Grossglockner & Grossvenediger Guided Tour
Conquer the summits of Grossvenediger and Grossglockner, Austria’s highest point
Navigate the alpine trails of Hohe Tauern National Park, witnessing its diverse ecosystems and rare alpine flora
Master mountaineering skills with personalized coaching from our local experts
Experience authentic alpine culture with overnight stays in historical mountain huts
Cross the Pasterze Glacier, Austria’s largest
Capture the essence of alpine adventure with exclusive access to remote locations
Scale Grossvenediger's snowy ridge
Discover high-altitude serenity
Witness ice and granite wonders
Behold Austria's revered summits
Savor sunrise from mountain huts
Explore UNESCO-listed alpine beauty
A moment of fulfillment - reaching the summit of Grossglockner
Discover Hohe Tauern's heart
Conquer Austria's highest peak
Itinerary
Your journey begins in the small village of Hinterbichl, located right at the foot of impressive mountains. Here, in the afternoon, you’ll meet the guide who’ll lead you through the adventure and the other climbers you’ll be spending the week with. It’s a casual start to what promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with challenges and camaraderie, set amidst some of the most breathtaking landscapes you’ll ever see. This initial meeting is all about getting to know each other, discussing the plan for the days ahead, and setting the stage for the adventure that awaits.
B&B/hotel in Hinterbichl
As the sun rises, you have the option to take the Venediger Taxi towards Johannishütte, a choice that can save you some energy for the more demanding parts of the day. From there, your hike leads you through vibrant alpine meadows up to the welcoming Defreggerhaus, located at an elevation of 2962 meters. This day is focused on adjusting to the higher altitude, sharpening your skills on the ice near the hut, and thoroughly checking your equipment against the stunning backdrop of the high mountains that surround you. It’s a perfect blend of preparation and immersion in the natural beauty of the Alps.
Defreggerhaus
10.8 km and 1600 m of elevation gain
Your day begins in the still, dark hours of the morning, setting out with headlamps lighting the way along rocky paths, leading you to the glacier’s edge. Here, roped to your guide and fellow climbers, you advance over the ice, your crampons biting into the surface. The air grows thin as you ascend beyond 3000 meters, challenging your endurance. At the summit, you’re rewarded with breathtaking views, including a glimpse of the majestic Grossglockner in the distance. The journey back down to Johannishütte offers a moment for reflection and the comfort of a well-earned rest, marking a fulfilling end to a rigorous day.
Johannishütte
12 km and 700 m of elevation gain / 1550 m of elevation loss
The gentle pace of the morning allows for a slow descent back to the valley, where the embrace of Kals offers a tranquil respite. This day is an interlude, a pause in the rhythm of your adventure, allowing for reflection on the climbs achieved and the camaraderie fostered. Kals, with its alpine charm, offers a moment to unwind with the prospect of local explorations and the enjoyment of regional delicacies.
6.5 km and 800 m of elevation loss
On Day 5, you’ll wake up ready to embrace the mountain’s call. The journey starts with a drive to Lücknerhaus, leading to a hike towards Stüdlhütte. This trek gradually takes you higher into the stunning alpine landscapes. Reaching Stüdlhütte, you’ll spend the night there. The hut is equipped to the highest technical standards with solar energy and a vegetable-oil-driven combined heat and power unit.
Stüdlhütte
5 km and 900 m of elevation gain
Before dawn breaks, you embark from Stüdlhütte, traversing glaciers under the starlit sky. The journey to Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte is a preamble to the ascent of Grossglockner. You’ll need between 1.5 and 2 hours to reach the top from the hut and enjoy magnificent views. This final part of your journey requires a certain amount of experience in height-exposed technical terrain, with the technical problems reaching the II grade on the UIAA scale. The guide has fixed belay bars at his disposal to help you safely navigate this terrain up and down the mountain. After the climb, you’ll descend to Stüdlhütte for another night.
Stüdlhütte
8 km and 1000 m of elevation gain/loss
The final descent is a reflective journey, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in your alpine adventure. Walking back to the parking lot, the mountains recede, leaving you with memories of the vistas conquered and the bonds formed.
5 km and 900 m of elevation loss
Guided
Included in price
What to bring to the tour
Description
Immerse yourself in the Austrian Alps’ splendor, where towering peaks beckon and alpine meadows sprawl. This meticulously crafted tour invites adventurers to experience the majesty of Austria’s most revered mountains, guided by the expertise of local professionals.
Journey through the heart of the Alps, where each step uncovers the intricate beauty of the Hohe Tauern National Park.
From the awe-inspiring Grossvenediger to the iconic Grossglockner, the tour offers a blend of challenging climbs and moments of serene contemplation amidst breathtaking vistas.
Discover hidden valleys, crystal-clear streams, and the diverse flora and fauna that make this region a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Our commitment to a seamless and enriching experience is unwavering. Enjoy the comfort of pre-booked accommodations, ranging from rustic mountain huts to charming guesthouses, all chosen for their authentic alpine charm.
Your journey is further eased with arranged transfers, ensuring smooth transitions between each adventure segment. Essential climbing gear, including crampons, ice axes, harnesses, and helmets, is available for rent, ensuring you’re well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
Our local IFMGA-certified guides, who know the Alps inside out, will lead you. They’ll share interesting stories about the region, give insights into local life, and keep you safe and engaged. With their help, you’ll get more than just a hike; you’ll have a real adventure.
Are you ready to step into the vastness of the Austrian Alps, to challenge yourself against its peaks, and to be mesmerized by its landscapes?
Location
Start planning today!
Things to know
If you have no previous mountaineering experience or proper alpinistic education, you’re most likely not ready to undertake Grossglockner by yourself. Therefore, acquiring a guide is a step in the right direction if you want to get off the mountain in one piece. The guide has essential skills like glacier crossings and belay and rappelling techniques. Without these, you cannot safely ascend and descend the Grossglockner.
Our agency works with various experienced IFMGA-licensed guides. All of them meet the highest standards in mountain climbing and guiding, with 10+ years of experience in this field. You can check them out on Our Mountain Guides page.
Grossglockner is a very popular mountain, attracting thousands of climbers every year. Consequently, the chance that you’d be alone on the mountain is virtually nonexistent, especially during summer. It’s much likelier that you’ll have lots of company, even in your group, as each guide can lead up to 3 clients on the mountain. If you prefer to hire a guide individually, you’ll have to pay a higher price.
Grossglockner isn’t among the most dangerous mountains in the world, as many people safely summit it annually. The only danger could stem from ignorance of the mountain world and your own lack of skills. By joining a guided tour, you rule out 99% of the possibility of a life-threatening mistake.
It depends on how well you are acclimated to the altitude. Normally, an altitude of 3500-4000 meters shouldn’t be severely problematic but can cause some issues for climbers who are physically less prepared. Therefore, climbers usually take two days to summit the Grossglockner, allowing themselves enough time to acclimatize.
If you don’t think the normal route presents enough of a challenge to you, then you can try summiting the Grossglockner along the Stüdlgrat ridge, which includes sections of III+ climbing grade per UIAA, or book a ski-touring ascent if you’re a skilled off-piste skier.
Depending on availability, your ascent of the Grossglockner includes lodging at Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte or Stüdlhütte. Both provide basic accommodation and meals, allowing climbers to gather their strengths before the final push towards the summit.
Given its extreme popularity and dependence on the availability of one of the two mountain huts, we would suggest booking a tour with us as much as six months in advance so that we can guarantee a spot for you.
If climbing the Grossglockner presents too big of a challenge to you, then you can look into booking one of our hut-to-hut hiking tours, which can be done without a guide:
Most people begin their ascent of the Grossglockner from the starting point above Kals am Grossglockner, Lucknerhaus. There’s a large parking space there, meaning you can access it on an asphalt road by car. Getting to Kals is fairly easy by taking a train from one of the nearest airports, such as Munich and Innsbruck.
