? “Das Wandern ist des Menschen Lust, das wa-ha-nd-ern…” ?

Don’t worry—I’m much better at hiking than singing. Promise! Here at Hotel Eden, we take you into the mountains several times a week.

We Erlers know every corner of the Tux Valley better than our own pockets. And we see it again and again: our guests arrive stressed and return home happy. That is certainly thanks to movement in the mountain landscape.

But why is that? Science has discovered some surprising answers. And I’ll also tell you why hiking in the Zillertal is something truly special.

Are humans made for hiking?

The so-called Savanna Hypothesis suggests that humans have genetically encoded preferences for certain landscapes: open spaces, scattered trees, and water in sight.

However, this theory is debated, as early humans also lived in other environments.

But you know what? When we are out here in the Zillertal, looking down from the Tettensjoch into the valley, it feels as if we were made for exactly this. Genes or not—there must be more behind humans’ love for hiking.

Hiking makes you happy (scientifically proven)

A study from Stanford University found that time in nature reduces activity in the brain region associated with rumination and depressive thoughts.

So hiking doesn’t just distract you—it actually changes which parts of your brain are active.

If you feel like your “head is clear” after a hike in the Zillertal Alps High Mountain Nature Park, that is not magic—it is biology.

That is exactly why we offer guided hikes at Hotel Eden. Because we know: the mountains do something to you.

Two hours per week are enough

Let’s be honest: one hiking holiday in Tux is not a cure-all. But it is a good start. A gentle hike to the Brandalm, an afternoon on the Penken, a walk along the stream—here in the Tux Valley you have 350 km of marked hiking trails right on your doorstep. If you spend just two hours per week in nature, you gain measurable mental health benefits.

So hiking changes your brain for the better—but that still doesn’t fully explain why people love it so much.

Trees as a natural pharmacy

You don’t have to hug trees—but you should breathe deeply. Trees release organic compounds called phytoncides and terpenes. These so-called “forest hormones” may strengthen the immune system.

In Japan, this has been studied since the 1980s under the term shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). Here in the Tux Valley, we are surrounded by forests, alpine meadows, and the Zillertal Alps High Mountain Nature Park.

Awe: the powerful emotion of mountains

Above the tree line, another feeling often appears: awe. Psychologist Dacher Keltner from UC Berkeley has studied this emotion for over two decades. It describes the feeling of wonder, vastness, and silence.

About 75% of awe experiences are triggered by nature. Mountains are especially powerful: they quiet the inner noise.

When you stand in front of the Olperer or look down from the Geierspitze, your inner critic suddenly becomes very quiet.

Hiking helps against loneliness

Studies show that some long-distance hikers experience loneliness—but also that group experiences help significantly.

That is why we offer guided hikes at Hotel Eden. Not because you need us to find the way—but because shared experiences create connection.

What really matters

All these studies are interesting—but in the end, it is about you and how you feel when you hike.

That is why we invite you: come to the Tux Valley. Come to Eden. Let’s walk together.

We’ll show you where the forest shares its strongest energy, where awe is most powerful, and why your love for hiking is in the best possible company.