Outdoor activities in the Paznaun Valley
Don't miss out on the chance to discover the Paznaun Valley in the company of a real local, hotel owner Christoph Mallaun. The perfect opportunity to get an insight into the best sights and attractions in this beautiful alpine valley!
Themed walks in the Paznaun Valley
This hike leads along old smuggling trails used in days gone by to move alcohol and cigarettes from Switzerland to Austria. It ends in Samnaun, a duty-free shopping haven just over the Swiss border.
One of the highlights on the Smuggling Route is a ride on the Samnaun cable car. This huge double-decker gondola carrying 180 passengers is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Holiday highlight
- Route: from Ischgl in the Paznaun Valley over the border to Samnaun in Switzerland
- Distance: 20 km
- Ascent: 750 vertical metres
- Duration: around 6.5 hours
- Difficulty: intermediate
- Special feature: cross-border adventure!
- Good to know: can be combined with lifts & cable cars
The "Smuggling Route Light" is an easy version of this guided hike in the company of hotel owner Christoph Mallaun. It uses five cable cars, three chairlifts and two gondolas to reduce the amount of walking required.
The adventure begins in See, from where we take the free shuttle bus to Ischgl. It is there that the main Smuggling Route starts. The first leg is completed by cable car, whisking walkers up to Idalpe and then on to the Flimjoch ridge at 2,750 metres above sea level. There, on the border between Switzerland and Austria, there is time to enjoy the fabulous views of the Austrian Tyrol and the Swiss region of Paznaun.
The journey then continues on to the Alp Trida plateau in Samnaun, known as the "most beautiful sun terrace in the Alps". This is a good spot to sit down, enjoy the scenery and reflect on life. The Twinliner double-decker gondola then transports us down into Samnaun, a hotspot of smuggling in centuries past. After plenty of time to enjoy a little duty-free shopping in Samnaun, it is time to return together with Christoph to Austria and the Hotel Mallaun.
Explore the village of See
Guests staying at the Hotel Mallaun can use this walk to discover the village of See in the Paznau Valley. It begins next to the cable cars in See. From there, walkers head along the main road to the hamlet of Elis. There, they head up to the Hotel Weißes Lamm. Passing a beautiful church on the right-hand side, they reach first of all the Lourdeskapelle chapel and then the hamlet of Schusterhaus. The route then leads to Oberhaus and along a beautiful meadow path towards the hamlet of Klaus. A tarmac road then takes you downhill, over the Klausbach stream, past the village dairy and on to the Gasthof Frohe Aussicht (no food & drink served). This is a good place to enjoy your packed lunch. All that then remains is the last section back to See.
- Route: circular walk from See to See
- Distance: 3.5km, 84 vertical metres
- Duration: around 1 hour
- Difficulty: easy
- Special features: Saint Sebastian parish church, Lourdeskapelle chapel
Explore the Paznaun Valley by night
Offered in summer and winter, the Lantern Walk is a great way to explore the valley from a different perspective. It is organised by the local tourism association and is popular not only with children but also with adults. There is nothing quite like crunching through the snow in winter or feeling the warm evening breeze in summer as you walk through the valley with a lantern in hand. For details speak to Christoph Mallaun or a member of the hotel team.
Lantern Walk with Christoph Mallaun:
- When? See information in the hotel
- Where? Meet in the hotel lobby
Lantern Walk with local tourism association:
- When? Once a week at 20:30
- Registration: please register by 12:00 at the tourist information in See or hotel reception
- Where? Meet at tourist information in See
