Despite plenty of snow on the surrounding slopes, the Timmelsjoch opened to the public last week.
The Timmelsjoch is a dramatic pass road from Austria into Italy through a saddle between the Jochköpfl 3,141m and the Wurmkogl 3,082m peaks.
One of Europe’s highest paved roads, it is closed all winter because of snow and opens up between June and October allowing tourists (cars, motorbikes and cyclists – no lorries or trailers allowed) to travel in and out of the Ötztal valley (Tirol) to the Passeier Valley in the Italian province of Alto Adige.
To get there: follow the road out of Sölden and through Zwieselstein in the direction of Obergurgl. After a few minutes, take the turn for Hochgurgl and you are there.
Check out the video below of the opening day and the drive into Italy: snow, fog, tunnels and then blue sky …
