Which type of active vacation is right for you?

Would you rather be by the water or in the woods? There are currently six popular types of active vacations, and one of them is sure to appeal to you.

Here’s an overview of them—including recommended regions and unique accommodations. Some hotels provide equipment, tour recommendations, guides, and practical logistics to help you with your outdoor adventures.

#1 Hiking & Trekking: Taking it slow

Hiking is one of the most popular types of active vacations. And it’s easy to see why: often, all you need is a good pair of shoes, some time, and a bit of motivation. While a solid level of basic fitness is helpful, you’ll find a trail in most regions that suits your ability level. Hiking offers something often lost in everyday life: peace, focus, and a deep connection with the landscape.

For your hiking vacation, we recommend regions that not only offer classic, scenic trails, but also actively develop nature-friendly concepts.

The team at SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb raves about the “Albtal Abenteuer Track,” which begins right near the hotel. The route takes you off the beaten path through the northern Black Forest. Fallen branches, muddy sections, and steeper stretches (with rope assistance) are all part of the experience. Rather than perfectly groomed trails, the focus is on providing a genuine trekking experience with a wilderness vibe. At the same time, the route was designed to take protected areas and sensitive habitats into account. This means that although it feels like you’re hiking off the beaten path, you’re not.

Hiking with Guides and Rangers in the Hohe Tauern National Park

East Tyrol is another great place to enjoy active vacations and nature experiences. The Naturhotel Outside in Matrei is located in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, between the Großglockner and the Großvenediger. This hiking hotel helps you plan and carry out your hiking vacation all year round, offering guided tours and equipment rentals. As hiking concierge Karin Steiner explains in an interview, the focus is on consciously experiencing the mountain world.

Read her hiking tips for the Hohe Tauern here.

Llama Trekking

The APIPURA hotel rinner in Ritten, South Tyrol, is a particularly leisurely option. Through a nearby provider, you can go hiking with llamas and alpacas. The animals are led by hand and set their own pace. A variety of tours are available, ranging from relaxed family outings to longer hikes toward the Dolomites or the Three Peaks.

Quick Sustainability Check: Hiking

Hiking is generally considered an eco-friendly travel activity. However, how you behave while you’re there matters most.

Our tips:

• Stay on the marked trails.
• Don’t leave any trash behind.
• Respect wildlife and quiet zones.
• Use public transportation or shuttle services to reach your starting point.
• Support local guides and small businesses.

#2 Cycling & E-Bike Tours: Explore the regions in depth

Hardly any other form of travel is booming as much as cycling and e-bike vacations right now. Regions like South Tyrol are particularly benefiting from this trend: well-maintained trails, mountain panoramas, alpine pastures, and valleys make the region ideal for tours suited to a wide range of fitness levels.

E-bikes make it possible to easily cover longer distances or climb higher elevations. At the same time, they provide a more leisurely travel experience than driving.

Alpine hotels with e-bike rentals

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel sits at an elevation of 2,000 meters in the heart of the Seiser Alm mountain range in the Dolomites. In the summer, numerous mountain and e-bike trails begin right outside, offering panoramic views of the UNESCO-protected natural surroundings. Guests can rent e-bikes at the hotel and explore the region without a car. Since the hotel is located in a protected nature reserve, traffic is regulated anyway. To minimize the impact on the sensitive mountain landscape, for instance, you can only drive your car to the hotel on your arrival and departure days with a permit.

The adults-only, vegan hotel LA VIMEA is located in Naturns, near Merano—a region known for its extensive network of bike trails. Here, a Mediterranean climate, orchards, and alpine mountain landscapes converge. You can rent e-bikes at the hotel and use them to explore leisurely valley routes or more challenging mountain tours.

Bicycles can also be easily rented by guests at My Arbor near Brixen. The hotel partners with Sportservice Erwin Sticker, a local provider, for this service. The desired equipment is delivered directly to the hotel. If you bring your own bike, you can safely store (and charge) it in the large bike room. Mountain bikers can choose from downhill trails across the Plose or long routes into the Dolomites.

We recommend the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in the Berchtesgadener Land region as the fourth hotel with its own e-bike rental service. The hotel is the departure point for numerous tours through the German Alps.

Guided bike tours & local activities

The Ritten region of South Tyrol is another diverse biking destination in the Alps. Here, the ADLER Lodge RITTEN not only offers free e-bike rentals, but also organizes guided e-bike tours several times a week (free of charge). Popular tours include those to the Earth Pyramids..

The APIPURA hotel rinner is a partner of the Ritten Tourist Association. They also offer weekly e-bike tours led by local guides. As a guest of the hotel, you will receive the RittenCard free of charge. It covers bike rentals and tours.

Quick sustainability check: E-Bikes & Bicycles

Cycling trips can help reduce car travel in the local area—especially in regions with good infrastructure. Nevertheless:

• Do not ride off-road
• Respect delicate alpine and forest trails
• Proper battery maintenance
• Use local rental shops

You can also find more inspiration here:

• Sustainable Cycling Vacations
• E-Bike Vacations at Hotels

#3 Experience the water: Rafting, SUP & coastal adventures

Water and vacations are a great combination, especially in the summer. However, lakes, coastlines, and rivers are sensitive ecosystems, so you should exercise extra caution when participating in water sports.

Therefore, the Hotel Korinjak on the Croatian island of Iz focuses on peaceful water activities, such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Many guests either bring their own equipment or rent it from small, local providers. This allows visitors to fully experience the coastline free of motorboats and extensive infrastructure.

The Lifestylehotel SANDnature in Timmendorfer Strand is an ideal place to start your windsurfing, SUP, or kayaking adventure on the Baltic Sea. In partnership with local surf schools (e.g., Surfschule Timmendorfer Strand), the hotel offers lesson booking and equipment rentals. With its shallow entry points, the Baltic Sea is considered a great spot for beginners.

Whitewater Rafting in the Alps

Are you looking for some action? Rafting might be just the thing for you! Two accommodations in Tyrol have shared their rafting tips with us:

The Stanglwirt organic and wellness resort recommends whitewater rafting tours on the Tiroler Ache. They partner with Mountain-High, a provider offering a wide range of options, from family-friendly rubber dinghy trips to more athletic tours. Ramona from Stanglwirt emphasizes the importance of partnering with regional providers and notes that the guided tours combine nature experiences with safety.

The Summit Lodges in Pfunds and Schloss Lerchenhof in Carinthia also offer rafting adventures with professional local guides.

The Summit Lodges are vacation homes that can accommodate up to six people. They are located close to the famous Imster Schlucht rafting route. You can find more information about the tours (for pros or families) at Lemmingtours.

The Hotel Schloss Lerchenhof is a great fit if you enjoy slow food, farm-fresh produce, and a family-friendly atmosphere. You can find information about rafting on the Gail River on the linked page.

Sustainability check: water sports

Not all water sports are environmentally friendly. It is particularly important to consider:

• Travel by non-motorized means whenever possible
• Keep your distance from nesting areas and reed beds
• Do not chase animals
• Do not bring sunscreen containing harmful ingredients into the water
• Only use designated areas
• Follow local rules

Learn more:

• How can water sports be made more eco-friendly while on vacation?
• How sustainable are surfing and kitesurfing?

#4 Winter active holidays

These days, a winter vacation doesn’t have to mean just skiing. Due to a lack of snow in many places, many regions are expanding their offerings to include quiet, nature-based activities, such as winter hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

At the same time, some ski resorts are trying to be more environmentally conscious. For example, they are developing artificial snow systems that use water specifically dammed for this purpose or switching their gondola operations to green energy.

Several Green PearlsⓇ hotels are located right on the slopes. The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is in the Dolomiti Superski area. The Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, on the other hand, offers access to the renowned Matterhorn Ski Paradise in the Zermatt ski area.

Winter activities without skiing

If you’d like to stay active without skis, the Hygna Chalets in the Tyrolean Alpbachtal offer a beautiful setting for winter hikes or snowshoe tours. The chalets provide a peaceful retreat featuring a sauna, an infinity pool, and, in some cases, a private hot tub. The hot tub is filled and heated at the touch of a button and, thanks to modern technology, operates as energy-efficiently as possible using green electricity.

My Arbor on the Plose offers guided winter hikes, and the Plosebob is an excellent place to explore.

Sustainability check: winter sports

Winter vacations are complicated. Snowmaking systems and lift infrastructure are often criticized, and climate change poses challenges to traditional winter sports.

Traveling more sustainably in the winter can mean:

• Choose ski resorts with guaranteed snow; though they still use artificial snow, at least it’s supplemental, not the sole source
• Rent winter gear (skis, snowshoes, etc.) instead of buying it
• Stay longer instead of taking weekend trips.
• Take the train instead of driving
• Try activities that don’t require extensive infrastructure (e.g., cross-country skiing instead of downhill skiing)
• Choose accommodations that clearly communicate their energy and mobility policies.

#5 Mountaineering & Canyoning

Are you looking for a challenge on your active vacation? Not to break any records, but rather to build mental strength, improve focus, and connect with nature.

Mountaineering has been an integral part of Zermatt’s identity for decades. The Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt is an ideal base for alpine mountaineering tours—from guided Breithorn ascents for beginners to the renowned Matterhorn climb for seasoned mountaineers.

Canyoning offers a unique adventure experience. It involves navigating gorges, waterways, and natural rock formations. The Italian hotel Relais del Maro recommends tours with “Movimento & Natura” in Liguria. The routes begin just 20 minutes from the hotel and wind through clear mountain streams and narrow gorges. Professional guides accompany participants on these tours, which are tailored to different skill levels.

Mountain sports sustainability check

This is especially true in sensitive mountainous regions:

• Only go on challenging hikes with experienced guides
• Do your research beforehand (weather, conditions, difficulty level) and assess your own abilities honestly
• Respect weather conditions
• Do not use drones in protected areas
• Do not take shortcuts across the terrain
• Opt for small group sizes

#6 Adventure & Multi-Sport

Active vacations aren’t just about traditional sports. Multisport activities, outdoor challenges, and nature workshops are also growing in popularity.

Paragliding as an alternative to skydiving

Paragliding is an exciting trend. Unlike skydiving, paragliding does not require a plane to launch the pilot. Flights typically begin from a mountaintop. Consequently, paragliding produces significantly fewer emissions.

The regions around Plose, Wilder Kaiser, and Berchtesgaden have many tandem flight providers, such as My Arbor (Tandem-Fly), Stanglwirt Organic and Wellness Resort (several providers are listed on the Wilder Kaiser region’s website), OLM Nature Escape (12 kilometers away in Ahornach), and Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa (where you can find several providers at the Bad Reichenhall tourist information office).

Active games, workshops, and outdoor adventure parks

Those who prefer to stay on the ground won’t be disappointed, either.

For instance, the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld offers the “Men Craft Days” program. In the winter, guests can enjoy activities like snowshoeing, ice bathing, biathlon shooting, and igloo building. In the summer, guests head out into nature together to enjoy activities like fishing and chopping wood.

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA recommends the “Black Forest Games.” These team challenges include archery, horseshoe throwing, and laser biathlon.

At Schloss Lerchenhof, visitors can enjoy a rock labyrinth surrounded by nature, complete with a zip line, high-ropes courses, and a forest adventure trail. The Immenstaad Adventure Park on Lake Constance, located near the Naturresort Gerbehof, offers a similar experience.

Sustainability check: Adventure holidays

Taking action doesn’t have to be bad for the environment. The key factors are:

• local providers
• small groups
• safety standards
• respectful treatment of landscapes and nature
• as little additional infrastructure as possible

Conclusion: Active vacations work best when you respect nature

An active vacation, whether it involves hiking, biking, water sports, or adventure travel, is a wonderful opportunity to experience your destination more deeply, gain new experiences, and reconnect with nature. At the same time, you’re improving your health and relaxing your mind in a way that’s completely different from lounging on a beach chair. During a challenging trek, for example, you must focus on each step, leaving no time to think about anything else.

However, for the sake of the environment, it’s important to choose and plan activities thoughtfully, considering the impact on animals, plants, and local communities. Professional guides can help you safely and respectfully experience regions, especially sensitive natural areas or more demanding sports.

Der Beitrag Active vacations with integrity: Experience nature, travel more mindfully erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Popular, more popular, Austria

In 2025, Austria broke another visitor record, surpassing 40 million overnight stays between May and July. As host Marco Spiess explained in an interview, this delighted tourist regions such as Tyrolean Oberland, Tyrol, and East Tyrol. However, it also brought a host of challenges.

Preserving the stunning natural environment requires sustainable behavior when vacationing in Austria. But what does that actually mean?

What does sustainable travel mean in Austria?

Sustainable travel encompasses many aspects. If you’d like to learn more, check out these two blog posts on the basics and tips of sustainable travel.

In general, the journey to your destination plays a significant role in the harmful climate impact of tourism. That’s why the general rule is that the shorter the journey, the better.

To learn more, read our background article on sustainable travel or check out our expert tips.

Austria is centrally located in Europe and easily accessible by public transportation. This means you can comfortably leave your car at home and travel by bus or train. Flying? It’s unnecessary within Europe!

Additionally, more and more vacation destinations are committing to sustainability by supporting the local economy, facilitating green travel, and creating local incentives for emission-free transportation. We’ve compiled a list of ways you can contribute to a sustainable vacation in Austria in our Green Travel Guide.

Green Travel Guide: Sustainable vacation in Austria

Tips for Your Trip

Take the train instead of driving. Avoid short-haul flights from neighboring countries or within Austria. Also, pack light. Not only will you have less to carry, but vehicles also consume more fuel when they’re heavily loaded. This is especially relevant if you end up driving. Another often-overlooked option is the long-distance bus. They are often much cheaper than trains and, according to calculations by the Environmental Agency, just as eco-friendly.

Local Mobility

An increasing number of destinations are offering their guests the opportunity to plan sustainable vacations. This can be through improved rail connections, guest cards, or incentives created by accommodations, such as free e-bike rentals for guests arriving by train. One example is the Hotel Klosterbräu in the popular vacation region of Seefeld.

Other destinations have joined the Alpine Pearls initiative, thereby committing to climate protection and sustainable tourism practices. The three Alpine Pearls destinations in Austria—Mallnitz and Weissensee in Carinthia and Werfenweng in the Salzburg region—are car-free. Hiking, valley, and ski buses take guests everywhere. Additionally, e-bikes and bicycles are provided free of charge.

The regions along the Danube have also partnered to ensure sustainable mobility for guests. In addition to buses, trains, and bicycles, the Transdanube Pearls offer boat trips that connect the towns.

Side Note: Cable Car

Criticism is often voiced when new cable cars are built. However, people often focus solely on recreational activities, such as skiing, or tourist traffic. Yet, cable cars are a form of public transportation, just like buses and trains and serve as vital supply routes for remote mountain huts and alpine pastures.

At first glance, the right-of-way that must be cleared for construction seems to conflict with nature, but if you consider how much space a road would take up, not to mention the additional noise, materials, and time required, you may realize, as we have, that a cable car actually takes up less space.

Ultimately, a cable car’s environmental impact depends on how it is operated. According to a WKO survey, 85% of member cable car companies use green electricity, often from hydropower, and 78% have photovoltaic systems. Cable cars also fulfill a social purpose by enabling seniors, people with disabilities, and children to experience the mountains. You can read more about this here.

Sustainable Hotels and Vacation Homes in Austria

One way to make your vacation in Austria more sustainable is to choose eco-friendly accommodations. These establishments are dedicated to preserving Austria’s unique natural environment and take their responsibilities seriously. This allows you to enjoy your stay with a clear conscience.

Look for specific certifications, such as the EU Ecolabel, the Austrian Ecolabel, or GreenSign, to identify sustainable hotels and vacation homes. You can also find them on curated platforms like the Green Pearls® network, where each property’s sustainable initiatives are listed transparently. Familiarize yourself in advance with the criteria an accommodation must meet. At Green Pearls®, for instance, these include sustainable energy production, local food sourcing, environmental protection during construction and operation, and social responsibility (employees, community projects, etc.).

Green Pearls® Partner in Austria

Discover the hotels and vacation rentals at Green Pearls®: Hotel Klosterbräu | Stanglwirt Organic & Wellness Resort | Ebner 1822 | Hygna Chaltes | Schloss Lerchenhof | Naturhotel Outside | Summit Lodges Pfunds | LENI MOUNTAIN Apartments & Chalet | The Peak Sölden

Good for you and for the region

When you stay at a sustainable hotel, regional products are provided, but even if you do your own shopping because you’re staying in a vacation home or eat out, you should make a point of choosing regional products.This way, you’re supporting the local economy and local farmers. Good guidelines for shopping and finding restaurants include the AMA seal, whose standards exceed those of the EU organic label, as well as Bio Austria, Demeter, and the Grüne Haube.

Sustainable Activity Guide for Austria

The best way to explore Austria is on foot. There are numerous hiking trails — according to the Alpine Club, around 40,000 kilometers — that lead you to remote regions and through virtually untouched nature. In this blog post, we highlight some easily accessible hiking trails near Green Pearls® Hotels.

If you’re interested in hiking in Austria’s largest national park, Hohe Tauern, Karin, the hiking concierge at Naturhotel Outside, shares important insider tips about the largest national park in the Austrian Alps in this interview: https://green-travel-blog.com/de/insider-tipps-fuer-ein-nachhaltiges-wanderwochenende-im-nationalpark-hohe-tauern/.

The Alpine region is not only perfect for hiking. Cyclists, from touring cyclists to mountain bikers, will also find plenty to enjoy. You can explore Austria on horseback or by kayak, emission-free and from a whole new perspective. If you’re not into athletic activities, how about a wellness vacation at a sustainable wellness hotel?

If you want to actively contribute to environmental protection while on vacation, why not join a CleanUP Day organized by Patron e.V., Plasticfree Peaks, and local communities? You’ll clean up trash from the trails with a group of like-minded people and make a difference.

Sustainable Vacations in Austria – Sustainable Essentials for Your Packing List

Although packing is very personal, there are a few essentials that should be included in every suitcase for a sustainable vacation. Here’s a quick overview:

● Glass or metal water bottle to avoid single-use plastic bottles

● Jute or cloth bags for your shopping

● Beeswax wraps or a lunchbox for your snack on the mountain

● Natural cosmetics, solid soaps, and more are free of microplastics.
(Tip: If you have small, travel-size shower gel bottles at home, don’t throw them away. Instead, refill them with your shower gel or shampoo for shorter trips, if you don’t already use solid products.)

● Eco-friendly sunscreen (even in winter!)

Tip: Take advantage of rental services offered by hotels and vacation homes. Many eco-friendly accommodations also rent out equipment. The Naturhotel Outside, for example, provides guests with hiking backpacks, poles, snowshoes, and other items. The most important thing to bring is a good pair of shoes.

Feel free to add to the list in the comments 🙂

Take your time and let go

Austria has so much to offer that it’s tempting to rush from one beautiful spot to the next. But we strongly encourage you to take your time and enjoy a sustainable vacation in Austria. Let a place slow you down and discover it in a whole new way during your vacation. By the way, this doesn’t have to be during peak season. The mountains are beautiful in spring and fall, too. Maybe even a little more beautiful. 😉

This is an update from January 13, 2023

You want to save the travel guide for your next sustainable vacation in Austria? Then pin one of the pins or use the button at the end of the article.

Der Beitrag Sustainable Vacation in Austria – All about eco-friendly travel, accommodations and activities (Green Travel Guide) erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

7 Sustainable Accommodations for a perfect Valentine’s Weekend in the DACH region & South Tyrol

What is your idea of the perfect setting for a romantic getaway? A cozy room? Family atmosphere? Great food? Lucky you: the sustainable hotels in our network combine all of these things (and more). And with all of them, your getaway begins as soon as you step out the door because they’re all just a relaxing train ride away.

Hotel Das Rübezahl: Romance in the setting of Neuschwanstein Castle in Allgäu

Hotel Das Rübezahl specializes in romance, and it is not uncommon for marriage proposals to take place here. So it is not surprising that we can present a Valentine’s Day Special from them (with room rates starting at 469 Euros).

Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a bed covered in rose petals. You will also receive a Valentine’s aperitif at the bar and a 5-course dinner at the Louis II restaurant. The restaurant uses local organic ingredients. A highlight is the spa area with saunas and the year-round heated outdoor pool (with indoor access). Here you can swim out into the winter landscape and enjoy a direct view of Neuschwanstein Castle.

PS: If you add another night, you will receive a 50 Euro voucher each for a spa treatment.

Hotel Klosterbräu: Luxury and candlelight in Tyrol

The Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, is also an ideal setting for Valentine’s Day. Built on the site of a 500-year-old monastery, the spa hotel offers a stylish atmosphere with a mix of old vaulted cellars and modern architecture. Each evening, the hotel is lit by hundreds of candles. On Valentine’s Eve, a gourmet menu is served with live music.

This sustainable 5-star hotel offers luxurious comfort with a swimming pool and saunas. If you want to stay active during the weekend, you can take a tour with one of their active guides. As part of their Valentine’s Day ideas, Hotel Klosterbräu recommends a sunrise hike.

Hygna Chalets: Chalet with private sauna and open fireplace in Tyrol

If you want even more privacy, you can book your own chalet. The Hygna Chalets in Tyrol’s Alpbachtal are offering a two-night package for couples from €620 per person between January 12 and February 16, 2025.

The chalet has a private sauna and a cozy nook with a roaring fireplace. There is also a freestanding soaking tub in the bedroom with panoramic views, and if you choose one of the spa chalets, you can enjoy the alpine scenery from your own outdoor Jacuzzi.

My Arbor: Wellness hotel for adults in South Tyrol

The adults-only Hotel My Arbor on the Plose in South Tyrol (about a 15-minute drive from Bressanone) doesn’t have a special Valentine’s Day package, but it does have a “My Honeymoon” offer, available until December 24, 2025, that’s also suitable for Valentine’s Day. It includes three nights with half-board and costs from 835 euros per person.

Upon arrival, your bed will be decorated with heart-shaped rose petals and you will receive champagne and sweet treats. Plus, you will be treated to 50 minutes of “My Spa” time just for the two of you. Built on stilts in the middle of a spruce forest, the hotel offers breathtaking panoramic views of the winter landscape of South Tyrol, with the Plose Mountain Range and the Dolomites in the background.

ADLER Lodge RITTEN: Your own lakeside chalet in South Tyrol

ADLER Lodge RITTEN also offers a successful symbiosis of luxurious accommodations and committed sustainability. The resort consists of a main house with a pool and spa, and romantic wooden chalets built around a lake and along the natural line of the hills.

Around Valentine’s Day, you can take advantage of the reopening special (February 2-16, 2025). Three all-inclusive nights in a Junior Suite start from 907 euros per person and in a Junior Chalet from 1,039 euros per person.

The all-inclusive package includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and beverages (including wines and cocktails). In addition, you will receive a 50-minute wellness massage and can participate in free yoga sessions, sound baths, or winter hikes with a guide. You will also receive the Ritten Card for public transportation and free admission to museums and castles.

HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio: Torchlit hike in the Allgäu

Or maybe a torchlight hike through the woods on Valentine’s Day? That’s exactly what the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in Balderschwang has in mind. The “Winter Warmth” offer is available here until March 31, 2025, with 3 nights starting at 738 euros per person. In addition to the all-inclusive services of the hotel (such as a daily activity program with snowshoe hikes, meditation, etc.), you will receive torches for a romantic evening hike through the valley and a holistic deep massage.

Lifestylehotel SAND: Romantic Weekend by the Baltic Sea

Would you rather enjoy the sea breeze? Then book a short vacation at the Baltic Sea. February is perfect for lonely beach walks and bike tours with fresh air, sky, and horizon or a trip to Lübeck. Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand offers a great deal for couples. Located on the second row of the beach, the adults-only hotel has a great roof terrace with a rooftop sauna. As part of the “SANDromance” special, you can have it to yourself for a whole 1.5 hours! SANDromance (valid until December 2025) includes 3 nights with breakfast starting at 279 euros per person. It also includes sauna time, a day of MyBoo rental bikes, and sweet and savory snacks with wine and sparkling wine.

We hope this has given you some inspiration and that you can enjoy the precious gift of quality time this year. Of course, Valentine’s Day is a completely commercialized holiday that no one needs – but as my mom always says, “Yeah, I’d love to see all the gifts that just show up without an occasion!

PS: No time for a full weekend? Consider a visit to an eco-friendly day spa or dinner at a sustainable restaurant.

Der Beitrag Sustainable Valentine’s Weekend 2025 – Special offers from our Green PearlsⓇ partners erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Between simplicity and luxury

According to the Allgäuer Zeitung, citing the Historical Dictionary, chalets used to be very simple mountain huts. However, during the European Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, they became a “symbol of a society of simplicity, closeness to nature, freedom and democracy”. Later, chalets became popular with Europe’s aristocracy, which led to them being seen as luxurious vacation homes – a reputation they still maintain today.

What makes a chalet sustainable?

Those who choose a chalet vacation want to experience nature. In most cases, this leads to a greater appreciation of nature. In the mountains, for example, you can see the effects of global warming firsthand in the melting glaciers.

Sustainably managed chalets are characterized by the following:

• Use of local wood from sustainably managed forests
• Integration with and respect for nature during construction
• Traditional building methods of the region to preserve the culture
• Modern insulation methods (energy saving)
• Cooperation with local businesses (strengthening the local economy)
• Energy supply with green electricity (self-produced or purchased)
• Waste prevention and recycling
• Water conservation measures
• Modern chimney technology and proper use of open fires
• Natural cosmetics in bathrooms
• Local organic products for breakfast or in the restaurant (if offered)

As you can see, there are a number of criteria that determine whether a chalet can be considered sustainable. In general, alpine tourism is an important economic factor for the region and also contributes to the establishment and maintenance of conservation projects such as national parks. Of course, tourists want to visit beautiful natural places. But as a traveler, you also have a responsibility. (Read more about eco-friendly travel in the Alps here.) In addition to not leaving trash behind, you can minimize your carbon footprint by choosing how you get there and where you stay.

What is the difference between a chalet and a vacation home?

According to the Duden dictionary, the word “chalet” has both French and Romansh roots and refers to a “country house, usually made of wood, especially in the Swiss Alps“.

Interestingly, the synonym for chalet is vacation home, which brings us to the answer to the question 🙂 A chalet is a vacation home. But not every vacation home in the Alps is a chalet, because chalets are characterized by the fact that they are wooden houses in the traditional style. Vacation homes can look different.

Sustainablly focused chalets – Our recommendations

We can recommend 5 Green PearlsⓇ chalets in the Alpine region of Austria, Germany and Italy.

#1 Hygna Chalets in Alpbachtal, Tyrol – Luxury chalets with jacuzzi

The Hygna Chalets form their own small chalet village with a total of 11 chalets of varying sizes for 2 to 7 people. Built in traditional Tyrolean style, each chalet has a small private spa and some even have their own sauna and jacuzzi. There is also a fireplace with firewood.

A breakfast basket with local (organic) produce (vegan or vegetarian options available upon request) is delivered to your door each morning. The Chalet Village also has a 13-meter infinity pool in the former hay barn, a yoga room (with yoga classes offered), and a gym.

Sustainability: The land on which the Moser family built the chalets was previously occupied by a concrete ruin that had been vacant for 30 years. Electricity is generated by a solar system from spring to fall, and heat is provided by a pellet heating system in the winter. The hot tubs are equipped with a modern, water-saving system that fills the water at the touch of a button and purifies it for reuse. E-bikes and E-Golfs can be rented for local transportation.

• Check rates and availability on the Hgyna Chalets website.

#2 Summit Lodges, Pfunds, Tyrol – Log cabin with private sauna

The Summit Lodges in Pfunds, Tyrol, are a pair of log cabins made of polar spruce and built in the style of an American log cabin. They are more of a vacation home than a chalet, but still worth a recommendation! Each cabin is about 120 square meters and can sleep up to 6 people. There is a private sauna and a cozy fireplace with wood. You can cook in your own kitchen and be completely independent. A ski bus stops only 2 minutes from the front door and in summer there are many hiking trails. The chalets are also very suitable for a vacation with children.

Sustainability: The vacation homes are heated with air-source heat pumps, and the electricity comes from Tyrolean hydropower. The host, Marco Spiess, is very careful about waste separation. Guests are instructed in recycling, and garbage is checked before being taken to the recycling center. There is a compost for organic waste.

• Check the Summit Lodges website for rates and availability.

#3 LENI MOUNTAIN Chalet in the Ötztal, Tyrol – Private luxury hideaway

In the middle of the Ötztal Alps lies a luxurious, private hideaway: the LENI MOUNTAIN Chalet. To get there, you have to hike from the village of Sölden. Upon your arrival, the Arnold family, who own the chalet, will have an SUV ready to transport you and your luggage.

The chalet is approximately 200 square meters and can accommodate up to 8 people in 4 bedrooms. There is a fireplace, a private natural swimming pond, a wine refrigerator and other amenities for a luxurious alpine vacation. You will also have a personal concierge and even a private* chef if you wish. A bike station is available for mountain bikers.

Sustainability: The chalet is built with natural materials from the region and is energy self-sufficient thanks to a photovoltaic system. CO₂ emissions per guest are measured and reduced through various measures. The owners are also partners of “myclimate”.

• Check rates and availability directly with LENI MOUNTAIN.

#4 Edelsberghütte, Allgäu – Mountain hut with modern comforts

Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region, acquired the Edelsberghütte in 2024. At an altitude of 1,180 meters above sea level, the hut welcomes hikers who can enjoy the view and good food (depending on the route) after a 40-minute to 1.5-hour hike (starting at the Pfronten hiking parking lot).

The Edelsberghütte has three chalets or apartments. Two are on the first floor and one has a separate entrance but is also part of the cabin. All apartments are comfortably furnished with all modern conveniences.

Sustainability: The Edelsberghütte was purchased as an existing cabin, and the family that owns it (as well as their hotel) is committed to local suppliers, organic food, and conservation.

• Check prices and availability directly on the website.

#5 ADLER Loge RITTEN, South Tyrol – Chalets with all-inclusive service

On the Ritten Plateau in South Tyrol, you can rent one of the luxurious wooden cabins at ADLER Lodge RITTEN*. The chalets are scattered around a natural swimming pond and along the hillside, offering different but equally fantastic views. The resort also includes a main house and spa area with an outdoor pool, forest sauna and spa treatments. The all-inclusive services include breakfast and a multi-course dinner, as well as a lunch menu and all beverages. Guided hiking and biking tours are also available.

There are 55 square meter junior chalets for two people and four 90 square meter family chalets. Each chalet has a wood-burning fireplace, terrace and bio-sauna.

Sustainability: Regional and natural materials were used in the construction. The design of the chalets was the work of a local architect and craftsmen and is inspired by traditional South Tyrolean architecture. In addition, the resort has its own organic farm, which provides the produce used in the kitchens.

• Check prices and availability directly on the website.

We hope we have given you a better understanding of what a chalet vacation is, how chalets are run sustainably, and how you can support them.

*CIN: IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge Ritten)

Der Beitrag Chalet vacation in the Alps with a focus on sustainability erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Vegan delights on the Seiser Alm, right on the slopes

A pioneer among vegan ski hotels is Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel. What started as a vegetarian/vegan hotel has now evolved its cuisine to be completely free of animal products, making it the first vegan hotel in the Dolomites. Celebrity Greek chef Aggeliki Charami, who is also very active on Instagram promoting vegan cuisine, was co-responsible for revising the culinary concept.

The sustainable hotel, at 2,020 meters above sea level, is ideally located for a ski vacation – a run in the Dolomiti Superski area ends right outside the door. The ski lift is also right next to the hotel. From here you are directly connected to 32 slopes of the Alpe di Siusi ski area. With the same ski pass you can also explore the even larger Dolomiti Superski. The Alpe di Siusi is only one of twelve ski areas with about 1,200 kilometers of slopes.

Cross-country skiing on the Alpe di Siusi

If you prefer cross-country skiing, the Seiser Alm’s 80 km of trails start just a few hundred meters from the hotel.

100% vegan restaurant on the slopes

Since Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is the only completely vegan hospitality business in the area, we suggest you take your meals here. You can ski right up to the terrace (as in the lodges), leave your equipment in the designated area and enjoy vegan food! On the terrace or in the winter garden of the restaurant you can enjoy the view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites.

The menu is specially adapted for the ski season. The vegan pizza is an affordable and delicious highlight!

👉 Read more about a vegan ski vacation at Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel.

EXCURSION: Is skiing sustainable?

IIn some ways, skiing is at odds with leaving nature in its pristine beauty. However, there have already been a number of sustainable improvements in the problem areas of snow cannons, ski lifts, energy, water consumption, pollution and mass tourism. Dolomiti Superski, for example, is one of the resorts that has been committed to sustainability for several years. Read more in our articles:

👉 Sustainable winter vacation 

👉 Tips for a sustainable skiing holiday 

Individual ski vacation on the Plose in South Tyrol

The Green PearlsⓇ Hotel My Arbor near Brixen is located just a few meters from the valley station of the Plose cable car. Ski-in/ski-out is not a foreign concept here. You can safely store your equipment in the hotel’s own ski room. The Plose ski area has 7 ski lifts and 19 slopes of varying difficulty, with a total of 42 kilometers of slopes and fantastic views of the Dolomites. If you are not an avid skier, you can also enjoy 12 km of toboggan runs and 12 km of winter hiking trails.

Vegan on request

The concept of the hotel includes the idea of “mine”. This means that individual service is very important and “special requests” are not only allowed, but explicitly part of the hotel’s philosophy. The kitchen creates a different vegan menu every day on request, and there are many vegan options for breakfast.

“Vegan options are currently rather limited in the ski lodges in the nearest ski area. We can help you plan to meet your needs. We are also happy to pack a vegan lunch for you. – My Arbor

👉 Not a skier yet? My Arbor is a partner of the Plose Ski School.

Vegan skiing vacation in Switzerland

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend a 100% vegan hotel in Switzerland like we did for South Tyrol. However, there are two sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotels where you will feel comfortable as a vegan.

CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt with vegan/vegetarian restaurant

The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt is connected to the Matterhorn Ski Paradise with about 360 kilometers of prepared slopes. The resort has a ski room with lockers for your equipment and is spread over several buildings. There is a spa area, a climbing wall, a gym and three restaurants. One of them is the vegetarian BAZAAR, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vegan dishes are marked on the menu so you can enjoy a vegan ski vacation and be surrounded by like-minded people.

👉 Check here to find the best places to ski around CERVO Mountain Resort.

Intimate boutique hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – for skiing and yoga

If you are looking for a small, cozy ski hotel with an individual flair and personal service, then look no further than the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. It has only 21 rooms and offers a fantastic view of the Matterhorn. There is also a small spa area and a yoga room with regular yoga classes. Of course, there is also a ski room and the ski slope ends right at the hotel. If you want, you can even take a trip to Italy on your skis!

Vegan alternatives are an integral part of the sustainable program. There is cappuccino with oatmeal, vegan pastries from the hotel’s own bakery, and vegan meals. The Anthamatten family, who owns the hotel, is very familiar with vegan requirements and will take professional care of you according to your wishes.

„We kindly ask guests to inform us before arrival if they are vegan so that we can prepare vegan dishes for the breakfast buffet (preparation is on request to avoid food waste).“ – Fabienne Anthamatten

Learn more about winter vacations at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt.

Vegan offer for skiers in Tyrol and East Tyrol

If you want to spend a vegan ski vacation with the whole family, the Kellerjoch ski area near the Biohotel Grafenast is ideal. The hotel also has a mountain hut (Cafè Rodel Toni) right next to the children’s ski school – so you can enjoy coffee with oatdrink while keeping an eye on your kids. The Unterlechner family’s family hotel also has special hotel rooms with separate children’s rooms.

“We offer a wide variety of great vegan meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some huts, such as the Kellerjochhütte, also offer vegan food. – Peter Unterlechner, Biohotel Grafenast

At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, you can spend your vegan winter vacation surrounded by nature in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The national park includes several 3,000-meter peaks, and the Grossglockner Kals-Matrei ski area has 16 lifts and about 47 kilometers of slopes.

“With us you can enjoy a vegan menu every day and the huts also serve vegan food.” – Naturehotel Outside

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for vegans in Germany

If you prefer gentler winter sports, the Allgäu is the perfect place for you – even if you are vegan.

Hotel Das Rübezahl with two mountain huts and vegan options

IFüssen has a huge network of cross-country ski trails, with a total of 300 kilometers of connected trails. Of course, the romantic backdrop of Neuschwanstein Castle and other royal castles is a highlight. You also have a number of options for downhill skiing, such as Tegelberg.

The Rohrkopfhütte, part of the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Das Rübezahl, is also located on the Tegelberg. As of 2024, the Edelsberg Lodge is also part of the Rübezahl family and can be reached in winter by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or winter hiking.

In the romantic hotel a vegan menu is served daily, and in the two huts (Rohrkopfhütte and Edelsberghütte) a selection of vegan dishes is available. “Of course, a vegan packed lunch or picnic is no problem if ordered accordingly,” adds the Thurm family, who own the hotel.

Gentle winter sports at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refuge Allgäu

Also in the Allgäu, in Balderschwang at 1,044 meters and near the Austrian border, the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu is located in the middle of nature. In winter, snowshoeing is a must. You can rent snowshoes at the hotel and be accompanied by guides (sometimes by the host Mark Traubel himself). In addition, the Balderschwang cross-country skiing area offers over 100 kilometers of trails.

The vegetarian and vegan options at the HUBERTUS have increased in recent years and there is a vegetarian menu every day. 100% vegan meals are available on request. You can pack a “Jausensackerl” for the mountain. The snack bags are ready for you at the breakfast or lunch buffet.

Vegan self-catering ski vacation

Do you prefer to cook for yourself on vacation? Maybe vegan is not enough for you, or you have very specific dietary requirements that only you can or want to prepare? Then you should spend your winter vacation in a chalet, aparthotel or vacation home with its own kitchen. The Hygna Chalets in Austria’s Alpbachtal, for example, offer a luxurious and sustainable option. Some of the chalets have their own outdoor hot tub. Because it is heated, you can take in the snowy landscape while relaxing in the warm water.

👉 Information about the 100 kilometers of cross-country ski trails in the Alpbachtal.

In the Austrian town of Pfunds, in the Tyrolean Oberland, you’ll find the Summit Lodges, vacation homes made of polar spruce with their own sauna powered by green electricity. The 120-square-meter log cabins also have their own fireplaces for cozy evenings. Don’t worry: firewood is provided 😉

„Most huts and restaurants now offer vegan meals.“ – Summit Lodges Pfunds

👉 Summit Lodges Pfunds is surrounded by approximately 135 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, and a ski bus stops nearby to take you to six ski areas.

👉 Find out more here: Winter vacation at the Summit Lodges

Skiing and vegan self-catering in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol

In South Tyrol, the OLM Nature Escape will open in December 2023. The circular aparthotel is energy self-sufficient and a pioneer in sustainable alpine tourism. Part of the aparthotel’s culinary concept is that you can book all meals according to a modular system.

“Vegan options are no problem at all – our two qualified dietary chefs are very competent” – OLM Nature Escape

You can also use your own kitchen in the fully equipped apartments. Here you can prepare your (vegan) meals exactly as you like.

Just behind Sand in Taufers, where the OLM Nature Escape is located, lies the Skiworld Ahrntal ski area, which consists of the Speikboden and Klausberg ski areas. It is a smaller ski area with 87 kilometers of slopes, which is especially popular with families. Cross-country skiing is also available.

Finally, if you are vegan, we recommend checking in advance which huts offer vegan options (e.g. Bergwelten or Vegan-News). The HappyCow app is also very helpful when you’re on the go.

Save this article for your next winter holidays!

Der Beitrag Tips for your vegan ski vacation and our favorite vegan ski hotels and lodges erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Eco bonus: The Green PearlsⓇ hotels, aparthotels and vacation homes pay attention to sustainability when it comes to the ecologically challenging topic of wellness and have several interesting solutions, which we will also present here! Relaxation without a bad conscience 😉

Private spa suite with self-generated green electricity

“Our private spa rooms are especially for Italians.” This is how Thomas Steiner of OLM Nature Escape in northern Italy explains private saunas to Architectural Record magazine. Unlike many German and Austrian spa guests, Italians are not comfortable with “public nudity” and appreciate having their own private sauna in their room.

The newly opened aparthotel in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol, has a total of 33 eco-apart-suites made of larch wood, each with its own kitchen. You can book additional meals and cleaning services on a modular basis.

Private Spa Suites: Apart-Suite M (53m²) and Apart-Suite L (60m²) each have their own Finnish sauna (90°C). In addition to the bathroom with shower, there is a freestanding bathtub in the bedroom next to the king-size bed. There is also a space for yoga and calisthenics and a terrace or balcony.

Sustainability: OLM Nature Escape is the first off-grid aparthotel in the Alps. The aparthotel generates all the electricity, including that for the energy-intensive saunas, using geothermal probes and solar energy.

Chalets with private spa in Tyrol

There is a small village of eleven chalets in the Alpbach Valley in Tyrol. The Hygna Chalets combine the cozy romance of a mountain hut with private luxury. Staff will deliver breakfast to your door each morning in a beautifully arranged basket. In addition you have access to the infinity pool in the former hay barn (13 meters long), yoga room, and fitness studio.

Private Spa: The Weiden Spa Chalet (61 square feet) has a private hot tub on the patio; the Wiesen Chalet (104 square feet) has a private sauna with outdoor rain shower; and the Wiesen Spa Chalet (118 square feet) has both a private sauna and a private hot tub. As an added bonus, the beds in all of them have a massage function, and in the winter, a crackling fireplace will keep you warm. A basket of firewood is provided upon arrival.

Sustainability: Electricity and heat are generated by a photovoltaic system, a geothermal system, and a pellet heating system. If that is not enough, Hygna Chalets obtains 100% of its green electricity from hydropower. There is also an innovative concept for the year-round hot tubs. They fill with fresh water only when you press the button, so they consume energy only when in use.

Luxury log cabins with private sauna

You can also enjoy your own wellness and relaxation vacation at Summit Lodges Pfunds. Built in the North American log style from local timber, the houses are designed as vacation homes. So you can take care of yourself and enjoy complete privacy in the Tyrolean countryside.

Private Spa: The two cottages “Yosemite” (120 m²) and “Yellowstone” (120 m²) have a large bathroom with a Finnish sauna and a large living room with an open fireplace and firewood.

Sustainability: The log cabins are made of polar spruce and the wood for the interior comes from the local forest and sawmill. The electricity (also for the air heat pump heating) is provided by 100% green electricity from Tyrolean hydropower.

Sustainable hotels with private spas in Germany

Spa suite in the Bavarian Alps

If you want the service and amenities of a hotel with its own private spa, the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain is the place for you. This spa hotel has a beautiful, large indoor pool with a fireplace and a sauna area for all hotel guests. But you can also book your very own private spa loft.

Private Spa: The Spa Loft (51 m²) and Spa Loft Suite (70 m²) are two-story dream rooms with large panoramic windows, a balcony and a beautiful view of nature. Equpped with their own private whirlpool and infrared sauna. There is also a spacious bathroom with shower and separate toilet.

Sustainability: The Klosterhof was created from an old monastery building, and the furnishings are made from local apple wood. A combined heat and power plant generates heat for the hotel and spa and the hotel uses modern technology (e.g. heat recovery) to be as efficient as possible. The hotel has been awarded the EU Ecolabel and was one of the first hotels in Germany to receive this certification.

Book the hotels spa area for three hours

The Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten is an extravagant wellness hotel on the Mosel River. There are three pools and a natural swimming pond, as well as a huge sauna area. The total spa area is more than 4,000 square meters.

Private Spa: You have the option to book your private spa at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten for three hours. You and your companion can enjoy the Finnish sauna, whirlpool and aromatic steam bath all to yourselves. As an extra, you will also receive the ingredients for a herbal infusion! (Price: 59,50 Euro per person)

Sustainability: The Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten was created from an existing building. Four combined heat and power plants supply its energy. The pools use modern pool technology to operate as energy-efficiently as possible (e.g. pool covers prevent heat loss at night).

Vegan hotel with private sauna in South Tyrol

As we mentioned at the beginning, Italians in particular love to spend time alone in the sauna. So, it’s no wonder that you can also book the barrel sauna at LA VIMEA in Naturno all to yourself. (For example, with the “Romantic Getaway” package, which we also wrote about in this blog article “Weekend getaway for vegans“.

Private Spa: You can book the forest sauna privately by the hour. The hotel’s spa area also includes an indoor saltwater pool, a natural swimming pond, three communal saunas, and an adventure shower.

Sustainability: LA VIMEA was the first completely vegan hotel in Italy. This applies not only to the food but also to the hotel’s decor. The adults-only hotel has a holistic, sustainable approach that is evident throughout, from the fair-trade organic linens to the daily yoga classes.

Is a private spa sustainable?

Wellness is never really sustainable because it uses a lot of energy and water. But it is certainly more sustainable to stay at a sustainably run spa hotel every now and then than to install a hot tub and sauna at home.

If you squeezed into a sauna with ten other people, each of you would have a smaller carbon footprint, but we understand if that’s not your idea of relaxation 🙂

In conclusion, a private spa is a luxury that you can afford from time to time. However, it does help the environment if you choose sustainable accommodation that runs the spa on renewable energy and is committed to doing more. What do you think? We would love to hear from you.

Save the article so you can find it again when you’re looking for accommodation with a private spa!

Der Beitrag Sustainable accommodations with a private spa in Germany, Austria and South Tyrol erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

The leaves of the beech, larch, and maple trees turn golden

The expression “golden autumn” or “golden October” has been used in German for hundreds of years and refers to the landscape at this time of year in a positive way. The leaves of the deciduous trees turn yellow, red and orange. When the sun shines on them, it creates a “golden” impression that warms the heart.

A large part of the Alps is covered by forest. The mixed mountain forest, which gives the Alps their golden appearance, extends to the tree line at about 2,200 meters, although a study of the altitudinal distribution of trees in the Lucerne Pre-Alps showed that the highest altitudes are almost exclusively spruce.

“Three main tree species occur naturally in the mountain forests of the Alps: spruce, fir, and beech; to a lesser extent, larch, maple, and pine, and at higher altitudes, Swiss stone pine.” – Deutscher Alpenverein

Of course, the fall colors are especially interesting for deciduous trees (except for larches). But the most beautiful thing about a mountain vacation is the wide view through the autumn landscape, where dark conifers, rough rocks and autumn leaves create a natural painting. No wonder Goethe was so enthusiastic. There are always new vistas to discover on a hike, and from a mountain hut or hotel, the view of the alpine landscape changes with the time of day.

Conservation during your fall vacation in the Alps

Because the Alps are so beautiful, mass tourism has become a problem. Mountaineering icon Reinhold Messner is calling for a passport tax and a comprehensive plan to distribute the flow of tourists.

Martin Riz, the manager of a mountain hut in the Dolomites, recently complained in the media that many tourists show a “lack of respect” for nature and simply ignore prohibitions. Specific problems are:

• Illegal Wild Camping
• Litter
• Dog excrement left behind
• Swimming in mountain lakes where it is expressly forbidden (e.g. Lake Antermoia in the Dolomites or the Austrian Lake Constance in Styria).

If you want to travel in an environmentally friendly way in the Alps, always pay attention to the regulations, stay on the marked hiking trails, do not leave any litter (especially no toxic cigarette butts) and do not harm the flora and fauna. (So don’t pick wild flowers or feed animals).

Golden October in the Hohe Tauern National Park

The Hohe Tauern National Park in the Austrian Alps is the oldest national park in Austria and, at about 800 square kilometers, one of the largest nature reserves in Europe. The panorama is characterized by the summits of several three thousand meter peaks (the highest is the Großglockner at 3,798 meters), glaciers and forests.

According to a forest survey, the “leading tree species” depend on the altitude. In the higher altitudes you can find pine, spruce and fir, but also deciduous forests with maple, ash, mountain elm, gray and green alder, beech and mixed forests.

The Outside Nature Hotel attracts guests with its “nature at its best” concept

Naturhotel Outside is located in the middle of the National Park. The family-run hotel has several mountain and hiking experts with whom you can explore the alpine region. In addition, a varied program is offered in close cooperation with the national park rangers.

Otherwise, the hotel invites you to relax. In the wellness area with saunas and pool, during dinner with regional culinary delights and of course in the natural, cozy flair.

Autumn atmosphere at Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld

“The Seefeld region is especially inviting in the fall for excursions and adventures, but it also offers peace and relaxation,” writes Hotel Klosterbräu. This sustainable wellness hotel is surrounded by more than 650 kilometers of hiking trails, 570 kilometers of biking trails, and numerous mountain huts and cabins.

Built on the walls of an old monastery, the hotel has a wonderfully magical atmosphere in the fall with its many vaulted ceilings and candles.

“When the morning mist transforms the Garden of Eden into a mystical realm, the positive autumn melancholy is best endured. The moment when body and nature prepare for winter. For an autumn afternoon, we recommend a forest bath with Nadine and Andrea”. – Hotel Klosterbräu

Enchanting views of the Tyrolean Inn Valley from the organic hotel Grafenast

“More than 40 percent of Tyrol is covered by forest, and more than half (66 percent) is protected.” – Waldgeschichten.com

There is a good reason for this, because the mountain forest fulfills an important function. Not only as a habitat, but also as protection against natural hazards such as avalanches and rockfalls.

Biohotel Grafenast is located at an altitude of 1,330 meters and offers a magnificent view of the forest in the Tyrolean Inn Valley. According to the Tyrolean forest typology, this is one of the few places where field elms grow naturally. Elms are also among the trees with the most beautiful golden-yellow autumn leaves.

Tip:The family hotel is particularly suitable for a vacation with children.

Sustainable chalets and vacation homes in Tyrol

If you value your privacy and prefer to cook for yourself during your fall vacation, you can rent a chalet or other vacation accommodation. The Hygna Chalets in the Alpbachtal valley beautifully combine alpine cabin flair with modern luxury. Some of the chalets even have their own sauna and/or private outdoor hot tub. The hot tub is heated and can be used in the fall – a wonderful place to watch nature change!

For those traveling with more than two people, Summit Lodges Pfunds offers an entire log cabin with its own fireplace and private sauna. From your vacation home, you will be in the midst of the fall scenery of the Tyrolean Alps.

„Especially beautiful in autumn is the rutting of the deer and wildlife watching in the Radur valley, the play of colors in the forest. Another highlight are the cattle drives with cows, horses and sheep. – Summit Lodges Pfunds

South Tyrol’s intense fall colors

According to the government of South Tyrol, the vast majority of trees in South Tyrol are conifers. About 60 percent of the trees are spruce. There are also pines, larches, and Swiss stone pines. There are also deciduous trees such as beech, hop hornbeam, downy oak and manna ash.

Did you know that larches turn yellow in the fall?

Almost a fifth of the trees in South Tyrol are larches. This tree is the only conifer in the region that turns yellow and loses its needles in the fall. It is therefore a “deciduous tree” like the broad-leaved trees.

Sustainable hotels with panoramic views in South Tyrol

The golden autumn panorama of the Alps is best enjoyed from places with a view. For example, the Plose, home of the sustainable wellness hotel My Arbor, is a beautiful panoramic mountain overlooking the Dolomites.

The mild temperatures and relaxed atmosphere of fall are ideal for exploring the charming towns of South Tyrol. It is especially nice to combine hiking with a visit to a cozy wine tavern. Not only do they serve delicious regional specialties, but also the typical “Törggele”. -My Arbor

In the Dolomites themselves, the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is located on the Seiser Alm at an altitude of 2,020 meters. Autumn is a wonderful time to hike on Europe’s largest high alpine pasture. The alpine air is even clearer, the colors of nature even more intense.

In 2024, the hotel went completely vegan, making it the second purely vegan hotel in the Green Pearls® network. The first one was LA VIMEA in Naturno.

You can also enjoy the beautiful South Tyrolean mountains in Sand in Taufers. Here you will find the newly opened OLM Nature Escape – an eco-aparthotel with unique architecture and surrounded by beautiful nature.

“We experience the most beautiful autumn hikes among vines and chestnuts in the nearby Eisack Valley. We take the train to Brixen and then walk along the Keschtnweg trail to Tils, Pinzagen and Feldthurns to Glanger for potato leaves with sauerkraut. An incredible treat. Also because the host plays music so well.” – OLM Nature Escape

Autumn on the Ritten

The Ritten Plateau is a popular fall destination in the Sarntal Alps. It is also known as the “sunny plateau”. The “Ritten Card” is especially useful for a vacation, as it allows you to use all public transportation (including the cable car to the plateau) for free – hop on, hop off!

There are three wonderful green pearls on the Ritten which we can recommend for an overnight stay. The family-friendly Hotel Weihrerhof on the shore of Lake Wolfsgruben, the APIPURA Hotel Rinner with its own organic beekeeping, and the luxurious ADLER Lodge RITTEN. The ADLER Lodge RITTEN is staffed with hiking and biking guides who will explore the area with you.

„ADLER Lodge RITTEN is especially beautiful in the fall, when you can enjoy the impressive colors of nature. The forests turn into a sea of gold, red and orange, making the landscape unique. You can also watch the deer rut, a fascinating natural phenomenon that is especially impressive in the fall.“ – ADLER Lodge RITTEN

Golden October in the Allgäu

The Allgäu was once covered by primeval forest, but it has long since disappeared. Instead, there are now commercial forests, including many spruce monocultures. However, ecologically valuable mixed mountain forests are making a comeback. They are promoted, for example, in the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park. This is also the location of the HUBERTUS Allgäu Mountain Resort, which supports the protection of mountain forests through its support of the mountain forest offensive – one of the conservation projects is right next to the hotel in Balderschwang. A hiking backpack for your excursions (and a yoga mat for stretching afterwards 😉 ) is waiting for you in your room. Back at the hotel you can enjoy the large wellness area.

“Autumn is hiking season,” reports the romantic boutique hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen. The best way to go hiking is with the hotel’s own hiking concierge, ‘Bergbaschdi’. Find out which hiking trails await you in this interview with him.

Matterhorn in autumn

The Matterhorn – the most beautiful of all Swiss mountains – looks simply breathtaking in the fall. “Autumn here has a very special charm,” writes the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt.

“While the mild days still invite you to linger on the terrace, you can end the evening comfortably in the Bazaar Lounge, with a warm drink in hand and a view of the colorful landscape.” – CERVO Mountain Resort

The Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt is another cozy place to stay. This family-run boutique hotel offers breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and the Alpine landscape. Relax by the fireplace in the lobby or on the waterbeds in the Arvenstube lounge.

„There are wonderful hikes through our larch forest with its golden-yellow needles, to our clear mountain lakes, always with fantastic views or mystical fog in the fresh air”. – Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt

Leaves can do more than just look pretty

But the falling leaves in autumn are not only there to be beautiful. According to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), they also perform important functions:

• Natural winter shelter for animals and plants
• Shelter for hedgehogs and insects (especially leaf piles)
• Nutrient for thousands of creatures that turn them into valuable humus

All the more reason to enjoy the golden month of October!

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Der Beitrag Golden October in the Alps – Experience it in an eco-friendly way erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

If you don’t already drive an electric car but would like to learn more about it, let’s take a look at the benefits of electric cars in general to help you overcome any concerns you may have about using an electric car on vacation. At some accommodations, you can even rent an electric car (such as an E-Smart Cabriolet or an E-Porsche Taycan 4S) to experience the driving experience for yourself 🙂

Of course, the most environmentally friendly option is to avoid owning a car altogether and instead use public transportation or rent a car occasionally, for example through car sharing. However, electric cars have a clear environmental advantage over internal combustion vehicles, even when the manufacturing process is taken into account.

Electric cars ahead of internal combustion engines

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Austrian Automobile Club (ÖAMTC), revised in 2022, shows that an electric car (Golf class) is ecologically better than a car that runs on diesel or gasoline after about three to four years. By this time, the “greenhouse gas backpack” that electric cars carry with them due to their complex batteries has been offset.

Green power significantly improves environmental performance

The current LCA assumes an electricity mix. With it, an electric car would be better after 45,000 to 60,000 kilometers. With green electricity (wind), it would only take 25,000 to 30,000 kilometers, according to the calculation. As a result, the advantages would show after one to two years.

9 sustainable hotels with e-charging station in Germany

1# New e-charging station for STURM in Mellrichstadt

“The STURM uses almost no ‘external electricity’,” says owner Matthias Schulze-Diekhoff proudly. The sustainable hotel with a natural swimming pond in the Rhön biosphere reserve produces its own green energy from two combined heat and power plants and several photovoltaic systems. The hotel’s own electric charging station was only built in 2023 and is state of the art. You can charge with all common charging cards or directly at the hotel.

Number of charging points: 6 (4 classic AC points with 22 kW and 2 DC chargers/fast chargers with up to 50 kW).

2# SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA with eParking

When you drive into the parking lot in front of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb, you can park your electric car right next to the charging stations. The wellness hotel with its own thermal swimming pool uses green electricity but is currently planning to install a large photovoltaic system on the roof and generate electricity from biomass.

Number of charging points: 9 (8 x Wirelane Type II + 1 x Porsche Type II)

Prices and info: E-charging station at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

3# Hotel Luise, electric car pioneers from Erlangen

The current owner of the Eco-Stadthotel Luise was driven to kindergarten in an electric car in the 1990s. The “City-Egg” with electric drive was a novelty at the time and is representative of the consistent ecological path the hotel has taken since then. Here you can stay in “circular hotel rooms” and take water-saving showers in “astronaut showers”.

Number of charging points: 3 (22 kW)

4# Lifestylehotel Zum Kurfürsten, the hotel’s own e-charging station in Bernkastel-Kues

In Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River, you can see cars as they once were at the Zylinderhaus Museum for Classic Cars and Technology. With internal combustion engines. From 2035 this will be completely forbidden, and then (at least according to the plan) it will be the end for the last classic cars.

The Lifestylehotel Zum Kurfürsten has its own e-charging station for those who already drive an electric car. While your car fills up with electricity (some of which is generated by the hotel itself with 4 cogeneration units), you can relax in the 4,000 square meter wellness area of the environmentally conscious hotel.

Number of charging points: 6 (11 kW)

Price: e-car full charge 30 Euro, half charge 15 Euro, hybrid 15 Euro

#6 The Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort – luxury hotel with ecological values and e-charging stations

Combining luxury and sustainability? The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort is a prime example. The wellness hotel offers all the amenities of a 5-star hotel and is also home to the famous 2-star Eisvogel restaurant. The owner family combines all this with sustainability. For example, the hotel’s own energy is generated by two combined heat and power plants, so that the entire hotel (including the spa area) is heated in a climate-friendly manner. The owners, the Obendorfer family, drive an electric and a hybrid car and support their guests with charging stations directly in the hotel parking lot.

Number of charging points: 3 (type 2 plug, 22 kW)

#7 Landgut Stober – Conference hotel with e-charging station

Landgut Stober is an organically certified conference and meeting hotel located 20 kilometers west of Berlin. The beautiful parkland on Lake Groß Behnitz, which surrounds the sustainable organic hotel, is about a 30-minute drive from there. Electricity for the e-charging station is ecologically generated by a large photovoltaic system and two wood-chip heating systems.

Number of charging points: 1

#8 HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu – Green power charging station

Guests love staying at the sustainable Hotel HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu for hiking, wellness, or yoga retreats. The hotel will be CO2-neutral by 2020, using only regional green power along with electricity from its own solar and cogeneration plants. The e-mobility station allows you to charge your electric car right in the parking lot.

Number of charging points: 2 (11kW) – there are also two 11kW chargers in the village and a new fast charger.

Sustainable hotels with an e-charging station and EV rental in Germany

#1 Klosterhof – Klosterhof • Alpine Hideaway & Spa

The Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa is located in Bayerisch Gmain and has implemented an “e-mobility concept” since 2021 to promote electric mobility in general. The hotel’s own company cars have been converted to electric vehicles (including an electric shuttle bus to pick you up from the Salzburg train station, for example), and two e-smarts are available for rent. If you bring your own electric car, you can use the Tesla charging station.

Number of charging points: 10 (8 x AC 11-22 kW with type 2 plug and 2 x DC 75 kW with CCS plug (combo))

E-rental cars: 2 x E-Smart (EQ fortwo cabrio and EQ forfour)

#2 Hotel Das Rübezahl – Romantic boutique hotel with rental E-Porsche

The question of whether luxury and sustainability can coexist is something we talk about a lot on this blog. As we said at the beginning, it is much more sustainable to borrow an (electric) car from time to time than to buy your own. And how about an elegant Porsche? Add to that the magnificent backdrop of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau (which are pretty much right in front of Hotel Das Rübezahl) and a loved one by your side – and you have the perfect trip for car fans 🙂

Number of charging points: 4 (13 kW)

E-rental cars: 1 x electric Porsche Taycan 4S

Sustainable hotels with e-charging station in Italy

Various statistics have shown once again that Italy is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe in 2024. The rankings vary slightly, but the European boot is always in the top 5. Fortunately, it is becoming easier and easier to travel to Italy by train, but many people (still) choose the (e-)car.

#1 Relais del Maro – Albergo Diffuso with charging station in Liguria

According to the owners, it takes about two hours to recharge your electric car at the Relais del Maro‘s 22 kW charging station. During this time, you are welcome to join them on the terrace for a refreshing drink 🙂 .

You can experience such warm Italian hospitality here – in the small village of Borgomaro in Liguria. Here the owner family has spread the hotel as Albergo Diffuso over several buildings in the village. Giving you the opportunity to enjoy the authentic Italian way of life.

Charging points: 1 ABB universal column (22 kW)

#2 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA with electric car rental and free charging stations

Although Sicily itself can be reached by train (yes, the train connects to a ferry!), it is unfortunately very difficult to get to the island itself without a car. The sustainably managed ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, located on the protected WWF Wild Beach, offers you several solutions.

Transfer to the resort
Discounted car rental rates from SIXT (if arriving by plane, train or ferry)
Electric car rental at the resort
Free charging of electric cars in the underground parking lot

Charging points: 5 (Tipo 2 plugs, 22 kW)

Cars available for rent: (2 FIAT500 with hybrid drive and 1 FIAT500 with electric drive)

#3 ADLER Lodge RITTEN, e-mobility in South Tyrol

The ADLER Lodge RITTEN in South Tyrol, Northern Italy, on the other hand, is very easy to reach without a car. In fact, the resort has put together a special program for you to enjoy a car-free vacation. For example, there is the free Ritten Card, which allows you to use all public transportation, including the cable car to Bolzano. There is also a free e-bike and outdoor equipment rental for guests to discover nature (alone or with a guide). Charging points are also available.

Charging points: 5 (with standard 11 to 22kW)

#4 OLM Nature Escape, aparthotel with charging stations in South Tyrol

Energy is a major theme at the OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers, which just opened in 2023. The entire complex is energy self-sufficient thanks to geothermal probes, which is why it calls itself “the first energy self-sufficient aparthotel in the Alps”. Architecturally, the round building is a real highlight that has already impressed many architecture fans. It offers you a great mix of private hideaway, luxury and nature vacation.

Charging points: 5 (ABB), one of which is a powerful 350 kW charger. This can charge most cars for a range of 200 kilometers in just 8 minutes and is also capable of charging trucks and buses.

Sustainable hotels with e-charging stations in Austria

#1 Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld – Fill up with electricity from Tyrolean hydropower

Eco-friendly mobility is a big issue at Hotel Klosterbräu. The hotel makes it easy for you to arrive by train by taking you to the hotel and back to the station with the e-shuttle. During your vacation, you can explore the Tyrolean holiday region with e-scooters and e-bikes from the free (!) rental service. If you arrive with your own electric car, you can use the hotel’s own charging stations. The electricity comes from 100% renewable sources and is partly produced by the hotel itself. There is also green electricity from Tyrolean hydropower.

Number of charging points: 6 (4x outdoor 11kW, 2x underground garage 6kW)

#2 Hygna Chalets in Alpbachtal – Charging stations + e-golf rental

If you want to enjoy a sustainable vacation in your own chalet, the beautiful Hygna Chalets, which form their own small sustainable chalet village in Reith im Alpbachtal, are the perfect choice. Not only does the service include a delicious organic breakfast basket delivered to your door each morning. There is also an electric car charging station and electric car (and e-bike) rentals.

Number of charging points: 3

E-rental car: E-Golf

The transition to e-mobility has begun – but the process is slow! Unfortunately, a hotel with a charging station is still far from being a matter of course. So far, many accommodations only offer the possibility to charge e-bikes and e-scooters. But not e-cars, which require different technical conditions (e.g. charging infrastructure). Hopefully, we have been able to provide you with some good information and addresses on how to make your vacation with an electric car more sustainable.

What are your experiences with electric cars on vacation? Do you think there are enough charging stations?

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Der Beitrag 15 sustainable Hotels with e-charging station in Germany and neighbouring countries erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

But what does environmentally friendly water sports look like? It means being aware and responsible with nature and includes sports such as sailing, pedal boating, surfing (with care), paddling, canoeing, swimming, and SUP (stand up paddling). In short, anything without a motor.

Water sports equipment – renting is better than buying new

You can order a brand new SUP including paddle, pump and carry bag online for as little as €150. This is sometimes cheaper than renting. (For example, depending on your location, it can cost up to €200 to hire a SUP for three days. If you hire the SUP by the hour, it’s usually cheaper). However, we still recommend that you hire water sports equipment when you go on holiday – at least until you know that you will be doing this hobby regularly and for a longer period of time.

1. It’s better to rent equipment: the SUP you rent for €15 an hour is not just like the cheap models you find on the internet, but (most likely) a professional board costing around €1,000. As you can imagine, these SUPs are also better balanced – which makes it really easy to get started.

2. Buying new is bad for the environment: So says the German Federal Environment Agency. By renting, you save on the resources needed for materials, production, transport and storage, thus helping to reduce environmental impact.

3. Don’t just rent equipment only: it’s often possible to hire accessories like lifejackets, drybags or wetsuits. It’s best to find out about these options before you go. Water sports equipment and clothing in particular are almost always made from synthetic fibres (key words: petroleum/microplastics/garbage that doesn’t rot).

8 rules of behavior for water sports enthusiasts in nature

Do you want to behave in an environmentally and animal-friendly way when practising water sports? Here is a summary of the guidelines from the German Sailing Association (DSV):

1. Avoid sensitive areas: Sensitive areas are areas where you may (unintentionally) disturb many animals or their habitats. These include reed beds, sandbanks (and other resting places for birds, turtles, etc.), spawning grounds and riparian forests.
2. Keep your distance: When passing reed beds, reed belts, seal banks, etc., keep your distance.
3. Observe: You should observe animals from a distance and take photographs without flash.
4. Respect the rules of nature reserves: In nature reserves and marine protected areas (such as the Saint-Anne Marine National Park at our partner Cerf Island Resort in the Seychelles), there are strict rules for the behaviour of water sports enthusiasts – you should always follow them.
5. Special consideration for Ramsar sites: Ramsar Sites, also known as Wetlands of International Importance (WSI), are ecosystems that, according to UNESCO, are home to numerous protected animal species. The Ramsar Convention was signed by many countries in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
6. Landing: It is best to use designated moorings for launching and landing sailboats or other water sports equipment. This also applies to embarking and disembarking when diving!
7. Clean-up: Help keep the water clean. Unfortunately, many waters are now so polluted that it is best to take a bag with you to collect any litter you find in the water and dispose of it on land.
8. Get informed: Find out about local regulations, important months for local wildlife, etc. before your water sports holiday. Being well informed will help you to behave in an environmentally friendly and responsible manner in the water.

13 top destinations for sustainable water sports holidays

Some of our green gems are perfect for a sustainable holiday with gentle (or action-packed, but non-motorised) water sports. It’s not just the water sports that are sustainable, but the accommodation itself. This includes building with natural materials, using green energy, serving local organic food, social sustainability and reducing waste. This makes your whole holiday greener.

#1 Cerf Island Resort in the Seychelles – Kayaking through the water reserve

Cerf Island (1.5km x 1km) is a picture-postcard island in the Seychelles, with a fine sandy beach, turquoise waters, coral reefs and the colourful fish life of the Indian Ocean. You can stay right on the beach at the sustainably managed Cerf Island Resort. Cerf Island is one of the islands in the heart of the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park. The Marine National Park is dedicated to the protection of the valuable and beautiful underwater reefs, and daily guided excursions are offered, including glass-bottom boat and snorkelling tours. The resort provides free snorkeling equipment to explore the snorkeling trail right in front of the property. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards for free.

#2 Gili Lankanfushi – Snorkelling in the Maldives

The eco-luxury resort Gili lankanfushi in the Maldives also offers plenty of non-motorised water activities. The blue or, depending on the light, green lagoon is perfect for windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. Everything you need is provided free of charge by the hotel and beginners are catered for. If you want to do something for the environment, we recommend a snorkelling trip with the resort’s marine biologist. Together with the biologist you can clean coral reefs or count manta rays.

#3 OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel – Surfing in the Atlantic Ocean

“The north of Tenerife is often referred to as the “Hawaii of the Canary Islands”. Right in front of the OCÉANO, you can watch the surfers ride the waves or take a course yourself,” say our partners at the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife. There are several surf schools on the island that offer courses for beginners.

Tip: Spring and summer are ideal for beginners. In winter, the waves are high and strong, making the Atlantic off the north of Tenerife the territory of the pros.

#4 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA – Gentle water sports in Sicily

Opened in 2022, the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located directly on the sandy beach of a protected WWF nature reserve. Right next to the resort are canoe, kayak and SUP rental stations, with which the resort works closely to offer eco-friendly water sports holidays. Stand up paddling in particular is becoming increasingly popular.

“Dip your oar deep into the waves, glide across the surface standing up or enjoy the gentle rocking in silence. By canoe, kayak or SUP you can admire the Sicilian coast from a new perspective”. – ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA

Sustainable accommodation with water sports in Austria

Water sports are not only possible in the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, but also on lakes and rivers.

#1 The Peak, Sölden – Rowing in the mountain lake

The Peak Sölden is a family-run holiday apartment complex in Sölden, which you probably know best as a winter paradise. However, your host, Ronald Kneisl, also recommends Sölden as a summer holiday destination, as there are plenty of opportunities for hiking and water sports. Nearby is the Piburger See in Ötz. The lake is the natural landmark of the village and is picturesquely situated 900 metres above the village in the middle of a forest. In summer the lake is perfect for swimming, rowing and fishing. Despite its relatively high altitude, Lake Piburg warms up to 24 degrees in summer. Located in a nature reserve, it also provides shelter and habitat for many endangered and protected animal species.

There is a public swimming pool, restaurant and rowing boat hire on the south-east shore. The lake is stocked with char, perch and trout. Although ice skating is not a summer water sport, it is worth mentioning. When the ice is thick enough, the lake is open for skating. There is a prepared ice rink over two kilometres long and eight metres wide, and skates can be hired on site.

#2 Naturhotel Outside – Glacier river rafting

“The Isel is one of the last untouched glacial rivers in the Eastern Alps,” says Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol. You can expect fast currents and a fantastic mountain panorama. The Isel is about 25 minutes away from the hotel, which is located in Matrei, “in the centre of Outside”, as they say.

Tip: Click here for links to various rafting companies in East Tyrol.

#3 Hygna Chalets – tube riding

The Alpbach Valley in Tyrol is also ideal for whitewater rafting. On the Brandenberger Ache river you can experience a special adventure: tubing! Wearing a neoprene wetsuit and helmet, you’ll be inflated into a truck’s inner tube and then hurtle 1.5 to 3.5 kilometres down the river.

You can spend the night in the luxurious and sustainably managed Hygna Chalets in the Alpbachtal. The charming chalets not only offer breakfast service, but some even have their own hot tub.

#4 Summit Lodges – Kite- and Windsurfing

Do you know the insider tip among kite- and windsurfers in Tyrol? It is the Reschensee at the Reschenpass of the same name. From the Summit Lodges in Pfunds you can reach the Reschensee in about one hour by public transport. It is located in South Tyrol in the municipality of Graun. In the lake the water of the Etsch, the Rojenbach and the Karlinbach is dammed. The kite surfers among you will find optimal conditions here. In fact, the artificial reservoir is a hotspot for kiters. It combines optimal wind and water conditions. For those who want to try out kiting, there are schools all around the lake where you can learn the sport under professional guidance. And when you return to your Summit Lodge log cabin in the evening, tired and with heavy bones, your very own private sauna will be waiting for you.

Sustainable Water Sports in South Tyrol

#1 OLM Nature Escape – Adventure Water Sports

Our new Green PearlsⓇ partner, OLM Nature Escape, is also located in South Tyrol. The aparthotel is situated in Sand in Taufers and according to the operators, is ideally located for all adventure water sports, just 10 minutes away from the hotel complex. If you wish, you can also be accompanied by professional guides.

Sustainable Water Sports in Germany

We have also received some tips from our partners in Germany on where you can enjoy sustainable water sports and find green and individual accommodation.

#1 Naturresort Gerbehof – gentle water sports on Lake Constance

Situated between Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the 63-kilometre-long Lake Constance is one of the most famous lakes for water sports in the Alpine foothills. All kinds of water sports enthusiasts can be found here: sailors, kite-surfers, rowers, divers – and, of course, motorboats. In an effort to reconcile nature conservation and water sports, the state government of Baden-Württemberg has produced a 48-page PDF document that takes into account the interests of organised sports and the state nature conservation association. In particular, the document states that protected areas should be designated (or have already been designated) from which water sports enthusiasts should stay away. The 8 rules of behaviour for water sports enthusiasts listed above also fit into this.

If you want to enjoy a sustainable holiday on the German side of Lake Constance, take a look at Naturresort Gerbehof! Here you can enjoy a climate positive holiday and all the food is certified organic.

#2 HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu – Water sports as a destination

Lake Constance is just an hour’s drive from the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu. Closer by (around 30 minutes by car) is the Immenstadt region, where there is a water skiing centre and rafting providers.

The HUBERTUS is a sustainably-run wellness hotel that caters for hikers who prefer to explore nature on foot. But if water sports are just one facet of your holiday and you value things like mindfulness, yoga and tranquillity, this is the place for you.

#3 Das Rübezahl – Stand up paddling on Lake Forggensee

Lake Forggensee in the Allgäu region is just six kilometres from the Alpine Boutique Hotel Das Rübezahl. The large reservoir near Füssen is in season from June to mid-October. In winter, the water is drained to absorb snowmelt from the mountains and rainfall.

The Forggensee SUP season opens on 2 June. There are SUP rentals and numerous courses or group tours (e.g. at sunrise and sunset).

Sustainable Water Sports in Switzerland

#1 CERVO Mountain Resort – Water Skiing and Wakeboarding

The CERVO Mountain Resort offers you that beach feeling in the middle of the mountains during the summer months with a water ski and wakeboard lift on Lake Schalisee in the neighbouring village of Täsch. The lift is electrically operated and is dismantled in the autumn.

Admittedly: Water-skiing and wake-boarding are not really sustainable water sports, as they are transported by motorboat or electric lift. This is primarily a summer tourist attraction.

At the Shabby Yummy Cantina, right on the lake, you can treat yourself to delicious shali fries with truffle oil and parmesan and other Mediterranean snacks.

Opening times summer 2024: from 8 June 11.00 to 17.30 (closed in bad weather)

Giving up motorised water sports in favour of sustainability?

Finally, we would like to know your opinion: should motorised water sports such as jet skis and speedboats be allowed to continue or should they be banned altogether?

The article is an update from 22 February 2022.

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Der Beitrag Sustainable and environmentally friendly water sports erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Walking as a trend

You may have noticed that walking has been all the rage in recent years. Instead of focusing on new means of transportation (you may remember the predictions that we will all be using hoverboards in “the future”), health-conscious people are now wearing a step counter on their wrist.

The beginning of the 10,000 steps challenge

Walk 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy, slim and live longer. That’s roughly the message of the famous 10,000 Step Challenge. It’s not really new, but it’s been reinvigorated by the sales of smartwatches and fitness trackers, and the popularity of social media “challenges” in general.

This “challenge” began in Japan in the 1960s. At the time, the country was preparing for the 1964 Olympic Games and the population was becoming more conscious of health and fitness.

Manpo-Kai was a Japanese advertising campaign

At that time, a modern pedometer worn on the waist was introduced in Japan. It was popularized by the slogan “Manpo-Kai,” which means 10,000 steps in Japanese. Manpo-Kei was the minimum number of steps that the many walking clubs of the time promoted as a daily quota. The health trend spread around the world at that time – only to be forgotten and revived in the smart age.

It doesn’t have to be 10,000 steps

Manpo-Kei has motivated a large number of studies, and the opinions of doctors and fitness coaches can be heard around the world.

The most recent study was published in December 2023. The University of Lodz in Poland analyzed data from 227,000 people. It showed:

• 2,337 steps per day reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• From 4,000 steps per day, the overall risk of death decreases
• Taking 7,000 to 13,000 steps a day reduces the risk of death (for people under 60) by 49 percent.

In this case, a lot really does help a lot.

Walking as a Slow Travel method

Bertram Weisshaar, author of “Einfach losgehen” (Just start walking), considers walking as a Slow Travel method.

“ When we walk, we move at our natural speed, and our brain keeps up with our feet. As soon as we use a vehicle – a bicycle, a car, a cable car, a bus – we are immediately much faster. Too many sensory impressions rapidly reach the brain. Our perception often becomes much more superficial. – Bertram Weisshaar to dpa

According to the author, if you take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, getting off at the sights and skipping the “unspectacular” stuff in between, you lose “something essential” about the destination compared to exploring it on foot.

CO2 emissions from walking are limited to exhalation

Another thing we want to mention is that walking is the most sustainable mode of transportation. Apart from exhaling, you don’t produce any CO2! It’s even better than biking, because bikes still have to be produced.

Our tips for destinations that offer a good walk

To use Manpo-Kai on vacation, you should choose a vacation destination that is attractive to pedestrians. A huge city full of traffic chaos like Cairo, for example, would be less suitable. It is an adventure, of course, but the distances between the sights are sometimes enormous, and some streets are difficult to cross safely as a pedestrian.

Explore Paris on foot

In Paris, on the other hand, you can easily get around on foot. Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, the Hôtel Le Pavillon, for example, is centrally located in the 7th arrondissement. From here its

• 1.5 km to the Eiffel Tower
• 2.5 km to the Champs-Élysées
• 1.8 km to the Invalides Cathedral
• 2.3 km to the Orsay Museum

Discover Milan on foot

Milan is considered the fashion capital of Italy and is also rich in culture. Located in the city center is our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Hotel Milano Scala. As a zero-emissions hotel, it is completely self-sufficient with sustainable geothermal energy. The highlight – the green roof terrace – offers views of some of the sights within walking distance:

• 400 meters (3 minutes) La Scala Opera House
• 400 meters (3 minutes) from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping center
• 4 km to Castello Sforzesco (home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Last Supper”)
• 1 km from Milan Cathedral
• 1,4 km to the luxury shopping district, Montenapoleone and Della Spiga

The most beautiful walks in Erlangen

In the Franconian university town of Erlangen, Germany, the Hotel Luise also offers a fantastic roof terrace.

            “There is a lot to discover within walking distance, as we are a city hotel with a central location” – Hotel Luise

The Erlangen Eco-Hotel owners recommend the following “destinations” for walkers:

• 5 km Erlangen Castle Garden
• 4 km Erlangen Botanical Garden
• 9 km to the old town (small shops, restaurants and cafés await you)

Tip: If you are in Erlangen around Whitsun, you can walk to the Erlanger Bergkirchweih, the most popular folk festival in the region.

6 walks in Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest

You may know the Black Forest town of Bad Herrenalb as a health resort. Here you will find excellent air (climatic health resort) as well as healing and thermal water. One of these thermal baths is located in the Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. Many guests combine a stay with fasting and light physical activities such as yoga, forest bathing or walking.

The hotel has given us six sites within walking distance of the hotel in Bad Herrenalb:

• 1 km to the Kurpark
• 1 km to the Schweizerwiese
• 1,1 km to the Ziegelmuseum
• 1,3 km to the monastery (monastery with garden and Kneipp basin)
• 2 km to the Dobeltal Game Reserve (You can walk the enclosure with roe deer, deer, and red deer within an hour)
• 1 km to the Falkenstein Rock

A walk in nature

If cobblestones and city air are not your favorite walking environment and you prefer to enjoy the great outdoors, here are some recommendations from our partners

Located on the German side of Lake Constance, Naturresort Gerbehof is surrounded by forest and organic orchards. Many people visit during the apple blossom season (April, May) to hike and be enchanted by the sea of blossoms.

“About 20 minutes walk from us is the small chapel “Stella Maries” on the Haldenberg. From here you have a beautiful panoramic view of the lake and the Swiss mountains. – Gerbehof Nature Resort

At the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in the small village of Warpe there is also a wooded area where you can walk through nature. If you want to go for a long walk, there is the 16 km Warpe Sculpture Trail.

The Gut Guntrams near Vienna, Austria recommends the following destinations for walks:

• Seebenstein Castle (6.9 kilometers)
• Pitten Castle (3.9 kilometers)

A rose garden and the Schwarz River floodplain are also within walking distance.

Good to know: How long does it take you to tackle 1 km on foot?

If you’re wondering how long it takes to walk each of these distances:

The average pedestrian walks at about 4 to 5 kilometers per hour. So, you can walk one kilometer in about 12 to 15 minutes and 4 to 5 kilometers in an hour.

How long does it take to walk 1000 or 10,000 steps?

It takes about 10 minutes for 1,000 steps.

For 10,000 steps (Manpo-Kai), you are on your feet for about 1.5 to 2 hours and can cover up to 10 kilometers.

What is the difference between walking and hiking?

The German Hiking Association (an umbrella organization of about 70 hiking clubs) agreed on a definition of hiking in 2010. According to this definition, a hike lasts at least one hour. The Encyclopaedia Britannica also defines hiking as an activity in nature.

So if you walk in the city, it is not hiking, it is walking. And if you walk a short and easy distance in nature (<1h), that is walking, too. From the 18th century, walking for “recreation and edification” became fashionable among the European bourgeoisie, as evidenced by the literature of the time.

I walked in the forest

 So for myself,

And nothing to seek

That was my purpose.

(From “Gefunden” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1813)

Romantic walks along the Moselle

Incidentally, the travel-loving Goethe had also been to the Moselle. In November 1792, he took a boat trip through the river valley – as did the famous English painter William Turner later on. With its river, vineyards and palaces, villas, and castles, the Moselle region is one of the most romantic regions in Germany. A special hotel here is the sustainably managed Lifestyle Resort zum Kurfürsten with a large wellness area. A trip to Bernkastel-Kues is an ideal first walk. Here you will find a medieval market square and cute stores and cafés.

The town recommends several walking tours:

• Family circuit (4.2 km)
• Doctor circular trail (4.1 km through the Bernkasteler Doctor vineyard)
• Burgberg circular trail (2 km)
• Cusanus circular trail (4.1 km)

On foot in the mountains

If you are already one of the “pros” of the walking scene – now we come to the terrain of hiking – our Green PearlsⓇ partners offer wonderful accommodations in the middle of the mountains.

“ You can walk practically anywhere because we are in a mountain village,” says CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. The sustainable resort sits at the foot of the famous Matterhorn and is surrounded by 38 four-thousanders. The fact that Zermatt is car-free is, of course, ideal for hikers. But you really need good hiking boots and physical fitness.

More than 1000 meters of altitude gain in 5 kilometers

One of the most popular destinations around Zermatt is the Gornergrat, which we also covered in this blog article about glaciers. The distance is only 4.9 kilometers – but it is an altitude gain from 1,620 meters (Zermatt) to 3,135 meters (Gornergrat)!

A walk to the castle of Neuschwanstein

From Hotel Das Rübezahl you have several options for excursions on foot. The hotel is located in Schwangau in the Allgäu and you can go for walks and mountain hikes from here.

The famous fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein is within sight of the hotel and only 3.5 kilometers away. The walk takes about 45 minutes. Other walks that don’t require hiking boots include the town of Füssen (2.5 kilometers) and its festival hall. If you are looking for more challenging hikes, there are hiking trails to numerous huts in the mountains.

Balderschwang on foot

Also in the Allgäu region is the beautiful village of Balderschwang, which you can learn more about in our blog article about villages. The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio is located here in the middle of the German mountains at an altitude of 1,044 meters. Just a few minutes walk from the hotel is a 2,000 year old yew tree that is well worth a visit. The Balderschwang Kneipp Pool is about a 15 minute walk away, where you can revitalize your arms, legs and circulation.

Further walks or shorter hikes will take you to some huts and alpine pastures (pastures where cows are kept). Some of these pastures also supply the hotel with cheese and meat.

Chalet vacation with village tours in Alpbachtal

In Austria’s Alpachtal, you can enjoy both nature and privacy in the luxurious Hygna chalets. There are various village walks in the Alpachtal:

• Alpbach walk (3 km)
• Rossmoos loop (1.5 km)
• Mühlbachweg/ themed trail “Path of Reflection” (2.1 km)
• Way of the Cross Basilica Mariathal (1.4 km)

Tip: Every first Saturday of the month from 08:30 – 12:00 there is the Brixlegg farmers’ market. Bixlegg is approx. 2.5 kilometers from the Hygna Chalets and you can find regional products from the surrounding farms for your self-catering in the chalets.

New valley trail around Matrei in East Tyrol

The Naturhotel Outside in the Hohe Tauern National Park has informed us that there is a new valley trail around Matrei. The 15-kilometer trail features many stories about the village and takes about 4.5 hours to complete (that’s more than 20,000 steps!)

A good reason to relax in the hotel’s sauna world afterwards 🙂

In the footsteps of Sigmund Freud

In South Tyrol, on the Italian side of the Alps, our Green PearlsⓇ partner ADLER Lodge RITTEN recommended the Freud Promenade as a hiking trail. It leads from Oberbozen to Klobenstein and at every resting place you will find aphorisms by Sigmund Freud. The trail is “very easy”, i.e. without any major inclines or other difficulties, and takes about 1.5 hours.

Bee trail on the Ritten

Also located on the Ritten is the APIPURA hotel rinner run by beekeeper Paul Rinner and his family. They have created a small educational bee trail in the woods in front of the hotel, where you can learn a lot about the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). There are also many walking trails around the hotel, leading you through flowering meadows and picturesque villages. As a highlight, the hotel recommends an easy hike of approx. 5 kilometers from Oberbozen to the earth pyramids.

Experience nature in the new OLM Nature Escape

Our new partner, the OLM Nature Escape, opened at the beginning of this year in South Tyrol and is completely geared towards sustainability. The most important point here is energy self-sufficiency. Thanks to geothermal probes and solar panels, the circular facility is completely powered by its own green electricity. As the name suggests, the focus of this hideaway is on experiencing nature. For a walk, the aparthotel recommends going to Sand in Taufers. Sand in Taufers is 4.5 kilometers away and here you can visit Taufers Castle. You can also discover all kinds of chapels, churches, and bodies of water in the surrounding area. The Ahrauen nature reserve is also particularly beautiful. However, these are around 17 kilometers away.

“On my way to the beach”

Don’t you wish you could say that more often? The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located on one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily! Located in the WWF “Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa”, this beach is unique in that it can only be reached on foot from the resort and is otherwise very difficult to access. The 6 km long sandy beach is therefore still natural and unspoiled and a wonderful place for barefoot walks.

“Only where you have walked, have you really been.” – Goethe

Even the poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe knew the benefits of walking-even though he had neither a smartwatch nor a pedometer. Now we’d like to hear your thoughts. Would you choose a vacation destination based on whether it’s a good place to walk?

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Der Beitrag Slow Travel on foot – Why you should discover your destination by walking erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.