Best Canyoning Resorts in Austria

Mayrhofen is ‘traditional Austrian’ from head to toe and the town has a refreshing buzz to it all summer long. Cross alpine pastures, speed down the Penken and discover deep gorges and canyons before letting your hair down with a stein and some Austrian folk music – you’d struggle to find a ‘best for Alps activities’ list that this place doesn’t crop up on.

It’s little wonder that the scenic Glemm Valley surrounding Saalbach is known as the ‘Valley of the Games’. With 400km of hiking and biking trails, this is a massive playground of outdoor pursuits - the infamous Seven Summits have their home here and the Pinzgau Bike Circus and 280km Tauern network are sure to keep you amused on two wheels.

Summer in Ischgl is a way more relaxed affair than the raucous scenes of winter - think lazy days by the river and chilled evenings listening to live bands on pub terraces. When it comes to picking up the tempo, the mountain biking is legendary and the hiking, paragliding and white water rafting are pretty good too...

A sunny little village, Pertisau sits on the shores of the incredible Achensee – the largest and deepest lake in the Austrian Tyrol. Bordered by mountains as well, this is a top spot for an active summer holiday. The village itself is lovely, too, and usually hosts live music events in the summer.

At the shore of Lake Wolfgansee, St. Wolfgang is an attractive old town characterised by its colourful chalets and landmark gothic church. Pilgrims have been visiting here for a millennium, nowadays it’s best known as a mecca of outdoor pursuits – with water sports, lakeside cycle routes and hiking in the Alps just some of many possibilities.

Yes it’s the king of ski resorts but St Anton is also an incredible place in the summer. Roam the region on bike or foot and soak up glorious views of mountains, meadows, lakes and waterfalls all day long. Unlike the winter months, the summer evenings are pretty chilled – ask the barman for a local beer or wine and get some tips on where to explore tomorrow...

It’s easy to fall in love with Zell am See (there’s even a mountain called ‘Schmitten’...) and the surroundings will certainly take your breath away, but not just because they’re so beautiful – the area’s a super base for activities; climb, hike or bike the mountains, sail, paddle or swim the lake and do tonnes more in between.

The market town of Sankt Johann in Tirol has charm in every nook and cranny, with coloured chalets, chic cafes and a twin-spired church between expanses of alpine pastures. Bordering the town are the Kitzbuhelerhorn and Wilder Kaiser mountain range – each with a fantastic set of trails and routes to discover on foot or by bike.

One of the top destinations for Alpine activities, Kitz it’s also a feast for the eyes, with a colourful medieval village, stunning lakes and bright, flowery meadows. There’s oodles to do, from hurtling down the Streif to wandering round the posh boutiques - on top of mile after mile of cycling and walking trails.