Imagine waking up to farm-fresh eggs amidst some of the most wonderful and unspoilt secluded mountain locations. Guests on farmstays at working farms can choose to muck in with anything from milking the cows to collecting their own fresh food and maybe even venturing into the farm kitchen for a classic Tirolean cooking lesson.
First set up in 1991 the Tirolean 'Holidays on the Farm' organisation now offer stays at 337 locations across the region.
Best for families: Siedlerhof in Hopfgarten
This farmstay gives children a hands-on experience during their stay, whether it is going to the stable and tending to the animals, collecting eggs for breakfast or picking fresh herbs from the garden.
The Siedlerhof is located close to Hopfgarten in the Kitzbühler Alps and is home to cows, horses, chickens as well as rabbits, cats and ducks. Children can enjoy pony or horse rides or explore the farm playground.
From Hopfgarten it’s easy to explore the six family adventure parks, including the Hexenwasser (Witches’ Water) in Söll, where you can discover sounds through stone and water, follow the secrets of the sun, wind and weather, have a go at bread baking or for a real buzz visit the Bee Garden.
Over at Ellmi's Magic World on the Hartkaiser in Ellmau embark on a mystical journey following in the footsteps of the sorcerer's apprentice Ellmi. Take the funicular railway up to 1555m and enjoy amazing views whilst the children have fun with swings, trampoline, carousel, climbing castle and much more.
In Scheffau the KaiserWelt Scheffau has tree cabins, climbing walls, zip wires and swings. Families holidaying in the Wilder Kaiser region will never be short of things to do with horse riding, cycling or swimming nearby in the picturesque Hintersteinsee lake above Scheffau all on offer too.
Stay at the Siedlerhof in Hopfgarten, with prices starting from €364 (£285) in a one-bed apartment (sleeps 2-5), for 7 nights. To book visit farmholidays.com.
Closest airports are Innsbruck (45 miles) and Munich (71 miles) or Salzburg (85 miles).
Best for couples: Lindenhof in Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser
Couples looking for an element of luxury and comfort, yet still wanting an authentic farm experience need look no further than the Lindenhof in Scheffau.
Located in the Wilder Kaiser region, the five holiday rooms were added in 2014, with a focus on design and luxury using local, natural wood and stone products.
The farm is home to Scottish Highland cattle, ponies and horses, bees and bunnies and the farmer will gladly share his stories and personal experiences of living and working on a farm in the 21st century.
Be sure to enjoy the fruits of his labour and sample the homemade fruit schnapps, sausages from the Scottish Highland cattle, honey from the bees and home-made marmalades.
Although you may want to relax all day on the farm, there is plenty to do in and around Scheffau. Hiking is very popular in this area and you can try the first stage of the Tiroler Adlerweg (Eagle Walk), which runs above Scheffau, get in the saddle for mountain biking, leisure cycling or e-biking, take a walk through Tirol’s first Kneipp®-Experience village, which will get the circulation pumping or for something more challenging you can try climbing, via ferrata routes, canyoning and more.
Stay at the Lindenhof in Scheffau, which starts from €854 (£668) for 2 people for 7 nights, including breakfast. To book visit farmholidays.com.
Closest airports are Innsbruck (48 miles) and Munich (66 miles) or Salzburg (85 miles).
Best for well-being: Kräuterbauernhof Sagenschneider´s
What sets this farm apart from others in Tirol is the down-to-earth owner, Elisabeth Maaβ, and her knowledge, expertise and perhaps mild-obsession about everything to do with herbs.
Visitors staying here will experience the huge potential of wild herbs, from healing ointments to delicious teas, tasty schnapps and even soothing bath salts.
Located next to a mountain stream near Ried in the Upper Inn Valley, the herb products are not the only things on offer at this farm. Butter, yoghurt, milk, eggs, beef, pork and chicken all come directly from the farm and guests are encouraged to get hand-on with the animals, which include Shetland ponies, Haflinger horses, cows, goats, ducks and the friendly farm dog, Jesse.
Ried is located just over an hour from Innsbruck and is surrounded by the mighty peaks of the Ötztal Alps and the Samnaun Mountains reaching as far as the Swiss canton Graubünden. New for 2016 is a new hiking programme with themed hikes, sunrise hikes, cultural walks and more demanding hikes.
Stay at the Kräuterbauernhof Sagenschneider´s in Ried, which starts from € 490 (£377) for 2 person for 7 nights, including breakfast. To book visit farmholidays.com.
Closest airports are Innsbruck (62 miles) and Munich (66 miles).
Best for wannabe farmers: Bartlerhof Farm
A collection of four farms in East Tirol have come together to form an initiative ‘Farmer for Three Days’.
This experience was borne out of the desire for many guests seeking a complete contrast to their everyday lives and wanting a unique hands-on experience, gaining an insight into everyday life on a working farm.
All the activities are optional but those wanting to participate will rise at dawn ready for the first milking session of the day, before feeding the pigs and cows and all by 7am.
A hearty farmhouse breakfast is well-deserved and on the Bartlerhof farm, visitors can join owner Regina Berger to turn the fresh milk into yoghurt, butter and cheese.
The Graukäse (Grey Cheese) is a Tirolean speciality on this farm, it's extremely low in fat and can be stored for months.
The ‘Farmer for Three Days’ experience is available at the Bartlerhof, Mortnerof, Klampererhof and Stoanahof Farms, which are all located in East Tirol. It’s hugely popular and booking early is essential, especially at peak times such as spring and autumn when the farmers have more daily work from planting potatoes to harvesting.
Stay at the Bartlerhof Farm, which starts from €385 (£301) for 2 adults for 7 nights, including breakfast. The ‚Farmer for Three Days’ experience costs from €45 (£34) per person. To book visit farmholidays.com.
Closest airports are Innsbruck (98 miles) and Munich (120 miles).
Best for tranquility: Klampererhof
To say that the quiet Virgental valley, bordering the Hohe Tauern National Park in East Tirol, is like visiting the end of the world is paying it a huge compliment.
If you really want to get away from it all this is where to come for its unspoilt nature, uncomplicated way of life and where you can gain a friendly insight into the farming way of life.
Farmer and herbalist, Agnes Oppeneiger will gladly teach you all about the production of butter, mozzarella, yoghurt and jams and tell you her secrets of homemade soap.Sourcing most of the natural herbs for her soaps from her own garden, she says the key to making a good soap is in the raw material.
From the farm, you're right on the edge of the Hohe Tauern National Park, the largest protected area of forests, mountain lakes, waterfalls, rivers and mountain peaks in the Alps.
Serious hikers will feel at home exploring these mountains or less experienced walkers can try the "Weg der Sinne" (Senses Trail) in the valley.
Stay at the Klampererhof Farm, which starts from €364 (£280) for 2 adults for 7 nights, including breakfast. To book visit farmholidays.com.
Closest airports are Innsbruck (102 miles) and Munich (124 miles).
Flights
Innsbruck is the closest airport to all the resorts mentioned and is served by easyJet from London Gatwick.
Alternatively fly to Munich airport, which opens up a host of additional UK regional airports and is served by Lufthansa from Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, by British Airways from London Heathrow, by easyJet from Manchester, Gatwick, Luton and Edinburgh, by BMI Regional from Southampton and Bristol and by Flybe from Cardiff.
Affordable resort transfers are available through Four Seasons Travel.
For more information on the Tirol region visittirol.co.uk or keep updated at facebook.com/visittirol or @VisitTirol on twitter
