We love hearing how a stay at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat feels from a guest's perspective. What happens when you mix mountain air, daily yoga, scenic hikes, delicious plant based food, and a bunch of friendly strangers who feel like old friends by day two. Laura found out during her hike & yoga holiday at MoaAlm – and lucky for us, she wrote it all down on her blog. Here's an extract of her sun-soaked take on a summer escape to the Austrian Alps. Click here for the full blog and lots more pictures of Laura's week at MoaAlm.
Sitting on a grassy slope high in the Austrian Alps, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and gazing into the valley below, I pause to catch my breath after a steep vertical ascent. The summer sun warms my skin, and sweat beads at the nape of my neck. The mountain air is crisp and clean.
A breeze brushes tendrils of hair into my face, carrying with it the faint scent of last night’s campfire, mixing with the sweet smell of wild flowers.
It’s been less than 24 hours since I arrived at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat, and already my stress has melted away. It’s wild how quickly being in the mountains makes your inbox feel a world away. The only thing on my mind now? The burning in my thighs and the next step forward.
Let’s rewind a few weeks. Vienna in June had become stifling. The city was filled with swarms of tourists, and the summer heat turned the air sticky and stagnant. (Europe really needs to discover air conditioning one of these days.)
As a self-employed creative, I rely on self-motivation to get things done (my fellow solopreneurs, you feel me). And after six months of nonstop work and travel, I hit a wall. Creativity felt like a chore, and my to-do list was looking less and less appealing.
I needed a break. The only problem? I usually relax by going on a trip, but I was so burned out on planning that the idea of handling travel logistics was daunting. This is when I was granted a stroke of serendipity.
A friend messaged me out of the blue and suggested I look into MoaAlm Mountain Retreat in Tyrol, Austria, for my next holiday. A week of yoga, hiking, and plant-based food in the Alps? It sounded perfect! And, best of all, it was all planned for me.
Situated at 1,800 meters, just outside the village of Kals, MoaAlm offers summer and winter week-long holidays in the stunning Hohe Tauern National Park. Run by the lovely Sophie and Tobias, along with a small team of passionate seasonal staff, MoaAlm is committed to creating a space that helps guests reconnect with nature, community, and themselves. Guests are invited to unplug and immerse themselves in the tranquility of the mountains.
When I saw they still had summer retreat spots open, I didn’t think twice. I booked. We love an impulsive trip every once in a while.
MoaAlm made everything easy. Before my departure, Sophie sent a comprehensive packing list, right down to the socks. I hadn’t even left Vienna, and I could already start relaxing and follow the experts.
Once I arrived, the MoaAlm team handled everything: the mountain transfer from the train station, daily plant-based meals and snacks, yoga classes, guided hikes, and even ideas for the free day on the itinerary. MoaAlm is an English-speaking house, so it was easy for everyone to enjoy the guided activities.
All I had to do was select my week and book the train, and every other detail was taken care of. Everything was so well thought out. I could fully switch my brain off. It was exactly what I needed.
Every day at MoaAlm has been thoughtfully planned to give you the ideal mix of activities and relaxation.
Start your day with a guided one-hour vinyasa flow in a light-filled studio with panoramic mountain views. The class is accessible to all levels and is a great way to prepare your body for a day of movement. As the week progresses, your legs and back will thank you for the morning stretch. MoaAlm provides everything you need: mats, blocks, straps, and bolsters.
Each day, you’ll embark on a challenging but rewarding hike. The different trails brought new terrain, views, and energy. Our longest trail was 18 kilometers and our highest ascent was 2,800 meters.
MoaAlm considers factors such as weather and group fitness level before selecting the hikes. During my week, we hiked:
Three days a week, the wood-fired hot tub will also be waiting for you. Soak your sore muscles and enjoy the uninterrupted mountain views. You’ll have a few hours of free time every evening—no errands to run, no dishes to do, no workout class to hurry off to—total free time to truly relax. Read your book, journal, stretch out your muscles in the yoga studio, try your feet on the slack line, or sit on the patio and listen to the sound of cowbells and the wind brushing through the mountain grains.
After dinner, unwind with schnapps or herbal tea and chat on the porch with fellow travellers. The fresh peppermint tea from MoaAlm’s herb garden was the perfect way to end the day.
The group during my week was primarily 40-60 year olds (not my usual demographic), but they were lovely! That’s the exciting thing about small-group travel; you never know who you’ll be with, but you’ll always make friends. Every week at MoaAlm brings different ages and nationalities, all brought together by a love of being outdoors and a desire to spend a holiday in the mountains.
Modern life keeps us seated for much of the day. My time at MoaAlm reminded me that the body craves movement. The hikes are carefully selected each week to best suit the skill level of the group, but they always include a few challenging moments to push yourself. You’ll find yourself impressed by how much your body can achieve if given the opportunity.
On day one of the retreat, you may struggle. On day two, you may feel a little sore. But by day three, your body is used to the routine and ready for another day of yoga and hiking. By the end of the week, I felt stronger and incredibly proud of what my body could do. Hiking for hours is a great way to get out of your head and into your body, fully present in the moment and the place.
If you have physical limitations, your mountain guide can suggest alternative routes, and you are always welcome to sit out a day. We want to challenge ourselves, but never push to injury.
I’ve hiked all around the world, from Iceland to New Zealand, but the trails in Hohe Tauern National Park were the most secluded I’ve ever experienced. Apart from the small dirt footpath, left from generations of hikers weaving through the alpine flora, there are no signs of people. No nearby motorway sounds, no garbage littering the trail, no distant telephone wires. You can easily walk for hours without crossing paths with anyone. It’s a wonderful experience. I often found myself hiking ahead of the group to embrace the peace of the alpine region fully. Just you, your boots, and the mountains.
As the travel industry continues to grow, so does its impact. In recent years, people have been facing the conundrum of overtourism. There is a push to create more sustainable travel options that don’t negatively impact local communities or the environment. As a full-time traveler, I try to be conscious of my travel choices and look for ways to make sustainable decisions.
MoaAlm is committed to providing a sustainable tourism experience. The house runs largely on solar power. The hot tub is fire-heated. Meals are plant-based from local, independent growers and designed to minimize food waste. Recycling and composting are standard. The team also supports the local community by hiring local hiking guides and scheduling two group dinners in the nearby village of Kals—a great way to spread tourism money throughout the community. This is what the future of travel looks like!
Furthermore, MoaAlm and other businesses in the village of Kals have become official partners of the Hohe Tauern National Park, proving that they meet specific sustainability standards. The team at MoaAlm is committed to continuously looking for ways to further minimize their impact on the environment.
As we continue to see a push for sustainable and ethical travel, business models like MoaAlm will take off. Unique experiences that don’t have you sacrificing comfort to be sustainable.
If you’ve followed my travels, you know I’ve had some epic adventures. My week at MoaAlm definitely takes a top spot in my travel memories!
I left with sore legs, a full heart, and a clear mind. Back in Vienna, I felt refreshed and creatively recharged in a way I hadn’t in a while. Think about it: When was the last time you came home from a holiday and truly felt recharged? Most of us joke that we need a vacation to recover from our vacation. MoaAlm is different.
There is something powerful about stepping away from your screens, tuning into your body, and letting nature recalibrate you.
Follow @MoaAlmRetreat on Instagram to get inspired for your trip!
Big thanks to Laura for sharing her MoaAlm adventure – proof that saying yes to a spontaneous mountain holiday might just be the smartest and most refreshing decision you make all summer. Fancy your own alpine escape? Email us to check for late availability this season!