The ultimate wanderlust feeling: hiking in the Alps and Michelin-starred food

Attention foodies! The Culinary St. James's Way season has begun.

When you think of Ischgl, you probably immediately think of winter sports in Austria. But you probably didn't know that this small Tyrolean town offers beautiful hiking and culinary delights at the various mountain huts in summer. From early July to early October, six different mountain huts in Ischgl and surrounding area dishes made with local ingredients created by Michelin-starred chefs from all over Europe. These Culinary Way of St. James is now in its sixth year, and Dutch star chefs Laurent Smallegange of restaurant Spetters and Niven Kunz of restaurant Niven have previously cooked their dishes here during the opening weekend. Sounds like a foodie paradise, right?

HELLO Wanderlust

Because I've been super busy this past year, I've noticed that I've been craving more nature and peace lately. Places where that ultimate Wanderlust where my feelings can run wild. A destination that, for once, isn't about the latest hotspots, but about delicious food, good conversations, nature, beautiful views, and a break from the hustle and bustle of busy city life. Perhaps it also has something to do with the fact that I'm 30-something and that I'm now appreciating this kind of travel more. The fact that I've been training with a personal trainer for six months and feel much fitter to spend all day walking outdoors or doing something else active certainly has something to do with it.

Weekend trip that will make you zen

As a child, I used to hike a lot in the Swiss Alps. Every day we'd go to a different mountain and spend hours hiking and picnicking. I'd almost forgotten how beautiful the Alps are in the summer, because I normally only go there to ski. A nice bonus of Austria is that it's actually a lot cheaper there than Switzerland. When you think of a weekend getaway, you might immediately think of a city break. But last weekend, I pulled out my hiking boots and hopped on a plane to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, it's about an hour's drive to Ischgl. There, you'll find a wealth of top-notch four- and five-star hotels where you can enjoy a wonderful stay. I can already picture myself staying there with my partner this winter for a ski holiday. During the day, hitting the mountains and skiing, then relaxing in the sauna at the hotel spa, and in the evening, enjoying a leisurely meal at a fine restaurant in the town of Ischgl. But back to summer!

Cooking at a high level during the Culinary St. James's Way

The "Culinary Way of St. James" is an annual event conceived by Chef Martin Sieberer. He felt it was a shame that after a strenuous hike to one of the mountain huts near Ischgl, you couldn't enjoy a truly special meal. In no time, the "Culinary Way of St. James" was born, and renowned chefs are eager to contribute their culinary contributions every year. Six chefs work with regional products and create a dish that can be prepared by the owners of the various mountain huts. A dish of high quality and with pure ingredients, but not too complex. The chefs who participate in the "Culinary Way of St. James" are each assigned to their own hut, and their dish is served there throughout the season (until around the beginning of October) at hut prices. To sample the dishes, you do need to undertake a strenuous hike. Most mountain huts can be reached in about two to three hours of hiking. I loved being in nature and taking two different hikes during my weekend in Ischgl. To kick off the "Culinary Way of St. James," I ate at the Friedrichshafener Hütte and the Heidelberger Hütte. The great thing about the different huts is that the routes are completely different. For example, the route to the Heidelberger Hütte is expansive, with a wider path offering beautiful vistas, while the Friedrichshafener Hütte is quite a climb! It takes you through the forest and along narrow paths along rivers.

These are the Chefs and huts of Culinary Jacobsweg 2016

Friedrichshafener Hütte, Ischgl
Chef: Josef Steffner
Country: Austria
Restaurant:  Mesnerhaus
Dish: potato dumpling aka knödel with pulled pork

Jamtalhütte, Galtür
Chef: Stephen Crane
Country: England
Restaurant:  Ockenden Manor
Dish: Ravioli with pork and onion, with sour sauce and basil

Niederelbehütte, Kappl
Chef: Bobby Bräuer
Country: Germany
Restaurant:  Dining room
Dish: local beef with herbs

Ascherhütte, See
Chef: Tanja Grandits
Country: Switzerland
Restaurant:  Stucki
Dish: beetroot risotto with goat cheese

Heidelberger Hütte, Ischgl
Chef: Viki Geunes
Country: Belgium
Restaurant:  The Salty
Dish: beef with mushrooms

Staying in Ischgl

As I mentioned, Ischgl has a wealth of wonderful hotels where you can relax after a day of hiking in the mountains. Many hotels also offer wellness facilities and both indoor and outdoor pools. During my weekend trip to Tyrol, I stayed at the Fliana hotel which is located opposite the mountain station. In winter, you can be on the slopes in no time! But in summer, this hotel is also a great place to stay. Fliana has a lovely roof terrace with infinitypool overlooking the mountains. After hiking, I loved relaxing in the pool and soaking up the sun with an Aperol Spritz! Or hit the sauna to soothe those sore muscles ;-). If you're looking for a trip where activity, culinary delights, and relaxation go hand in hand, Ischgl is the place to be.

3 delicious restaurants in Ischgl

While it's quiet in summer, the après-ski scene is vibrant in winter. The town is packed with clubs and bars, almost all of which are closed in summer. Most good restaurants are also open in summer. Enjoy a delicious meal during the day at one of the mountain huts along the "Culinary Way of St. James" and dine in the evening at one of the restaurants in Ischgl's village center. The following upscale restaurants are highly recommended: Trofana Royal, gourmet restaurant Paznaunerstube en Alpin Spa Hotel.

How to get there:

By car, it takes between nine and ten hours to reach Ischgl in Austria. Prefer to fly? Then book a ticket to Innsbruck. In summer, you'll likely need a short transfer in Vienna or Frankfurt.

Would you like more information about the Culinary Way of St. James? Then check out the website here!