Top of Salzburg 3,029 metres above sea level on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Kaprun.
It is our wedding anniversary and we would normally book in a degustation dinner but we couldn’t resist an adventure instead and what an adventure it was. Ben did prepare me by saying how high we were going but it didn’t compute until we were on our 3rd gondola heading up the gorgeous mountains to the viewing platform and the panoramic views of the Alps.
We took the train to Zell am See then a bus to Kaprun. Then we bought our tickets to the top of Salzburg where we jumped on a gondola with all the skiers and snow boarders and headed up the mountain.
The views were breathtaking and so much activity on the slopes. There were T bars and gondolas and restaurants and cafes and bars pumping out music and beginners skiing and more experienced all over the slopes. The first gondola took us to the Maiskoskel an area where you then can take a t-bar up the hill or learn to skii.
We then kept going and went on the next gondola which was a bit of a longer ride (around 20 minutes). Once we hopped off we had a look around and then onto our next gondola which was even longer (30 minute ride but stunning views). We were lucky to have really clear visibility on our way up and there was a hive of activity below us.
2 more gondolas and we were at the top. There were several viewing platforms when we went outside and it was a great vantage point for seeing the whole valley laid out below. Just in time too as it started snowing and then we had a white out of the view but at least we got to see it before it snowed.
A really surprising and fun part of the experience was the natural museum. To get to another viewing platform there is a a long tunnel cave that is quite dark and runs underneath the mountain. It is a down descent and as you go through it there are crystals and artefacts and fossils to look at. I loved the surprise of where we were going and what was at the end and then it came out to the sweetest little platform suspended over the Alps. Again we got to see the view briefly before it snowed and Ben was a bit disappointed he couldn’t see far out the distance to all the mountain ranges but it was still a great experience.
To get back you had to go back through the museum and we took it at a steady pace walking up hill. We both started to feel incredibly out of breath and puffed which was unusual for us and then I noticed a sign with a big heart on the photo saying to walk slowly. Even though the percentage of oxygen is the same, the air pressure is lower, so each breath gives you less usable oxygen and that is why we were out of breath. We slowed the pace down and wandered on up.
Back at the top we found a sweet nook to have our picnic and hot chocolate and beef broth and then headed on back down.
The first gondola down we decided to go for a little explore and walked up the slopes a little and just enjoyed being in the snow.
