The Olympiaregion Seefeld … a source of energy for the whole family
The Olympiaregion is not only popular, but is actually in demand as a family holiday destination. Whether for young families or grandparents who travel with their grand children, the Olympiaregion offers relax and adventure at the same time in numerous offers for any age.
This high, south-facing plateau lies at an altitude of 1,200m above sea level, is made up of 5 resorts – Leutasch, Mösern/Buchen, Reith, Scharnitz and Seefeld – and is known for the variety it has to offer holidaymakers, including a wide range of activities for every age group. Happy family holidays are more or less guaranteed here. Unspoilt natural surroundings invite you to make exciting discoveries, your hosts are geared up for families on vacation and there’s just so much to do. Experiencing nature plays an important role in the Olympiaregion Seefeld. No matter what age, no holidaymaker can fail to appreciate the wide, open meadows full of flowers, the fields and perfumed forests and the many ‘alms’, gorges, peaks and streams that can be found in and around the Wildmoos protected country-side area or up in the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains which provide such a spectacular backdrop to it all.
Although adults may enjoy the peace and tranquillity that being out in the mountains brings, that’s usually not enough for children. However, going out for a hike can also be quite an experience for the younger ones as there’s so much for them to learn and discover as they go along. For example, building a little dam or making a water-wheel in one of the mountain streams, having a picnic in a meadow by an ‘alm’, walking through a gorge or trying rock-climbing for the first time. Parents who prefer to have their children looked after by expert alpinists can choose from a variety of outdoor adventure days offered by specialists in the region and while the kids are enjoying learning from the professionals with others their own age, mum and dad can be striding uphill in search of that unforgettable sensation of reaching the summit and the grand-parents can be strolling around the lake, maybe even stopping off for some coffee and cake at one of the many sun terraces along the way. Tales of the days’ experiences can be swapped around the hotel dining table later in the evening as you discuss plans for the day ahead.
Since a few years, the path through the Leutasch gorge has been opened. Spectacular bridges and a path partly carved out of the rock allow you to walk through the gorge from Leutasch to Mittenwald in Bavaria and there are display boards along the way with interesting information about this daring route. Sheer walls mean you can hardly see the sky at certain points and 43 metres below,
the crystal clear mountain stream rushes along as it makes it way tirelessly through the narrow gorge. The climb along the rock is perfectly safe and is about one kilometre in length and as you might expect of a genuine spooky gorge, there’s lots to be discovered along the way. Depending on your mood, you can even extend the route and do a circular tour to Mittenwald, approx. 4 kilometres. Entrance to the gorge is free and it’s something for all the family to enjoy. Our young guests can enjoy another new attraction focussing on water at the entrance to the Gaistal Valley “Pasture Paradise” in Leutasch. There are several stops of interest along the walk - all made entirely from larch wood – where guests can discover all about water and the properties of the earth’s most precious resource. The themed walk also includes Kneipp water-therapy facilities to refresh and revitalise weary legs.
Fun and games in the children’s club
The Seefeld Children’s Ski School can help turn summer into a big adventure. Their activity programme includes pirate days, climbing try-out days, kayaking, visits to a farm-house and much more besides. Moreover there’s professional supervision available on a half-day or full-day basis in Gizzi’s Kids Club for children from 18 months to 8 years of age. There’s an indoor children’s playroom with various play areas, a giant outdoor sand-pit, a playground and even a cosy sleeping area where the little ones can take a nap. The outdoor specialists from Sport Aktiv also offer an exciting adventure programme for children in summer under the motto ‘Kids on the rock’ and ‘Aqua Kids’.
The Information Office in Leutasch offers a varied programme of activities throughout the week such as baking bread, a day exploring the world of water with a qualified nature guide, Frascati’s school of magic and juggling for children, a day discovering all about horses and lots more besides. Local outdoor experts also organise interesting activity days to let kids experience the mountains – which lets mum and dad have a day to themselves to indulge in a bit of pampering in the hotel spa or to take on a challenging summit hike.
Bathing delights … no matter what the weather brings
The two natural bathing lakes in the Olympiaregion can reach temperatures of 24° at the height of summer and you shouldn’t miss the chance to jump into Seefeld’s Wildsee or the lake at Mösern, even if the pleasures of summer-time bathing can sometimes be a little fresh at this altitude. The Seefeld Wildsee lies at the south end of the village and borders the protected zone around the Seefeld moor. A band of reeds means that the lake is only accessible from the sun-bathing areas along the west and east banks. The Seefeld bathing beach, ‘Strandperle’, is a little paradise for children. There’s a large outdoor playground, a small man-made beach, a children’s pool, a beach volleyball court and paddle boats for rent if you fancy taking a trip out on the water.
The lake at Mösern is set in an idyllic clearing in the woods and is only accessible by foot. A bathing trip to the Möserer lake really lets you feel at one with nature and you can combine your day in the woods with a picnic by the banks of the lake and a refreshing jump into the soft water.
Should the weather not play along one day, the children can quite happily use up their energy in the extensive bathing and sauna areas of the leisure pools in Seefeld (Olympia) and Leutasch (Alpenbad). The Olympia in Seefeld has a wild water current, a rock island, a separate area for non-swimmers with a children’s paddling pool and an all-year-round heated outdoor pool with a water-slide. The Alpenbad in Leutasch has an 82m long water-slide and a large children’s playground and if the children are old enough, then parents can leave them and go off and relax in the sauna world amongst the Finnish saunas, steam baths, bio-saunas, the water grotto etc.
Sport for big and small
A holiday in the Olympiaregion Seefeld also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to introduce their children to their own favourite sports, so that there’s nothing to stop them enjoying them together in the future. Whether golf, tennis or riding, special training and private tuition for children is available throughout the summer at the Seefeld-Wildmoos golf club, the Golfacademy, the Estess tennis school or any of the riding stables in the Olympiaregion Seefeld.
