Austria
Ski hard and party hard might well be the Austrian national motto, for all of Europe's skiers ready to down a shot of Jäger and get up on a table to dance in ski boots after a day on the slopes find a warm welcome here. Austria has a unique mountain culture, rooted in the ski racing which is a national obsession, and you'll frequently see school kids zip past you in tight lycra, hugging the fall line. The Austrians are the most successful nation of all time in Alpine skiing which must carry a lot of pressure, because they know how to release it, in the many umbrella bars which line the slopes, pumping out a brand of disco that seldom makes it outside the country.
Austrian ski areas are typically lower than those in next door countries and the towns and villages are more historic and feel less like they have been purpose built for visitors, surrounded as they are by woods and pastures. The climate is colder due to the position further away from the ocean, and state-of-the-art snowmaking ensures the altitude is rarely a problem. In fact the Alps' snowiest area, the Arlberg, is in Austria's northwest, catching around 30 feet annually in it's snowiest corner as storms from the Atlantic barrel in over Lake Constance.
Austrian food and drink is hearty, with staples being schnitzel and strudel, good for keeping warm on the slopes. Hospitality is equally hearty, and Austrian accommodations are invariably good quality whatever the grade. Wellness is taken very seriously, with most hotels of any size having extensive facilities, including steam, sauna and massage - which locals enjoy in the nude.
The Heights of Austria
Austria is more than mountains. Before or after the slopes spend some time exploring.
Austrian Trips
Below are some of our suggested ways to discover Austria. Take a look - if it's what you're looking for, perfect. If you want to change anything we can change as much or as little as you want.
St. Anton to the Sound of Music
Fly to Zurich in Switzerland and hop across the border to the Ski Arlberg region. This is Austria's snowiest area and there are various villages and miles of groomers and powder runs to discover. For experts, the town of St. Anton is one of the Alps' biggest draws, with it's top lift only open to those with a guide, and routes to take advantage of the snowfall all over. From here head east to Salzburg, erstwhile home of the Von Trapps and setting for the Sound of Music,
Oktoberfest and early season glacier skiing
Munich's Oktoberfest is a bit early for skiing in most parts of the northern hemisphere, but Austria's glacier resorts open in fall, so there's no need to forgo some slope time before a party. Hintertux in the Zillertal is normally the most reliable with the most terrain open. In Munich you can enjoy one of the biggest parties out there, watch a soccer match and enjoy the vibrant city atmosphere.
The Hannenkahm and Kitzbühel
Austria's most prestigious ski race has been held annually on the Hannenkahm mountain above Kitzbühel since 1931. Rated as the most challenging on the FIS World Cup circuit, the Streif course pushes the top ski racers to their limits with steep drop-offs, plenty of jumps and long gliding sections. This is a major event locally and huge crowds come to cheer on their heroes while enjoying the festive atmosphere. Kitzbühel itself is an ancient town of pastel buildings, full of great bars and restaurants, and surrounded by extensive skiing.
Reasons to choose us for your trip
Why should you work with us to plan your trip to the Alps and Europe? We want to show off our 'home' mountains and ensure you have an awesome time - again and again.
Years of Alpine experience
We've been skiing all over the Alps since starting young in the 80s.
Global ski knowledge
We've not just skied the Alps, but also the Pyrenees, southern Spain, Arctic Sweden, the US, South America and New Zealand - so we know what makes a good trip.
Expertise
As qualified ski instructors we know about different levels and can help your and your travel partners achieve your goals.
Enjoyable planning process
We believe that when planning a trip it starts there and then - so let's get excited. We've been building dream vacations for people for over 20 years and get a massive kick out of helping people do something really memorable. We aim to make the whole process easy and fun.
Love of winter sports and the mountains
We love everything about being in the mountains. We love powder and groomers (bumps are getting a bit hard on the knees), we love apres, we love first lifts, we love heli days - well you get the idea.
Beyond the mountains
We love the mountains, but the Alps are surrounded by endless cool places. You're coming a long way so let us help you explore a bit more of Europe while you're here.
When to go
You'll get different things out of your trip depending on when you go, so we'll work with you to choose the best time.
November
In a few places you can ski year round, but November is when it will start feeling like winter. In the cities it's the run-up to Christmas.
February
The first part of the month is similar to January, but then most European countries have their winter holidays, leading to bustling resorts and great après-ski. Carnival happens around the Alps, and it is an exciting time to visit Venice.
December
December is less reliable for snow than it used to be, but high altitude places will be open. Off the slopes in the cities Christmas markets add festive cheer.
March
Spring is in evidence at lower altitudes, but high up snow depths are really building. Long, sunny days lend themselves to lunches on terraces and afternoon après. Places like the Italian lakes are warming up, with snow-capped mountains towering over blooming flowers.
January
The best month for lack of crowds after schools go back, lowest prices and coldest conditions. Off the slopes places are cold but pubs and restaurants are convivial, prices are low and museums are quiet.
April
The season starts to wind down, but April can see big dumps as April showers pepper the Alps. It can be quiet, snowy and sunny, making it a glorious time to be in the Alps. Off the snow you can find everything from beach weather to vibrant cities waking from the winter cold.
Summer in the Alps
While summer sees skiing take a back seat, the Alps are carpeted by wildflowers, hiking and mountain biking become the activities of choice and marmots emerge from their burrows to enjoy the warm weather. If you are interested in exploring during this season, or even taking a course on glacier to hone your technique, we can arrange it.