Cat Ekkelboom-WhiteExplorer

If you are looking for somewhere to watch one of the best sunsets in Tirol, then Axamer Lizum might just be that place. Whilst this area is perhaps better known as being a ski resort in winter, it has some of the most picturesque hiking close to the city of Innsbruck, being at the foot of the Kalkkogel mountains, also known as the "Dolomites of Tirol". Because the mountain lifts only run for a ...

From the tourist office in the centre of Levi ski resort, follow the road down towards the woods and the lake.  When you're walking, be careful of the snowmobiles. The footpaths are split in half and one side is for pedestrians and the other side of for snowmobiles. After about 350m you'll come to a beautiful stream that's partially frozen. A few meters further and you'll reach the frozel Immel...

Stubai Glacier is the largest and highest ski area in the Stubai Valley, just outside Innsbruck in Tirol. Stubai is the perfect ski area for the whole family, and for beginners and advanced skiers, as there really is something for everyone. For kids and beginners, you've got a huge beginner area around the middle station of the Gamsgarten gondola. Not only are there magic carpet lifts, there ...

The Tsingy De Bemaraha National Park is one of Madagascar's most unusual National Parks, situated in the west of the country and is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Not only are the rock formations here fascinating, but there are a number of species of lemur as well as plentiful other species flora and fauna. Reaching the area is extremely difficult, and visiting the park is only allowed with a ...

Seceda is one of the most famous (and most photographed) spots in all of the Italian Dolomites. This summer I decided to finally visit it to see if it was really worth the hype, and to see if there was a way to escape the worst of the crowds.Most tourists visit Seceda from Ortisei, taking the cable car up. But for anyone who loves to hike there's also another way (that's also cheaper!).Instead ...

The Krimml Waterfalls are situated in the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Salzburg region of Austria. At 380m high, they are the highest waterfalls not just of Austria, but in all of Europe. In the village of Krimml, near base of the waterfall you'll find a number of parking areas and the Wasserwelten Krimml visitor centre which includes an education centre, interactive exhibitions, a restaura...

The Stuibenfall waterfall is the highest waterfall in the Tirol state of Austria, situated in the Ötztal valley. Not only is it an incredible sight to see by itself, but if you have experience climbing via ferrata (known as klettersteig in German), you can climb up the full waterwall. The Approach: Park at the car park for the Ötzi Dorf and Badesee (Bischoffsplatz). Follow the footpath up past ...

This short hike is a great mini tour when you want to get up high without a whole lot of effort but enjoy some stunning glacier views. The hike to the Hildersheimer Hut is a high altitude tour on the Stubai glacier, that if done during the summer months from the top station of the Schaufeljochbahn doesn't require any technical glacier crossing equipment. Park at the bottom of the Stubai Glacier...

The hike to Lake Sorapis and Rifugio Vandelli is a nice day hike for all abilities of hiker. The trail starts from the roadside, on the road that leads from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Misurina. You'll see a gravel area at the side of the road where you can park - but get there early in the high season as there's very limited space. The first part of the trail is almost completely flat. It's a fairl...

This summer we discovered the Cinque Torri near Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, and I think it may be my new favourite place to climb. In the summertime there are a few ways to reach the Cinque Torri. If you're only coming for the day, one of the easiest ways is to park on the Passo Falzarego and take the chairlift up to Rifugio Scoiattoli (or hike up for about an hour under the lift if you...

Cita dei Sassi is a great sport climbing and bouldering area on the Sella Pass, not far from Val Gardena in the Dolomites, with a number of boulders and short, bolted sport routes all a short walk from the car park. To access the area, drive over the Sella Pass until you reach the parking areas for the Cabinovia Forcella Sassolungo lift and the Rifugio Malga Sella. There is a small amount of fr...

The old mine at Botallack is a National Trust property in England. This mine was once a sub-sea tin, copper and arsenic (!) mine, and many of the old buildings are still standing today, being looked after by the the National Trust. Seeing the buildings perched right on the rocky cliff sides is quite a sight to see, especially when you try to imagine when they were built and people where working...

The Martinswand is Innsbruck's legendary multi-pitch sport climbing wall. The route "Emmentaler" is the easiest of the multi-pitch routes on the Martinswand in the area called the "vorbau". The route is named after the cheese most likely due to the multi holes in the rock.  The Approach: The approach is super short and easy. The closest parking for this route is the P3 area. Make sure to get th...

Goldbichl is a small sport climbing area close to the Patscherkofel in Igls that's perfect for beginner climbers, with bolted routes ranging from grade 3 to 6a. The area is extremely easy to find. From the village of Igls, drive towards the village of Patsch (postcode 6082). At the T-junction, you'll see the Grunwalderhof guesthouse on the right (which is a great place to walk over to for a spo...

If you want to add a via ferrata on to your itinerary for the Dolomites, then the Pisciadù Via Ferrata (also known as Brigata Tridentina Klettersteig) is one of the best. A Dolomites classic! This VF is easily accessible from the village of Colfosco, on the Passo Gardena mountain pass, with a small parking area close to the start. Because this VF is easy to reach and not too technically challen...

The Wolfsklamm is a narrow and rocky canyon just outside the village of Stans in Tirol, just 20 minutes from the city of Innsbruck. There are a few free parking areas in the village with signposts to the start of the trail up the canyon. I've marked the one we used as the trailhead for this hike. The hike leads up through the narrow canyon, up narrow stair cases, wooded walkways, and through th...

There's only a short window of opportunity every winter between November and mid-December in northern Norway to go out into the fjords and see orcas out hunting with their young calves. The orcas come into the fjords to hunt the herring during this short window in the deep winter. The used to hunt further south around the area of Andenes, but in the last few years, as the herring have moved nor...

The Sulzenau Hut is a popular destination for hikers in the Stubai Valley in Tirol. There are a few different routes to approach the hut, but for this adventure, we took the route that follows the WildWater Trail (WilderWasser Weg). We started this route from the Grawa Alm at the foot of the Grawa Waterfall. From the viewing platform at the bottom of the waterfall, on the right just as you step...

If you know how to do cross-country skiing, definitely do this! This cross-country skiing trail is marked as a black route. As complete beginners, we were a little (and really I mean a lot) out of our comfort zone (we're experienced alpine skiers so we were naïve enough to think we'd be ok), but if you've already got some skills, it's absolutely beautiful! The trail starts at the bottom of the ...

If you've hiked out to Refugio Grey and you've got time in your schedule, a kayak trip out on Lago Grey is definitely worth adding to the itinery. The trips are run by Big Foot who have a cabin just on the beach near to the refugio. You're given a wetsuit, jacket and lift vest to wear to help keep you dry in the kayak. And before you head out onto the lake, the guides give you a demonstration ...

Whilst Innsbruck is known for being a top destination for world-class sport climbing, many of the most popular areas can get very busy, especially in the summer months. This summer we discovered the small crag up at Obernberg and it quickly become one of our favourite places to climb. The crag is easy to reach. You park the car at the main car park at the end of the Obernberg valley. The price ...

The Laponesalm hike is an easy family-friendly hike in the stunning Gschnitz valley in Tirol, Austria. Park the car at the paid parking at the end of the valley, and follow the asphalt road which is signposted towards the Lapones Alm. After about 15-20 minutes of walking, you'll come to a bridge where the road crosses the river. You can choose to stay on the asphalt road all the way up to the...

The Tribulaun Hütte mountain hut in the Gschnitztal is one of the easiest mountain huts to reach in the area. Leave your car (or take the Post Bus) to the end of the Gschnitztal valley. Just past the car park, the trail up to the Tribulaun hut begins. The trail starts as a wide gravel road that snakes up through the forest, before emerging above the tree line.  At a couple of points along the t...

Park at the large car park (paid parking) for the main Obernberg lake, but instead of following the trail to the lake, take the road on the right towards Haus Waldbauer.  At the end of the paved road, a gravel road bends off to the right. Follow this gravel road as it leads you uphill and back along the valley.  After around 1 hour, you'll reach a small mountain hut. Keep walking on the main gr...