Guest Stories: An Excellent Holiday in the Austrian Alps
Author : Lara Ehmler
20th August 2025
On our uniquely flexible centre-based walking holidays, you do everything at your own pace, whether you seek out endless high adventure, or crave gentle strolls in the profuse flower meadows that surround the village.
One such holiday is based in Austria. just where the Tyrol meets the Bavarian Alps. Just over the Austrian border, about 15 miles south of Garmisch, an alpine phenomenon presents itself. It’s called the Zugspitz Arena, and it’s one of the great treasures of the Austrian Alps. With Collett’s you can explore this enchanting alpine area at your own pace. Our base is a truly delightful 4* hotel at the heart of the arena’s principle village, Ehrwald – and, when you are not out and about in the great outdoors, you can simply relax at the hotel, either in its exquisite health spa, or over welcome refreshment on one of its terraces.
We caught up with Elaine, a recent Collett’s guest on a centre-based walking holiday in the Austrian Alps, accompanied by her husband, David. They are no strangers to Collett’s, having travelled with us to the Italian Dolomites and and Picos de Europa. Elaine and David are avid walkers in the UK and love going on walking trips to the Lake District, Peak District and Scotland.
So, let’s hear from them and find out what they loved about Ehrwald and walking with Collett’s.
Meet Elaine: Avid walker, musician and recent guest with Collett’s in the Austrian Alps
Collett’s: “Hello Elaine! Could you tell us a little bit more about yourselves?
Elaine: “I am 54 years old, part time finance manager for a charity. I live in Stocksbridge near Sheffield with my husband, a retired headteacher aged 70. We also sing and play music semi-professionally as The Domino Effect.”
Collett’s: “Brilliant! How did you find the whole experience of your recent holiday to Austria?”
Elaine: “The holiday was excellent! Our top 3 highlights were the walk to Sebensee and Drachensee, the cable car up the Zugspitze and the hotel itself. The Sonnenspitze was perfectly located with excellent facilities and beautiful food. The staff were friendly and helpful, as were Ben and Conny, the Collett’s Walks Team.”
Collett’s: “What did you think of the walks on your holiday?”
Elaine: “All superb. Varied, well described and accurate in description. Ben and Conny gave us tips to vary or extend them or to advise where to eat, how tricky the terrain would be, and how busy the walk might be in terms of other walkers, cyclists and even the day of the week. Even just walking around the centre of Ehrwald is very pleasant.”
Discover Our Walks
Our local Walks Team
One of the many highly valued inclusions to our centre-based walking holidays in the Austrian Alps – and also Switzerland and the Dolomites – is the daily presence of our local Walks Team, like Ben & Conny in Austria. They are on–hand daily to help you select your walks appropriately, so that each adventure suits your level of fitness and ensures you get what you want from your walks. Ben & Conny are around at breakfast before guests set off on their hikes – but, more significantly, you can join them each early evening at ‘Office Hour’, an informal and optional gathering, where you can glean their knowledge over a sociable drink with other guests.
Read Our Walks Team Q&A
Collett’s: “How did you find the Hotel Sonnenspitze?”
Elaine: “Faultless accommodation, we would definitely recommend it. Very well located, so easy to get to the train, bus or cable cars and to the bank, shops etc. The pool was an added bonus at the end of a long walking day with several areas to relax. The mixture of buffet food and waitress service was welcome. The staff and kitchen came up with fish dishes when it was a meat day as one of us is pescatarian. The room itself was comfortable and equipped, including spa towels, robes and slippers, with absolutely stunning views. All helps to keep the luggage down!”
Collett’s: “How did you find the food?”
Elaine: “The food at the hotel was lovely, including the range of drinks. We were grateful for the tip that water at dinner would be charged. The selection of starters were impressive and the main courses gave a real insight into local cuisine. The soups in particular were simply beautiful. In the local area the huts have very good ‘coffee and cake’ – a cultural phenomena in Austria – plus large meals if you can manage them!”
Hand-picked authentic accommodation with warm hospitality
We pride ourselves in selecting only authentic, family-run hotels with fabulous cuisine for our walking holidays. The 4* Hotel Sonnenspitze in Ehrwald is no exception. Enjoy modern rooms, an outdoor sun terrace with pool and exceptional breakfasts and 4-course dinners throughout your holiday. With a prime location in the village square for the past 100 years, shops and cafes are just a short walk away – and so are an abundance of walking trails!
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Collett’s: “How did you find the Collett’s staff?”
Elaine: “All staff were helpful and it all felt personal pre-booking. We were contacted by WhatsApp in advance and then in resort for updates and walk route additions. Ben and Conny were available at Office Hour and were relaxed, friendly and helpful. They were knowledgeable and made good assessments of our capabilities and interests and made our walks more tailored. We were very interested in flowers and birds so they pointed out diversions on walks to take them in. Also, the free bus ticket was most welcome and useful. Ben and Conny provided us with great information about the Z-Ticket routes to save money and which walks to use it on.”
Collett’s: “Did you attend the Collett’s Office Hour? How did you find the experience?”
Elaine: “We called in every evening for information and to give feedback on the diversions and walk extensions. Conny & Ben were enthusiastic and visible, always sat where you could easily find them.”
Collett’s: Have you got any plans to take more walking holidays in the future?
Elaine: “Yes, definitely. Switzerland, Italy, Scotland are all on the list. We would definitely return to Ehrwald, too.”
Go walking in the Austrian Alps with Collett’s
As Elaine’s experience shows, our walking holiday to the Austrian Alps provides you with a unique blend of stunning natural beauty and a carefully selected hotel, where the food is as tantalising as the extensive health spa – and the local support and welcome are second to none.
Head out on expertly curated daily walks, whatever your level of fitness, and explore the stunning Austrian Alps at your own pace. The Austrian Alps in this particular destination will provide a breath-taking backdrop for your alpine adventure, and with Collett’s, you can create a succession of exciting experiences each day.
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