Ready, Steady, Austria

Some good falls of super snow in the alps this winter offer the ideal excuse to slope off and take that skiing holiday you’ve been promising yourself.

It takes just over an hour to transfer from Innsbruck Airport to the Paznaun Valley, and your very own winter wonderland. Galtür is a good choice for a ski break, as it’s the valley’s highest resort (1,584 metres above sea level) and promises snow from early December through to spring.

Set in the beautiful Silvretta mountain range, this picture-perfect place is also a great choice for anyone wanting to enjoy cross-country skiing, with 74kms of trails for beginners and advanced skiers carved into the inspiring Tyrolean landscape.

There are low trails between the hamlets, villages and towns of Wirl, Galtür and Ischgl and demanding routes up the mountains, if you are feeling adventurous.

Thanks to some excellent lessons from the Silvertta Galtür Ski School I managed the 17km high altitude Bielerhöhe ski trail with an instructor. This demanding track routes up through the Vermunt Valley and climbs to 2,040 metres – and a welcome rest at the Piz Buin mountain inn.

I sipped a beer and took in the sheer beauty of the Silvretta’s highest peaks. For those who want to get back to nature it doesn’t get much better than this, with hidden valleys and tracks close to the mountains, where all you can hear is bird song and babbling brooks.

Galtür

Families will enjoy Galtür as there’s plenty to do in the Silvapark, from the kid’s world, which includes a kindergarten and ski school, to Adventure World, where they can explore the mountains on enchanted forest trails. There’s also an action park and 40kms of downhill ski runs, ideal for beginners and intermediates, with welcoming wide slopes. You can also enjoy snowshoe hikes, Alpine tours, and ski safaris, with qualified guides.

And when you’ve had almost enough head to the Weiberhimml après ski bar - it’s a traditional Tyrol hut, with great music and a friendly crowd – and just a five minute ski back down to the town.

Kappl

Perfect for families, this beautiful, small resort boasts the Sunny Mountain Club, where young children can enjoy their own mountain experience - in good care - while you head out for some well-deserved time on the slopes. Youngsters will also like the Experience Park, which promises lots of mini adventures, and The Fun Park where more experienced snowboarders and free skiers can enjoy lots of half pipes and ski jumps.

Kappl has 40kms of piste, a good ski school and a weekly programme, which includes guiding hiking, snowshoe hiking and tobogganing. And it’s also a real suntrap, with sun from morning ‘til evening  - which is best enjoyed from the Panorama bar, with its incredible views of the mountain peaks.

Ischgl

But if your view is ‘bigger is best,’ then head to Ischgl. Known as the Eldorado of winter sports, this place rocks 24/7, with 238kms of piste, mountain concerts and a legendary après ski scene. Austria’s largest interconnected ski resort also enjoys a long season, from the end of November until May, and with a joint ski pass you can take on the Duty Free Run and ski from here into the Swiss tax haven of Samnaun for some shopping!

Ischgl is ideal for intermediates, but black run skiers and beginners will also find there’s plenty to keep them busy, with good off piste and free-style skiing and a ski school. The Paznaun region has spent more than 30 million euros on the resort in the last few years and it’s paying off. This is a fantastic ski area – and one of the cable cars even has heated seats! The valley resorts are linked by a frequent free ski bus service, so there’s plenty of opportunity to visit each place – and well worth it, as each has its own appeal.

Seeing stars

Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, Kate Perry and Rihanna have all played at Ischgl’s famous Top of the Mountain Concerts – the Killers closed the winter season 2011.

Follow your leader

The Ski Club of Great Britain hosts Ski Club Leaders in Ischgl. They ski with members each day (except Saturdays) and offer a varied programme for all standards except beginners. See www.skiclub.co.uk/leaders and around the resort, including in the tourist office.

Briony traveled with Crystal Holidays. See www.crystalski.co.uk for further information on ski holidays to Austria. Visit www.paznaun-ischgl.com for further information.

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