summer biosphere walking holidays

secrets of the Lungau

Our Summer Biosphere walking holidays between May and October each year guarantee an incredible Alpine walking and nature holiday experience!

The package includes:

Accommodation in a beautiful traditional Lungau wooden chalet (min 3 nights)
The Lungau “bio box” filled with delicacies from the region
Fresh bread delivery service: every morning directly to the chalet
A catered evening in your chalet, by “Michelin star” chef, Josef Steffner of the Mesnerhaus
Culture Tour: “Journey Through the Past”. Walk through the medieval town of Mauterndorf, then stop at a traditional family business for “Nudel” (lungauerisch for cakes) and coffee.
Discover the “secret places of the Lungau”. We’ll show you Lungau’s hidden treasures, including mountain lakes, waterfalls, edelweiss meadows, forgotten pastures and much more). A guided day hike (average fitness required) with a trained UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Guide.
Experience traditional Lungau bread baking close up. Bread is still made like it was 200 years ago.

Based from the st martin chalets eco-village, you will experience the very best of Austria’s stunning Lungau UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of the finest Alpine regions and packed full of nature and wildlife, which is why is has UNESCO Biosphere status.

Here’s some informaiton from the UNESCO website:

Lungau is extremely diverse, from marsh areas and alluvial forests in the valleys to cultivated meadows and woodland areas at intermediate altitudes, extending up to the glaciers of the alpine summit regions. A large proportion of the different types of vegetation native to both federal provinces can be found here.

The mixed forests of the montane level are composed of deciduous and coniferous trees, whereas in this region the hillsides close to the valleys are covered by high montane spruce forests, which gradually give way to larch and Swiss pine with increasing height. Bogs, boulder piles, avalanche stretches and rock steps often interrupt the dense coniferous forests of the subalpine level.

Due to the geological conditions, a remarkable multiplicity of bogs has formed particularly in the southeast of the Preber. These include the Ramsar protected area called “Überling mires”, which, with 117 ha of oligotrophic bogland, represents the largest bogs complex in Austria.

The Biosphere Reserve is a refuge and a home for many animal species such as the barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus) and the whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus), as well as many predators such as badgers (Meles meles), lynx (Lynx lynx) and bears (Ursus arctos). In addition, bird species such as the eagle owl (Bubo bubo), the black woodpecker (Dryocopius martius) and the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) find food – i.e. insects, seeds, fruit – as well as nesting sites in the area.

st martin chalets

St Martin chalets are located on the outskirts of the pretty market town of St. Michael, just an hour from Salzburg. With countless hiking trails, bike paths and walking opportunities, your days will soon be filled with different adventures – all tailored around your own fitness levels and ambition!

Almost completely self-sufficient and yet extremely luxurious, our chalets are a great place to get away from it all, set in in one of the most authentic and traditional regions of Austria.

Included in our Summer Biosphere walking holidays package are overnight stays in your own luxurious chalet – with heated floors, traditional Austrian fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, cozy lounge and beautiful outside terrace. The resort also features a sauna and fitness room, natural pond and wireless Internet access for all guests.

From here, our guides will help you explore the stunning scenery of this often forgotten part of Austria, visiting some of the local farm shops, restaurants and lodges in the area, and sampling all sorts of local delicacies. Every evening you’ll return to your comfortable chalet and, on one evening of your choice, you can be spoiled by Michelin star chef Josef Steffner, who will provide a fabulous meal to enjoy in your very own chalet (see our guest services page for more info).