Holidays on the Farm in the Austrian Tirol

May 23, 2016 - PRLog -- There are over 337 Tirolean farms that are part of the collection ‚Holidays on the Farm' organisation, which was first set up in 1991. This way all the farms have to fulfil a specific criteria ensuring standards are maintained for holidaymakers.

FOR FAMILIES: Siedlerhof in Hopfgarten (http://www.farmholidays.com/siedler#tab=info)

Children today seem to have less opportunity to explore life for themselves than previous generations. Children love to be outdoors, interacting with nature in their own way. A holiday on the farm allows children to be hands-on during their stay, whether it is going to the stable and tending to the animals, collecting eggs for breakfast or picking fresh herbs from the garden. The Siedlerhof is located close to Hopfgarten in the Kitzbühler Alps and is home to cows, horses, chickens as well as rabbits, cats and ducks and children can enjoy pony or horse rides or explore the farm playground.

From Hopfgarten it's easy to explore the six family adventure parks, including the Hexenwasser (Witches' Water) in Söll, where you can discover sounds through stone and water, follow the secrets of the sun, wind and weather, have a go at bread baking or for a real buzz visit the Bee Garden.  Over at Ellmi's Magic World on the Hartkaiser in Ellmau embark on a mystical journey following in the footsteps of the sorcerer's apprentice Ellmi. Take the funicular railway up to 1555m and enjoy amazing views whilst the children have fun with swings, trampoline, carousel, climbing castle and much more. In Scheffau the KaiserWelt Scheffau has tree cabins, climbing walls, zip wires and swings. Families holidaying in the Wilder Kaiser region will never be short of things to do with horse riding, cycling or swimming nearby in the picturesque Hintersteinsee lake above Scheffau all on offer too.

Stay at the Siedlerhof in Hopfgarten, with prices starting from €364 (£285) in a one-bed apartment (sleeps 2-5), for 7 nights. To book visit www.farmholidays.com/siedler. Closest airports are Innsbruck (45 miles) and Munich (71 miles) or Salzburg (85 miles).


FOR HEALTH: Kräuterbauernhof Sagenschneider´s (http://www.farmholidays.com/sagenschneiders?L=3#tab=info)

What sets this farm apart from others in Tirol is the down-to-earth owner, Elisabeth Maaβ, and her knowledge, expertise and perhaps mild-obsession about everything to do with herbs. Visitors staying here will experience the huge potential of wild herbs, from healing ointments to delicious teas, tasty schnapps and even soothing bath salts. Located next to a mountain stream near Ried in the Upper Inn Valley, the herb products are not the only things on offer at this farm. Butter, yoghurt, milk, eggs, beef, pork and chicken all come directly from the farm and guests are encouraged to get hand-on with the animals, which include Shetland ponies, Haflinger horses, cows, goats, ducks and the friendly farm dog, Jesse.

Ried is located just over an hour from Innsbruck and is surrounded by the mighty peaks of the Ötztal Alps and the Samnaun Mountains reaching as far as the Swiss canton Graubünden. New for 2016 is a new hiking programme with themed hikes, sunrise hikes, cultural walks and more demanding hikes.

Stay at the Kräuterbauernhof Sagenschneider´s in Ried, which starts from € 490 (£377) for 2 person for 7 nights, including breakfast. To book visit www.farmholidays.com/sagenschneiders. Closest airports are Innsbruck (62 miles) and Munich (66 miles).

FOR WANNABE FARMERS:Bartlerhof Farm (http://www.farmholidays.com/bartlerhof?L=3#tab=info)

A collection of four farms in East Tirol have come together to form an initiative 'Farmer for Three Days'. This experience was born out of the desire for many guests seeking a complete contrast to their everyday lives and wanting a unique hands-on experience and gaining an insight into everyday life on a working farm. All the activities are optional but those wanting to participate will rise at dawn ready for the first milking session of the day, before feeding the pigs and cows and all by 7am. A hearty farmhouse breakfast is well-deserved and on the Bartlerhof farm, visitors can join owner Regina Berger turn the fresh milk into yoghurt, butter and cheese. The Graukäse (Grey Cheese) is a Tirolean speciality on this farm, and as a bonus is extremely low in fat and can be stored for months.

This 'Farmer for Three Days' experience is available at the Bartlerhof, Mortnerof, Klampererhof and Stoanahof Farms, which are all located in East Tirol. It's hugely popular and booking early is essential, especially at peak times such as spring and autumn when the farmers have more daily work from planting potatoes to harvesting.

Stay at the Bartlerhof Farm, which starts from €385 (£301) for 2 adults for 7 nights, including breakfast. The ‚Farmer for Three Days' experience costs from €45 (£34) per person. To book visit http://www.farmholidays.com/bartlerhof. Closest airports are Innsbruck (98 miles) and Munich (120 miles).

FLIGHTS

Innsbruck is the closest airport to all the resorts mentioned, alternatively fly to Munich airport. Affordable resort transfers are available through Four Seasons Travel (www.transfer.tirol.at).

For more information on the Tirol region www.visittirol.co.uk  or keep updated at www.facebook.com/visittirol  or @VisitTirol on twitter