Ski in St Anton Ski in Kitzbuhel Ski in Mayrhofen Ski in Lech Ski in Obergurgl Ski in Saalbach

Austria Ski Holidays

The hills are alive with the sound of...skis swishing through the white powder of an Austrian ski resort.

Austria might be well known for that famous family of singers, the von Trapps of The Sound of Music fame, but it's also popular for ski holidays. The country, bordered by neighbours such as Germany, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, is largely mountainous. The Austrian Alps beckon skiers from around the world to come and enjoy a frosty ski holiday. In fact, 62 percent of the Austria is covered by the Alps. Another 12 percent is covered by the Carpathian Mountains and the foothills at the base of the Alps. That's a lot of mountainous terrain for skiers to explore.

Austrian Skiing resorts

Austria's many mountain resorts offer a lot of skiing opportunities as well as other activities such as snowboarding, sleigh rides, ice skating, snowshoeing and the indulgence of wonderful spas.

The Arlberg region, the birthplace of modern alpine skiing, is the country's most popular area for ski holidays. It's so popular that Europe's royal families travel here for a bit of winter fun. Here you will find the Lech, Zurs and St. Anton resorts. The altitude ranges from 4,278 to 9,223 feet above sea level here, a perfect spot for snowfall and thus a ski holiday. Not to mention the 161 miles of downhill runs.

If you want to fully indulge in a Tyrolean ski holiday, visit the Kitzbuhel-Reith-Aurach region. Face the challenge of the world-famous Hahnenkamm and 99 miles of manicured trails, not to mention a fabulous snowboard park.

Fly to Zurich, Munich or Innsbruck, which is the closest to many of the resorts. If you're travelling from Zurich for your Austrian ski holiday, the easiest area to reach is Montafon, comprised of Schruns, Gaschurn and Gargellen in the Vorarlberg province. This area is the epitome of a winter wonderland. Plan your ski holiday here, and you'll enjoy choosing from among the resorts' 122 miles of downhill runs. But that's not all Montafon has to offer. How often can you go on a ski tour of glaciers? Be sure to pencil that into your ski holiday schedule. You might not be singing like the von Trapps as you glide over all that pristine snow, but the hills will indeed be alive. And after an invigorating day on the slopes, slip into relaxation mode in the Montafon valley's quiet Alpine villages.