A world of alpine wellness in Tyrol, Austria

A total relaxation, between swimming pools and saunas

In addition, to the customers of the spa resort Aqua Dome admission to the Spa 3000. And here a hushed world opens up, waiting to be discovered, in a bathrobe and flip-flops. Behind each door a surprise: the sauna with a lit fireplace and a spectacular view of the mountains that you can touch beyond the mega glass wall; the fragrant Turkish bath mineral cabinet, the relaxation area with suspended beds, the open-air tubs for hydromassage for couplesthe Turkish bath where the body is spread with lavender or calendula cream …

There are many types of sauna and turkish bath in the Saunaworld, a large wellness area where swimsuits are strictly off limits, even in the pool. In short, in a magically suspended time you can swim in the 12 indoor and outdoor pools, try massages and beauty treatments in the Spa, you sip hot herbal teas with your gaze flying over the mountainsyou can read on the sun loungers by the pool or in front of the fireplaces, listening to the silence of the Ötztal valley.

One of the numerous relaxation areas of the “Spa 3000”, reserved for guests of the Aqua Dome spa resort in Längenfeld, Tyrol, in the Ötztal Valley, Austria.

At the home of Ötzi, the Iceman

This valley in the Austrian Tyrol (the municipalities of Sautens, Ötz, Umhausen, Längenfeld and Sölden belong to the Ötztal) has a high historical importance, as evidenced by the many museums, such as the Local Ötzal Museum and the Ötz Tower Museumwhose collection ranges from medieval sacred art to painting of alpine landscapes, up to contemporary art and photography.
A key cultural event was the discovery in 1991, near the Austro-Italian border at the foot of the Similaun glacier, of Ötzi, a human mummy in good condition, dating back to 3300 BC, exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Bolzano.

Tyrol, boots and backpack

Trekking in the Ötztal Valley. Photograph by Anton Brey.

For hikers, the Ötztal Valley is a paradise. Unforgettable excursions, from the easiest to those for expert hikers, to the Ötztal mountain huts. (ext.soelden.com/prospekte/pdf/it_huettenwandern.pdf). From HubeThe path leading up to the Feuerstein refuge (difference in altitude 300 meters, 1 hour walk). https: // www (laengenfeld.com/summer/hiking-mountaineering/mountain-huts-alpine-refuges). On the other hand, near the church in Längenfeld, the forest path starts which leads first to the refuge “Brandalm“And then to the suspension bridge (laengenfeld.com/summer/laengenfeld-source-of-strength/suspension-bridgAnd).

Cycling in the mountains of Tyrol

E-bike tour along a cycle path around Längenfeld, Tyrol, in the Ötztal Valley, Austria. Photo by Lukas Ennemoser

Unmissable, even for the less trained, an e-bike tour from Längenfeld to Umhausen / Niederthai to the Stuiben waterfall. Electric bikes are rented from E-bike Touren Otztal (ebike-oetztal.atcost: 59 euros per day), get on and you pedal gently along the asphalted cycle paths or on the dirt roads of the valley that run along the Fischbach stream, among the meadows and then enter the woods.

Then put the e-bike on the stand for the snack break: a Umhausen the Café & Konditorei Otztaleri (oetztaleri.at) offers Tyrolean salads with speck and Martin Scheiber’s artisanal ice creams, prepared with 0 Km ingredients. Result: new flavors such as mountain pine cup or cranberry cone with rosemary. The calories? They can be disposed of by pedaling, choosing from the huge variety of tours (oetztal.com/summer/biking-cycling/bike-routes.html) covering approximately 850 kilometers of well-marked trails in the valley. There are tours of the huts and lakes, cycling and hiking trails, tours for endurance enthusiasts or e-bikers. The return is not a problem: you select the “turbo” function of the e-bike or with a bus ticket you can take your bicycle (free of charge) for the 15 stops throughout the valley.

Shopping at Km 0 and mountain flavors can be enjoyed thanks to Tyrolean specialties produced by local farmers, on sale every Friday at the Bauern-markt (farm shop) in Längenfeld (9-12 / 15-18): liqueurs, schnapps, herbs (oetztal.com/de/sommer/region-oetztal-orte/kulinarik/eppas-guets.html).

In the fantastic world of James Bond

One of the rooms of the “007 ELEMENTS James Bond World of Experience” museum at 3,048 altitude. Photograph by Werner Elmer.

Exciting, a Sölden (soelden.com), the ascent with the Gaislachkoglbahn cable car for a selfie at high altitude and the fun visit to the 007 ELEMENTS James Bond World of Experience museum (007elements.com) opened in 2018 at 3,048 altitude to celebrate the local filming of Specter directed in 2015 by Sam Mendes with Daniel Craig as the most famous secret agent in the world. The outdoor shots were taken between Sölden and Ötztal Glacier Road (second highest paved road in Europe) and on the Rettenbach glacier.
The underground building of the museum, designed by the Tyrolean architect Johann Obermoser, is located at the mountain station of the Gaislachkogelbahn. In the simple rooms of 007 ELEMENTS, the cult images of all the actors of James Bond and the Bond Girls and the sequences of the most spectacular moments of the films scroll..

To conclude the visit you can sip a Martini, the James Bond cocktail, on the terrace of the gourmet restaurant “ice Q” admiring the world of the Ötztal mountains. Or, get off the cable car at the Falcon restaurant (das-falcon.at), where you can take a delicious lunch break at a table overlooking a horizon of snow-capped peaks.

Reckless like Agent 007

One of the projection rooms of the “007 ELEMENTS James Bond World of Experience” museum at 3,048 altitude. Photo by Kristopher Grunert.

On the subject of adrenaline-pumping adventures, don’t miss the Area 47 outdoor park (area47.at/en) 20 thousand square meters of water park, one of the largest outdoor playgrounds in the world. A dream for water lovers and a paradise of fun for children, teens and adults, where to practice 35 types of sports, rafting and canyoing included. Unique in Europe, the Climbing Wall with water landing. Plus, thrilling survival courses or climbing in Boulder Cave.

INFO

There “Ötztal Premium Card” it can be obtained for free starting even from a single overnight stay (from pensions, apartments, 2 to 5 star hotels) and allows unlimited use of the ski lifts, public transport, museum entrances. Furthermore the card (in force from 28 May to 2 October 2022) allows l‘admission twice a week to the Aqua Dom thermal bathsand (excluding the month of August) and to the bathing area of ​​Area47, the largest outdoor park in Europe, dedicated to the coolest and most adrenaline-pumping sports such as canyoning, rafting, climbing and adventure trails. For lovers of two wheels, bike rental is free. The list of participating businesses can be found on the page: oetztal.com/oetztal-inside/inside-cards/oetztal-inside-summer-card.html

Where to sleep in Tyrol

Aqua Dome-Tirol Therme Langenfeld
Längenfeld, Austria.
The most beautiful rooms? Those overlooking the majestic and pointed Inner Hahlkogel (2,734 meters). Exquisite breakfast and entry to the exclusive Spa 3000 wellness area until late in the evening. “Relaxation time” package: from 348 euros per person, 2 nights half board, including a 30 euro wellness voucher for spa treatments. aqua-dome.at

Stern hotels
Längenfeld, Tyrol, Ötztal Valley, Austria.
The family-run 4-star Hotel Stern is located in the center of Längenfeld. Panoramic view from the rooms with terrace or balcony. hotel-stern.com

Hotel die Berge
Sölden, Tyrol, Ötztal Valley, Austria.
Opened in 2018, in the 4-star die Berge lifestyle-hotel sölden you stay in rooms furnished with larch furniture. Outdoor panoramic infinity pool, wellness area and relaxation areas. dieberge.at

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