Snow-covered mountains, plenty of sun, and peace and quiet away from the crowds—and all with children and dogs. A winter holiday in the nature village of Oberkühnreit in Neukirchen am Großvenediger feels like the good old days.
An idyllic, car-free hamlet is the Nature Village Oberkühnreit, located a little way above the town of Neukirchen, close to the ski slope from the Wildkogel down to the valley and the Kühnreit toboggan run. Ten wooden cottages – ranging in size from 55 to 120 m² – with 16 accommodation units (two of which have their own sauna) are scattered loosely on the sunny slope overlooking the Hohe Tauern National Park. The accommodations can accommodate up to eight people, including children and dogs. If you appreciate the fresh air, winter sports amidst the mountains, and the individuality of your own wooden cottage, this is the place for you. The Oberkühnreit Nature Village has already won the Top of the Mountains Award for "Best Alpine Village" four times and has an "outstanding" 9.2 points on booking.com.
„The facility has been around for 20 years, it was built by my father and has its own philosophy“, says Anika Ensmann-Heim, who has been managing the nature village for 10 years.We're very close to nature, and we want our guests to feel at home here. If they want me, I'm there; if not, they can have peace and quiet."Regionality and down-to-earthness are very important in the nature village of Oberkühnreit: Anika makes many things herself—from jams to cakes—and has also completed a self-sufficiency teacher training program. Her mother grows fruit, vegetables, her own juices, and distills schnapps, and receptionist Margret is a herbalist."The nature village is the place for your dreams, that is written everywhere – here everyone can live their dream – of a break, family reunion or whatever – and we ourselves too“, says Anika.
But back to sports and activities: In the Oberkühnreit Nature Village, cars are a thing of the past. Instead, there's winter-fresh nature, glistening snow, and the joy of exercise. For example, tobogganing from the village down to Neukirchen. The 1.5-kilometer-long toboggan run is illuminated until 8 p.m. and suitable for families. Or skiing on the Wildkogel, a perfect family ski area with three-quarters of blue or red slopes, fun trails, and ski-line options. The valley run leads almost directly past the Oberkühnreit Nature Village, meaning every day of skiing practically starts and ends at the hut's doorstep.
The ski bus to the Wildkogel Arena also departs nearby – and if you're looking for a change of pace, you can also take it to the Zillertal Arena or to the Panoramabahn cable car in Hollersbach (towards Kitzbühel). Alternatively, you can go winter horseback riding in Krimml, nine kilometers away, take a snowshoe hike with a National Park Ranger to the wildly romantic Untersulzbachtal waterfall, experience a wildlife feeding in the Habachtal valley, or take an evening torchlit hike. And don't forget: the little ones can build igloos, visit rabbits, chickens, and sheep at the children's farm, and simply experience nature.
The accommodations are essentially well-equipped self-catering apartments, but you can also order a breakfast box with pastries, butter, jams, beekeeper's honey, teas, and eggs from the Naturdorf chickens, as well as a homemade afternoon cake, hearty cottage cuisine, or a wildly romantic candlelight dinner in the evening. And if you still want to eat out, you can also stop by the aunt's farm at the Abelhof, about a 15-minute walk away.
The ski season in the Wildkogel Arena currently runs until April 21, 2025, but the nature village of Oberkühnreit is worth a visit even after that: The mild spring air on the sunny side of the valley encourages hiking and (e-)biking. The Sonnenwanderweg (Sun Trail) on the southern slope of the Wildkogel invites you to explore nature, as do the paths into the Trattenbachtal and Dürnbachtal valleys. As soon as the snow retreats from the 2,000-meter-high peaks, an extensive high-altitude hiking and biking area awaits on the 2,100-meter-high Wildkogel, offering panoramic views of 30 peaks higher than 3,000 meters in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail, with its 17 stages, runs across the summit from the Krimml Waterfalls to the Großarltal valley.
After every tour—whether in winter or any other time of year—coming home to the Oberkühnreit Nature Village is simply wonderful. Then you can take a breather either on the sun terrace of the Nature Village Chalet or in the cozy pine sauna hut, which can also be rented exclusively for two hours, including a bottle of Prosecco, bread rolls, and a small surprise. Host Anika can also organize massages or wellness treatments in the chalet upon request.