A holiday on the lake changes your whole perspective

No doubt you’ve heard a saying similar to, “Everything looks a whole lot different when viewed from above”. During your summer holiday with ALPS, that’s something you’ll be able to experience for yourself! For example, when you enjoy a tandem flight from the Gerlitzen on Ossiacher See. With Alpe Maritima Ossiacher See as your “base camp”, you have even more opportunities for a change of perspective: Discover your holiday region from out on the water, from a bird’s-eye view – or even exploring the underwater world of Carinthia. Though not to worry, despite all those adventures, you’ll still have plenty of time to relax. Not least thanks to our fully equipped lakeside holiday apartments.

VILLACH - OSSIACHER SEE FROM A BIRD’S-EYE PERSPECTIVE: TANDEM FLIGHT FROM THE GERLITZEN

Suddenly, a whole world lies there beneath your feet. Or at least the Villach holiday region in Carinthia, including the greenish blue waters of the Ossiacher See. A safe partner on your back, total freedom in front of you and a full dose of adrenaline pumping through your veins. The Gerlitzen (elev. 1911 m) is one of the most popular mountains for paragliders to launch from, allowing you to glide a grand total of 1400 vertical meters on your way back down to the valley below. No prior experience is required for a tandem flight with one of the experienced flight schools located around Ossiacher See. Meanwhile, the Kanzelbahn and summit lifts will transport you in complete comfort up to your “launch pad” on the Gerlitze Alpe. The valley station, incidentally, is only 150 meters from your apartment at Alpe Maritima Ossiacher See. A little bit of courage and trust, along with a short run-up – and you’ll be taking off before you know it!

CARINTHIA FROM THE WATER – WATER SPORTS ON OSSIACHER SEE

Stand-up paddling is one of the trendiest summer sports. A suitable SUP board, a paddle, then away you go on your discovery tour, including a full-body workout on the lake. SUP is great fun, builds muscles and trains your sense of balance. This form of water sport is relatively easy to learn, while SUP boards and paddles can be borrowed from Campingbad Annenheim or Surfing & Sailing School Annenheim (600 meters from your apartment on Ossiacher See). And for something “completely different”, how about a yoga session on an SUP board (Fridays from July to September), just one of the highlights you get to enjoy with the Erlebnis Card. The Erlebnis Card is included for free whenever you stay at the Alpe Maritima apartments on Ossiacher See!

Sailing, surfing, boating: “Suddenly, I sense the tailwind at my back. I feel completely invigorated because I am so happy.” At Surf & Sailing School Annenheim, they offer basic courses in wind surfing and sailing as well as sampler classes (2 hours). Furthermore, you can rent out rowboats, paddle boats and electric boats for your personal tour of the Ossiacher See. In July and August, a spectacular night waterskiing show – with lots of acrobatic feats of skill along with a fireworks display – is staged in Annenheim during July and August.

UNDERWATER WORLD: DIVING IN OSSIACHER SEE

(Sampler) diving courses and guided diving expeditions are offered by the diving schools on Ossiacher See. Float weightlessly through the water, discover the underwater world of Carinthia, clear your mind completely … and in addition to the Ossiacher See, Carinthia offers a number of other interesting diving spots. Millstätter See, for example, always has something unexpected up its sleeve for divers. Or the turquoise-blue Weissensee, which, with visibility up to 20 meters and thriving fish life, is reckoned to be one of the most beautiful diving destinations in the Alpine region. With just a few exceptions, including Faaker See, divers are welcomed at most Carinthian lakes.

APARTMENTS ALPE MARITIMA OSSIACHER SEE: HOLIDAYS ON THE LAKE

The Alpe Maritima Ossiacher See apartment complex was opened in summer 2020, representing the first lakeside resort for ALPS Residence. The apartments are fully equipped and feature individual, high-quality furnishings, each holiday apartment affording views of Carinthia’s third-largest lake. And in winter? The valley station for the gondola up to the Gerlitzen ski area is only 150 meters from the Alpe Maritima.  

A vacation in Austria between mountains and lake, with its countless perspectives, sounds very appealing, right? Our charming colleagues at Alpe Maritima look forward to receiving your message and will be happy to respond to any and all of your questions about the most beautiful excursion destinations and activities awaiting you close to your chosen holiday apartment!  

Pssst: We have one more tip for you! The second lakeside ALPS resort will be opening this winter in Salzburger Land: Tauernlodges Uttendorf lies only a few minutes’ walk from the swimming lake in Uttendorf. Beautifully equipped chalets for your holiday in the mountains – and the Nationalpark Sommercard is even included for free during your summer holiday with us!

Photo materials © Region Villach - Ossiacher See Tourismus Gmbh: title photo “Paragliding on Ossiacher See” (Dr. Marianne Feiler), “Paragliding from the Gerlitzen” (Martin Steinthaler), “Diving in Ossiacher See” (Adrian Hipp), “SUP Ossiacher See” (Martin Hofmann), “Ossiacher See from a bird’s-eye perspective” (Paul Ganitzer)