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Skiing in The Zillertal Valley
The Zillertal Ski area is made up of a series of small Tyrolean villages in the beautiful Ziller Valley, and offers fantastic skiing for all levels, in a relatively unspoilt, charming region of Austria. The area gives access to almost 500km of runs, served by 150 lifts, spread out over 11 separate ski areas but linked by free bus service, including the well known and popular Mayrhofen and the glacial resort of Hintertux. Convenient multi-passes let visitors decide how far down the valley they would like to explore, and a wide array of options are available.
Skiing in The Zillertal Valley – The Mountains
The most well-known and frequented resorts here are Mayrhofen, Zem Am Ziller and Tux im Ziller and each offers a great destination in their own right. Throughout the Zillertal Valley each small village has its’ own individual ski area, but the beauty of skiing here is the ability to explore new terrain, thanks to the brand new lift systems. The Zillertal Arena comprises Zell Am Ziller, Gerlos, Konigsleiten and Wald, and now Mayrhofen connects to the Lanersbach region by cable car – linking the ski areas of Horgerg/Gerent/Penken with Rastkogel/Eggalm – creating the Zillertal 3000, an vast area incorporating 225km served by 62 lifts. With the creation of these huge ski areas, skiing for all levels can be found everywhere. That said, beginners are well suited to the nursery slopes of the Ahorn, above Mayrhofen, intermediates will find a supreme selection of runs within the Rastkogel and Eggalm area, and advanced skiers should head straight up the valley to the Hintertux glacier. Here, at an altitude of 3250m, it’s possible to ski all year round, although the best conditions are between December and April, and it’s an easy bus trip accessible from any of the villages in the valley. Another great expert skier choice would be the fantastic off-piste powder to be found in Gerent. The most all-encompassing lift pass is the Zillertal Super Ski Pass which covers 450km, including the glacier. The valley has also invested in good snowmaking facilities, and a recent new snowboarding fun park at Mayrhofen.
Skiing in The Zillertal Valley – The Apres-Ski
The vast size of the Zillertal Valley means an array of après-ski options ranging from the wild and crazy to the quiet and relaxed, with an underlying sense of tradition prevailing throughout the valley. By far the most lively is the scene at Mayrhofen, with its’ loud boisterous bars and clubs, offering drinking and dancing well into the early hours. The après ski in the smaller villages is much more subdued, and focuses on Tyrolean Evenings, local music and bands, and folk dancing, as well as the usual beer and schnapps in the bar, with the local cuisine being served in the village restaurants and mountain huts. Other activities found here include sleigh rides, tobogganing, ice skating, walking the cleared hiking trails, swimming, squash and tennis.
Zillertal Skiing Holidays & Resorts
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