The landlocked nation in the eastern alps was instrumental in bringing skiing to the masses. According to The Atlantic magazine, Austria cottoned on early in the 1940s to increasing demand from middle-class skiers. ‘In the years after World War II, Austria committed significant Marshall Plan funds to the development of infrastructure in the Alps,’ reads a recent article, ‘including 404 million Schillings ($135 million today) for hotel improvements and 93 million Schillings ($31 million today) for new ski lifts.’
The country hasn’t looked back. The team at SnowTrex, a leading provider of skiing holidays in Europe, says: ‘Austria is one of the most popular holiday destinations for winter sports fans, particularly because of its modern ski resorts.
‘Rickety chairlifts travelling up the mountain at walking speed are a thing of the past. The majority of the lifts here are state of the art.
‘While chilly snow-lovers enjoy heated benches and snow domes that keep them warm in icy temperatures and snowfall, nature-lovers enjoy fantastic views of the Austrian mountains in the panoramic gondolas.’
One look at the Instagram feed of the Austrian National Tourist Office (@visitaustria), with its exquisite photographs of glaciers, forests, lakes and peak, and you will be poised for flight.
Here, to concentrate your mind further, we take a deep dive into its largest ski areas.
Ski Alberg
With 305 km of piste, Ski Alberg is the largest interconnected ski area in Austria – and the one that attracts the most enquiries from holidaymakers. The extensive new lift system (which cost around EUR 45,000,000) makes for a glorious and gigantic ski area.
Skiwelt Wilder Kaiser
The extremely popular Skiwelt has 284 km of piste and is the largest ski area in the Tyrol. It has 90 lifts, several children’s areas, snow parks for freestylers, ski routes for deep snow fans and a modern artificial snow system.
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
With 270 km of piste, this area offers the largest lift system in Salzburger Land. It has several pretty ski circuits and all of its valley runs lead back to the main resorts.
Silvretta Arena Ischgl-Samnaun
With its 238 km of piste, this area is renowned for its apres ski and live events. Ischgl is said by some to be the party town of the Alps – and its pistes are wide and as perfectly groomed as its visitors.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
This area boasts around 196 km of – mostly blue and red piste – and has masses to offer skiers of all ages.
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel’s 173 km of piste have long attracted the great, the good, the rich and the famous. James Bond creator Ian Fleming lived here for a bit in the late 1920s. Prince Albert of Monaco, Albert Schwarzenegger and the entire Swarovski family have all been spotted on the slopes or enjoying the non-stop nightlife here.
Sölden
There are two glaciers in the ski area of Sölden, whose piste length is 144 km. It offers diverse sporting opportunities and fantastic panoramic restaurants.
Zillertal Arena
Coming in at 143 km, this ski area is especially designed for families and leisure skiers. It boasts the longest valley run in Austria, a snow park and free WIFI throughout.
Mayrhofen
With 136 km of piste, offers something for everyone. Ambitious winter sports fans can find several black pistes but there are also wide family-friendly runs and a new fun slope, where a day’s skiing can be rounded off with a relaxing drink at the White Lounge.
Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area Schladming-Planai
Here, 123 km of piste are seamlessly connected with each other. The area’s selection of children’s sections, fun parks, pleasure island with panoramic loungers, timed circuit and several valley runs is diverse and entertaining.
Ski all areas
You can book holidays at all these ski areas – and many more – through SnowTrex. Founded in Cologne, Germany in 1999, SnowTrex is now one of the largest winter sports tour operators in Europe.
The team says: ‘SnowTrex holidays are characterised by simplicity and clarity and are based on the customer’s expectations of individuality and service.
‘Our packages include accommodation and lift passes, as well as different extra services such as ski lessons and equipment hire.’
Part of what makes the company so attractive is the series of advantages they offer at the point of booking, which include a free cancellation policy within five days of booking, a best-price guarantee and a snow guarantee.
Let SnowTrex do the hard work while you perfect your snowplough.
For more information on SnowTrex’s fantastic ski holidays in Austria, you can explore more here.
By Becky Ladenburg
November 2021
Created in partnership with SnowTrex
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