Austria Alps Glacier Ski Safari- Self Guided
Overview
The Austrian Alps Glacier Ski Safari takes in the 7 major glacier skiing resorts of Austria on a self-guided, self-drive adventure. Starting & finishing in the world's greatest ski city of Innsbruck, travel from west to east on a tour that includes Kaunertal Glacier, Pitztal Glacier, Soelden, Stubai Glacier, Hintertux Glacier, Kitzsteinhorn & Moelltal Glacier. The tour encompasses the highest & snowiest ski areas in Austria & includes all the classic ski experiences associated with a winter journey through the Alps.
Austria is such an easy place to get around by car, so we highly recommend this DIY tour for your next ski holiday in the Alps. Having a car provides the autonomy to go where and when you want to go. Major roads link the various valleys throughout Austria. The mountain roads to several resorts can be challenging. If you don't feel confident driving in winter mountain conditions, you can still self-drive between the towns and take a shuttle bus up to the different mountains each day.
When to Go
The glacier ski resorts of Austria all operate from October through to May. Several are open for longer periods, with Hintertux Glacier open all year round & Moelltal for 11 months of the year. Early in the season, terrain can be relatively limited to the upper reaches of the resorts. Prime time to visit is from December to mid-April. This period has a higher likelihood of powder snow, abundant open lifts & terrain plus a range of alternative ski resorts will still be operating.
Tour Location
The Austrian Alps Glacier Ski Safari starts & finishes at Innsbruck. The tour is predominately in the Tyrol state but includes parts of Salzburgerland & Carinthia, plus Italy on the return journey. It first travels west to the Kaunertal Glacier, then journeys east back along the Inn River & side valleys via Innsbruck into the Salzburg state & Kitzsteinhorn near Kaprun. After Kaprun a fascinating journey, which includes a car-train between Bad Gastein & Mallnitz, to Moelltal Glacier tops off the adventure. A drive back to Innsbruck via the northern fringes of the Dolomites & the town of Vipiteno, then over the Brenner Pass is the cherry on top of a memorable road trip.
Flights
The Innsbruck (INN) airport can be easily reached from multiple origins within Europe or the UK. For travellers from outside Europe or the UK, a connection will be required, or simply fly into Munich (MUN) airport & drive or take a train into Austria from there.
Search & book your flights to Innsbruck or Munich here.
Car Rental
Whilst the tour could be done using trains & buses, it is best conducted with the use of a rental car. Fully winterised rental cars are available at the Innsbruck airport. Availability may be low during high season (Christmas New Year & February), but other rental locations can be utilised as well. Simply ensure the vehicle has winter tyres and is preferentially AWD or 4WD.
Search & book your car rental here.
Accommodation
You will find accommodation suggestions & links throughout the itinerary. Search & book hotels, apartments, guesthouses & chalets via the links. Alternatively, you can book accommodation anywhere in the Austrian Alps on the link below.
Search & book Austrian Alps accommodation here.
Other Ski Resorts to Visit on the Tour
Interspersed throughout the tour are a range of the Powderhounds' favourite non-glacier ski resort options worth visiting on bad weather days or when visibility on the glaciers is low. Resorts like Hochzeiger, Obergurgl Hochgurgl, Mayrhofen, Kitzbuhel, Skicircus Saalbach, Zell am See, Schlick 2000 & Gastein provide the goods when it is blowing up high on the range or are just great additions to any ski tour of Austria.
More tour details coming soon.......