Heading off on a Contiki trip to the picturesque skiing village of Hopfgarten, Austria in the coming weeks? If so you’re in for an absolute treat!
The enchanting village sits at the foot of the Hohe Salve mountains in the beautiful Tyrol region and forms part of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental ski resort. With 70 mountains, 88 lifts and more than 284km of ski runs, the SkiWelt is one of the largest ski resorts in the world, offering slopes for all abilities.
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Runs for Beginners
For all you first time skiers or boarders it’s all about getting yourself some lessons at ski school, which is super easy to book once you arrive in Hopfgarten. If you’ve got a little experience but are still finding your feet, you’re best off playing on the blue runs around Hopfgarten. Get the gondola to the top of Hohe Salve and down to Soll – here you’ll find some chilled blues to help get your confidence up. This area is also known for having the sunniest slopes in the entire SkiWelt, so take it easy and enjoy dem rays.
Feeling a bit more adventurous and want to know the lay of the land? Contiki offer a complimentary ski safari with an experienced guide to get you fully acquainted with the area. Once you’re done with skiing for the day, head back down to the gondola at Hopfgarten where you’ll find ‘Rundell’, a bar which is the perfect place to après your afternoons away.
Runs for Intermediates
If you’re a little more confident on the slopes then we’d recommend you trying out some of the steeper blue pistes and even venturing over to the red runs. You can either stick to the Hopfgarten side of the mountain or make your way over to Brixen im Thale, which is one of the most diverse destinations in the SkiWelt, with a whole load of broad pistes and incredible views. It’s a simple route from Hopfgarten to Brixen im Thale, consisting of 5 lifts and around 8 runs. So, grab a map of the mountains and don’t forget to leave yourself enough time to get home!
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Runs for Pros
For all of you who fancy your chances on some of the steepest slopes in the SkiWelt region, we suggest you head to either Westendorf or Ellmau. Ellmau offers plenty of steep slopes for experts including the legendary ‘Black East’ on the valley descent, and a whole load of snow parks and jumps. Head over here first thing when the pistes are fresh for maximum enjoyment. When you’re at the top of the Ellmau gondola station, head half way down red 80a and don’t forget to stop at Rubezahl Alm, a family run gasthof with some of the best BBQ ribs in the Tyrol region.
And Westendorf? This is another must go to part of the mountain range with numerous slopes and jumps for expert ski enthusiasts. Oh, and did we mention it has one of the longest and steepest slopes in the entire SkiWelt? Enjoy!
Have you skied the runs around Hopfgarten? Let us know your expert tips in the comments below…