The air is clear and cool, the conversations bubble merrily like the mountain streams around us. I look around, just able to see the peaks of the Hohe Tauern mountains, which remain hidden in the thick mist above the Nassfeldalm. We have come to meet our local host Martin who, after serving us delicious breakfast at the Pottinger Hütte, presented us with all his animals. There are goats, cows and pigs at his little farm up here. As well as, of course, the obligatory cats, and a dog.
Not sure if “our travel dog” Coffee likes it? My friend & fellow travel writer Angelika Mandler has brought her husband Andreas as well as her dog Coffee with her, following our annual gathering of Austrian travel bloggers in Gastein this year. #Coffee2Go, so to speak. Thank God poor Coffee doesn’t notice any of the bad jokes we constantly tease him with. He is merely interested in catching the frisbee Andreas throws for him; sniffing at the goats in the neighbouring stables – or rather (and even better), staring at the rabbits in the little, adjoining enclosure. And running across the many, many green alpine meadows, chasing the mountain lakes that lie beyond.
Honestly: Would you not just love to go hiking right here, right now?
Feels like Iceland: Misty mountain air at the Nassfeldalm, the gateway to the Hohe Tauern national park area at well over 2.000 metres above sea level …
… Iceland alright, except for the wonderful, typical comfort of our well-known Austrian huts.
Love reaching the hut out here …
… and who wouldn’t, being offered a traditional breakfast at the Pottinger Hütte here?
Martin, our host, adds to the feeling by serving us typical pine tree brandy, made from the sap of the tree’s young sprouts.
Thank you so much for welcoming us, dear Martin: I would love to be back any time!
It’s just as cosy to reach Wengeralm mountain hut in Dorfgastein. Do not miss their barefoot hiking trail for getting “a real feel” for the surrounding mountain landscape …
… and as we make our way down to the Wengeralm hut, we muse at the fact that we only ever walk across, or down the mountains during this weekend. Well, the modern cable cars are too tempting (and fast) to take you anywhere …
… including beautiful picture spots, such as this one near Spiegelsee in Dorfgastein.
The lake itself, called “mirror lake” in German, is a true force of nature…
… as can be seen from the mountain top above.
Love the barefoot hiking trail that leads around it, featuring different kinds of natural grounds and materials to walk on.
Even more, I love the time with my friends …
… who keep leading the way …
… knowing best when (and how) to reach the next hut.
This is Austria in its purest sense: A typical Kaiserschmarren sweet pancake dish, served with warm cranberries and butter milk on the side ..!
After that, why not take a nap, right Karin?
There is more, concerning foodie travel tips from Austria …
… and especially in the Gastein valley, as we have come to discover during our trip into one of Salzburg’s southernmost alpine valleys. Check out Weitmoser Schlössl for a fine dining experience in an ancient castle estate, complete with Rapunzel-style towers and an ambience you will love. As an alternative, you can try a farm-like inn which will win your heart in all its simplicity, comfort, and warm welcome provided by the locals.
Our host at the Schmaranz-Gut Inn prepares all dishes over an open fire …
… including pan dessert.
Don’t miss out on the Alpentherme Gastein, which features this temperate thermal lake as its most recent spa addition …
… our accommodation, Hotel zum Stern in Bad Hofgastein, also has a nice little wellness area to offer …
… and if you’d like to be a little more adventurous, there is also a Flying Fox you can try taking across historical Bad Gastein …
… you will land yourself right here afterwards, at the café next to the famous waterfall dominating the spa town …
… which has been carefully put into place where the old power plant was built during the times of the Austrian Empire still …
… Gastein, its history and tradition of hospitality, are worth visiting and experiencing any time.
Thank you so much for such a nice meeting in Bad Gastein !!! From left to right: Florian Figl (TravelPins), myself, Christina Strasser (ChristinasReise), Karin Spiegl (LemonsAndVolcanoes), Lisa Stelzel (ImprintMyTravel), Franziska Philipp (1000TravelStories), Maria Kapeller (Kofferpacken), Franz Roitner & Gudrun Krinzinger (Reisebloggerin), Corinna Donnerer (TravelPins), Angelika Mandler with Andreas & Coffee (Wiederunterwegs), as well as Stefanie Gschwandtner of Gasteinertal Tourism Board.
Check out even more pictures about our trip here:
My friends & fellow travel writers have already published the following articles, and photographs, about Gastein:
- Angelika von “WiederUnterwegs”: “Gastein 2017: Thermalsee, Spiegelsee und Reiseblogger. (M)ein Update.“
- Karin von “LemonsAndVolcanoes”: “Zum Reisebloggertreffen ins Gasteinertal“
- Maria von “Kofferpacken”: “Almfrühstück auf der Pottinger Hütte bei Bad Gastein“
- Gudrun von “Reisebloggerin”: “Ein Wochenende im Gasteinertal: Wandern, Essen und Zirbenschnaps trinken“
- Christina von “ChristinasReise”: “Gastein: Vom Kraftwerk in die Alpentherme und hinauf zum Spiegelsee”
- Lisa von “ImprintMyTravel”: “Ein Wochenende in Gastein: Wandern, Therme & Kulinarik“
- Franziska von “1000 Travelstories”: “Wandern und Wellness im Gasteinertal“
- Florian von “TravelPins”: “Aktiv- und Genussreisen im Gasteinertal“
Disclaimer: We have been supported by Gasteinertal Tourism Board together with the Austrian Railway travelling to Gastein. All opinions are my own.