Excursions in Zillertal

The Achensee lake is situated at 380m above the Inntal valley, north of the community of Jenbach and is an adventure-packed excursion for children in Zillertal. The Achensee is Tyrol’s largest lake with a depth of 133m. Its crystal-clear waters are ideal for a range of water-based activities. During the summer months, the lake has the perfect temperature for bathing at approx. 22 °C – so you can enjoy bathing and splashing around. But there is also lots more to experience here too: the two highlights of this excursion are undoubtedly the steam rack railway and many boats offering cruises around the lake. The little steam locomotives have been puffing and hissing their way up the mountain for the last 126 years. From Jenbach in the Inntal valley to the Achensee lake, they climb 440m over a distance of 7 km. The Achensee steam rack railway is the oldest of its kind in Europe and continues its tireless work even today. Once the steam locomotives ‘Hannah’, ‘Georg’, ‘Hermann’ and ‘Theodor’ have reached the lake at the top and take a break, puffing away, it’s time for your next adventure - a steam boat trip run by the Achensee-Schifffahrt. Do you fancy a spin on the ‘MS Achensee’?

On your marks, get set, go! You can go sledging here in summer as well as winter. The 1,450m Alpine coaster starts out from the valley station in Zell and is an ingenious excursion in Zillertal for visitors of all ages. Waves, steep curves, jumps and spins add an additional adrenaline boost. And your very own personal Arena Coaster snapshot will be taken just to verify that the fun and speed are written all over your face. That means: keep smiling!

Arena Coaster facts:
✓ Total route length: 1,450m
✓ Railway uphill: 325m
✓ Railway downhill: 1,125m
✓ Elevation gain: 140m
✓ Journey time: approx. 6 – 7 mins
✓ Highest point: 9m above the ground

Our tip for all parents: the toboggan run is a perfect excursion for children in Zillertal - you can combine a Coaster session with a visit to the adventure playground!

The Arena Skyliner tour builds on the Flying Fox zipwire and offers even more action from a bird’s-eye perspective! It runs along four routes, covering a total length of 738m and flies over the Gerlosstein region with a maximum speed of 50 km/h.

Arena Skyliner facts:
✓ Prices: €30.00 for adults, €26.00 for young people and €18.00 for children
✓ Operating times: May to September (restrictions due to the weather may be possible)
✓ Guided tours with specially trained guides
✓ Weight: min. 40 kg, max. 120 kg
✓ Duration: approx. 1.5 h

A giant tube slide, a quality range of climbing equipment, trampolines and the 1.5 km Alpine coaster await in the Zell am Ziller adventure playground! The valley station of the Arena Coaster is an extensive kingdom of climbing, slides, jumping and swings for little visitors to enjoy. Sounds like fun for all the family? It is!

Are you a fan of the water? Enjoy splashing around, swimming, pedalos, sailing and surfing? Then the Durlassboden reservoir is the perfect place! The lake is filled with crystal-clear mountain spring water and in summer reaches pleasant temperatures of 20 to 23 °C, making Gerlos a real insider tip among water sports fans. A spacious sunbathing area right by the lake with a children’s playground and BBQ facilities make this mountain lake one of the most popular excursions in Zillertal. The local water sports schools offer surfing and sailing courses. By the way: you can also enjoy a wonderful walk around the reservoir and stop off for a refreshment break, for example at the Gasthof Finkau, Bärschlagalm and Seestüberl on the crest of the dam.

How is cheese made into milk? How much milk do you need to make a chunk of butter? What is behind the products we eat every day? You can find out all of this and much more at the adventure Alpine dairy in Zillertal. You can watch the cheese, yoghurt, butter etc. being made in the glass production facility over an area of 6,000 m² based on various stations.

Now an excursion for adventure and adrenaline junkies in Zillertal: The zipwipe route over the Riederklamm gorge! You will speed over the Riederklamm gorge along a 200m cable at 80m above the ground - of course, accompanied by an experienced guide, following thorough instruction.

Zipwire facts:
✓ Duration: approx. 2 hours incl. training and equipment
✓ Min. age: 10 years
✓  Weight: min. 40 kg
✓  Price: €18.00 per person

Over an area of 45,000 m², you will find plenty of opportunities to have fun:

✓ Indoor swimming pool with sports pool, whirlpool, giant slide and children’s pool
✓ Indoor and outdoor tennis courts
✓ Bowling alley
✓ Beach volleyball court
✓ Adventure mini-golf course ‘The treasures of the Zillertal’
✓ Large gold-digger playground
✓ Football and fun court
✓ Bouldering tower
✓ and much more!

Curious as to where the miners found their gold in the past? At the gold show mine in Zell am Ziller, you can visit the tunnels and throw yourself into a world of underground adventure.

Facts about the gold show mine:
✓ From May to October: (several) daily walks
✓ Prices: €14.00 for adults and €7.00 for children
✓ Duration: approx. 2 h
✓ We recommend wearing sturdy footwear

Always wanted to explore a world of endless ice? The Natural Ice Palace at the Hintertux Glacier is the ideal year-round excursion for all the family in Zillertal. Here you can stroll through the natural cave spaces and natural connections with the glaciers and admire the sparkling ice crystals, stalactites, frozen waterfalls and ice-blue glacial lake. A unique experience!

The list of excursions on offer in Zillertal is still not complete because there is also plenty of opportunity to go climbing and mountain climbing, weaving your way around obstacles and pulling yourself up etc. - you can really let off steam at the high ropes course in Gerlos. 55 stations including 10 routes just for children await. Following an introduction to the special safety equipment, you can head off for some climbing fun with all the family.

Climbing facts:
✓ Duration: approx. 2 h
✓ Min. size: 1.20-1.40m (accompanied by an adult), from 1.40m without an adult
✓ Equipment: Comfortable sports clothing & trainers
✓ Dates: Open daily in July and August from 10.00 to 17.00 (no advance registration required); in May, June, September and October only with advance booking.

One of Europe’s most impressive showcases of nature right on the doorstep of your chalet in Zillertal! Enormous quantities of water crash down from a height of 380m at the end of the valley and allow you to admire the wonders of nature at close range. The 4 km waterfall trail leads around the waterfalls, past various vantage points and turrets. Opening times: daily from mid-April to the end of October (fee payable).

Right alongside the Arena Coaster, you will find an additional ultimate excursion in Zillertal: the jump tower with BAGJUMP®, an oversized airbag which you simply throw yourself onto from a great height. Take a courageous leap from the tower down onto the BAGJUMP®. Children aged 6 and over can use the jump tower. All children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or older. From the age of 10, children can complete the jump by themselves.

BAGJUMP® prices:
✓ 1 jump: €1.50
✓ 3 jumps: €3.50
✓ 5 jumps: €5.00

The Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens offers a fantastic programme for fans of all that glitters, shines and sparkles - perfect for a rainy day. The three-dimensional adventure museum captivates with its crystals, works by famous artists and light and sound architecture! And for little guests, there are some exciting workshops in the crystal workshop where creativity is a must. Open daily from 8.30 to 19.30.

Fancy feeling like a King or a Queen? Then there’s nothing better than the exciting adventure tours of the 500 year old Tratzberg Castle! Some of the rooms contain the original furniture: the Habsburgersaal and Königinnenzimmer rooms, hunting room, armoury and chapel. You can enjoy a culinary pampering at the castle kiosk and Restaurant ‘Zum Schlosswirt’ with its large garden and children’s play area - just as their royal highnesses would wish!

The Zillertal High Alpine Road extends over 48 km and is one of Austria’s most beautiful Alpine roads, offering magnificent panoramic views.

What awaits:
✓A magnificent journey up to an altitude of 2,020m by car or by bike
✓ Wide-ranging views of Zillertal’s panoramic landscape
✓ A starting point for numerous walks
✓ The possibility to take a leisurely break at one of the shelters and mountain guesthouses
✓ Another top excursion in Zillertal!