Mountain Adventure at the Schlosswirt
The Schlosswirt Riding Centre is based at an elegant, traditional Austrian hotel which has been individually decorated in keeping with its rich cultural heritage. Situated on the edge of the village in the stunning Moelltal valley, the riding centre is nestled between woods and streams and surrounded by the grand peaks of the High Tauern national park, including Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner. Nature and Wildlife Riding Trips up to the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps.
The Riding
Half-day and full-day treks from the centre for novice, intermediate or experienced riders. Overnight trips up into the high alpine landscape, sleeping in rustic mountain huts along the way. Nature and wildlife riding tours into the national park with resident park ranger. See below for more details.
Winter riding also available.
The Riding Facilities
14 Haflinger ponies, Western tack. 20x30 paddock. Unlimited riding in the national park.
The hotel
40 en-suite bedrooms with satellite TV; singles, 3 twins, doubles and family suites are all available. Table tennis, 2 clay tennis courts and free admission to the adjacent outdoor swimming pool. Finnish sauna, steam bath, relaxation room, and tanning booth. Large garden, playground, orchard and terrace with deckchairs. Healthy buffet breakfast with fresh, regional produce. Choice of delicious home-cooked set dinners, salad bar and Carinthian specialities.
Get-together Riding Weeks for Solo Travellers
Includes a daily local ride of up to 3 hours on 3 days and 2 full days of trekking (4 to 5 hours) with an overnight in a mountain hut with spectacular views across glaciers and the high alpine landscape. The mountain trip is optional; you may ride on day trips (up to 3 hours per day) from the hotel instead. Accommodation will be in a single room at the hotel but please note that there are no single rooms in the mountain hut. Get-together table for evening meals. Spring Get-Together Saturday 23 - 30th May 2009.
Activities for non-riders and rest days
The national park is excellent for mountain biking, hiking and adventure sports (wild-water rafting, rock-climbing, canoeing, paragliding and canyoning). Summer skiing on the glacier is also available. Just tell us what you want to do and leave the rest to us! Guides available on request for all activities.
The Schlosswirt is a wonderful winter playground for those who love the snow. See our Winter Riding programme for more details.
Guest book:
'I had a great few days and enjoyed the riding very much the haflingers were wonderful and responsive to my cues but knew when I needed them to take over. The rides were spectacular and the views were wonderful. I loved the hotel and the food was lovely, everyone was so friendly and caring which is particularly noticable when you are on your own.
Thank you and I will spread the word amongst my fellow western riders'. Alice, Sussex (Schlosswirt).
Just to say thank you for a great holiday. The hotel was charming - just right - utterly friendly, great with children, comfortable and authentically Austrian. We could not have been happier. The haflingers were such a hit that we are now trying to buy one. If you know any good breeders or sources let us know! I shall certainly be recommending the trip to other people and hope to try out some of your other destinations in the future (although my daughters have asked us to make the Schlosswirt an annual event!) Susanna (London)
'The Schlosswirt is a lovely hotel with a very homely feel to it. As for the riding, after I changed my first pony after a few enthusiastic bucks on the way back, I found a much calmer, but still forward going pony 'Salut' which I could have quite happily taken home with me given half the chance. Chris also kept 'Anton'. It was great to keep the same pony as you got to know them really well, including grooming them before and after the treks.
We did some lovely rides out, along and through the river, through the woods and some more adventurous ones up the mountain led by Toni. It was amazing what the ponies could scramble up and down, and when I dared to look the views were amazing! The ponies were so good as there was not much of a path for them to walk on.
The rides were usually between 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. I did like the way that they tried to vary the rides, even though it was getting more difficult for them by the end of the week. They also split us into different ability groups so we could have a great gallop along the river which we loved. Thanks again for organising it for us both - we really enjoyed ourselves in such a lovely place! ' Hayley and Chris (Nuneaton)
Press Articles
Good Housekeeping.
Mail On Sunday.
England's Equestrian Magazine.
Equestrian Plus Magazine.
Panorama Week
7 nights half-board with daily rides (15 hours total) from the hotel in the High Tauern national park.
Availability: May to October.
Cost: £625 (singles £673).
Trekking Weeks
Panorama trail rides into Austria's most beautiful national park, with 2 full days riding (5 hours per day) with one overnight in a mountain hut and 4 panorama day rides (3 hours per day), sleeping back at the hotel each night. £699 per person for 7 nights half-board with airport transfer. Single room £766. Available May to October.
Get-together Trekking weeks: £699 (if prepared to share a room) or £766 for a single. There are no single bedrooms for the one night in a mountain hut. Spring Get-Together Saturday 23 - 30th May 2009. Autumn: Saturday 21- 28th September.
Glacier Trek, The 3000m Ride
7 nights: £883 Two nights in a mountain hut with three full days riding up into the high alpine region, with the aim of reaching the summit of a 3000m high peak. Three local panorama rides (2-3 hours each) from the hotel on the other days. 7-14th June, 6-12th September or at other times if you are a group of 4 or more riders. Single room: £941. Read more about it with Equestrian Plus writer, Lisa Dure. Dates for 2009: 06 to 13. June and 05 to 12. September
High Alpine Crossing
Follow the ancient gold and pack routes right over the Alps. The horses get taken to the other side of the Alps by trailer, then you ride back to the hotel, over the mountains. 3 days riding with 2 overnights in a mountain hut. Approx 5 hours in the saddle. Suitable for intermediate to advanced riders. Available dates for 2009: 4 to 11. July or at other times if you are a group of 4 or more riders. Read what the Mail on Sunday reporter says about this trip. Back at the hotel, relax by the pool, have a massage, relax in the beautiful garden or in the bar!
Cost £883 and £941 for singles.
Mountain Riding Short Trip
5 nights half-board accommodation with a daily riding programme (10 hours total riding): £451.
3 nights with 2 rides of 3 hours each: £328.
Single supplement £14 per night.
Availability: May to October.
High season (24th July to 28th August) supplement:
Please add £15 per person per day.
Upgrade to suite:
£20 per person per day.
Children (half board, in extra bed in parents' bedroom)
Up to 2 years old no charge.
2-6 years old 80% discount.
6-14 years old 50%.
Non-riders:
£445 per person for 7 nights half board accommodation with airport transfer. £355 for 5 nights. £245 for 3 nights.
Price includes:
Half board accommodation (breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner) per person, based on two sharing a double room with return airport transfer to Klagenfurt and riding program where stated. Lunch included on full day rides. Child discounts.
Price excludes:
Price excludes flights and insurance. No single rooms in the mountain huts.
Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified).
Make a reservation / enquiry.
These prices are guidelines only. Please contact us for an exact quote since prices will vary depending on the season, the amount of riding you wish to do and whether you are travelling alone or with a group. To calculate the equivalent cost of your holiday in another currency, please visit XE.com's Universal Currency Converter.
Season runs from May until October. Opens again 20th December for winter ride & ski season).
Please note that there is no single accommodation available in the mountain huts. All meals are included on the overnight trips.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Klagenfurt. A minibus or car transfer to this airport is included in the cost of the holiday. Transfers from Salzburg can also be arranged for a small supplement.
Ryanair (London Stansted to Klagenfurt: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the summer).
Thomsonfly (Manchester to Klagenfurt).
Austrian Airlines (London Heathrow and Dublin to Vienna - good connections to Klagenfurt).
Air Berlin (Manchester, London Stansted, Belfast and Glasgow to Vienna).
The Ryanair flight in summer runs to Klagenfurt from Stansted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only.
Lowcostseats - internet travel agent for charter flights offering good deals.
Jetnav - an independent website searching schedule services, budget airlines and some charters.
Dohop - searches charter and schedule services.
Travelocity - internet travel agents for schedule services.
We can advise on flying from other airports, train, car hire and self-drive options - please contact us.
Austrian train timetable.
Self-drive: Car rental can be booked easily and inexpensively online with Holiday Autos. Please tell us so that we can reduce the quote of your holiday.
Train travel: For everything you need to know about any train journey visit Seat Sixty-One.
If you would like to view the location of this holiday, please refer to the overview map and detailed map.
Riding ability
The Haflinger ponies are ridden Western style. This is a more comfortable and secure way of riding and is better suited to the national park terrain. The main differences from traditional English style of riding are the longer leg and stirrups that don't swing and the deeper seat of the saddle. For the overnight trips you should be familiar with tack-up and horse care. Experienced riders only. You should be fit for 4-5 hours in the saddle and comfortable at all paces. The ponies, however, are easy to ride and are well adapted to the terrain and climate.
Novice riders are those who have limited riding experience or who ride in a controlled environment. There is no tuition given at the Schlosswirt.
Intermediates are those who are comfortable at all paces, including a controlled gallop and are able to ride in open country but who may not ride on a regular basis. The day rides from the center are suitable for intermediate riders.
What to bring
Riding trousers or jeans, chaps or mini chaps, sun cream, rain wear, riding hat and sturdy boots. For overnights in the mountain huts you will need a sleeping bag, a small rucksack and a torch. Although rarely insisted upon outside the UK, you should always wear your hat whilst mounted. Although hard hats are available in all our riding establishments, you are advised to bring your own.
Weather
Current weather forecasts and general weather information for the region can be found here and here.
Environmental issues
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to Austria at Climate Care and compensate for your 'environmental footprint'. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
Austria has one of the highest levels of household recycling and organic farming in Europe. It also has some of the cleanest lakes, is 47% forested and produces nearly 70% of its energy from renewable sources such as water.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.
How to book
To make a non-binding enquiry or a provisional booking, please fill in the reservations & enquiries form. Once we have checked availability, we will send you a quote with a holiday reference number by email. To secure your holiday, a deposit is required of £200 per person (or half the cost of the holiday, whichever is lower) and forward any insurance premiums to the insurance company. You should book your flights at this stage, and forward details to us so that we can organise your transfers. The balance of payment must be received by us not less than eight weeks before departure. Payment instructions.
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Insurance: all riders must be fully insured. We can recommend this travel insurance policy. The application form may be printed out to send with your premiums direct to the insurance company.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
