Autumn Wellness in Austria: Why We Love This Time of Year in Hochkönig

From hiking boots to bathrobe

September and October still offer plenty of opportunities to explore the mountains around Maria Alm. Walking routes lead directly from the hotel into the Hochkönig region, so even a shorter outing does not have to begin with a drive.

Natrun and Prinzensee are ideal for a relaxed excursion, while the mountains surrounding Maria Alm offer routes with more elevation. As long as the summer lifts are operating, the Hochkönig Card makes getting around easier. It is included for our guests and covers, among other benefits, the use of participating summer lifts and the hiking bus. In 2026, the Natrun lift operates until 5 November.

One thing we particularly enjoy about autumn is the freedom it gives you when planning the day. There is no need to avoid the midday heat, and on cooler days a shorter walk can be all you need before heading back to the hotel.

Hiking boots off. Bathrobe on.

Three spa worlds under one roof

Wellness means different things to different people. One guest wants to swim, another prefers the sauna. Parents want time with their children as well as a quiet hour on their own.

That is why the HOCHKÖNIGIN has three separate spa areas.

The QUEEN SPA features a 17-metre infinity pool, whirlpool and indoor pool, alongside a Finnish sauna, bio sauna, steam bath, relaxation rooms and sun terraces.

Higher up in the hotel, the TIARA SPA Adults Only is reserved for adults. Its rooftop setting combines a relaxation pool with integrated whirlpool, one sauna, relaxation rooms and sun terraces, with views across Maria Alm towards the Steinernes Meer.

Families have their own FAMILY SPA, complete with indoor pool, bio/stubensauna, steam bath and infrared facilities.

The HOCHKÖNIGIN is therefore not an adults-only hotel. Couples and families stay under the same roof, while the spa concept gives them different spaces in which to unwind. For parents in particular, this works well: family time and a quiet visit to the adults-only TIARA SPA can both be part of the same holiday.

What can you do in Maria Alm when it rains?

It is a fair question when planning an autumn holiday in the Austrian Alps. And the answer should be better than repeatedly checking the weather forecast.

On a rainy day, the hiking plans can wait. Swim or head to the sauna in the QUEEN SPA, book time for a massage or treatment, or join yoga and other activities from our weekly programme.

This makes an autumn wellness holiday in Maria Alm less dependent on perfect mountain weather than a hiking-only trip. Sunny days can be spent outdoors; when the clouds move in, the focus shifts back to the hotel.

The weather may change the day's plans, but it does not have to spoil them.

Book your massage before you arrive

After several hours in the mountains, a massage can sound very appealing. You are unlikely to be the only guest with that idea.

Our QUEEN SPA offers a selection of massages, peelings, body treatments and beauty treatments. If you have a particular treatment or preferred time in mind, we recommend booking it before you arrive. Popular appointments can fill quickly during busy wellness periods.

It is one of those practical tips worth knowing before your holiday. The treatment you wanted is far more useful when there is still a space for it in the diary.

Yoga is part of wellness at the HOCHKÖNIGIN

Complimentary yoga sessions take place twice a week at the HOCHKÖNIGIN: Tuesdays at 7.30 am and Thursdays at 5 pm. Other sessions are available as part of the activity programme, and selected yoga retreats take place throughout the year.

Autumn is well suited to this combination of indoor and outdoor movement. Start the day on the yoga mat and head into the mountains afterwards, or spend a grey afternoon in the spa.

No previous yoga experience is required for the regular sessions. Anyone on the mat at 7.30 in the morning has already achieved something before breakfast.

Mountain air has a habit of making you hungry

After hiking, swimming and sauna time, attention eventually turns to dinner.

The HOCHKÖNIGIN gourmet board includes breakfast, the QUEEN Snack from 2.00 to 4.30 pm and a six-course dinner in the evening. A vegan menu is also available.

For a different culinary experience, RAR Fine Dining is located right here at the hotel. Led by chef Maximilian Reuter, the restaurant was once again awarded one MICHELIN Star in 2026, with a distinctive cuisine combining regional produce with Alpine and Asian influences.

For us, good food is not an extra attached to a wellness holiday. It belongs right in the middle of it.

October or November – when is the best time for an autumn wellness break?

There is no single answer because the two months offer quite different experiences.

October is particularly suited to travellers who want to combine hiking and wellness. There is still plenty of time to spend outdoors and, depending on the date, lifts, mountain huts and regional attractions remain open.

In early November, walks and hikes may still be possible depending on weather, snow and trail conditions. Once the summer lift season ends, however, the character of a stay begins to change.

A hiking holiday with wellness gradually becomes a wellness holiday surrounded by mountains.

It is not a lesser version of October. It is a different way to spend a few days in Maria Alm.

November in Maria Alm: between autumn and ski season

November sits between two busy travel seasons. The main hiking season is ending, while the ski season has yet to begin. Maria Alm becomes quieter and the pace of the day changes with it.

A walk in the morning, pool and sauna in the afternoon, a spa treatment, a drink at the HIGH QUEEN BAR and dinner afterwards can be more than enough for a good day.

Our November Wellness Break 4=3 is designed for this period. Available from 1 to 22 November 2026, it gives you four nights for the price of three. The package includes the HOCHKÖNIGIN gourmet board and access to the spa areas, plus a €50 wellness voucher per person, our activity programme and a mug of mulled wine or non-alcoholic punch with freshly caramelised almonds.

→ Discover our November Wellness Break 4=3

Guests who know the Hochkönig only from summer hikes or winter ski days will see a different side of Maria Alm during these weeks.

Our autumn in the Hochkönig mountains

What we enjoy about autumn in the Hochkönig often becomes clear once you are here. In October, hiking boots can be waiting outside the room in the morning and the bathrobe can take over in the afternoon. In November, spa time, treatments, yoga and good food move further into focus. The Steinernes Meer remains outside the window.

There is no need to fill every day with activities. A good autumn holiday can consist of a hike, two sauna sessions, a long dinner and one unanswered question: what shall we do tomorrow?

The answer can wait until breakfast.

Your Hörl family & the entire TEAM OF THE QUEEN

 

FAQ: Autumn wellness holidays in the Hochkönig mountains

Is autumn a good time for a wellness holiday in Austria?

Yes. September and October are particularly suited to combining hiking and wellness in the Austrian Alps. By November, seasonal lift services and outdoor activities become more limited, while spa time, treatments, yoga and food take a greater role.

What spa facilities does the HOCHKÖNIGIN have?

The HOCHKÖNIGIN has three spa areas. The QUEEN SPA features a 17-metre infinity pool, whirlpool, indoor pool, Finnish sauna, bio sauna, steam bath, relaxation rooms and sun terraces. The adults-only TIARA SPA has a relaxation pool with integrated whirlpool, sauna, relaxation rooms and sun terraces. The FAMILY SPA offers an indoor pool, bio/stubensauna, steam bath and infrared facilities.

Is the HOCHKÖNIGIN an adults-only hotel?

No. The HOCHKÖNIGIN is a wellness hotel for couples and families in Maria Alm. The TIARA SPA Adults Only, however, is a separate spa area reserved exclusively for adults.

Can you hike in Maria Alm in autumn?

Yes, depending on the weather, snow and trail conditions. September and October are important hiking months in the Hochkönig region. In 2026, the Natrun lift in Maria Alm operates until 5 November. After that, check current trail conditions and seasonal opening times before setting out.

What can you do in Maria Alm on a rainy day?

Guests at the HOCHKÖNIGIN can use the hotel's three spa areas, book a wellness treatment or take part in yoga and other activities. This makes it easy to adapt an autumn holiday when the mountain weather changes.

Does the HOCHKÖNIGIN offer yoga?

Yes. Complimentary yoga sessions take place on Tuesdays at 7.30 am and Thursdays at 5 pm. Further activities and selected yoga retreats are also offered.

Is November a good time for a wellness holiday in Maria Alm?

November is particularly suited to travellers who want to focus on spa time, good food, relaxation and walks rather than a full mountain activity programme. The HOCHKÖNIGIN remains open until 22 November in 2026. Hiking possibilities depend on weather, snow and trail conditions.

Is there a November wellness offer in 2026?

Yes. The November Wellness Break 4=3 is available from 1 to 22 November 2026. Guests stay four nights for the price of three and receive, among other inclusions, a €50 wellness voucher per person.