SKI BREAKS IN AUSTRIA

We have fantastic deals on austria ski holidays all year round. Skiing is one of the most popular sports in Austria and in Austrian history. An Austrian citizen with no skiing ambitions cannot be considered a true Austrian. Austrian professional skiers rank top of the world and Innsbruck was not host for the Olympic Winter Games twice in 1964 and 1974 for no reason. Many different skiing resorts in the alps are well known throughout the world and attract many tourists from about everywhere. Because the austrian alps are inhabited very frequent, there was no reason to build up new and unnatural skiing resorts but existing towns shifted to skiing tourism. To keep the local atmosphere for all foreigners, the small valleys were adapted very modestly to modern mass tourism, still offering high tech equipped lifts and tracks and accommodations for the small briefcase to luxury.

The skiing areas are organized very well, offering all sorts of transportation and many valleys connect to each other. There is not a rare chance that you start skiing in one valley in the morning an end up in a total different one at the end of the day. Some areas offer so many lifts and tracks, that even after a week you have not seen them all. Another very important fact is the snowboarding friendly environment, allowing boarders the use of all lifts and tracks. Many areas are host of big international skiing and snowboarding competitions and Innsbruck is considered to be the "snowboarding capital" of Europe.

Nowadays skiing holidays are not limited to skiing anymore. More and more skiing resorts also offer a exciting nightlife, parties and other fun stuff. Towns like Kitzbühel are meeting points for the high society and kind of a party space. A very positiv experience for tourists is also the very friendly climate and the anticipating inhabitants.

The Austrian Alps

The Alps are Europe's major range of mountains, spanning from the Mediterranean coast of France via Switzerland, N Italy and Austria to Slovenia. A considerable part of Austria is part of this mountain range, accordingly hiking, skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing rate high among Austria's favourite pastimes.

Clean air, spectacular sights, lakes and glaciers and well-tended trails and hikes contribute to the Alps allure and attract numerous tourists and visitors.

The Alps flora and fauna is unique as well: edelweiss, Austria's national flower, and gentian ('Enzian') might be rare, but they have shaped the worlds image of Austria and the Alps. Chamois, marmots and ibexes are well adapted to the alpine habitat.

Mt Grossglockner is Austria's highest peak featuring a spectacular glacier ('Pasterze') and a 50 km long panoramic road, which is easily accessible in summertime and offers some of the most spectacular views in Austria. National park 'Hohe Tauern' was established to protect the fragile ecosystem of the most fantastic areas around Mt Grossglockner.

Eisriesenwelten are the largest accessible ice caves world wide. Its frozen waterfalls and elaborate ice formations can be admired on guided tours taking you into a fascinating world for 75 minutes. Its caves and passages adorned with frozen stalagmites and other ice formations are named after Norse mythology.

The enormous caves are located in the proximity of Werfen in easy distance from Salzburg.

Here are a few of the most popular austria ski resorts:

Arlberg ski resort

One of the most popular skiing areas is the Arlberg reaching from Vorarlberg to Tyrolia With its small villages and very neat towns like Lech, St. Anton, Stuben and Zürs this region attractes skiers from around the world. The Arlberg is also known for its luxurious accommodations and very long skiing history. Because of the altitude of its tracks in around 2200m, good snow conditions are nearly guranteed from December to April. It is very popular skiing resort not only for the Royal British Family.

Kitzbühel ski resort

Kitzbühel and its neighboring towns Lechberg, Kirchberg and Mittersill offer skiers a really big and modesrn skiing area. Its very famous "Hahnenkamm" race, one of the most important skiing events, once a year since 1931 and the reputation as a Apres Ski town, make the area around Kitzbühel to a very popular and exclusive skiing region in Tyrolia. By the way, parts of the 1965 movie "Help!" starring the Beatles was filmed in Kitzbühel.

Site of the world-famous 'Hahnenkamm' downhill run, Kitzbühel is one of the most attractive and well loved of all the Austrian ski resorts. It has grown up around a picturesque, medieval walled town with colourfully painted Tyrolean buildings dating back to the 13th century. Its large, attractive and varied ski areas offer a diversity of skiing for all grades. Its endless après-ski and 'off the slopes' amenities make it an ideal choice for everyone looking for a fun-filled winter holiday (including non-skiers) in a resort full of charm and character. Lift-pass holders have the added benefits of free use of the ski bus, discounted entrance and swimming at Aquarena, and a wide choice of mountain restaurants.

Mayrhofen ski resort

Set in the beautiful Zillertal Valley, Mayrhofen has a deserved reputation as a firm favourite with British visitors, not least because of its great skiing, Tyrolean charm, excellent standards of accommodation and a lively, varied nightlife. It makes an excellent choice for all levels of skier, whilst being equally enjoyed by the non-skier, and the new, higher-capacity Penken gondola ensures that the queues, which might have been experienced previously, are almost certainly a thing of the past. Those who don't have a head for heights should be aware that the only way to access the slopes is via the gondola.

Your Details
Title:	DR MR MRS MISS MS REV	*
First Name:		*
Surname:		*

Your Address
For NON UK Customers tick here:
For UK Customers please enter your Postcode:		*

House Name/Number:		*
Address Line 1:		*
Address Line 2:		*
Address Line 3:		*
Town:		*
County:		*

Contact Details
Email Address:		*
Phone Numbers - We require at least one phone number:		*
Home Phone Number:
Mobile Phone Number:
Work Phone Number:
Best time to contact you:	Anytime Daytime Evening
Please tick this box if you DO NOT wish to receive any travel deals or special offers from Barrhead Travel (you can remove your details at any time):

Your Holiday Requirements
Preferred Destination:
Departure Date(s):
Departure Airport(s):
Holiday Duration:
Board Basis:
Budget:
Number of Adults:
Number of Children:
Number of Infants:
Other Information:		*
(Please enter any other requirements you have that will allow our consultants to find the perfect holiday)