Why you should go on a family holiday to the resorts of Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau

Explore the slopes around some of the most attractive villages of the Austrian Tirol, only 45 minutes from the Innsbruck airport

The resort is home to some of the Austrian Tirol's prettiest villages (Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau)

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau’s 109km of slopes sprawl over the wooded mountains of Alpbachtal and Wildschönau, linking some of the prettiest places in the Austrian Tirol.

In a region known for its picturesque villages, Alpbach and Oberau stand out for their beauty. It’s one of Austrian Tirol’s biggest ski areas too, within which you’ll find intimate, family-friendly resorts that are only 45 minutes from Innsbruck airport. Speedy lifts make it easy to get around, especially with the new gondola connecting Auffach with Schatzberg that’s opening this winter.

And as 85 per cent of the slopes are covered by snow-making machines, you don’t have to worry about the weather.

It’s one of Austrian Tirol’s biggest ski areas (Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau)

Challenge yourself

Thrill-seekers can get their kicks in the Alpbachtal Snowpark, the Snowboard Family Park Schatzberg and the Race’n’Boarder Arena in Wildschönau. Racers can challenge themselves on the permanent Eva-Maria Brem giant slalom race course on the Reither Kogel where the World Cup winner used to train.

If you can’t get enough of skiing during the day, head over to Reith or Oberau, both of which offer floodlit night skiing. For another enjoyable way of hurtling yourself down the mountain, try some of Ski Juwel’s toboggan trails that run both during the day and night. One of the most exciting is the 6km run at Lanerköpfl down to Niederau, which has a great view over the village.

Walk this way

For a change of pace, explore the mountains on foot or on snowshoes. Take the gondola up to Reither Kogel and follow the easy 6.7km trail down to the valley, where the panoramic views make this one of the most popular walks in the area. Or follow the enchanting 4.5km trail through the forest from the Schatzberg cable car down to Auffach.

Alternatively, strap on snowshoes for a magical 2.2km walk through the high pastures of Schönanger towards Kundlalm where you’ll pass an adorable little chapel and rustic mountain huts.

Try Gröstl, a speciality dish in the ski resorts of the Austrian Tirol (Alamy Stock Photo)

All this activity requires sustenance, which won’t be difficult to find in the Austrian Tirol. The region’s hearty cuisine – washed down with Schnapps or Alpbacher Bier – is exactly what you need after a day in the mountains. Look out for Gröstl, an Alpine-style fry-up of bacon, potatoes and onions with a fried egg on top, while Speckknödel blends bacon into bread dumplings served in a delicious broth. If you’re feeling peckish before dinner, tuck into a Marend, the Tirolean version of a plate of charcuterie that’s meant to be shared – which isn’t always possible.

With daily scheduled flights to Innsbruck from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, as well as services from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool, it’s easy to discover the Austrian Tirol. For more details, see visittirol.co.uk and skijuwel.com/en

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