“The principle of all things is water, 
as water is everything and to water everything returns”

Everyone expect something different whenever they go to a foreign place. Something unique, something extraordinary, out of the beaten path, or rather the one that is famous for. Others only found it unexpected, came out from getting lost and came out from the spot. For the adventure, thrill seeking individuals, their Adrenalin drives them to search for beautiful places. Most of them are away from the city, hidden paradises, and sparkling oases in the midst of forests and wilderness. Some looks for the greatest, tallest, or somewhat record-breaking. For us, we go in the mountains!

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Visit a Waterfall, and get healthy!

I find it really interesting that visiting a waterfall can actually do some good to your health. I have read it from the brochures and it really made me curious. My daughter is sensitive and have allergies. Her skin is very sensitive and she have some bronchial problems ( that is why I never liked Winter and cold!). Upon knowing this, I was excited to find out more about this facts, but also, I know, it takes energy to hike up!

 Walking through a vast, luscious green forests of Hohe Tauern National park and being active is really good. I thought for a minute that we are always surrounded by mountains, they are everywhere. The high peaks can be overwhelming! But have you ever wondered why the air smells so fresh near to waterfalls ? Here’s a food for thought :

Waterfalls spells NATURE. It’s like a giant humidifier. Everything about nature tells us about organic matter. Water and its power can be a spell binding topic but one thing about it, is that waterfalls has NEGATIVE IONS, a.k.a anions, which are negatively charged atoms, abundant in the fresh air close to moving water.In Krimml waterfalls, you will be actually bathing in water sprays. You’ll get drenched in minutes if you are not dressed up properly. I experienced it myself.

Studies shown that the benefits of fresh air and its abundance of negative ions are numerous includes reducing free radicals, revitalizes cell metabolism, enhances immune functioning, helps to purify the blood, balances the autonomic nervous system, promoting deep sleep + healthy digestion, promotes biochemical reactions that increases the levels of serotonin, alleviates depression and stress ( of course its FUN to hike through the waterfalls!) and lastly, it boost daytime energy! In short, a hike through the waterfalls is pure fun, healthy and adventure!So definitely, this activity is IN for us! Now its time to enjoy the fun part!

For me, my choices of activities were changed because our travels nowadays include a child, so everything should be kid-friendly. Our destinations are more family friendly and at least all the options for all the family members to enjoy. Looking for a playground to play and have a quick bite and break is almost our everyday itinerary. At one point, I was asking myself why would we want to go and hike up more than 4kms with a 5 year old to see this waterfalls?

What’s so special with it?

Well, I have seen many waterfalls in Philippines but I wanted to share with you why this experience is quite extraordinary.

Be warned: you will be wet, drenched, but these showers will just fuel your adrenalin because you can never take your eyes off from the waterfalls again. You’ll just end up looking ans drooling over its beauty.

One of the highlights of our short trip was visiting this place. We drove early to the picturesque little town of Oberkrimmler in Salzburg from the region of Pinzgau in Austria to avoid big crowds. It’s still summer vacation for us here in Germany so everyone is in vacation so we expect that there will be more tourists in this region. The drive to the foot of the waterfalls was quite short, about half an 25 mins from where we stayed in Kaprun. There we need to get to the Wasserwelten Krimml ( or Krimml Worlds of Water ) and parked in P4 level to get entry tickets to go up and hike through the waterfalls. We went on a sunny, fine day and we were already parked and settled at around 9:30 am. We’ve got the combi- ticket where at the end of the hike, we can be able to explore the Wasserwelten Krimml as well.My daughter was immediately overjoyed when she saw the climbing net in front of the ticket center.

The Krimml Waterfalls – biggest in Europe

Unparalled the biggest in Europe, with a height of 380 meters from the waterfalls’s drop, and 5.6m3 of water per second plummets into the valley on three stages. The waterfalls is situated perfectly with the vast greens and the National Park Hohe Tauern as our backdrop. You can even see the waterfalls from a far and it really looks like a giant pack of milk poured consistently in between rocks and greens. This waterfalls attracts 400,000 visitors per year and considered to be one of the top attractions in Salzburg in Austria. But the most interesting fact that I’ve discovered is that visiting a waterfall like this range has tremendous impact on your health. It is actually a healthy destination! Aside from the amount of trail and hike that you will do, you will definitely sweat and experience something not so ordinary.

If you visit the Wasserwelten Center, you will learn much of this waterfalls. The Krimml Ache is the source of the Krimml Waterfalls. It begins at the end of the Krimml Ache Valley and first gently flows through approx. 20 km of level Alpine ground, then becomes a thunderous glacial stream at the entrance to the valley before plunging down in the mighty stages of the Krimml Waterfalls.

The catchment area of the Krimml Ache is 100.7 km2, approx. 12% of which is glaciated. The Krimml Ache is thus a typical glacial stream with an intensely changing water flow. Hence, for example, 30-40 times the February volumes flows in the months of June and July. As the meltwater takes 9-12 hours from the glacier snout to the waterfalls (=18 km), the daily maximum outflow is from 9 pm to midnight.

The Waterfall Trail

The trail itself going up to the peak is 4.15 km, with difference in altitude of 431 meters. It is quite a climb up to the peak but the great thing about this journey is that we have a shaded path. It is so exciting for all of us. This is actually my first waterfall experience here in Europe and my daughter got her first Trekking stick with an Edelweiss engraving. This trip is really for all ages and very good for families. I have seen families with small babies, on a body carrier, with strollers, and elderly peoples. I find it even funny to see everyone walking with a stick.In many stages of the climb, there are viewing points where you can actually feel the power of the water, hear its thunderous sound and feel its power. I cannot describe what I feel when I am so close with the waterfalls. I was also wondering if my camera will be okay because I was totally wet from the water sprays. On the first stage, there are big boulders of rocks and a good pair of shoes is really needed. We reach the lowest waterfall on foot in 10-15 minutes. From there the serpentine Waterfall Trail leads up to the uppermost waterfall (approx. 1.15 hours on foot) and further to the Krimml Ache Valley. It was quite a busy day and the crowds were staring to get thick.

For the different levels and stages, you can read more from Here. From the first stage, we were already overwhelmed by the sound of the waterfalls. Wet, drenched, excited and curious were the mixture of ourselves when we finally get up close and personal with the Krimml waterfalls!

I think I have takens hundreds of Photos from this waterfalls. But I found a great collection of “My Waterfalls“which is a collection of different images captured by visitors who have gone to see this place. It is great to see different perspectives of water power. It is really magical and quite an experience. Every nature escapade leads us to basic roots of happiness. I highly recommend this destination to enjoy with your families and kids. My daughter took her own photos and marvel at nature, collecting rocks, watching the waterfalls at different viewpoints and hike by herself. Okay there are many times as well that she complained of being tired and whine, but the key is to keep her motivated to reach the goal.For parents, don’t worry, there are various play areas where your child can enjoy playing and you also deserve for a short break.

Enjoying a panoramic Lunch at Bergerblick

We made it up to the Bergerblick Platform at 1,390 m which also happened to have a very nice panoramic restaurant /Hut on top. It was just in time to have lunch and feel refreshed from hiking. Up there was numerous souvenir shops, restaurant and bathrooms.It was quite an achievement to have hike like this with a five year old. As I saw the faces of other parents in the restaurant, I can totally relate to how they feel. But it was also lot of fun!

Visiting the Wasserwelten Krimml

Additional plus points of this place was the Wasserwelten Krimml. It is a discovery center right at the side of the parking areas for visitors to learn more of the waterfalls. The best thing is that it is interactive. It has numerous water playing areas! Everything about water and its numerous forms and diversions. They have an outdoor play areas, all about water and the whole family can enjoy.I actually had a hard time controlling my toddler in this place because she wants to explore everything!

There is also the Waterfall centre  with underwater adventure world Aquaszenarium, is a view terrace with waterfall view, gastronomy, WasserWunderBar and shops with numerous souvenirs and delicacies from the region of Pinzgau. I got here some Murmeltier and Edelweiss soaps locally made.They also have a restaurant and clean bathrooms .

I find it interesting to check out the Haus des Wassers, or ( House of Water) which has various exhibition with exciting experiments, information on the Hohe Tauern Health initiative, WasserKino interactive cinema and Swarovski telescope for an accurate view of the Krimml Waterfalls. Going through the Aquapark outdoor area is free from the combi tickets and I am sure that you can spend here roughly an hour if you want to kill some more time.

If you wanted to make memories with your children and love ones, i think this is a perfect place to visit.If you’re visiting near the areas of the Hohe Tauern, then this place is a must to visit. It takes time to go up, it might be a challenge but the view on top is really worth it.In the end, the higher you get up, the better the view!

Read more about the Krimml Waterfalls and be amazed of this wonderful jewel tucked in a well preserved forests!

Have you’ve ever been to a waterfalls? How are you guys spent your summer?

After visiting this waterfalls, then we are so ready to visit the famous Alpine Reservoirs in Kaprun! Stay tuned for more of our family friendly adventures, because summer is still not over!

Until then and Tchüss!