Best Kayaking Resorts in Austria

Often proclaimed Austria’s “most beautiful”, Alpach is a dreamy olde-worlde village with wood and stone architecture, bright flowers and a centre-point church steeple. It’s surrounded by lovely rolling meadows and with the Gratlspitz mountain to one side, there’s plenty of scope to enjoy the fresh air from gentle strolls to paragliding and rock climbing.

This stunning lakeside town is surrounded by rolling hills and pine forests in Austria’s beautiful Salzkammergut region. The lake itself is said to be one of the cleanest in Austria, and you can tell – the amazing aquamarine water is crystal clear. The area’s great for rambling and cycling – if it’s sunny, hire a rowing boat or pedalo for a day on the lake.

Galtur is a charming resort nestled in the Paznuan Valley. Less than 1,000 people live here year-round, making it an incredibly peaceful place for a mountain getaway. If for any reason you feel like moving from the beer gardens, you’ll find 300km of walking trails on your doorstep – and some world class mountain biking, too!

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.

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.

Often ranking high on lists of ‘the prettiest’, this posh Alpine resort is one of Austria’s classics. The village is traditional and the Arlberg mountains jaw-dropping but Lech’s not just somewhere to feast your eyes upon – this is a real hotspot for walking, with a mix of easy family trails and more demanding climbs. The river dissecting the town is great to get to grips with canoeing, paddle boarding and canyoning and cyclists are spoiled for choice on a variety of paths.

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.

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...

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.

Sankt Gilgen, or Mozart Village (the composer’s mum and sister once lived here), is flanked by rolling meadows and the enticing waters of Lake Wolfgangsee. The town’s packed full of historic buildings and you can usually see magnificent flower displays that would put Chelsea to shame! St. Gilgen’s an awesome base for a whole host of activities – whether it’s scaling the Zwolferhorn, taking a lakeside stroll or trying your hand at the water sports on offer.