Lake Achensee

Lake Achensee is a walker’s paradise, with over 500 kilometres of marked trails criss-crossing the region. You’ll find gentle lake paths perfect for a post-swim stroll, peaceful forest tracks to hidden alpine pastures, and high-altitude hikes where marmots are your only company. The Karwendel valleys offer long, flat walks steeped in nature and quiet, while the Rofan mountains are made for ridge-top wanderers seeking drama underfoot and sky above. Mountain huts pop up just when you need a break, usually with a hearty snack and a view that makes you linger.

You don’t have to work too hard to earn a wow-moment here - though a cable car ride up the Rofan or Karwendel lifts certainly helps. From the peaks, the deep-blue sweep of Lake Achensee gleams below, backed by jagged limestone summits and rolling green meadows. The Bärenkopf hike is a firm favourite for panoramas, while the Gaisalm trail between Pertisau and Achenkirch hugs the lake and feels like something out of a film set. Wherever you go, the combination of water and mountains means your camera roll will be full - and your legs satisfyingly tired.

Achensee isn’t called the 'Tyrolean Sea' for nothing. When you're not exploring on foot, the lake is a playground for paddleboards, kayaks, sailing boats and swimmers. Thanks to steady winds, it’s a hotspot for windsurfing and sailing, with schools in Pertisau and Maurach ready to get you started. Prefer something slower-paced? Glide across the water in a rowing boat or take a refreshing dip - the lake is known for its clear, drinkable water (though it’s bracing even in summer!). It’s the perfect way to cool off after a walk, or just float and admire the mountains from a new angle.