On a Moselle cruise with Viva Cruises
27. February 2025
Lech – between ski safari and beach chair
21. April 2025
If you glide down the slopes in the Kaunertal in Tyrol in February or March, you may experience film action up close, as the ZDF “Bergretter” film crew will be shooting the winter episodes for the new season here
It is the most beautiful cul-de-sac in the Eastern Alps: the pass road at the end of the Kaunertal valley winds its way up over spectacular bends. It leads past the magical blue-green Gepatsch reservoir up to 2700 meters. From there, the only way up is by cable car and chairlift. All around you, snow-covered 3000-metre peaks rise up into the sky, with the icy blue of the Weißenseeferner between them, which together with the Gepatsch and Kesselwandferner form the largest contiguous glacier area in the Eastern Alps.
The queen of the valley's peaks is the 3518-metre-high Weißseespitze. It towers above everything. The landscapes to be seen in the Kaunertal are magnificent. No wonder the winter episodes of the ZDF series “Die Bergretter” have been filmed there for years. “The film crew of around 25 people is usually in the valley from the end of January to the beginning of March. The main actors even have their own apartments here,” says Dietmar Walser, Managing Director of the Tiroler Oberland Tourism Association.
When actors Sebastian Ströbel, alias mountain rescuer boss Markus Kofler, and Luise Bähr as emergency doctor Katharina Strasser arrive with the rest of the crew, the Kaunertal Glacier is a big ski movie, as the helicopter is usually in action and Sebastian Ströbel abseils down from dizzying heights to rescue a film casualty in the eternal ice. Meanwhile, the lifts continue to operate as usual and the skiers are right up close to the action.
To ensure that everything runs smoothly during filming, real mountain rescuers are also involved. The Kaunertal mountain and ski guides have to prepare the locations on the slope and shovel away snow before filming begins so that the camera team is safe and doesn't need mountain rescuers themselves.
“We also do stunts and double some of the actors,” says mountain guide Simon Moest, who grew up in the Kaunertal and knows every nook and cranny of the glacier ski area. “It's always an exciting six weeks when the film crew is there. But my favorite moment is when they're all gone again. Because then the peace and quiet returns to the valley,” he says with a laugh.
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- The most beautiful dead end in the Eastern Alps: the mountain road winds in loops up to 2700 meters
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- ZDF filming for “Die Bergretter”: Rescue from the air becomes necessary after a failed illegal bungee jump
The 640 people of Kaunertal love their mountains and the wild and romantic idyll of the glacier ski area. In contrast to the big ski circus in the neighboring Tyrolean valleys such as the Paznaun, Inn, Pitz and Ötztal, visitors can expect alpine tranquility here. There are no booming beats at the ski bars or queues at the gondola or lift.
From the Ochsenalm at 2,150 meters, you float up to three 3,000-meter peaks, which offer a magnificent view of the South Tyrolean and Swiss mountains all the way to Piz Bernina. Once at the top, a small but beautiful ski area with 55 kilometers of well-groomed slopes and 36 kilometers of off-piste runs lies at the feet of skiers and snowboarders. Wonderfully wide blue and red glacier lifts lead back to the Ochsenalm, and those who dare to tackle one of the steepest descents in Europe can take the “Black Ibex” on the 3113-metre-high Falginjoch. The 87.85 percent gradient pushes your thigh muscles to the limit, and afterwards you'll need an ice-cold drink rather than something warm in the glacier restaurant.
In contrast, the “black 19” from the 3108-metre-high Karlesjoch is feasible for all good riders and also offers many variations. It leads through a tunnel and over a bridge. Freeriders are also in luck on the Kaunertal Glacier: a total of seven routes and 36 kilometers of powder snow slopes with untracked descents beckon. If you want the really big mountain backdrop with 4000 meters of powder runs, book a mountain guide for a safari. Or do it like mountain guide Simon Moest, plunge down the Karlesjoch and carve through powder snow to the village of Melag in South Tyrol's Vinschgau Valley. It's great skiing cinema. The return journey is easy by shuttle bus.
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- The ZDF filming for “Die Bergretter” on the Kaunertal glacier often runs at the limit. The rescue helicopter is deployed for two people who died in the ice water in the film
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- Freeriders can look forward to dreamy deep-snow descents on the Nörderjoch
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- Pure piste bliss: perfectly groomed slopes and nothing going on
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- Three peaks at an altitude of over 3000 meters each border the Italian state border
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- The snow groomer with cabin takes freeriders into the terrain for fascinating power runs
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- Out and about on the Kaunertal Glacier with mountain guide Simon Moest
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- Magically beautiful: the Gepatsch reservoir was also the backdrop for the Bond movie “Spectre”
TV tip:
Die Bergretter - Season 17 is expected to be shown on ZDF at the end of 2025.
Die Bergretter - Season 16 (broadcast at the end of 2024) is available in the ZDF media library. The episodes of seasons 1-14 are also available at
www.zdf.de/serien/die-bergretter
How to get there:
By train from Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria to Tyrol: several direct connections daily and numerous transfer connections. The destination station is Landeck-Zams. From there, take the Postbus or cab to Kaunertal, Kauns, Kaunerberg, Fendels or Feichten at the end of the valley.
Tip: With the free Winter Valley Card, which is valid until 30.04.2025, there are many discounts such as free bus travel in the valley and to the ski area.
Mehr Infos: www.bahn.de/angebot/urlaub/bahnreisen/winterrail/oesterreich/tirol/kaunertal
By plane: The nearest airport is in Innsbruck. Innsbruck Airport is 100 km away from the Kaunertal vacation region. Other airports are in Memmingen (160 km away) and the airport in Munich (240 km away). It is 235 km from Zurich airport to the Kaunertal.
By car or e-car: Many accommodations have e-charging stations. There are also two public charging stations in the valley. A highway toll must be paid in Austria. Anyone driving without a valid vignette will be fined 120 euros. The vignettes are available at kiosks and petrol stations or digitally:www.asfinag.at A 10-day vignette costs 12.40 euros. The vignette requirement also applies in the Landeck Tunnel (bypass via Piller Höhe/Gachenblick possible). In winter, appropriate equipment is required, including snow chains depending on the weather. Please note that winter tires are mandatory in Austria from November 1 to April 15! Safety vests are also compulsory in Austria - for every passenger who leaves the car in the event of a breakdown or accident.
The Kaunertal Glacier ski area is open from October to May. If you buy your ski ticket online, you can save up to 30 percent. The earlier you book, the cheaper. Free children's ski lessons for families staying at least five days in the region from 16.03.-19.03.2025 in Fendels and from 23.03.-26.03.2025 on the glacier for children aged 3 to 6. The Fendels family ski area at the entrance to the valley near Landeck has 15 km of pistes, a ski school and a 4.5 km long toboggan run.
The mountain guide/freeride guide daily rate is approx. 500 euros.
Accommodation:
Four-star Hotel Weißseespitze in the village of Platz with new panoramic suites and large wellness area including heated indoor and outdoor pool. The hotel is barrier-free. One night with ¾ pampering package from approx. 138 euros p.p. www.weisseespitze.com
Four-star Hotel Feichtnerhof in the main village of Feichten with 44 renovated rooms and wellness area with saunas. The village lift is right behind the hotel. An overnight stay in a double room/breakfast from approx. 210 euros. www.feichtnerhof.at
Hotel Lärchenhof in Feichten with a small, older wellness area including indoor pool and saunas. One night in a double room incl. breakfast from approx. 160 euros. www.kaunertal-ferien.com
The Gepatschhaus in the rear Kaunertal at 1928 meters above sea level is the oldest Alpine Club hut in Austria, has been extensively renovated and opens on 14 June 2025. Overnight stay in a double room 42 euros, half board with bread and tea 43 euros. www.gepatschhaus.at
Activities:
The Quellalpin in Feichten offers sport and enjoyment with an indoor pool and children's pool, large sauna area, good restaurant, climbing hall, bowling alley, fitness studio and ice skating rink. In the basement there is an interesting exhibition about the Kaunertal glacier and the effects of climate change. www.quellalpin.at
Tobogganing in Feichten: On the floodlit Ögg natural toboggan run, you can also toboggan in the evening until 10 pm. There is also a large network of cross-country ski trails and winter hiking trails.
Dates: Women's Freeride Camp on the glacier from March 7 to 9 and mixed Freeride Camp March 12 to 14.
International Mountain Guide Championships from April 25 to 27.
Ice swimming on the glacier will take place on 10.5., 17. and 18.5.2025.
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- The view of the slopes and peaks from the 3108-metre-high Karlesjoch is a dream
Info:
The trip was supported by the Tiroler Obertal Tourism Association.
Photo credit:
ZDF / Stephanie Kulbach
ZDF / Sabine Finger (2)
TVB - Tiroler-Oberland-Kaunertal Roman-Huber (2)
Petra Kirsch (7)
