The wild side

Explore national parks filled with birds and endemic mountain wildlife

Best for: Wildlife, the outdoors, wildflowers, lakes Why go: To see some of Europe’s most iconic species, including rarities such as the great bustard Route: Hohe Tauern National Park; Gesäuse National Park; Neusiedler See-seewinkel National Park

Austria’s diverse landscapes range from soaring Alpine peaks and lush montane pastures to forested river valleys and limestone plateaus, to wetlands and endless steppe.these incredible habitats provide refuge to an amazing array of wildlife, from colourful butterflies to Alpine ibex, and some fantastic birdwatching hotspots.

Start your wildlife tour in Hohe Tauern National Park, the largest protected area in the Alps. It covers an area of 1,856 sq km and is home to around 15,000 animal species. The area around Grossglockner is particularly good for spotting raptors, including bearded and griffon vultures, and golden eagles – the Krumltal is nicknamed the ‘Valley of the Vultures’.

Next, head east to the steep-sided river valleys of Gesäuse National Park, which is home to a huge diversity of species, including plenty of birdlife, and is a famed refuge for the elusive Eurasian lynx. It’s also easy enough to travel to by rail from Hohetauern (via Bischofshofen).

Finish in Neusiedler See-seewinkel National Park, which you can reach viavienna (direct trains at the weekend). Neusiedler See is the country’s most spectacular area for birding.you can spot everything from little crake (it has one of the largest breeding populations in Europe) to the great bustard and eastern imperial eagle.the lake covers a huge area, stretching across the border and into Hungary. It’s perfect for exploring by bike, and there’s plenty of wine taverns to dip into along the way.

Gaze at bearded vultures, golden eagles and Alpine ibex in Hohe Tauern National Park

The response when seeing a bearded vulture (pictured) sweeping overhead is generally one of sheer awe. These huge birds have a wingspan that can reach nearly three metres, and they were reintroduced into the Hohe Tauern National Park in the 1980s. As far as conservation goes, the population that now lives here is one of the great success stories of wildlife reintroduction in Central Europe. This area is also among the best places in Austria to see golden eagles (there are over 40 breeding pairs in the national park), griffon vultures and the majestic Alpine ibex. hohetauern.at/en

Birdwatching in Neusiedler See-seewinkel National Park

Neusiedler See is one of the greatest birdwatching sites in Austria. Here you can spot everything from spoonbills to white-tailed eagles, as well as thousands of migrating cranes (best seen between mid-october and mid-november). Of all its many highlights, nothing tops the spectacular springtime courtship displays of the world’s heaviest flying bird, the great bustard (pictured).viewing platforms are provided so that visitors don’t scare the wildlife; even better, join a national park excursion and learn more about the park’s 370 recorded species of bird. nationalparkneusiedlersee.at

Wild Austria The sure-footed Alpine ibex is just one of the many species you can spot here, and are often sighted above 2,000m