Day 6 • Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

Ötztal Glacier Road + glacier hike

Drive the Ötztal Glacier Road — the highest paved through-road in the Alps — up past 2,800 m to the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers. No summer skiing, but you can hike right up to the ice. ~3–4h.

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Timeline

Everything you need today: driving, check-in/out, food, and the small details that make the day smoother.

Drive09:30

Drive: Sölden → Rettenbachferner

Ötztaler Gletscherstraße

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  • ~30–40 min of switchbacks (toll road — check the rate at the booth).
  • Cold, thin air, strong sun — layers, sunglasses, sun cream, water.
Activity10:30

Glacier viewpoints + high walk

Rettenbach / Tiefenbach glaciers

  • Park at the Rettenbach base; walk to the glacier-edge viewpoints and through the road tunnel toward the Tiefenbach side.
  • Panorama trails around 2,800–3,000 m. ~2–3h.
  • The ski lifts/runs are closed in August — this is hiking and sightseeing, not skiing.

Acclimatize

Take it slow up here with kids. If anyone feels woozy, head down — Sölden village is only ~30 min below.

Drive13:30

Drive back to Sölden

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  • ~40 min. Afternoon at leisure — pool, town, gelato.
Food

Dinner

Sölden

  • Nónna or Sölden town.

Quick links

Jump out to other sections without hunting.

Pre-trip checklist

Offline maps, documents, data plan.

Bookings & codes

Confirmation numbers, PINs, and payments.

Driving guide

Vignette, tolls, speed limits, rules.