Bergpilgerweg Hoch & Heilig

Camino Frances, the version of the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, is probably the most famous pilgrimage route in the world. And as one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails it is also an expression of the increased spiritual search for meaning by people in times of exuberant materialistic consumerism, which Pope Francis has already criticized several times.
The idea of connecting places of pilgrimage by a Pilgrims’ Trail through the breathtaking natural and cultural landscape of East Tyrol and its bordering regions originated from the Bildungshaus Osttirol. And it was realized with perseverance and never-ending enthusiasm in form of the "Hoch & Heilig" Mountain Pilgrims’ Trail.
As its name suggests, the "Hoch & Heilig" Mountain Pilgrims’ Trail is indeed a challenge. Because there are 9 stages, 200 kilometers and a remarkable 13.000 meters of altitude to ascend. But those who embark on this extraordinary pilgrimage will be richly rewarded on their hike through East Tyrol, despite their efforts: You will cross the country by feet in a large circle. Situated at the foot of the rock cathedrals of the Lienz Dolomites and the firn-crowned three thousand meter peaks in the Hohe Tauern National Park, across lonely mountain passes, through lush green valleys, past villages radiating tranquillity and serenity to the destination a day of hiking, the power-giving pilgrimage churches and pilgrimage sites. And during this wonderful hiking experience, you can enjoy crossing the borders into neighbouring Carinthia and South Tyrol.
The Pilgrims’ Trail "Hoch & Heilig" is unique because of its route. Like no other, it reveals to you nature, or "God's calligraphy", as Ernesto Cardinal so aptly called it, in the form of the untouched mountain world of East Tyrol. In addition, the Trail Angels in the "Official Mountain Pilgrim’s Trail Info- & Booking Center" provide you with helpful Angels to help you plan and realize your pilgrimage.

The best time to travel along the Hoch & Heilig Mountain Pilgrim Trail is from mid-June to mid-October, depending on the snow conditions and the opening periods of the accommodations.

Recommended:

• Summer (June, July, August): Due to the altitude of many stages - you are mainly hiking in the high mountains - the Hoch & Heilig Mountain Pilgrim Trail is an excellent choice to escape the heat of high summer (July and August). However, it is also an attractive experience to start your summer in the high mountains in mid-June. However, due to the long stages of the Trail, you should be a brisk walker to avoid the frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

Partly recommended:

Unsuitable:

• Winter (December, January, February): The stages of the Hoch & Heilig Mountain Pilgrims' Trail are not accessible in winter, as the trails are covered in snow.
• 
  Spring (March, April, May): In the months of March and April the trails are still under snow and therefore not accessible yet. As of mid-June, all passages of the Hoch & Heilig Mountain Pilgrims' Trail are usually snow-free. In case of doubt, however, please contact the Booking Center or the regional tourist offices.

You travel along the Bergpilgerweg Hoch & Heilig as an individual hiker (without the guidance of a mountain guide) on marked mountain paths, partly in high alpine mountain regions with altitudes of up to 2.650m. Therefore, for the Hoch & Heilig trail you need alpine hiking experience, which includes not only the correct self-assessment of the technical and physical requirements for the points listed below, but also experience in orientation in the terrain (including reading topographical maps) and in how to behave in bad weather.
With us on the Hoch & Heilig mountain pilgrimage trail, you are well looked after and supported by our organisation. Nevertheless, you are travelling as an independent hiker (unless you book an optional mountain hiking guide). We would like to point out that despite our tour organisation you are on your own responsibility on the Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg.

Technical requirements: Moderate
From a technical point of view, the Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg has moderate difficulties: The stages follow moderately difficult mountain paths with a red dot (classification Alpenverein Österreich).
This means:

• Difficult parts of the path are mostly narrow and often steep.
• Short rope-secured walking passages may occur.
• Due to exposure to the weather or short-term extreme weather events, hiking trails may be in a worse condition (e.g. slippery) or less visible due to fog.

To be able to cope with this as a mountain hiker without problems you need to be:

• surefooted
• free from giddiness

Conditional requirements: Very high!
ATTENTION: The Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg is currently the most demanding trail in our programme due to the high demands on fitness and the necessary high alpine mountain hiking experience and is only recommended for experienced long-distance hikers!

The Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg is very demanding in terms of fitness:

• Ascents of up to 1.750 meters of altitude depending on the stage
• Descents depending on the stage up to 1.800 meters of altitude
• Path length depending on stage up to 25 km

At some stages all three maximum values almost coincide, which means pure walking times of up to 9 hours. The particularly challenging thing about the Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg is that there are hardly any stages to regenerate: the shortest stage still has a pure walking time of 6 hours.

• The calculation of the walking times is based on the Outdooractive formula (Outdooractive is one of the world's largest suppliers of tour documents and market leader in the German-speaking area). This includes fast walking times, which correspond approximately to the average speed of a well-trained mountain hiker.
• Important: All data are pure walking times, i.e. breaks must be added.

Appropriate conditional preparation is strongly recommended. Our tip: As you are on a challenging multi-day tour, the Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg should not be your first long-distance hiking trail. Based on our experience, we recommend booking a rest day in between, so that you can recover.

Further Information:

• The Bergpilgerweg Hoch & Heilig is suitable for children aged 14 and over who are in very good physical condition.
• Long distance hiking and trekking routes are not suitable for people with disabilities due to their requirements. In order to clarify individual cases (degree of reduced mobility), we recommend contacting the Trail Info & Booking Center before booking.

It is often difficult to personally assess whether a trail is suitable for you. If you are unsure about this or if you want to know which stages are best for you, just contact us. We will gladly advise you. However, this does not release you from the responsibility of your own self-assessment.

For the mountain pilgrimage trail Hoch & Heilig you need alpine hiking equipment.

• The equipment list, which you can find under this Link, lists the minimum equipment needed for this trip.
• Of course you can or should add the items that you personally need for the trip or with which you have had good experience (e.g. medication, special sun protection, larger water bottle etc.).

Further preliminary information about the equipment at the Hoch & Heilig Bergpilgerweg:

• trekking poles are highly recommended because of the often long descents.
• You usually hike at altitudes between 1.000m and 2.650m - this should be taken into account when choosing your hiking equipment (especially your clothing) - even in summer it can be very cool at the highest altitudes.
• You should ensure that you have enough food and drink bottles of sufficient size, as there are no rest stops and wells on all stages.

Tipp: With our luggage service you can easily hold your daypack while your heavy luggage (up to 20 kg) is taken to the next booked accommodation. We recommend that you take out a luggage protection insurance - please contact us regarding this.

For a closer look, check out the detailed information for each stage along the trail here. The times are average values and may vary depending on personal fitness, number and length of breaks, weather conditions, etc.

show Stages

Feel free to load map material from Google maps.

Show maps

Along the Trail three different accommodation categories - regionally assessed - are offered:

Basic: Simple, clean, functional - Inn or bed & breakfast
Classic: High standard - good middle-class guesthouse or hotel**/***
Comfort: Accommodation for high demands - Hotel**** partly with wellness area

The Hoch & Heilig Mountain Pilgrims' Trail leads through very rural regions. In some simple accommodations it can happen that only shared bathrooms are available.

At the Hoch & Heilig Mountain Pilgrims' Trail you can travel with your dog. However, please be aware of the leash obligation and that the trail also places considerable demands on the condition of your dog. The extra costs for a dog range between € 5,00 and € 20,00 (without food; per night) and will be paid directly on site in the accommodation.

Three different types of catering are available to you in the partner accommodations:

Breakfast: morning buffet or breakfast served at your table
 

Half-board: Breakfast and dinner (usually 3 courses) 

Regional half-board: Half-board, with a regional specialty served for dinner (i.e. Osttiroler Schlipfkrapfen)


Please enter any individual dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, food intolerances etc.) in the ‘comments’ box. Our team at the Trail Info & Booking Center will do their best to accommodate your request.

For the realization of your trouble-free Trail journey a comprehensive mobility service is offered:

Luggage service: Hiking with a light daypack; while your luggage (max. 20 kg) is taken from accommodation to accommodation. How?
It's very simple: In the morning you drop off your luggage at the reception and at the end of the hiking day it will be waiting for you in your next accommodation. We recommend that you purchase luggage protection insurance.

Return transport: As essential as convenient. Our mobility service (collective transport) takes you from the destination of your trail journey comfortably back to your starting point.

Shuttle Services: The shuttle services required for the trail journey are included in the overall mobility package.
Our Mobility partners reserve the right to transport your dog in the luggage compartment.

In addition, we can also book recommended shuttle services such as the train station shuttle. If extra shuttle services are required during the trail trip, e.g. in case of bad weather, illness, etc., we will be happy to organize them. These shuttle services are not included in the travel price.

Good to know: The public transport network in East Tyrol is well developed and buses run regularly to and from the stops. Guests with a valid guest card can use all public transport in East Tyrol. For more information please click here.

During your Trail journey you can make use of the special service in the Trail Info & Booking Center, which turns your Trail journey into a particularly safe, well looked after and thus unforgettable experience:
Trail Hotline, Angel´s Service: This is available with advice and action daily during your Trail journey, also beyond the office opening times from 8:00 clock to 20:00.

Guide/pilgrimage guide: Our certified mountain guides are well trained and have an excellent knowledge of the area. In addition, they have a great knowledge of the nature and culture of East Tyrol and Upper Carinthia, which makes a hike with our guides a varied and safe Trail journey. Many of them are also trained Pilgrim Guides, who can make the pilgrimage a holistic experience. All costs incurred (guide, accommodation, meals and travel) for the mountain guide are included under "Guiding".

Advanced Trail Travel Documents, Angel's Service: Professionally prepared, detailed and ideal for the preparation of your trail trip. The documents will be sent in good time before departure by e-mail (PDF, print @ home).

For this Trail journey you have three possibilities of arrival (not included in the price):
With your own car: Parking is available at the respective starting points of the Trail journey. Detailed information is included in the booking documents. Most of the parking spaces are free of charge and are not monitored! The return transport will bring you back to your car.

By train: The following train station is at your disposal: Lienz railway station. It is connected to the national station Spittal an der Drau by an hourly S-Bahn. Lienz station is also connected from the west by the Pustertal railway line from Brixen. Other stations located along this railway line and useful for the Mountain Pilgrims' Trail are Sillian and Innichen.
By plane: The following international airports can be recommended for arriving by plane - Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt.
Arrival Shuttle Service - not included in the price: Brings you to the starting point of your Trail journey and at the end of the trip back to the ideal train station or airport. The Trail Info & Booking Center will be happy to organize this shuttle service for you.

Trail travelers are very welcome here! From simple cosy accommodations to upscale 4* Hotels: The partner companies, hand-picked according to our criteria, are actively involved in the further development of the Trail.

show partners

Here you will find all relevant information about your travel destination such as currency, entry requirements, food & drink, health and vaccinations and literature tips.

Show Travel Information

Trail Information & Booking center, Travel Agent
Trail Angels GmbH
9821 Obervellach 15
Austria

We arrange your tour operator
Trail Angels GmbH
Obervellach 15, 9821 Obervellach, Österreich
Eintragungs-NR. Veranstalterverz. des bmwfi: 2016/0005
Tel: +43 4782 93093
Email: info@bookyourtrail.com

Here you will find the travel terms of your trail operator:

show TOS