Venediger Höhenweg: Hut-To-Hut Hike Around the Grossvenediger

The Venediger Höhenweg is a 7-day hut-to-hut hike that takes you through the beautiful Austrian Alps, spanning a distance of 60 kilometers (37,3 miles). This route can be found in East Tyrol and is divided into northern and southern halves, making it possible to hike in both directions. The most popular route is from south to north, starting in Hinterbichl, conquering 7,920 meters (25.984 feet) of elevation, and finishing at the Matreier Tauernhaus in Felbertauern. This way, you begin on relatively "easy" terrain and gradually build up the challenge. Perhaps most importantly, you save the breathtaking view of the imposing Grossvenediger for your final hiking days. The narrow, steep paths of this red-marked route provide numerous panoramic views, waterfalls, and mountain ridges.

The Venediger Höhenweg can be found in Europe's largest and Austria's oldest national park: the Hohe Tauern National Park. Since 1981, this park covers over 1,800 square kilometers (695 square miles) and hosts a staggering 266 peaks above 3,000 meters (9.842 feet). Among them are the Grossvenediger and the Grossglockner, with the latter being Austria's highest mountain standing at 3,798 meters (12.460 feet). This extensive natural area is home to around 10,000 different flora and fauna species. During your Venediger Höhenweg hike, you might just spot a small marmot, or "Murmeltier" in German, emerging from the ground.

The Venediger Höhenweg is not an easy hike, but then again, no mountain hike is. Due to the diverse nature of the terrain, you should be prepared for various situations. The journey begins with well-maintained paths, but as you delve deeper into the mountains, the demands will be greater. The terrain becomes uneven, rocky, and you should leave any fear of heights at home.

If you're looking for a more challenging hike than the Salzburger Almenweg or the Lasörling Höhenweg but aren't quite ready for the Stubaier- or Berliner Höhenweg, then the Venediger Höhenweg might be the perfect option. The Venediger Höhenweg features many narrow paths with occasional steep cliffs alongside them. Additionally, during some stages, climbing and using steel cables are necessary. In short, you should already have some mountain hiking experience under your belt and be ready for the next challenge. Fortunately, all this effort results in a hike with fantastic views, making it an experience to be proud of.

This is a good question! They share the same starting point, explore the same area, and even have a similar number of hiking days. What sets them apart then, and which route is better for you? Well, the Lasörling Höhenweg is a suitable choice for most beginners looking to experience a real hut-to-hut hike in the mountains for the first time. The mountain paths are generally well-defined and suitable for dogs and children. On the other hand, the Venediger Höhenweg takes things up a notch. Here, the terrain becomes uneven, paths are less visible, and you will encounter more elevation gain. In addition to an extra 1.000 meters (3.280 feet) of elevation gain, the total Venediger Höhenweg also includes 5 additional hours of hiking and 7 extra kilometers (4,3 miles). If you've already completed the Lasörling Höhenweg, then the Venediger Höhenweg is the perfect next step.

The season for the Venediger High Trail, like many hut-to-hut hikes in the Alps, typically runs from mid/late June to mid-September. The huts where you'll stay are closed in other months as they become inaccessible due to snow and inclement weather. Generally, Austria experiences warm summers with pleasant temperatures at higher altitudes and plenty of sunshine. However, the Alps are unpredictable, and the weather can easily change. What may be a sunny day one moment can turn into a rainy one the next. Fortunately, rain often comes in the afternoon, so starting your hike early can help you avoid it.

Because you'll be dealing with higher altitudes, it's possible to encounter snow on the trails at the beginning and end of the season. This means that temperatures may also be lower, but with the right equipment, this shouldn't be a problem. As you can see, preparation is essential for a hut-to-hut hike. To assist you with this, we have compiled a packing list later in this blog.

Due to European vacation periods, July and August are the busiest months. Austria is a popular hiking destination for many, and for good reason. Fortunately, many huts are prepared for this and offer plenty of beds. To be sure of a spot on your favorite route, it's never too early to make a booking.

Perhaps you're familiar with the British Mountaineering Council or the Italian Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). These organizations are entirely dedicated to mountain sports, and each country has its own variant. Belgium has BKF and the Netherlands calls it the NKBV. Austria also has its own association, the Österreichischer Alpenverein, or ÖAV for short. Together with the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV), the association of Germany, they are continuously working on the well-being of mountain trails, nature, and the maintenance of the mountain huts affiliated with them.

During your Venediger Höhenweg hike, you will often stay in mountain huts affiliated with the ÖAV or DAV. You will even come across one of Austria's oldest mountain huts during your last stages. Built by the Alpen Club, the 2,489 meters (8.166 feet) high Alte Prager Hütte, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022. While this hut is no longer in use today, it has been transformed into a museum, some of which can also be seen in its replacement, the Neue Prager Hütte.

Life in local mountain huts is simple and cozy. Together with other hikers, you'll enjoy a piece of Austrian culture and history. Basic amenities ensure you get through the night comfortably, and that the hut staff can provide you with delicious Tiroler Knödel or Käsespätzle. In the evening, you head to your dormitory early, where you crawl into your sleeping bag for a well-deserved rest. The next day, you rise early to start the next stage on time. Of course, you first enjoy breakfast and the beautiful surroundings where the huts are located.

The starting point of the Venediger Höhenweg is Hinterbichl, just like the Lasörling Höhenweg. The endpoint is located in Felbertauern. The nearest major city is Innsbruck, but due to the mountainous terrain between the two locations, it's better to consider Munich as a transit point.

By car
There are several ways to reach Hinterbichl, but due to its remote location, traveling by car is the easiest and quickest option. It takes approximately 11 to 12 hours to drive from Utrecht and Brussels, so consider an overnight stay somewhere halfway. In almost all cases, you will drive through Munich.

By public transportation
If you prefer to use public transportation, we recommend taking the train. This is the most comfortable way to travel from the Netherlands, Belgium, or Germany to Austria. From Munich, you can take the train to Kitzbühel, with a transfer in Wörgl. From there, you'll need to continue by bus to Hinterbichl. This journey takes approximately 5.5 hours.

To return from Felbertauern to Hinterbichl, you can use a bus connection, but it operates very sporadically. If you've missed the bus and don't want to wait for 3 hours, you can take a taxi or arrange transportation to Matrei in Osttirol. From there, it's about a 30-minute bus ride back to Hinterbichl. If you don't need to return to Hinterbichl, you can take a taxi from Felbertauern to Mittersill and then travel back to Munich from there.

There is an emergency situation when a human life (yours or someone else's) is in danger and you cannot do anything to solve the situation. You should call for help if there has been an accident, someone is stuck, you are lost or in trouble and cannot continue due to the time of day or weather conditions, or if you are stuck due to technical climbing challenges beyond your capabilities.

The most important thing to do in an emergency situation is to remain calm and assess the situation. Do not panic and do not take pointless risks if the people in need are difficult to reach. In case of emergency, first and foremost, call for help. When calling for help, make sure to provide your location and the number of victims and type of injuries. Then, protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and provide first aid, if you are capable.

Emergency numbers for Austria

• European emergency number: 112
• Mountain rescue: 140

A hut-to-hut hike really doesn't have to break the budget. The huts are usually simply equipped, but offer everything you need to recharge your mental and physical batteries for the next few days of hiking. For 7 days on the Venediger Höhenweg, you can expect to pay around 80 EUR/USD per hiking day. This includes route details, navigation assistance, your accommodation in a hut and half board in the form of breakfast and dinner. For hut tours in general, we advise you to bring 40 to 60 EUR/USD pocket money. This is for lunch and your drinks. Most of the pocket money usually goes for the ice-cold beer with our name on it in the next hut.