Alpine huts and glacial views – Lasörling High Altitude Trail in Austria

Between mountain lakes, romantic alpine landscapes and barren rocky peaks, lies the south-west part of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Following the Lasörling High Altitude Trail, you climb high into the Lasörling Group mountains and hike north of the main ridge. Setting off from the town of Matrei in East Tyrol in Austria, the trail leads past traditional mountain huts where you can tuck into Tyrolean delicacies and enjoy magnificent views as far as the Venediger Group mountain glaciers. In the past, the heights of the Lasörling Group were also covered by glaciers. The moraines which characterise the mountainous landscape here today are evidence of this geographic past.

With more than 13,123 feet (4,000 m) to climb over 40.3 miles (65 km), the trail is a beautiful adventure for fit hikers. You should be able to climb up to 4,921 feet (1,500 m) in one day. As you will hike at alpine heights, surefootedness is a must and there are ropes to help in particularly exposed places. If you are looking for an even greater challenge, you can summit some of the peaks along the way such as the highest peak, the Lasörling, after which the mountains are named. If you choose to climb it, you can spend two nights at the Lasörling Hut and take a whole day to summit.

On each stage, you will have plenty of opportunities to stop for snacks, but make sure to pack some food in your rucksack anyway. In the evening, you can tuck into a hot dinner and enjoy a comfy bed at one of the inns. It’s recommended to book your stay in advance.

As the trail reaches as high as 9,186 feet (2,800 m) above sea level, you can plan this hike from June until September. Outside of the summer, there is usually too much snow on the paths and the huts usually don’t open their doors to hikers until mid-June.

The Lasörling Group is located between the Deferegge Valley and the Virgin Valley in East Tyrol. The mountains are easily accessible from the town of Matrei in the region. You can travel via the East Tyrolean capital, Lienz, which has a train station. For more information on train timetables and connections, visit: vvt.at.