Get Ready for Winter in Tirol

Tirolean Alpine Winter

路 Get Ready for Winter

Tirol / Heart of the Alps

Scheduled flights to Innsbruck from: Bristol 2 flights per week www.easyjet.com

London up to 8 flights per day www.ba.com, www.easyjet.com, www.monarch.co.uk

Manchester 3 flights per week www.monarch.co.uk

For bookings please contact your local travel agency.

Further connections are bookable via Amsterdam (www.transavia.com, www.klm.com), Frankfurt (www.lufthansa.com) or Vienna (www.austrian.com).

Edinburgh Newcastle Dublin

Manchester

Birmingham Bristol

London

Southampton

www.innsbruck-airport.com

Y r Đžtto â&#x20AC;&#x17E; â&#x20AC;&#x153;! INNSBRUCK

Update: July 2015, subject to change.

Charter flights to Innsbruck from: Birmingham 3 flights per week Bristol 2 flights per week Dublin 1 flight per week Edinburgh 2 flights per week London 6 flights per week Manchester 5 flights per week Newcastle 1 flight per week Southampton 1 flight per week

Welcome to Tirol

If you‘ve opened this booklet and are reading this, then you are one step closer to enjoying a holiday in Tirol this winter. We have selected some of Tirol’s favourite resorts and put those all-important details together in one handy place to help you plan your trip. Where will your skiing or snowboarding holiday take you this year? Will you want to test the new TirolS gondola in Fieberbrunn, now linked with Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang. Or perhaps the confidence building slopes of the Wilder Kaiser will tempt you back? Taking it easy in the Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau is another option, as is tearing it down the off-piste runs in St Anton am Arlberg. Or maybe you want to capture a James Bond moment and sip a vodka martini at the Ice Q in

· www.visittirol.co.uk

Sölden, one of the scenes in the new 007 movie, Spectre. Wherever you decide, it is good to know that Innsbruck airport is bang in the middle of the region and you are almost guaranteed a short transfer on landing. This year there are even more flight options into Innsbruck airport as we understand convenience is key. Wherever you go, you can be sure to expect superbly groomed slopes, genuine hospitality, true mountain charm, high-quality accommodation and affordable prices. We look forward to welcoming you in Tirol. Fall in love with Tirol, it’s not called the ‘Heart of the Alps’ for nothing.

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Tirol - located in Switzerland the Heart of the Alps 01 St. Anton am Arlberg Good for: confident intermediates and experts, on- and off-piste challenges, unrivalled aprèsski, reliable snow conditions.

03 Innsbruck Good for: city skiing, weekend breaks, culture vultures, 10 mins from the airport and choice of 9 ski areas on the same lift pass.

02 Sölden/Ötztal Good for: long season and reliable snow, high altitude and glacier skiing, snowboarders and terrain parks, stunning scenery.

04 Zillertal Good for: all abilities and groups, mountain hut hospitality, glacier skiing at Hintertux and après-ski in Mayrhofen.

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

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05 Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau Good for: beginners, intermediates and families, non-ski activities, real mountain charm, short airport transfers, great value.

07 Fieberbrunn Good for: beginners, freeriders, powder snow, non-ski activities and now linked by new Tirol S to Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang.

06 Kitzbühel Good for: intermediates and groups, varied slopes, atmospheric mountain restaurants, stunning scenery and beautiful old town.

08 Wilder Kaiser (Söll, Ellmau, Scheffau, Going) Good for: clocking up the miles in the mighty SkiWelt, short airport transfers, top tip for families, beginners and intermediates.

· www.visittirol.co.uk

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Wilder Kaiser Söll, Ellmau, Scheffau, Going

What you need to know about the Wilder Kaiser • Four unique villages. With the mighty Wilder Kaiser mountains as a backdrop, lively Söll, family-orientated Scheffau, traditional Going and all-rounder Ellmau open up a host of accommodation options. • The bigger, the better. All 4 resorts offer direct access to the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental, with 280km of slopes and 90 ski lifts, the slopes are gentle and perfect for relaxed cruising. • Get more for your €. Enjoy some of Tirol’s best value skiing both on and off the slopes, where a Groβes Bier will set you back a mere €4 (under £3 thanks to the strong pound).

• Well-earned lunch. It’s claimed that skiing can burn 400 calories an hour, which is just as well considering there are 70 mountain huts in the Wilder Kaiser, serving some of the best Tirolean cuisine. • Super Ski Weeks. Head out early (5th – 18th Dec) or late season (12th March – 3rd April) and benefit from a genuine 25% reduction on accommodation, lift pass, ski hire and ski school.

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental Ski Pass: 3 days €131, 6 days €230 No. of slopes: 280 km Transfer from Innsbruck Airport: 1 hr www.wilderkaiser.info

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in the Wilder Kaiser • One for night owls. Make sure you dedicate one evening for nightskiing. With 10 km of floodlit slopes, Söll is Austria’s largest nightskiing area and should be on anyone’s must do list. • Get your freak on. If freestyle is your thing then Söll is one of the best places to try out your first jumps and tricks at the Funslope & Snowpark SkiWelt. • It’s all downhill. For some good oldfashioned sledging, an evening whizzing down the mountain will make all your childhood memories come flooding back.

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• Cross over. Down isn’t the only direction to go on skis. The benefits of cross-country skiing are plenty, it’s easier to learn, is one of the best all round workouts and there’s 60 km of trails in the Wilder Kaiser to explore. • Ski Safari. Check in with the Skischule Söll and embark on a one day ski safari, discovering the Hohe Salve mountain and more.

Take Me There Inghams (www.inghams.co.uk; 01483 791114) has a week at the 3* Hotel Eggerwirt in Söll from £629 per person on half board, including flights from Gatwick, Southampton (+£29), Bristol (+£39), Birmingham (+£39), Manchester (+£39), Edinburgh (+£49) and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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Wilder Kaiser. Family Skiing Made Easy.

Scheffau, takes non-skiing children up to 4yrs old, from 9am – 4pm, from only €41 per day.

The Wilder Kaiser region scores highly with families. So what are the options?

2-4 years. The younger you are the easier it is to learn. In the Kinderkaiserland in Scheffau, little ones from 2 years can have a 45 minute taster session.

Söll 1 – 5 years. The Kiko Söll provides a mix of outdoor play, age appropriate activities and for older ones taking their first tracks on skis. Available from 9.30 am – 4pm, from €49 per day. 4 years + Both the Ski & Snowboard Schule Knolln and the Skischule Hochsöll Embacher offer children group lessons of 4 hrs a day plus lunch supervision next to the Hexen Kinderland. Scheffau 0-4 years. The Schneepiraten KidsClub, located at the top station of the Brandstadl lift in

4 – 14 years. All ski schools offer tuition for kids, so junior skiers can take their first slide down the mountain with the help of expert instructors. Ellmau 4 years +. In Ellmau, the Hartkaiser funicular railway will be replaced this winter with a new 10 seater gondola. At the top station, the Restaurant Bergkaiser is being completely revamped and will have its own children’s restaurant, childcare for toddler and children’s ski school.

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

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Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau

What you need to know about the Ski Juwel • As one. With 109 km of slopes, the Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau was created three years ago by linking Inneralpbach, via a gondola up the Schatzberg, with Auffach in the Wildschönau. • Choice is yours. Base yourself in one of the Wildschönau resorts, like Niederau or Auffach, for some of the best entry-level skiing in Tirol. Or stay in Alpbach which opens up some more challenging runs. • Snow reliability. If Mother Nature is feeling a bit temperamental then ease your mind because 85% of the slopes are covered by artificial snow making facilities. · www.visittirol.co.uk

• Be my guest. All visitors will receive a guest card offering numerous benefits, including use of the local buses and an activity programme, as well as discounts on shopping, restaurants and entrance fees. • Family choice. The Ski Juwel is a great place for families to learn, with dedicated children’s areas, valley lifts, good-humoured English speaking instructors and lift pass discounts.

Ski Juwel Lift Pass: 3 days € 122, 6 days € 217 No. of slopes: 109km Transfer from Innsbruck Airport: 45 minutes www.skijuwel.com

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Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau

What you need to do in Wildschönau • Head for heights. Test your agility through the snowy treetops at the Wildschönau High Rope Course, the highest of its kind in Austria. You’ve got 27 stations to master, with some up to 21m off the ground! • Walking on air. This is exactly how you will feel after exploring some of the 40km of prepared winter walking trails, amidst some of the most delightful winter scenery. • Build an igloo. Head out on a short snowshoe walk with local mountain guide Hans Georg Hotter, before finding the perfect pitch to build your own igloo. Book via tourist office, from €5.

• Ski Bum. From the Schatzberg lift in Auffach, take the ‘Bummelzug’, an experience in itself, to the mid-station, before tobogganning down the 5 km long run back to the village. • Cheers! Make sure you try the famous „cure-for-all“ Krautinger Schnapps, which has been uniquely distilled in the Wildschönau valley from locally grown White Beet since the mid-18th century.

Take Me There Ski Solutions (www.skisolutions.com; 020 7471 7700) has a week at the 3* Hotel Harfenwirt in Niederau from £599 per person on half board, including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in Alpbachtal • Sitting pretty. Having never lost sight of its mountain heritage, Alpbach is the antithesis to Europe’s large scale resorts. Take time to stand, stare and soak up your surroundings. • It’s not all downhill. Cross-country skiing makes for an exhilarating alternative, and there’s a network of 100km of maintained routes to explore, from entry level to expert. • The long one. Probably the most satisfying run in the entire resort is the 4km red piste 47a/47 from the top of the Pöglbahn down through wide runs and forests down to the valley and Inneralpbach.

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• Feed me. With over 30 mountain huts in Alpbach, sample some genuine Austrian specialities. Warm up with Glühwein, feast on Tirolean bacon dumplings (Speckknödel) and finish off with sweet pancakes (Kaiserschmarrn). • Flying high. Take to the sky and try tandem paragliding from the Wiedersberger Horn with Skyhigh Raven.

Take Me There Zenith Holidays (www.zenithholidays.co.uk; 020 3137 7678) has a week at the 4* Hotel Alphof in Alpbach from £695 per person on half board, including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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GO SKI GO BOARD from the UK to Tirol Sarah Bythell

A few years ago Sarah Bythell had never thought about skiing or snowboarding, but after watching the Winter Olympics, and moving to Manchester she tried snowboarding on a girls-only GO SKI GO BOARD session, and one year on, she is now hooked! We asked Sarah a few questions… • How long have you been skiing snowboarding? Just over a year. •

What inspired you to take it up? The Vancouver 2010 Olympics opened my eyes to the different snowsports that you can try and that women can be successful, not just men! A change of jobs meant I was based in Manchester and closer to visit Chill Factore, so much easier to visit for lessons.

• What is the thing you most love about snowboarding? I’ve met some lovely ladies on my lessons who have become really good friends. We often ride together which helps everyone’s confidence. Over time and with some coaching we‘ve all improved. I was always the kid who was last to be picked for sports at school, so to be good at something gives me a massive buzz! • Have you got any snowboarding heroes? I wouldn‘t say I‘ve got a particular hero but I feel the women I ride with are all quite inspirational. •

Where is your next snowboard holiday? After enjoying the Austrian slopes and hospitality in Fieberbrunn this year I‘m going to go back next year with the group of friends I‘ve made from Chill Factore.

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

We challenged „GO SKI GO BOARD“ ambassador and Winter Olympian Aimee Fuller to tell us how she got into snowboarding, her career highlights and what’s next... in less than 140 characters!

Aimee Fuller

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Why do you love snowboarding? It gives me a huge adrenaline rush and I love the challenge of pushing myself to land that new trick I‘ve been dreaming about.

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How did you get into it? I started skiing at the age of four at Bromley Dry Ski Slope! I then got noticed on a Summer camp in the US which lead to me picking up my first sponsor Roxy.

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Sochi Winter Olympics highlight? Dropping in at the Semi Finals, and seeing the crowd at the bottom! It was surreal, like „wow“ I am really here at the Olympics.

• Favourite resort? I love the Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen! It has such a fast lap and epic jumps. • What would you say to anyone consider ing taking up skiing or snowboarding? When I first looked into snowboarding I was put off by the stereotypical snowboarder who was the cool dude on the slope. It‘s certainly not like that. Everyone is so friendly and always willing to give you some advice. Don‘t hesitate to try it, you‘ll probably get hooked like I did! • Tell us something about yourself not many people know? I‘m quite partial to a bit of Olympic weightlifting (and I‘m not that bad at it either!) If you want to give skiing or snowboarding a go, you can find your nearest GO SKI GO BOARD session at a local slope by visiting www.goskigoboard.org,uk

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• What are your other passions? Surfing, keeping fit, cooking, hanging with friends and family! • Have you ever tried skiing? Yes I was a skier! •

Who are your heroes? My friends that inspire me to keep pushing myself on my snowboard. Jenny Jones, Cheryl Maas, Torah Bright.

• What’s next? After Australia this summer, it is back out to Europe. Can‘t wait to get back on snow!

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Innsbruck

What you need to know about Innsbruck • Bag a window seat. Nestled by mountains, Innsbruck airport offers one of the most stunning visual approaches on landing. • City to ski in 20 minutes. Take the Nordkettenbahn direct from the city centre to reach the slopes of the Nordkette and on the way down stop at Cloud 9 on Seegrube for some après-ski. • Get kitted up. Die Boerse offers Innsbruck’s best ski rental service. Get picked up free by taxi from your hotel and they will take you to the shop to collect your equipment. www.dieboerse.at

• One ski pass. The OlympiaWorld ski pass covers nine ski areas and 300 km of slopes, including Axamer Lizum, Stubai Glacier, Kühtai, Patscherkofel, Nordkette and Muttereralm, Rangger Köpfl, Schlick 2000 and Glungezer. • Free ski bus. The shuttle service runs daily from Innsbruck to the 9 ski areas on the OlympiaWorld ski pass. Guests staying in one of the holiday villages can make an advanced reservation for pick up too. OlympiaWorld Ski Pass: 3 days €124 No of slopes: 300 km Transfer from Innsbruck Airport: 10 minutes www.innsbruck.info

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in Innsbruck • Get cultured. Stroll through the streets of the Old Town, post a selfie from the Golden Roof, step back in time at the Hofburg palace or test your credit card limit along the Maria-Theresien-Street. • Prepare to be dazzled. A visit to Tirol’s top tourist attraction is a must. Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Wattens, near Innsbruck) is even more spectacular after it’s re-vamp earlier this year. • Raising the bar. Make time to visit Innsbruck’s Bergisel Ski Jump Stadium, towering above the city, it’s worth it for the views.

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• As seen on TV. It’s one of the most thrilling events on Channel 4’s ‘The Jump’ and filmed at the Olympic track in Igls Have a go on the guest bobsleigh, from only € 30 per person. www.olympiaworld.at • Build your own skis or snowboard. Join a weekend workshop with SPURart and make, design and customise your very own skis or board. www.spurart.at

Take Me There A 4 night stay starts from €369 per person for the ‘Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck’ package on half board, including ski pass. Holiday offers are online at http://www.innsbruck-pauschalen.com/winter.html. Fly direct to Innsbruck with easyJet, Monarch or British Airways.

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Fieberbrunn, Kitzbüheler Alps

What you need to know about the new ‘TirolS gondola’ • Two regions, one lift. For decades there has been talk of a lift linking the resorts of Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang in Salzburgerland with Fieberbrunn in Tirol. Finally this talk has transformed into a reality and in December 2015 the Austrian provinces of Tirol and Salzburgerland will be joined together by the new high-speed ‘Tirol S’ gondola. • TirolS. Thanks to an investment of 20 million Euros, the connection between the four resorts is being made with a 10-seat gondola from the valley station at Reckmoos South in Fieberbrunn up to the mountain station at Reiterkogel at 1819m.

• New red piste. The creation of the new 3.5km long ‘Vierstadlalm’ red piste will take skiers and boarders from the top of Reiterkogel. • Large and varied. With 270km of piste, served by 70 lifts, the ‘TirolS’ has helped create, not only one of the largest ski areas in Austria, but also one of the most varied , with generous terrain for mixed abilities. Lift Pass (valid for Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn): 3 days €142, 6 days €245 No. of slopes: 270 km Transfer from Innsbruck Airport: 1.5 hrs www.kitzbueheler-alpen.com/en/fieberbrunn

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in Fieberbrunn • Sshhh it’s a secret. Hidden away in the Kitzbühel Alps, Fieberbrunn is one of Tirol’s best-kept secrets. Be sure to explore the variety of terrain, from steeps, glades, and chutes to groomers and gentle cruisers. • Full on fun. Night skiing, snow tubing, miniature snowcat rides, snow rafting and even an Alpine rollercoaster – there’s plenty of great things to do on the snow! • Go for the Freeride. Mother Nature marked out this spot for great powder snow conditions and its first-class freeride potential explains why it hosts the Freeride World

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Tour every year. In 2016 it will take place on 6th March. • Chill out. It’s quality over quantity as the mountain huts deliver top hospitality for long lunches and relaxed apres-ski. Grab a deck chair on the terrace at Streuböden, tuck into a Kaiserschmarrn at Wildalpgatterl or have some fun at the Enzianütte or Biwak.

Take Me There Inghams (www.inghams.co.uk; 01483 791 114) has introduced Fieberbrunn as a new resort for winter 2015-16. A week at the 4* Sporthotel Fontana starts from £799 per person, including flights from Gatwick and resort transfers. Regional flights at a supplement. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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My style. My Tirol. The Tirol collection. www.tirolshop.com

Tirol / Heart of the Alps

路 Tirol Shop Innsbruck

Win a ski holiday to Sölden

Located along the Ötztal Valley, Sölden is renowned for its excellent snow reliability with access to two high glaciers, impressive lift system and lively apresski. Its consistently good snow conditions, along with over 140km of slopes, makes it one of the Europe’s top ski and snowboard destinations.

· www.visittirol.co.uk

One lucky couple will spend seven nights at a 4* hotel in Sölden, with flights and lift passes included in the prize. For your chance to win enter online at www.visittirol.co.uk/win Terms & Conditions apply

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Tirol / Heart of the Alps

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Kitzbühel

What you need to know about Kitzbühel • The Streif. If you fancy skiing the most famous ski run in the world, then head up the Hahnenkamm and take the red 21 ‘Family Streif’ or follow the black 21a for the bigger downhill. • Fear not. The resort may be synonymous with serious skiing but don’t be intimidated. The ski area as a whole has plenty of easy going slopes and some great valley runs. • One ski pass. 10 resorts. Purchase the Kitzbühler Alpen AllStarCard if you want access to over 1000km of piste, including the SkiWelt and Ski Juwel resorts. 6 days from €231. www.allstarcard.at

• Feeling hungry? Kitzbühel has a high proportion of award-winning chefs and restaurants, many awarded with coveted Gault Millau points and providing a mix of modern and traditional cuisine. • Freeride Paradise. The amount of accessible freeride terrain in Kitzbühel is immense! A local ski guide will help seek out some of the best untracked backcountry around the Bichlalm area, down the steeps of Ehrenbachgraben or hunt out some gentle bowls in the Joch-berg area. Kitzbühel Lift Pass: 3 days €142, 6 days €248 No. of slopes: 173 km Transfer from Innsbruck airport: 1.5 hrs www.kitzbuehel.com

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in Kitzbühel • Don’t forget. One of the best ways for confident intermediates to get to know the entire ski area from Kitzbühel/Kirchberg to Pass Thurn is to attempt the 35km ‘Elephant Ski Safari’, riding from summit to summit and utilising the 3S-Gondola. • Take a hike. What better way to appreciate the stunning winter landscape than on foot? Themed winter walking tours, including a full moon hike, snowshoe walking and a sunset walk, are organised by the tourist office. • Benz ze knees. Ok this is less to do with ski technique, and more to do with off the slope action. The Mercedes-Benz Sportpark · www.visittirol.co.uk

is a great place to spend an evening, try iceskating, Alpine curling, bowling, climbing and more. • Apres-ski. There’s a huge amount of choice. If you want plenty of beer, oompah and Europop head to Streifalm or the Londoner, or for a more sophisticated alternative try Cafe Bergsinn or the Fünferl.

Take Me There Snow-Wise (www.snow-wise.com; 020 3397 8450) has a week at the 4* Hotel Schweizerhof in Kitzbühel from £1220 per person on half board, including flights from Gatwick and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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Zillertal

What you need to know about the Zillertal • All in one. The Zillertal is the name of the valley and home to four skiing areas, with a combined 506 kilometres of pistes and all covered on the Zillertal Super Ski Pass. • The big one. The Zillertal Arena is the largest ski area in the valley with resorts like Gerlos and Zell am Ziller making up the 143km of slopes. It scores big on family fun too. • The party one. With 135km of piste, Mayrhofen is a British favourite and a good allrounder, renowned for its apres-ski and top events like Snowbombing and the Altitude Comedy Festival.

• The foodie one. Choose HochfügenHochzillertal if you want ski-in, ski-out convenience, luxury mountain huts (Kristallhütte and Wedelhütte) or award-winning dining experiences at the Hotel Lamark. Keep it to yourself but Hochfügen is also one of Tirol’s freeride secrets. • The snowsure one. It doesn’t get much more snow secure than glacier skiing at Hintertux, the only year-round ski area in Austria. Zillertal Super Ski Pass: 3 days €136,50, 6 days €237 No. of slopes: 506 km Transfer from Innsbruck airport: 1 hrs www.zillertal.at

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in the Zillertal • Burn the candle at both ends. Each of the four ski areas offer early morning first tracks skiing, in Hochzillertal start afresh at 7.30am and in Mayrhofen start from 8am. At the end of the day, nightskiing is also available in Hochzillertal and the Zillertal Arena. • Commit to Harakiri. Take the new Penkenbahn, a state-of-the-art 3S gondola, ready to test your limits on Austria’s steepest groomed slope, the Harakiri in Mayrhofen, with an eye-watering incline of up to 78%. • Freestyle action. You’ve got six terrain parks in the Zillertal, suitable for everyone from · www.visittirol.co.uk

beginners to pros. Practice and perfect your skills on the kickers, rails and corners and the superbly prepared halfpipes and superpipes. • Into the Valley. Thanks to a new 2.2km black piste from the middle station at the Wiesenalm in the Zell-Gerlos ski area, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a full 8.4km valley descent from Übergangsjoch at 2,500m all the way down to Zell am Ziller.

Take Me There Neilson (www.neilson.co.uk; 0333 014 3351) has a week at the 4* Neilson Hotel Ferienhof in Mayrhofen from £685 per person on club board, including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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KNOWLEDGE | SERVICE | ADVICE

25 Specialist Shops Nationwide www.ellis-brigham.com/weareexperts Visit an Expert Instore | Contact an Expert Online | Chat to our Experts on Twitter & Facebook

Photo: Ross Woodhall

Whether you’re looking to improve your technique, cruise the wide-open pistes, or take on the mountains on an epic heli skiing trip, Ski Club Freshtracks has something for you. We run group holidays where you get to ski with people like you. There’s a choice of over 175 holidays – with so much variety you’re sure to find your perfect skiing adventure.

Tirol Highlights for 2015-16 AUSTRIAN INDULGENCE

9-16 Jan | Obergurgl | £1550 Enjoy the ambience of this demanding yet fun resort. Obergurgl is a fantastic ski area, sitting at the head of the magnificent Ötz valley, boasting reliable snow and an enticing variety of slopes. This holiday includes single rooms with no supplement.

Special Offer Half-price Ski Club membership when you book a Freshtracks holiday.*

ST ANTON ADVENTURE

24-31 Jan | £1299 6-13 Mar | £1350 Mountain guides and instructors will provide you with six days of exploring the long and challenging bump runs as well as the extensive off piste opportunities, in one of Austria’s most famous ski areas .

020 8410 2022 skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks for prices and a full list of our holidays. *Offer applies to new members only

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Sölden, ӦÖtztal

What you need to know about Sölden • Snow guarantee. From October to May, the high slopes above Sölden (1350m – 3340m) and the two glacier ski areas at Rettenbach and Tiefenbach enjoy great conditions. • Down the valley. The well-loved British resort, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, is located along the Ötztal. With 110km to explore, it’s well worth paying an extra €13 for the ‘Gemeinsamer Skipass’ to add a day’s skiing here. • The name’s Bond. In the autumn watch the new 007 film, SPECTRE, which was shot in Sölden last winter and see how many locations you can spot.

• The BIG3. Easily accessed by ski lifts and with stunning viewing platforms, Sölden has three mountain peaks above 3000m, the Gaislachkogl at 3048m, the Tiefenbachkogl at 3250m and the Schwarze Schneide at 3340m. Don’t forget your camera! • The long run. Sölden’s superb intermediate skiing is characterised by its wonderful long descents. The longest is an impressive 15km, from the Schwarze Schneide down to the base of the Gaislachkogel. Sölden Ski Pass: 3 days from €144, 6 days from €264 No of slopes: 145 km Transfer from Innsbruck Airport: 1 hr www.soelden.com

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· www.visittirol.co.uk

What you need to do in Sölden

is electronically recorded and evaluated. Will you make the scoreboard?

• BIG3 Rally. This superb 50km loop through the ski area conquers the BIG3 mountains in one day. Clock up 10,000 metres of vertical and allow at least 4 hours for experienced skiers.

• It’s electric. Sölden kicks off the season with the Electric Mountain Festival Opening on the Giggijoch in late November with performances by top DJs, and reaches its climax in April for the final season closer.

• On the rocks. This new stylish highend restaurant, ICE Q, at the top of the Gaislachkogl takes Alpine Cuisine to new heights. Be sure to try a glass of the signature wine ‘Pino3000’. • Feel the Adrenalin. Experienced skiers can take part in the new Adrenalin Cup. The challenge is to participate in ten disciplines, including giant slalom, speed slope, freeride on moguls, carving and everything · www.visittirol.co.uk

Take Me There Crystal Ski Holidays (www.crystalski.co.uk; 020 8939 0726) offers a week at the 4* Hotel Rosengarten in Sölden from £725 per person on B&B, including flights from Gatwick and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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St. Anton am Arlberg

What you need to know about St Anton am Arlberg • Rocking the cradle. St Anton packs some serious heritage as the birthplace of modernday Alpine skiing and where Hannes Schneider conceived the Arlberg technique of downhill skiing. • Not only for experts. There are superb blue and red runs that intermediates will relish, whilst experienced skiers and boarders will be in paradise with countless challenges on- and off-piste. • Party on. St Anton is hard to beat for aprèsski, with its home run favourites plus more choice at the bottom of the slopes‚ and down the main street.

• Think big. St Anton offers more than enough for most skiers and boarders, but with the ski bus connecting Sonnenkopf, Lech and Zurs, the Ski Arlberg provides a whopping 350km of marked ski runs and 200km of off-piste, accessed by 97 state-of-the art lifts. • Food Toque. Six restaurants in St Anton have been awarded toques by the Gault Millau Restaurant Guide, with the latest addition being awarded an impressive 3 toques for 2015. Ski Arlberg Lift Pass: 3 days €143, 6 days €252 No. of slopes: Ski Arlberg 350 km Transfer from Innsbruck airport: 1 hr 15 mins www.stantonamarlberg.com

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What you need to do in St Anton am Arlberg • Safety first. If you are thinking off-piste then head to the Freeride Safety Training area at Rendl. The Arlberg Bergbahnen and Orvotox have a permanet practice field where you can use avalanche transceiver and practice with searching and digging. • Experts Only. It speaks volumes that you are only allowed on the Valluga II with a ski guide, as the gut-wrenching Valluga descent to Zurs takes more than just nerves but is world famous for being one of the must do off-piste routes. • Night at the museum. A visit to the Museum is a must. The stunning, wood· www.visittirol.co.uk

panelled room with open fire sets the scene to dine in style and the exhibition upstairs gives visitors a glimpse of St Anton’s colourful past. • Ski Show. From the 13th January 2016, every Wednesday at 9pm St Anton am Arlberg puts on a show so spectacular it will make you weep that you may never ski that good.

Take Me There VIP Ski (www.vip-chalets.com; 020 8875 1957) offers a week at the Hotel Montjola in St. Anton from £929, including flights from Gatwick, catered accommodation and resort transfers. Independent packages are available on the tourist board website.

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Top Events in Tirol

Throughout the season the resorts across the Tirol region offer a range of events from sporting competitions to music and comedy festivals.

Bishop and Eddie Izzard were among previous year’s line-up and 2016 won’t disappoint. www.altitudefestival.com

27th November – 20th December 2015 Rattenberg, Alpbachtal Experience the magic of Advent in Tirol at one of the most captivating Christmas markets. The medieval and famous glass-making town of Rattenberg turns back the hands of time on the festive period and stands for what it once used to be. www.alpbachtal.com

5th – 6th February 2016 Air & Style, Innsbruck The world’s best snowboarders converge on Innsbruck’s outdoor Bergisel ski-jump for a day of intense competition at the Air & Style show. www.air-style.com

19th - 24th January 2016 Hahnenkamm Men’s Downhill, Kitzbühel Regarded as the most demanding race course on the world cup circuit, the world famous Hahnenkamm will attract the world’s best skiers and thousands of visitors. www.kitzbuehel.com www.fis-ski.com 11th - 15th January 2016 Altitude Comedy Festival, Mayrhofen Where better to stage this perfect mix of skiing, comedy and music than in one of Tirol’s leading resorts, Mayrhofen. John

Nov 2015 - April 2016 Electric Mountain Festival, Sölden Over in the Oetztal, Sölden hosts a fantastic mix of music, mountains, snow and skiing over several weekends throughout the winter with the grand ‘finale’ at the end of the season. www.electric-mountain-festival.com 16th April 2016 The White Thrill, St Anton This cult ski race includes a mass start with over 550 participants, a 9km run with natural pistes, 1,300 metres in altitude difference, a tough 150 metre ascent – it’s crossing the line that counts here. www.stantonamarlberg.com

Imprint: Publisher and owner: Tirol Tourist Board · CEO Josef Magreiter · Maria-Theresien-Straße 55 · 6020 Innsbruck · Austria · www.tyrol.com · Idea & Concept: Tirol Werbung GmbH · Photos: St. Anton am Arlberg · Ötztal Tourismus · Innsbruck Tourismus · Zillertal ·Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau · Kitzbühel Tourismus · Kitzbüheler Alpen · Wilder Kaiser · Printer: Artpress VVA Druckerei GmbH, Innsbruck · Cut-off date: August 2015, Innsbruck

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And suddenly you realise that relaxation and lifestyle go hand in hand.

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