Gradonna Mountain Resort, Kals, Austria: nature holiday in the amphitheater
The Gradonna Mountain Resort Hotel & Châlets lies like an amphitheater right at the foot of the Großglockner. Here in East Tyrol, at the entrance to the Hohe Tauern National Park, the incomparable natural scenery plays the leading role. Guests can admire golden eagles and marmots on extensive hikes, practice mindfulness on guided barefoot hikes or explore the countless mountain bike trails. The largest wellness area in East Tyrol provides the necessary relaxation.
Green mountain lakes, lush alpine pastures, rushing streams, glistening glacier ice. The Hohe Tauern National Park is one of the most impressive natural landscapes Austria has to offer. The Grossglockner proudly towers above this nature and hiking paradise. In East Tyrol, on the southern side of Austria's highest mountain, lies Kals am Großglockner. Just above the village, the Gradonna Mountain Resort Hotel & Châlets nestles on the plateau. The 41 châlets in wooden construction and the high-quality suites in the hotel tower are reminiscent of an alpine amphitheater, which opens up to the spectacle of the natural scenery. „Geo-Saison“ ranks the resort among the top ten mountain hotels, the Green Luxury Award and the World Travel Award are just a few of the other awards the Gradonna has won.
A real power place
A chamois basks in the sun on a rock, a golden eagle circles and only the excited whistles of the marmot disturb the peace here at 1,350 meters above sea level.
"It's a real power place, the guests feel that immediately",
says Thomas Krobath, who manages the four-star superior resort together with Brigitte Berger.
Right behind the design hotel you can enter a 250-kilometer network of hiking trails and mountain paths. Guests are spoilt for choice: What do you want to do today? Is it going to be a leisurely hike or a demanding tour in the high mountains? A special experience are the guided nature excursions with the National Park rangers. With a bit of luck, you can observe the Big Five - golden eagle, ibex, chamois, bearded vulture and marmot - at close range.
Feeling perfectly grounded
A summit ticket for the Ski-Hit-Bergbahnen and a small hiking snack for refreshment in between are included with your holiday in Gradonna. And for early risers and peak climbers there is a small mountaineer's breakfast from 6 o'clock. What could the heart desire more?
"A hiking experience for all senses and an exercise in mindfulness are guided barefoot hikes. You feel the fresh dew of the alpine meadows, stroll over mossy forest soil, climb into a cool mountain stream and feel really grounded", Brigitte Berger reveals an insider tip.
Experience the mountains
The Gradonna is also the perfect starting point for mountain bike and bicycle tours. In the Grossglockner Resort Kals-Matrei, newly laid out trails and mountain bike routes in the hiking area offer riding fun for every level of difficulty. Always with you: The view of 60 three thousand meter peaks. The ascent is done in a very relaxed way with the mountain cableway so you can concentrate on the wonderful downhill passages. Appropriate nutrition for bikers, the possibility of in-house bike service and the rental of bicycles, e-bikes and mountain bikes are among the obvious amenities at Gradonna.
Back from an eventful day, the spa offers indoor and outdoor pools, a 700 m2 swimming pond with natural spring water, saunas and relaxation areas. And when you snuggle into bed completely relaxed, the anticipation of a new day in this paradise conjures up a gentle smile on your lips.
Gradonna Mountain Resort is a Member of Lifestylehotels
