EXPLORER TOUR
Your expedition through four climate zones
How is glacier ice formed? Where do golden eagles and bearded vultures live? What survival strategies do edelweiss and saxifrage develop?
You'll learn all this and much more on this exciting tour. The guide for your expedition through four climate zones is an actual ranger from the Hohe Tauern National Park. Your journey begins in the temperate zone in Kaprun and leads via cable car panoramic rides and short exploration hikes over the taiga and tundra all the way up to the arctic glacier ice. Along the way, you'll experience a special highlight: the ride on the 3K K-onnection – one of world’s most modern and energy-efficient cable cars. From its special explorer cabins, you'll enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree view of the stunning high-alpine landscape all the way down to the Zell basin. At the end of the tour, you'll reach TOP OF SALZBURG – Salzburg's highest-situated attraction with two spectacular panoramic platforms, a mystical info tunnel, Austria's highest-situated cinema, and the Gipfel Restaurant with a 5* panorama.
Top tip › Continue your exploration after the Explorer Tour and dive into the mystical world inside the Kitzsteinhorn – on the free National Park Gallery Tour.
- When: daily, from June 28 to Sept. 14, 2025
- Meeting point: 9 a.m., in front of the Kaprun Center cash desks (Kitzsteinhornplatz 1a, 5710 Kaprun)
- Duration: approx. 3.5 hours
- Costs: € 14 pp (cable car ticket not included)
- Groups: exclusive tours for groups possible
Booking: office@kitzsteinhorn.at - Registration open from June
To Spitzbergen In 3.5 Hours
Werner Schuh is a National Park ranger and explains:
"The Kitzsteinhorn offers spectacular views of the Hohe Tauern National Park – Alps' largest nature reserve with 1,856 square kilometers. Starting from the temperate climate zone in the valley, with lush green vegetation and streams, we take a leisurely ride with Kitzsteinhorn cable cars over the coniferous forests up to the tundra climate at Langwied.
Here, at the treeline at 1,900 meters ASL, we stroll to a small meandering brook bed where we'll find alpine roses, gentian and, with a little luck, we may spot marmots.
At our next stop, in the rocky wasteland around the Alpincenter at 2,500 meters, we hike to a special viewpoint. Together we explore the flora and fauna near the glacier ice. The journey continues uphill to the arctic climate.
We enjoy the spectacular view from the panoramic platform TOP OF SALZBURG of the glaciated threethousanders, lush green valleys, and above the 3,203-m-high Kitzsteinhorn summit, we may spot eagles or vultures.
If we were to take a journey through four climate zones starting from Kaprun over land, we would have to travel to Spitzbergen – a distance of 3,445 kilometers as the crow flies."
SPECTACULAR PANORAMIC RIDES
Not only the stories and insights from the National Park ranger delight, but especially the breathtaking views that surround you from the valley all the way up to 3,029 meters. After taking the MK Maiskogelbahn from the Kaprun town center to the top station, the 3K K-onnection, one of world's most modern and energy-efficient cable cars, brings you to the treeline at the Langwied. After another two panoramic rides, you reach TOP OF SALZBURG.
TOP TIP ▸ Gain more fascinating insights into the unique world of the Kitzsteinhorn and Hohe Tauern and continue your journey after the Explorer Tour ↴
