Sport in Kufsteinerland

Kufsteinerland and its wide-ranging year-round sports programme: the coolest peaks and most beautiful tours, right on the doorstep.

Nowhere else is a classic Tyrolean-style sports holiday so close at hand as in Kufsteinerland. The fun starts right on the border; captivating footpaths and challenging climbing tours attract visitors to the Kaiser peaks whereas cyclists will find dream tours on the right and left of the river Inn, weaving their way through picturesque side valleys. In winter, the vast SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental ski area is just a few minutes’ drive away. The Kaiser mountains show off their romantic side with some magnificent experiences in the form of skiing and snow shoe tours, winter walks and proper sledging sessions.

The first impression does not deceive. Over the last few kilometres of the Inntalautobahn motorway before reaching Kufstein, the sculptured rocky landscapes of the Kaisergebirge mountains can be seen glowing from afar, the majestic Pendling peak towers up to the west and the proud Kufstein Fortress in the centre of the valley marks the destination. Finally in Tyrol. This first region immediately shows off the Austrian state at its best. There is a wide range of sports on offer all across the eight resorts in Kufsteinerland. With a comprehensive programme to appeal to laid-back casual sport fans and some high-calibre challenges for experts.

Summer in Kufsteinerland: cruising through the valleys, climbing the Kaisergebirge peaks

The Zahmer and Wilder Kaiser Nature Conservation Area: two mountain chains packed with fasciation. Walkers love the idyllic Kaisertal valley which, in 2016, was named the most beautiful place in Austria. The numerous stairs can be climbed either on foot or by taking the Kaiserlift chairlift and then from here, on past some beautiful mountain lodges up to the steep sides of the Wilder Kaiser. Here there are some footpaths and hiking adventures to explore – leading to some idyllic mountain lakes, along a healing energy trail or paying a visit to our Haflinger horses in the meadows. The Kaisergebirge peaks need no explanation to mountaineers. This is one of the most famous climbing terrains in the Eastern Alps and includes legendary peaks such as the Totenkirchl and Fleischbank. There are also less extreme routes around the Pyramidenspitze on the Zahmer Kaiser which is less high and rocky than the Wilder Kaiser. Numerous climbing halls and climbing gardens are available and the climbing sculpture at Kufstein’s Inn power plant is one of the best outdoor climbing facilities in the state. Curious? The Hans-Berger-Haus too is situated in one of the most beautiful spots in the Kaisertal valley and has been offering courses for rock climbers and fixed ropes courses for 50 years.

Kufsteinerland is a land of cycling with world championship connections

Short and snappy ascents or panorama tours with a mountain view. A sporty undulating ride or a casual ride, gliding through the landscape. Cyclists can do whatever they fancy in Kufsteinerland. Two popular long-distance cycle trails also pass through the region – the Innradweg from Innsbruck to Bavaria and the Mozart-Radweg. The area around Lake Thiersee, the Kitzbühel Alps and nearby Chiemgau also offers plenty of options for mountain and e-biking tours. Racing bikers will enjoy tackling some circuits along the route of the UCI Road World Championships 2018 which incorporated numerous stretches in Kufsteinerland, with good reason. Not forgetting the legendary Bike Trail Tirol with a total of 1,000 km passing through the region over two stages. After all the sporting activities, the pleasant temperatures of the bathing lakes across Kufsteinerland are perfect for a refreshing dip.

Winter in Kufsteinerland. A large skiing area and idyllic winter landscapes

There are winter sports in Kufsteinerland on virtually every corner and in all categories. Skiers will appreciate the close proximity to the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental ski area with the lifts being just a few kilometres away. And with 284 km of pistes on offer, this is one of Austria’s largest ski resorts. Particularly practical: the ski bus transports guests to the lifts for free. Small and straightforward yet no less attractive are the family lifts in Vordersee and Hinterthiersee which are ideal for families, leisure skiers and those rediscovering skiing. They are less concerned with the number of kilometres of pistes and altitude and more focused on the actual skiing experience. Or perhaps you might prefer a more peaceful and natural experience? What about trying one of the many cross-country trails. Virtually all of the eight resorts in Kufsteinerland offer prepared cross-country trails. The particularly snowy trails in high-altitude locations such as Bad Häring, Thiersee and the Cross-country Training Centre in Schwoich are very inviting. Kufsteinerland has been famous for many years for its excellent ski tours. A route runs right past Kufstein and up to the Kaisergebirge mountains. Popular areas also include the meadows of the Thiersee region and the Wandberg close to Niederndorf. The Thiersee Ski School offers guided ski tours. Guests can enjoy sustainable enjoyment in nature with a winter walk or snow shoe tour in the mountains of Kufsteinerland. The Kaisertal valley is also a classic walking area in winter. The Thiersee region and popular Kala Alm are home to some idyllic routes and magnificent views. And for those who don’t want to go quite so high up into the mountains, the Panoramaweg trail around the spa resort of Bad Häring is just perfect.

Sledging too is a genuine winter classic in Kufsteinerland. There is a toboggan run along well-prepared forest and woodland trails in almost every resort – some illuminated – and always with a cosy mountain lodge or guesthouse for a refreshment break. The most popular sledging destinations include the Kala Alm in Thiersee, the Mariandlalm near Landl, the Aschinger Alm and the Zahmer Kaiser toboggan run in Durchholzen. And the people of Kufstein are very lucky: here the toboggan run starts out right on the doorstep of the Berghaus Aschenbrenner. Just as traditional as sledging are curling and ice-skating. They are also popular here with natural and artificial ice-rinks dotted across Kufsteinerland.

Strong sporting events in Kufsteinerland

Sport in Kufsteinerland includes some high-calibre events. The Koasamarsch around Ebbs in June is a classic for trail runners and walkers. The international tennis elite in youth categories U12 and U14 gather in July for the Bambini Cup. In August, the Hechtsee is transformed into a showground for open water swimming at the Hechtsee X-Treme with the programme featuring distances of up to 5 km. The routes for the Kufsteinerland Cycle Marathon in September are significantly longer, extending over 125 km and over 1,800m of altitude around the Kaisergebirge mountains and through the Inntal valley. The UCI Road World Championships in September 2018 attracted sporting expertise to the region. Kufstein was selected as the starting point for this big road race. The Deutschland Tour, Tour of Austria and Tour of the Alps have also chosen Kufstein as a host venue.