4 romantic huts high above the Ötztal

As you slowly but steadily hike further up, the landscape around you becomes more and more sparse and the once-green grass evolves into rubble heaps and heavy boulders. If you turn around, you'll already have a great view of the past valley, but when you reach the pass, you're almost speechless. The flat rocky plateau you just reached is surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Geigenkamm and underneath you is the vast Ötztal. As the wind whistles around your ears, you sit on a large rock to enjoy this unique panorama.

The Geigenkamm is an approximately 17 mile-long (28 kilometers) mountain range within the Ötztal Alps, which separates the Ötztal from the Pitztal. Although many of its peaks are over 9,500 feet high (3000 metres), there are surprisingly few glaciers. This has saved the mountain range from being developed as a skiing area and therefore an untouched high mountain nature still awaits you here today. And best of all: While the numerous ski lifts and cable cars in nearby Sölden lead to overcrowded summits, you will find peace and silence in the northern Ötztal. Only a few hikers go up to the wildly romantic peaks and slopes and so you have them all to yourself.

Our hike leads you in five days from Oetz over four mountain huts along fantastic peaks and lonely mountain lakes. For all summit collectors, two 9,000 feet (3,000 meters) peaks are also planned, which can be easily skipped by less ambitious mountain hikers. While numerous mountain pastures line the hiking trails in the valley, there is only a thin net of huts on the high mountain paths. The best thing to do before you start in Oetz is to get enough food and reserve a bed in the small mountain huts. When that's done, all you have to do is lace up your mountain boots and shoulder your backpack to conquer the lonely Ötz Valley peaks.

If you plan to shorten your hut tour to two or three nights, check out our alternative stage. With it you can customize your hike according to your needs.