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Background on the new hiking product BIG 3
Star-shaped long-distance hiking
Long-distance hiking is booming: Many people yearn for the intense experience of nature that multi-day hiking offers. At the same time, there is a desire for comfort and flexibility. A balancing act that requires a new approach.
Long-distance hikes are something wonderful. You never get as close to nature or as far away from everyday worries as you do when you walk step by step, day by day, in a calm rhythm. The classic tour often goes rustic from hut to hut; comfort is scarce. Heavy multi-day backpacks, mattress dormitories, and a tight schedule that was set months in advance, oblivious to current weather conditions or actual physical fitness, force one to persevere. Exciting experiences yes, relaxation not always – at least from the guests' perspective.
From the perspective of the tourism board (TVB), which meticulously designs, promotes routes, and creates high-quality marketing materials (keyword: photo and film), other problems often arise: What if a hut closes, tenants change, or the overnight accommodation options decrease? One need only consider the current situation of the Wettersteinhütte, Wangalm, or the renovation of the Nördlinger Hütte in the region. Suddenly a whole tour no longer works, bookings need to be canceled, and alternative offers are missing.
Flexibility and booking security
So how can we satisfy the guests' desire for unique experiences, guarantee safe bookings, and also impress with comfort and flexibility? The so-called star-shaped long-distance hikes with a fixed base are the perfect solution here. From a pre-booked accommodation, guests embark every day in a new direction and explore the region with light daypacks. In the evening, they return and can enjoy the full comfort of wellness areas, gourmet menus, and cozy beds depending on their booked accommodation. In bad weather or after muscle soreness, they can take recovery days. The tight booking situation in the huts is eliminated, and spontaneous off-season trips, for example in warm late autumn weather, are also possible. "The rigid framework of pre-booked stages is eliminated", confirms Karmen Nahberger, project manager of the long-distance hiking portal of Austria's hiking villages. "Tours can be adjusted daily to personal needs."
The Big 3 Long-Distance Hike
Our latest product in this area is currently the Big 3 Long-Distance Hiking, which connects the peaks of Gehrenspitze, Hoher Munde, and Reither Spitze into a three-day experience with a fixed base in the valley. Whether you tackle it in three extremely sporty days or divide it more leisurely over a week of vacation – the special experience remains, but you gain a lot of personal freedom. And we as TVB offer a safe product with durability and consistently high quality.
By the way:
Our Big 3 long-distance hike is also attracting interest in the press. The August issue of the Outdoor Magazine features a big story about it. In May, we were represented on the independent news PlattformJ in Switzerland.
In winter, our five-day, star-shaped Seefelder Hochplateau Winter Long-Distance Hike has already become well established.
For detailed information about the entire Big 3 tour and the individual stages, you can find it here: www.seefeld.com/de/big-3-weitwanderung.html
Our complete hiking offerings can be found at: www.seefeld.com/wandern