Nicole Cocks

Verified customer · 10 months ago

This trip was organized with every detail considered. Our accommodation, most meals and routes were planned each day which is perfect when the region is unknown and you have not completed a multi-day hike before. We had a great time!