Großglockner & the sea

• Sa 22Drive Wien → Virgen (~4¾ h), walk up via Wetterkreuzhütte to the Zupalseehütte (2,350 m) at its lake.
• Su 23Panorama traverse to the Lasörlinghütte (3 h) — out-and-back to the Lasörling, 3,098 m (~4½–5 h, easy scrambling near the top) — our acclimatisation summit, weather permitting.
• Mo 24Past the Bergersee to the Lasnitzenhütte (~4½ h), the gentlest day.
• Tu 25Over the Michltalscharte to the Neue Reichenberger Hütte (2,586 m) at the Bödensee, descend to Ströden (6–6½ h). Bus back to the car, drive to Heiligenblut — shower, real bed (Nationalpark Lodge or Hotel Kärntnerhof).
• We 26Up the Leitertal to the Salmhütte (~5 h) on the first-ascenders' route.

Fit: altitude good (sleeps 1,900–2,350 m + a 3,000er) · days 4 contiguous · huts the cosiest lineup of the four · logistics simple (1¼ h drive to Heiligenblut)

Time-critical: the Neue Reichenberger Hütte is nearly full 22–26 Aug (1 free bed on 22.08 as of 5 Jul — 100-year anniversary weekend). If A wins, book it first, today. The full first stage from Matrei is 8 h / 1,630 hm — we skip that by starting from Virgen. Zupalsee- and Lasörlinghütte have private rooms (~€66–79 p.p. half board); Lasnitzenhütte books by email (lasnitzenhuette@gmx.at), prices unpublished. Zupalsee, Lasnitzen: cash only.

• Sa 22Drive Wien → Ströden (~5 h), warm-up walk to the Essener-Rostocker Hütte (2,208 m, 2½ h).
• Su 23Over the Türmljoch (2,772 m) to the Johannishütte (2,121 m, ~4 h) under the Großvenediger.
• Mo 24Across the Zopetscharte (2,958 m) to the Eisseehütte (~4½ h; the descent is rope-secured for the first stretch).
• Tu 25Short balcony leg via the Prägratner Höhenweg ("das Fenster") to the Sajathütte (2,600 m, ~2½ h) — real beds, free afternoon.
• We 26The big day: down to Prägraten early (~2½ h), drive to Heiligenblut, up the Leitertal to the Salmhütte (~5 h).

Fit: altitude strong (sleeps 2,100–2,600 m, walks to 2,958 m) · days 4 contiguous · huts Sajathütte has private rooms · logistics Wednesday stacks descent + drive + 5 h ascent

The old Johannishütte → Sajathütte shortcut is permanently closed after rockfall — this plan routes the Sajathütte from the Eissee side, the standard connection. Zopetscharte wants good conditions. Booking quirks: Johannishütte is phone-only (+43 4877 5150), Lager only, hut sleeping bag mandatory; the Eisseehütte has exactly one double room (~€81 p.p. HP, cash only); Sajathütte double with half board €81 p.p.

• Sa 22To Lienz (train or car), bus to Iselsberg, up to the Winklerner Hütte (2½ h) — gentle start.
• Su 23Over the Seescharte to the Wangenitzseehütte (2,508 m, 4 h), the highest lake basin in the group.
• Mo 24To the Adolf-Noßberger-Hütte (4 h, grade T3) — the Keeskopf, 3,081 m is right there if legs agree.
• Tu 25Key stage over the Hornscharte to the Elberfelder Hütte (5 h).
• We 26Long finale: Glorer Hütte → Berger Törl → Salmhütte (~7 h).

Fit: altitude strong (five straight nights above 1,900 m) · days 5 contiguous · huts wild & simple rather than cosy · logistics no car moves — the trek is the approach

The most demanding option: grade-T3 terrain daily, five hut nights back-to-back, and the last day is the longest. If a storm eats a day there's no slack before the guide meeting.

• Sa 22Free weekend in Vienna — pack properly, sleep in our own bed.
• Su 23Drive Wien → Kals am Großglockner (~5 h), pension night.
• Mo 24Lucknerhaus → Stüdlhütte (2,802 m, 2½ h). Afternoon on the moraine paths.
• Tu 25Day tour above the hut (towards the Fanatkogel, 2,905 m), second night at altitude.
• We 26Over Berger Törl → Glorer Hütte → Salmhütte (~3½–4 h, some wire-secured passages).

Fit: altitude two nights at 2,802 m — highest sleeping of all · days 3 contiguous, on the short side · huts modern, excellent kitchen · logistics one parking spot, walk in, walk out

Less of a journey, more of a base camp — if "Hüttentour" means covering ground, this isn't it. Only shines with a car (the loop is the point).

• Sa 29Descend, bus to Lienz, Railjet 15:17 → Wien 20:36. Own bed, repack.
• Su 30Board the Nightjet, Wien 20:05. 2026 track works reroute it via the Brenner with a morning change in Bologna — Roma ~10:58.
• Mo–TuRome from ~11:00: Pantheon, Trastevere evenings, Sant'Eustachio coffee. Two nights, no museum marathon.
• We 2Frecciarossa Roma → Napoli (1 h 10), ferry to Procida or Ischia.
• Th–FrIsland days: Chiaiolella beach, Ischia's thermal gardens, boat around the coves, granita, books.
• Sa 5Full island day — the direct return night train doesn't run during the track works.
• Su 6Fly Napoli → Wien (~1¾ h, Austrian daily) — or Sa-evening train to Bologna and the Nightjet from there.

Stay (ballparks, not 2026 quotes) — Procida: La Corricella (in the harbour, ~€140–190) or La Tonnara (on Chiaiolella beach); Ischia: Casa Celestino (car-free Sant'Angelo) or Apollon (inside the thermal park); Rome: Villa della Fonte (Trastevere).

Fit: beach real swimming, volcanic sand + pebble coves · shade natural · town Rome + island villages · chill two island moves; pick ONE island to fix that

2026 wrinkle: the Tarvisio line is closed 22 Aug–20 Sep, so no Villach boarding and no direct return — outbound goes via Wien/Brenner with a Bologna change; come home by plane or via Bologna. Already bookable: nightjet.com (2-bed sleeper from ~€178); island ferries frequent, ~06:00–22:00 (Caremar/SNAV from Molo Beverello). Early September: islands noticeably calmer than August.

• Sa 29Descend, afternoon Railjet Lienz → Wien (15:17, ~5¼ h). Own bed, repack from crampons to flip-flops.
• Su 30Fly Wien → Corfu: Ryanair Su 09:20→12:10 or Austrian daily (~1¾ h). Zakynthos/Kos work too.
• Mo–FrSix nights, one base: Kalami / Agios Stefanos side. Swim, read, taverna, repeat. One boat day around the coves.
• Su 6Fly home.

Stay — White House Apartments (above the Durrell taverna, Kalami) or Frosso Apartments (~€90–130, pool in the olives); budget: Nissaki Sea View.

Fit: beach outstanding · shade olives + tavernas · town Corfu Town (UNESCO) for one evening · chill maximum once there · logistics 1½ travel days each way counts against the week

Sa evening + Su are pure transit, so it is a 6-night week. September schedules thin out — check flights before deciding.

• Sa 29Descend, train Lienz → Wien.
• Su 30Fly Wien → Bari (Ryanair 06:10 daily or Austrian Su morning, ~1½ h), local train to Monopoli (30 min).
• Mo–FrCala Porta Vecchia mornings, old-town evenings. One day Polignano a Mare, one day inland (Ostuni or the trulli), rest: beach.
• Su 6Fly home.

Stay — La Porta Vecchia (~€150–170, steps from the town beach), Santa Maria 24 apartments, or Don Ferrante as the sea-wall splurge.

Fit: beach lovely coves + sand nearby · shade town yes, beaches are umbrella country · town several gems · chill high · logistics same 1½-day backtrack as Greece

Natural shade is the weak point — Puglia’s beaches are open. If the shade requirement is hard, S1 or S2 serve it better. Flights: Wien → Bari.

• Sa 29Descend to the car, drive south, sleep around Verona/Bologna.
• Su 30On to Piombino, ferry to Portoferraio, settle on the west coast (Marciana Marina side).
• Mo–FrA different cove every day — Paolina, Sansone, Fetovaia — plus one Monte Capanne cable-car evening for the full-circle mountain view of the sea.
• Sa 5Ferry back, drive to South Tyrol, last mountain dinner.
• Su 6Home over the Brenner.

Stay — Hotel Marinella (on the Marciana Marina promenade, ~€120–230), Marina Garden (shaded garden + pool), or Hotel del Golfo on Procchio's sand, 2 km from the Paolina cove.

Fit: beach superb · shade pines, the best of all options · town pretty harbours, no Rome · chill high · logistics two half-days of driving each way

Book the Piombino–Portoferraio ferry ahead for the Sunday. Only works with the car.

• Sa 29Descend, drive south — optional night in Trieste (you loved it; one night is its perfect dose).
• Su 30Arrive at the villa; family trickles in; first grill.
• Mo–FrBeach mornings under the pines (Zlatni Rt park in Rovinj, Vrsar coves), pool afternoons for the baby rhythm, Rovinj/Vrsar evenings, one Motovun-and-truffles day.
• Su 6Drive home (~6 h).

Stay — Villa Rossella 1 (4 units + shared pool, 10 min walk to Rovinj), Istrian Villa IS148 (~€2,150/week, two stone houses, one courtyard pool — but 8.5 km inland), or 3 adjacent flats in Villas Rubin, 50 m from the pine beaches. True multi-unit agriturismo near Rovinj is rare — inland or resort is the trade.

Fit: beach pebble + rock, very clear · shade pines everywhere · town Rovinj is the prettiest on the Adriatic · family fits this exact group

Only runs if the family actually commits. Good multi-apartment villas for early September go fast — pre-filtered search.

• Sa 29Descend, drive via Villach and Ljubljana (~4½ h).
• Su–SaBeach + promenade rhythm; one boat day to Krk or Rab; grilled fish evenings.
• Su 6Home (~5½ h).

Stay — multi-unit houses in Selce via adriatic.hr: House 23909 (sea 30 m, centre 100 m) or House 2381 (shared 300 m² garden with grill), ~€1,500–2,800/week total.

Fit: beach easy + baby-friendly · shade promenade trees, less wild pine · town pleasant, not magical · family lowest-friction of all

If the family scenario runs, Istria (S5) is the more special week for the same drive — this is the fallback if villa hunting fails.