Via Paradiso

Important prerequisites for a successful mountain hike, in addition to careful study of guides and maps, are optimal equipment.

The basic equipment includes:

solid, well-fitting mountain or hiking boots with grippy soles water- and windproof mountain clothing in a layering system, hiking poles sunglasses, sun protection mobile phone and hiking map a first aid kit  as well as enough drinking water and a snack

Proper behavior in the mountains

Careful tour planning using descriptions and hiking maps is essential for a successful mountain hike. Equally important is correctly assessing the mountain experience, stamina, sure-footedness, freedom from dizziness, and endurance of all participants. Never leave the marked hiking trails and avoid shortcuts. Inform yourself about the weather conditions before the hike and return to the valley in case of deteriorating weather. The mountains are for everyone. Helping to maintain their preservation and cleanliness is every hiker’s duty. You should take your waste back down to the valley; the animal and plant world should be protected. Always keep dogs under control and on a short leash. If an attack by a grazing animal is foreseeable, the dog must be unleashed immediately. Austrian farmers make an important contribution to the preservation of alpine pastures. We ask you, as a visitor, to respectfully adapt to this beautiful landscape.

Meet the people working here, nature, and the animals with respect.

Here are the most important emergency numbers in case of an accident in Austria:

140 Alpine emergency call

144 Rescue emergency call

112 European emergency call (available from all networks. Turn off the mobile phone and after turning it on, instead of the PIN enter the number “112”)

from the east South Motorway (A2) Vienna – Graz – Klagenfurt – Villach – Spittal/Drau; or from Villach via the Gegendtal to Radenthein/Döbriach – Lake Millstatt

from the south Autostrada Udine – Tarvisio – Villach – Spittal/Drau; or from Villach via the Gegendtal to Radenthein/Döbriach – Lake Millstatt;

from the west Innsbruck – Felbertauern road or Brenner Motorway/Pustertal to Lienz – Oberdrauburg – Spittal/Drau to Radenthein/Döbriach – Lake Millstatt

from the north Munich – Salzburg – Tauern Motorway (A10) towards Spittal/Drau till Lake Millstatt exit (left turn) to Radenthein/Döbriach – Lake Millstatt

Nockmobil

As a feeder to public transport, Nockmobil is a green alternative to the car as an on-demand call taxi and brings you flexibly from stop to stop. Have yourself taken with Nockmobil to the starting point of your hike (from stop number xx) and back.

For booking a ride with Nockmobil, a lead time of about one hour (in summer months the day before) is recommended. You can book your call taxi by phone at +43 123 500 444 24, via the app, or the ISTmobil website.

Carinthia train station shuttle

Comfortable and direct from the train station to your accommodation with the Carinthia train station shuttle: https://www.bahnhofshuttlekaernten.at/

In Döbriach there are three free parking lots where you can park your vehicle during this time.

Parking lot I - Kurpark in the center, Glanzerstraße 5, 9873 Döbriach (two minutes walk from the Via Paradiso starting point)

Parking lot II - parking lot near the lake, Strandweg 17, 9873 Döbriach (next to the Via Paradiso route)

Parking lot III - opposite Parking lot II, Seefeldstraße next to Riegerbach promenade

(next to the Via Paradiso route)

More information about Via Paradiso can be found at the official trail booking center at www.bookyourtrail.com.

More information about dining options and the hiking area of the region can be found at

www.millstaettersee.at/wandern or www.badkleinkirchheim.at/wandern or www.nockberge.at/wandern

The UNESCO Biosphere Park Carinthian Nockberge

Majestic, mighty, and unique – the UNESCO Biosphere Park Carinthian Nockberge is an alpine jewel with unique natural treasures and a diverse cultural landscape, as well as rare animal and plant species. People have lived in harmony with nature here for centuries. Gently rolling hills with peaks over 2400 meters and picturesque alpine meadows – the Biosphere Park Carinthian Nockberge is a rare natural idyll in the middle of the Austrian Alps and covers an area of about 500 square kilometers. In 2012, UNESCO designated it as a biosphere park. Ecological balance, economic security, and social justice – the biosphere park is based on these three pillars of sustainability. Here, people live in harmony with nature and know how to respect and appreciate the rare animal and plant world. Processed according to old traditions, regional products bear witness to careful work following traditional recipes. Trained biosphere park rangers promise unforgettable tours for families, and this knowledge is also passed on to students in several educational programs. No matter what time of year you visit, the biosphere park always offers a full treasure chest of experiences.

More information is available at: www.biosphärenparknockberge.at

A special lake encounter is probably the EGELSEE - the small moor lake on the ridge of the southern shore. With unique flora and fauna, Egelsee invites you for a refreshing swim.