The SalzburgerLand region of Austria boasts 22 major ski resorts together offering 2000km of perfectly groomed slopes supported by high-tech infrastructure. There are 30 snowparks and 2,400 km of winter walking trails; not to mention 100 toboggan runs and 66 ice-skating rinks.
© SalzburgerLand Tourismus
But the big focus for this coming winter is maximising the more natural attractions of this already very natural region, by expanding the region’s already extensive ski touring opportunities.
New in SalzburgerLand’s region’s Ski amadé resorts – a collective with 760km of piste across five areas – are 28 designated touring routes created in response to the rapidly growing enthusiasm for this traditional approach to the sport, which offers health-giving escapism in peaceful Alpine surroundings.
Each route safely navigates a beautiful ascent through woods and empty snowfields to vantage points where skiers can savour the satisfaction of summiting before the thrill of the descent, on or off the piste.
© SalzburgerLand Tourismus
Meanwhile Zell am See-Kaprun has nominated Ronachkopf as its first ski-touring mountain and also offers a number of marked ascents on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier.
For beginners, Fuschlsee, the Salzburger Saalachtal areas and Obertauern have instructor trails for initiation.
Comparing like for like across the Alps, value for money is outstanding. In the region that leads Europe in green technology and sustainability, Seeham – near Salzburg – was recently voted the Best Organic City in Europe in the first EU Organic Awards (more details here).
© SalzburgerLand Tourismus
Of course the news is not only focussed on more ski touring. For cross-country skiers, the new high-altitude Pillstein route on the Zwölferhorn is a fabulous 2km circuit with views over Wolfgangsee Lake.
There are also plenty of new accommodation, facilities and refurbishments, include:
- The Cōmodo, Bad Gastein: a new luxury hotel created out of the former Habsburgerhof clinic. Exquisite contemporary décor, 70 rooms/suites, Spa and restaurant.
- Aparthotel Golden Lodges, Rauris: 26 new apartments across three buildings close to the ski lift. A choice of self-catering or Bistro dining.
- Das Seehäuser, Mattsee Lake: a choice of 21 new wooden lodges of differing styles from cottage to treehouse in a blissfully tranquil location.
- DAS Hintersee, Fuschlsee: five new chalets and four zuahäuser offer superlative accommodation with wellness facilities, underground carpark and four e-charging stations.
- Hotel Krallerhof, Leogang: set to launch an expanded and enhanced spa area for spring 2023
- Hotel Steiner, Obertauern: new Rooftop-Mountain Spa with separate adults and family areas.
- Das Seekarhaus, Obertauern: 13 new rooms and suites, new infinity pool and enhanced wellness facilities.
- Naturhotel Forsthofgut, Leogang: a new stables block for year-round riding and including new teen-studio and mini-zoo.
- Hotel Der Loewe, Leogang: new geothermally heated outdoor pool open year-round and a new relaxation area.
- Biohotel Rupertus, Leogang: fully renovated and upgraded wellness facility.
- AlpenParks, Glemmtal: a new apartment opens this winter bringing the total number of accommodations to 160.In addition, each SalzburgerLand resort has its own discounted low-season weeks, flexible lift passes – the earlier you buy the cheaper they are – and many new in-resort experiences.
© SalzburgerLand Tourismus
> > How to get there
Salzburg City is easily accessible by road, rail or air. British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair offer regular departures from London airports including the new BA Cityflyer twice-weekly flights from London City (9th December 2022 to 15th April 2023). In addition, Jet2 has weekly departures from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol and East Midlands.
