Magic moments under the stars. That’s what I was promised for my camping adventure in the Austrian Montafon valley. When almost everyone leaves the mountains at the end of the afternoon, peace returns to nature. The last remnants of snow form a waterfall down to the valley and the sun begins to set. With a small group you can stay behind in the mountains, waiting for the sun to go down completely and for those magical moments under the stars. And of course I wanted to experience that!
It’s called Alpine Camps, which you can only do on Tuesdays in the Montafon in summer. In Gaschurn you take the Versettla lift up and from that point you have to climb up a bit. You do not need to bring your own tents and sleeping bags, they will be provided.
Wild camping
If you want to camp wild in Austria, it is allowed in most places for one night. The place we choose for a night of wild camping is in any case breathtakingly beautiful. There are no facilities such as running water or a toilet, you are really in the wild here. The valley of Montafon lies in front of us and in the distance we see the winter sports resort of Galtür. I’m looking for a spot for my tent, with the opening if it’s correctly aimed at the spot where the sun will rise tomorrow morning.
Hiking
Because it was only a short climb from the lift to our camping spot, we would like to climb a little further. The area is beautiful for a long hike. We don’t stay away for very long, distracted by the environment, everyone keeps picking up their camera and we also spot a beautiful mountain lake. How nice it is to be in the mountains. The healthy air makes you hungry and so we soon return to the ‘camp’. Time to barbecue!
Magical sunset
And then those magical moments promised to us will finally begin. Today was a clear day so it promises to be a beautiful night. Around 9 p.m. the sun sets exactly behind the mountains and the sky takes on a golden glow. This is what photographers mean when they talk about the golden hour. And while it’s such an everyday scene, the sun setting, in places like this it’s extra special. It is above all the tranquility of the nature around you, which makes this sunset so special.
Even though the sun sets way too quickly, within a few minutes that golden glow has also disappeared and it starts to cool down quickly. Even though it is summer, at 2,200 meters it is still quite cold at night.
We take a glass of schnapps and keep looking up. The first stars appear and within an hour the sky is covered with thousands of stars. The longer we wait, the better it gets. Now we have to wait for shooting stars to make a wish…
It is already well into the night when I crawl into my tent. It’s freezing cold, even with all your clothes on and in a thick sleeping bag it’s cold, but that doesn’t matter. Sleeping in this special place is completely worth it. And certainly when the sun rises right in front of me around 05.30 am the next morning. One with nature, birds chirping around you and one of the most beautiful sunrises ever. A moment never to be forgotten.
After sunrise I crawl back into my tent, it is still quite early, and luckily it is already getting warmer. Around eight o’clock we walk down to a mountain hut to have breakfast there. And to drink tea, because that’s what I’m ready for after such a cold night. The wild camping adventure is over, but one thing is for sure: I will do this more often!
Montafon: for active holidaymakers
The Montafon region is located in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg. That is the westernmost province, bordering Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. You could say that the Montafon is the most sporty area of Vorarlberg. Here you will find the highest mountain in the province: the Piz Buin with 3,312 meters. And you probably know that name from the sunscreen.
The valley of Montafon is 39 kilometers long and you will find 11 small villages. In winter the Montafon is a winter sports paradise with a lot of nice ski areas and in summer it is also the place for outdoor enthusiasts. Walking, cycling, mountain biking, hiking: Montafon is only for active holidaymakers. You simply cannot sit still here with all that beauty around you.
You will find more information on the Montafon website if you want to spend your summer vacation here. There you can also find all the special activities that you can do here, such as climbing the Piz Buin, wild camping and via ferrata. But I would recommend you to go camping!
