Achensee, Austria

I recently had a chance to revisit Achensee Lake, which I first visited in 1969. The main town on the lake is Maurach which is on the southern bank of the lake at an elevation of about 3,000 feet and offers a good selection of typically small Tyrolean hotels.

Maurach is heaven for those looking for tranquil and peaceful relaxation during the winter months, where you find yourself next to a magnificent ice-covered lake, surrounded fields of white powder and snow-capped peaks. The Achensee region offers winter sports and relaxation for all ages and difficulties – most popular activities include cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, horse riding, etc. The Rofan gondola takes you to the Rofan ski area, which offers a wide range of skiing terrain for all difficulty levels.

Achensee is busier during the summer when you can expect tourists from all over Europe to fill the local hotels and campgrounds. Summer activities include hiking, sailing, kayaking and swimming.

The popular Achensee Dampfzahnradbahn rag railway also stops in the town and you shouldn't miss the Notburgamuseum, Achensee Museumswelt, the distillery Schnappsbrennerei Kostenzer and of course the Dalfazer waterfall.