Caving in the Ötztal Valley, Tyrol

Explore the hidden history of the Otzal Valley on this caving tour near Amberg.

A story left untold deep in the belly the Otzal Valley, this abandoned WWII mine shaft shares the history of the Austrian Alps – and the industry left to rust as ‘Operation Ziteraal’ lays uncompleted. Now all that is left of what would have been Europe’s biggest hydropower station is an exciting labyrinth of caves 350m deep – the perfect place to explore on all fours!

Location
Built in the entrance to the Otzal Valley during WWII, this subterranean cave system runs through the Inn Valley in Tyrol. An abandoned hydropower station that was to be used for the world’s biggest and most state-of-the-art wind tunnel, today the caves in Amberg run 350m with routes for beginner, intermediate and advanced cavers.

Activity
Meet your guide at the activity base in Sautens for this 5-hour caving excursion in the Otzal Valley. Organised according to age and ability, this disused hydropower project has a range of different challenged to suit total beginners and caving experts alike. After a short drive to the mouth of the cave, your guide will give you a short safety briefing before you start exploring. Following your guide with only a head torch to lead the way, travel deep into the heart of the manmade cave system, learning more about the power and potential of this project – and discovering some of the tools along the way. Depending on which tour you take, there will be some simple climbing and a few rappels to help you explore right to the very bottom – with some steep inclines, long passages and some subterranean waterfalls to navigate, too! Once you reach the final opening, there are some stunning views of the Inn valley – a shock to senses after half the day spent underground.

Conditions
This artificial industrial cave system near Amberg is a disused hydropower plant with fixed rope rappels (90 meter long/60 incline), head height tunnels and underwater streams. Please note it will be cold and slightly slippery so footwear with a good grip tread is recommended.