Little Tibet In The Austrian Alps

Klein (Small) Tibet is a hike reminiscent of the Himalayas.

Distance and time?

There are 2 sections, you have the option to hike or take the bus on the lower section.

Lower section walking time: Bärenbad-Alm car park to Einkehr Zum Adlerblick Restaurant (top of dam wall), approx. 1 hour one way, 3.5km one way

Upper section walking time: Einkehr Zum Adlerblick (top of dam wall) to Hohenaualm Restaurant, approx. 1 hour, 3.5km one way

Opening times: Early/mid June to mid October

Getting there

We parked the car nearby Bärenbad-Alm. You have a pay a toll of 8€ for a car or 4€ for a motorcycle.

Only buses are allowed past Bärenbad-Alm to the top of the dam wall. We didn’t want to wait for the bus. It was a lovely hike with a moderate incline. The bus costs 5.80€ round trip.

If your coming from Mayrhofen, you can get the regular shuttle bus 8328 Zillergrund dam for 18.80€ round trip. It departs every hour from Mayrhofen and every 30 minutes from Bärenbad-Alm. If you present your bus ticket at guesthouses in Zillergrund you get a 1.50€ environmental bonus voucher.

This area is also very popular with bicyclists and there are many charging stations.

The Hike

From Bärenbad-Alm, we followed the path through the forest and meadows to the enormous dam wall.

At the top of the dam wall (last bus stop), there is a traditional Austrian restaurant called Einkehr Zum Adlerblick. We climbed up the stairs to the balcony and had a panoramic view. A perfect place for breakfast. Try Holzfällerkrapfen (a Zillertal speciality) or Kaiserschmarrn.

With our bellies full of Kaiserschmarrn we continued on. A long cold tunnel took us through the mountain. On the other side, the easy flat path took us beside the lake. We were surrounded by green mountains slopes and rocky mountain peaks. We passed many powerful waterfalls flowing into the beautifully coloured lake.

It became obvious why the hike was called Klein Tibet. Along the way, there were wise quotes and encouragements from people such as the Dalai Lama. Prayer flags flutter in the wind above the path.

Towards the end of the hike there were prayer wheels. In Tibeten Buddhism, prayer wheels accumulate good karma and purify negative karma when spun clockwise.

The scenery and the Tibeten touches were reminiscent of the Himalayas. There are many wooden benches to admire the spectacular views along the way.

At the end of the lake, where the glacial waters flowed into the lake, there is a restaurant called Hohenaualm. They have pigs, goats, chickens and cows. The wooden farm house is decorated with historic paintings, antlers and milk churns. From the old fashioned toilet outhouse you can admire the magnificent views through a heart shaped window. We stopped here shortly for a refreshing Radler before heading back on the same route. The snack with ham, cheese and buttermilk is highly recommended. They only serve cold snacks here. There are many benches/tables outside and a tiny room inside for rainy days.

There is a slightly alternative route to the bottom of the dam wall. Walk over the 186m dam wall and follow the overgrown path on the other side down to the bottom. Alternatively, get the bus back down.

Where we stayed?

We stayed in an apartment hotel at Hells Ferienresort Fügen. We absolutely loved the room, especially the wood design and the kitchen.

There are a few more accommodation and food options in the main town of Mayrhofen.