The Joy of the Summit
Collect summits, earn your hiking pin and experience unforgettable moments.
Do you know that feeling when, after a rewarding hike, you finally reach the summit? You stand at the highest point, let your gaze wander and take in a breathtaking mountain panorama that seems to stretch all the way to the horizon. And indeed, from many of the peaks in the Carinthian Nockberge Mountains, the views extend far beyond the region – from the glacier-covered peaks of the Hohe Tauern to the Julian Alps in Slovenia and Italy.
From your “base camp” at Naturhotel Ortners Eschenhof in Bad Kleinkirchheim, many of the Nockberge’s most beautiful summits are almost within reach. We want to make this special closeness to the mountains even easier for you to experience.
That’s why we have put together a selection of hiking routes that allow you to reach numerous peaks on enjoyable trails within just a few days. Along the way, you can also collect the points you need to earn the coveted digital silver or gold hiking badge of Bad Kleinkirchheim. We have also selected several tours that start right at our hotel door and take you to the surrounding peaks and local mountains of the Eschenhof.
Your route to the hiking badge with SummitLynx and the Eschenhof
Use the SummitLynx app to collect digital hiking badges in the Carinthian Nockberge Mountains, then enjoy the comforts of alpine wellness at Naturhotel Ortners Eschenhof in Bad Kleinkirchheim: On the idyllic hiking trails around the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve, your smartphone becomes your personal digital hiking log. And after a successful summit tour, well-deserved relaxation awaits you back at the Eschenhof.
Step by step to your digital hiking badge
The traditional hiking stamp booklet now has a modern alternative: with the free SummitLynx app, your smartphone becomes your digital companion on the way to earning your hiking badge.
- Install the app: Download the SummitLynx app for iOS or Android.
- Select the region: Activate the Bad Kleinkirchheim hiking area.
- Activate GPS: Checkpoints are recorded via GPS.
- Use it offline: Your entries also work without mobile reception – especially useful in the mountains.
- Collect points: Every summit and checkpoint you reach brings you one step closer to your hiking badge.
- Collect your badge: Once you have earned enough points, you can pick up your physical hiking badge directly at your base camp, Naturhotel Ortners Eschenhof.
You’ve only truly been somewhere if you’ve been there on foot.
Earn the silver hiking badge in 3 days
MWith the help of the mountain lifts, you can reach the summits required for the silver hiking badge over the course of three memorable days of hiking.
- Three days – three special summit tours
You’ll find our three suggested routes in the Outdooractive app. On each of the three days, you’ll discover some of the most scenic mountains around the Eschenhof and climb three summits. You can comfortably cover the most strenuous part of the ascent using one of the two mountain lifts.
- Well prepared for your day in the mountains
Set off from the respective mountain station with sturdy hiking shoes, trekking poles and a backpack containing plenty to drink and something to keep your energy levels up. We recommend opening the relevant route in Outdooractive before your hike and downloading the SummitLynx app to your smartphone. That way, you’ll be perfectly prepared for both navigation and your digital summit log.
- Enjoy the summit experience
Now it’s time to start walking and enjoy the mountains! Magnificent panoramic trails lead you from summit to summit, accompanied by wonderful views across the gentle peaks of the Nockberge and far beyond.
- Sign the digital summit log
At each checkpoint, use SummitLynx to check in to the digital summit log and collect points towards your hiking badge.
- Back to your Base-Camp
After your summit tour, enjoy a leisurely walk back to your starting point or the nearest mountain station. Once you return to the Eschenhof, you can look forward to delicious food, relaxation and soothing recovery.
Our family-run hotel in Bad Kleinkirchheim is the ideal starting point for hiking in the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve. Here, active days in nature and restorative relaxation go hand in hand.
- Hike straight from the hotel: Numerous hiking trails start right outside our door.
- Alpine wellness: Soothe tired muscles after your hike in our spacious wellness area.
- Regional specialities from our organic kitchen: Enjoy outstanding cuisine prepared with high-quality ingredients from organic farming.
- Guided hikes: Benefit from the expertise of our in-house mountain hiking guide and the Biosphere Reserve rangers.
From the hotel door to the most beautiful peaks
You don’t always need a mountain lift or a car journey to experience your next summit adventure. Some wonderful hikes start directly outside Naturhotel Ortners Eschenhof. We have selected a number of summit tours that allow you to set off directly from your base camp. You’ll find the suggested routes, including all the important information about the route, elevation gain and difficulty, in the Outdooractive app:
- Hike from Naturhotel Eschenhof to Totelitzen – approx. 5.5 hours
- Hike from the Eschenhof to Falkertsee – approx. 4.5 hours
- Priedröf summit hike from Ortners Eschenhof – approx. 5 hours
- Hike from Kaiserburg to the Eschenhof via Klamberg – approx. 3.5 hours
Whether you’re hiking to earn your badge or simply for the joy of being in the mountains, the Nockberge offer new views, new trails and new summit experiences every day.
Download the: Outdooractive App and SummitLynx App
