“Pre-Trips” for AdventureELEVATE 2024, a prestigious summit for the international travel industry, took 30 representatives from the travel community to the beautiful Tirolean regions of Innsbruck, Lienz in Osttirol and Kufsteinerland.
Working in cooperation with Tirol Werbung, Kitzbühel Tourism succeeded in becoming the first European destination to host AdventureELEVATE, which previously took place primarily in North and South America, in Kitzbühel from 21st to 23rd May 2024.
250 participants from 39 countries were not only introduced to the Kitzbühel region with its multifaceted attractions, but also explored many other beautiful places in Tirol.
Thanks to the support of various tourism associations, it was possible to put three excellent programmes together, offering a quintessential Tirolean blend of nature, culture and city-based activities. Outdoor pursuits, as well as visits to museums and traditional restaurants delighted the participants and demonstrated the wide range of activities this Tirolean region has to offer.
Pre-Trip Osttirol
The pre-trip in Osttirol began with a guided city tour of Lienz, followed by a welcome dinner at Hotel Moarhof’s Moarhofstüberl gourmet restaurant. The first organised activity at the Rafting Adventure Park in Ainet promised thrilling and wet entertainment. Various rafting tours were organised along the River Isel, preceded of course by comprehensive safety training with an experienced guide.
A refreshing break was followed by a short hike along a section of the Isel Trail, before the evening concluded with a visit to Kuenz schnapps distillery. The Kuenz family’s lovingly preserved heritage farm is located in the heart of the Alps, against a stunning backdrop of the Lienz Dolomites and was granted the "Great Distilling Right"300 years ago" by Austria's former Empress, Maria Theresa.
On the second day, participants set off on the Hochstein Via Ferrata Tour in Galitzen Gorge. They then took the cable car to the top of the mountain and whizzed back down to the valley again on the Osttirodler alpine coaster ride.
The last day was dedicated to nature, with the programme including a tour of the Hohe Tauern Nature Park and a visit to Kals am Großglockner. The group enjoyed a hike to Ködnitztal, as well as magnificent views of Großglockner, Austria’s highest mountain at 3,798 metres above sea level.
Pre-Trip Kufsteinerland
The pre-trip in Kufstein began with a guided tour of Riedel Glass Museum, followed by an impressive tour of the town and Heroe’s Organ Concert at lunchtime. Participants then visited the annual Knight’s Festival, before rounding off the evening with dinner at the traditional Purlepaus restaurant at the foot of the imposing Kufstein Fortress.
The second day started with a relaxing walk around Hechtsee lake. The group then travelled by VVT Regio-Bike to the Tischhofer Cave in Ebbs, where they were joined by an experienced guide to climb the 307 steps to the cave entrance and discover interesting facts about the cave’s ancient history. Dinner was later served at the traditional Pfandlhof alpine guesthouse.
An excursion around Gamskogel was on the programme for the last day. Having the opportunity to delve deeper into the natural beauty of the Kaiser Mountains was a special highlight, which was complemented by a final dinner at the Auracher Löchl restaurant. The menu offered a varied selection of culinary delights, ranging from classics such as Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz boiled beef, to regional specialities such as Kaiserschmarrn and Tiroler Gröstl, guaranteeing something to suit every palate.
Pre-Trip Innsbruck
Pre-trip participants were welcomed to the provincial capital of Innsbruch with a pleasant dinner in the traditional “Weisses Rössl“ restaurant, which served high quality, Tirolean fare and the legendary “Kaiserschmarrn“ dessert in accustomed style.
A varied programmed was offered the next day, starting with an informative city tour in the morning. Lunchtime was spent enjoying a relaxing break and sampling session at Seegrube, before continuing with an impressive Nature Watch-Tour on the Nordkette mountains.
Participants travelled to their second destination, Obsteig, the following day, where they were accommodated for the night in the sustainably certified “Das Stern hotel” and the organic ”Holzleiten Hotel”. The programme included an e-bike tour though Mieming/Wildermieming, as well as an exciting via ferrate adventure and summit hike to Faltegartenköpfl Peak, organised in collaboration with ASI Reisen tour operators.
The trip ended with an accommodation inspection tour. Owners Simon Wilhelm and Rene Föger gave the visitors a warm welcome and offered interesting insights into the history and special features of their respective properties.
