East Tyrol is a mountain region in the South of the Alps and on its restricted surface area raise almost 1.000 high peaks, crowned by the glacier of the Hohe Tauern. The Isel, the most impressive of 30 smaller glacier streams, flows through the valleys of Umball (Umballtal) and Virgen (Virgental) to reach Matrei. The water of the Tauernbach, from the Großvenediger group, and the Kalserbach, from the Großglockner massif, join the Schwarzach, descending from the valley Defereggental and flow together to reach Lienz. Here, in the county town, the Isel gathers the waters of the Drau River, which come from the south slopes of the East Tyrolean mountains. Most of all it is the Isel with its wild waters that attracts kayak and rafting lovers. A wide choice of levels of severity is available, from the romantic tour of the river to the ultimate kick with rafting or waterfall jumping with your kayak. The Isel River is fed from the great glaciers of the National Park Hohe Tauern, which allows the water level to be high also in the summer months of July and August.
At many spots between Lienz and Matrei you can practise rafting at all levels in the Isel, whose water is drinkable. Yearly the season opens on May 15th and ends on September 30th. Rafting is a sport you can practise in all weather conditions!
All the rivers and brooks in East Tyrol have drinking-water quality. What distinguishes these from the streams of other regions is that most of them keep up the water level even in the height of summer.
Event-tip: the extreme sport competition “Dolomitenmann”. On the 1st weekend in September in Lienz more than 100 international teams partake in an exhausting relay race, which consists of running up the mountains, paragliding, mountain biking and paddling on wild waters. Unrivalled!
CANYONING
Up there, where you meet the highest mountains of Austria, there are wonderful chances for action-sport-lovers: East Tyrolean’s varied unspoilt landscape of the National Park Hohe Tauern fascinate with spectacular gorges, waterfalls and wild fast flowing waters made for canyoning.
The best conditions to enter into the adventure nature. Unspoilt Tyrol is surely great for canyoning. The Frauenbach stream near Lavant forms one of the most beautiful gorges of Austria. Waterfalls, natural water chutes among smooth rocks, crystal clear water represent the ideal basis for this spectacular sport.
On route you can rope down for 30 m, climb, jump and glide for about 6-8 m, practise the flying fox technique and swim. Anyway, East Tyrol is also the ideal place for rafting, paragliding or climbing in the “Hochseilgarten”. Businessmen, students, societies, or holiday groups can find something suitable for them and their team spirit. You can find programs and links in the menu at “Nützliches”.
