Rugged peaks, ancient mountain forests, gentle alpine meadows and picturesque valleys. On this circular tour through Austria’s Karwendel, you’ll spend three days discovering magnificent views and sleep in two rustic and cosy huts. You’ll hike through the picturesque Gern valley and the breathtaking Falzthurn valley, with its steep rock faces that tower up on both sides. During strenuous ascents to the huts, wonderful views of the surrounding mountain world open up, before you spend comfortable evenings at the huts, each with their own magnificent vistas. You’ll cover a total of 30 kilometres (19 mi) and 1,330 metres (4,350 ft) in elevation over the three days.

The Karwendel Mountains are located between Mittenwald and Lake Achensee in Tyrol and are the largest nature park in Austria. The imposing rock faces are home to golden eagles, ibex and chamois, while marmots play and cows graze on the flowering alpine meadows. Here, you can still experience large areas of untouched mountain wilderness without having to climb to very high altitudes.

Even though most of the tour leads along easy hiking trails, there are also challenging and steep sections. The second stage in particular takes you along narrow alpine terrain for a sustained period. Surefootedness is important and I recommend sturdy hiking footwear.

The two rustic huts provide you with delicious food from the region. During the first and third stages, you’ll also pass other alpine pastures that invite you to take a break. On the second stage, however, there are no amenities along the way, so pack a few more snacks for this Tour.

If you still have energy after the day's exertions and you’re gripped by summit fever, you can also ascend to various panoramic peaks in the vicinity of the huts. I have compiled a small list for you here: Satteljoch, Kompar, Bettlerkarspitze, Sonnjoch, Gramaijoch and Hahnenkampl. It’s always advisable to find out about the level of challenge you can expect from the hut warden.

This Tour is a round trip. You can arrive by car and park directly at the Karwendeltäler car park, which is at the start point. There’s a charge for parking, so take enough cash with you. You can also reach the start point very easily by public transport. The bus stop you need is "Kärwendeltäler" and it is located at the end of Pertisau. You can reach it by bus both from Jenbach in the Inntal and from Tegernsee. All information about the bus and the timetables can be found at: achensee.com/en.

The Plumsjochhütte and the Gramai-Hochleger are less frequented than the big huts in the Karwendel, but you should still reserve your place in advance. Also note that only cash payment is possible at the huts.

The best time of year for this Tour is from the beginning of June to the beginning of October. However, find out beforehand whether the huts are open and what the conditions are like. Thunderstorms can damage sections, and early winter can arrive as early as September. Check the weather forecast carefully before you set off, and feel free to ask the hut keepers along the way. The weather in the mountains changes very quickly, so pack waterproofs, warm clothes and sun protection.

I hope you enjoy three unforgettable days in a breathtaking landscape.