10 January 2019

Rafting and biking: Discover adventure in Austria's Ötztal

Dare to go whitwater rafting, try out the thrilling mountain bike trails and follow in the footsteps of James Bond in adventurous Ötztal…

6 mins

Where would James Bond parachute into in the Austrian Tirol? Ötztal, of course! You can see exactly why the Bond producers chose to film the world’s most famous spy in this spectacular corner of Europe – and then join in a blockbuster of adventures yourself.

Get the James Bond experience…

The spectacular natural and manmade sides of the Ötztal valley come together at the new 007 ELEMENTS. This James Bond-themed interactive museum in Sölden sits 3,050m high, inside the Gaislachkogl mountain. The nine galleries have a heavy focus on Spectre, which had scenes shot around here, but also installations and footage from the other 23 Bond films. In this A-List region you can even dine in a restaurant that doubled as a villain’s lair in Spectre.

Beyond Bond…

Beyond Bond there are 1,600km of hiking trails to embark on, connected by an impressive array of 10 summer mountain lifts, as well as huts. Options range from geocaching or treasure hunting trails for families, through to the epic Ötztal Trek. This famed long-distance hiking route surges off for 400 km, with six route options and 22 stages.

For thrill seekers…

Mountain bikers can explore myriad trails across the hills as well as at Bike Republic. This multi-terrain park boasts natural single trails, Enduro tracks and a pump track. Then there is the thrill of whitewater rafting with Area 47, where beginners are catered for. You can also try caving, cliff diving and wakeboarding.

Something for everyone…

It doesn’t end there. How about climbing beside the gushing waters at the Stuiben waterfall, watching the sunset at the Piburger lake, or soaking in a spa session with views of the peaks at Aqua Dome? You could also take the Ötzi Village to follow in the famous iceman’s footsteps and learn about our Neolithic ancestors. Over at Widiversum adventure land, families are challenged with riddles and puzzles.

Summer treats…

Throughout summer, festivals and events like summer cycle marathons, trail runs and glacier hikes are very tempting in Ötztal. Whatever you do at the end of the day, delicious Tirolean cuisine awaits. Not even super disciplined Bond could resist the temptation of Tiroler Gröstl – a bacon, onion and potato fry-up, enjoyed, of course, with a breathtaking mountain backdrop fit for a blockbuster movie.