Coburger Hütte — Seebensee & Drachensee

This is one of the most celebrated hikes in Tyrol, connecting two distinct alpine basins. Starting from the Ehrwalder Alm, a broad forest path leads to the Seebensee (1,657m), a turquoise lake that perfectly reflects the Zugspitze (2,962m) on clear days. The adventure continues with a steep, serpentine ascent of another 300 meters to the Coburger Hütte and the moody Drachensee (Dragon Lake). The hut sits on a high rock rib, overlooking both lakes and providing one of the most dramatic mountain vistas in the Mieminger Gebirge.

Route Typology: Volcanic Stratovolcano Ascent. Mount Nyiragongo is one of the world's most active volcanoes and home to one of the largest and most persistent lava lakes on Earth. The trek is a direct vertical push, gaining 1,500m over just 8km, starting in tropical forests and ascending through fields of jagged basaltic lava to the crater rim at 3,470m. Access is strictly regulated by Virunga National Park and escorted by armed ICCN rangers for visitor safety. On the rim, hikers spend the night overlooking a boiling 2km-wide crater where glowing red magma veins churn constantly. [Note: Security conditions in the region fluctuate; always verify the current operational status via virunga.org.]