Best Horse Riding Resorts in Austria

Tucked away in the foothills of the majestic ‘Bishop’s mitre’ mountain, Filzmoos really comes into its own in summer, with all sorts of festivals and celebrations (if you’ve ever wondered what a doughnut or dumpling festival would be like, you’ve come to the right place!). With graded paths for scenic strolls, themed walks and mountaineering as well as cycling, climbing, rafting and pony trekking on the ‘to do’ list, there’s plenty to fill your week in this traditional Austrian village.

Kaprun is classically Austrian with wooden chalets and an imposing castle and the surrounding pine forests and pastures are ideal for enjoying the open air. You’ll find a fantastic range of cycling routes from short, gentle jaunts to challenging mountain descents and hiking and walking trails will guide you past Salzberg’s iconic rugged mountains, reservoirs and the glittering Lake Zeller.

The Tyrolean architecture, flower-covered meadows and glimmering Wildsee lake are enough to stop you in your tracks but Seefeld is more than a pretty face; Mother Nature has made a real adventure base here. With hundreds of kilometres to walk and cycle, 17 tennis courts, 2 golf courses and a paragliding academy, you’ll have to remember to hit pause and enjoy the sights.

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.

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.

Westendorf’s a quiet little town with loads of character. Tucked away in the picturesque Tyrol, it’s all about slowing the pace and taking time to enjoy your surroundings. The area’s great for rambling and cycling, but, if that sounds a bit strenuous, you can always chill out in one of the many beer gardens and watch the world go by.

If you’ve a head for heights, Obergurgl’s the highest parish village in Austria which means awesome scenery (including twenty 3000m peaks) and tonnes of high altitude activity. Hike to Ramolhaus at 3006m, crank up the speed as you bike down the Wurmkogel or do things at a slower pace on a hack with a Haflinger. The village itself is small and quiet, just what you need to relax on those long summer evenings.

Surrounded by dreamy meadows and thick forests, this small mountain village is beautifully tranquil - one of the walking trails is even called the ‘Path of Contemplation’! The area’s perfect for a relaxed walking or cycling holiday, with stunning mountains dotted with ‘alms’ – alpine pastures where you’ll often find farmers grazing their cattle.

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...

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.