Gesäuse Trek

Styria is really two hiking destinations in one — and which one you choose shapes your entire week. In the north, the limestone walls of the Gesäuse tower above the Enns, the karst plateau of the Hochschwab opens wide and empty, and the Schladming Tauern hide a clear mountain lake behind almost every ridge. In the south, you wander from vineyard hill to vineyard hill, stop at a Buschenschank for refreshment, and sleep in a guesthouse overlooking the vines. No other Austrian region places alpine hut-to-hut hiking and leisurely wine-country walking so close together. At Bookatrekking, we pre-book your huts or guesthouses, provide you with a GPX track, and let you check the weather forecast for each individual stage location in our app before you set off. For anyone wanting their Austrian walking holiday organised from A to Z, this is the simplest way in. This guide covers Styria's five major hiking regions, all our bookable multi-day tours with their stage details, day hikes for every fitness level, the best time to travel, accommodation logistics, and a decision-making guide at the end.

Trekking through the Alps is more than a journey across mountain passes and valleys. It is an immersive walk through one of Europe’s richest natural environments, where altitude, climate, and geography shape life at every level. As you move through the landscape, the scenery shifts constantly, from fertile valley floors and dense forests to open alpine meadows and rugged, windswept ridgelines. What makes the Alps truly special is the close connection between nature and people. Alpine plants and animals have adapted to extreme conditions, while centuries of farming have shaped the land into a living landscape of pastures, trails, and mountain huts. Together, flora, fauna, and tradition create a dynamic environment that changes with the seasons and makes every day on the trail feel distinct.

Are you looking to complete the famous Peter Habeler Trek, one of the finest examples of hiking holidays in Austria? Also known as the Peter Habeler Runde, this trek is a circular route that starts and ends in Vals, a mountaineering village with 537 inhabitants in Tyrol. This trek was dedicated to the Austrian mountaineer Peter Habeler on his 70th birthday and is one of the most renowned hikes in the region. If this trek is on your to-do list, we can help you! Below you will find all you need to know to complete the Peter Habeler Runde, from a map and itinerary to a recommended packing list, safety measures, guided and self-guided walking holidays in Austria, and more! Peter Habeler was born in Mayrhofen, in Tyrol, and made alpine history when, in 1978, he climbed Mount Everest, together with Reinhold Messner, without carrying any artificial oxygen. The Peter Habeler Trek honors his accomplishments as a mountaineer and celebrates his climbing records all over the world! Will you follow his footsteps?