AUSTRIA

Innsbruck:
Elevation of Resort: 1,897 ft./575 m
Highest Liftserved Point: 7,444 ft/2255 m Vertical Drop: 5,547 ft./1680 m

St. Anton:
Elevation of Resort: 4,303 ft./1304 m
Highest Liftserved Point: 9,273 ft./2811 m Vertical Drop: 4,970 ft/1507 m

Sölden:
Elevation of Resort: 4,544 ft./1,376 m
Highest Liftserved Point: 10,725 ft./3,250 m
Vertical Drop: 6,181 ft./1,874 m

Austrian Resorts

Austrian mountain resorts not only meet the best standards elsewhere, but often exceed them in value and service. As is the Austrian way, service and gratuities are always included. You can ski right into the village, and the lifts are usually within easy walking distance to your hotel. Beautiful, picturesque hotels, with fluffy down comforters and cozy rooms, await you. Along with a hot spicy 'Gluehwein' or 'Schnaps,' of course!

Austrian Ski Instruction

Besides its ski resorts, Austria is world famous for its ski-schools and instructors like the legendary Hannes Schneider. He and others have founded ski-schools at home as well as in the United States and in Canada. Ski lessons in English are available from some of Austria's most talented ski instructors. Creating runs for every level skier and making sure that visitors can navigate through the terrain they want to ski is top priority in Austria. That means extreme skiers and beginners alike will find their place on all mountains, with a variety runs to help everyone reach their peak.

Perfect Snow

Though the slopes aren't gusty and bitterly cold, the Austrian Alps are blessed with a long and lavish snow season. The snow on the ground is generally powdery and fluffy well into spring. Packed powder prevails on the groomed runs, deep powder off-piste. The Austria Snow Report gives you the latest snow conditions at the top ski resorts in Austria, seven days a week, from mid-December to late April. The reports are updated twice each week and are reliably gathered by the Austrian Automobile Association. The number can be reached by dialing (212) 944-6880 ext. 993. View the Snow Report online.

Ski Run Marking System

Austrian ski resorts are typically nestled in valleys.The surrounding mountain tops are artfully carved with long open runs that begin above the timberline and feed into the resorts below. Generally, there are mid-run markers on all Austrian ski slopes above timberline. The color of these markers, 1 foot-diameter disks on poles, lets you know whether you are on an easy (blue), medium (red) or difficult (black) run. Edge markers, large plastic globes on high poles, tell you whether you are inside (green), on the edge (green/red) or outside (red) the run. In addition you will find orientation maps at the lift stations, numbered run designation, danger signs, rope barriers, safety nets and much more.

More than just skiing...

For non-skiers, there's plenty to do and see. Tobogganing, sleigh rides, snowshoe adventures through snowy alpine trails or ice skating are all available at most resorts. There are loads of options for trend and adventure sports like snowboarding and telemarking. Spice up your winter vacation experience with some European flavor: check out the local sights, shop in uniquely Austrian boutiques, take excursions to some of the beautiful surrounding areas and meet the international crowds that love to gather in the outdoor cafes.

Austria, the ultimate difference

Austrian ski resorts are built around villages that have been there since the Middle Ages, where the architecture and traditions of the region are integral to the daily life of the community and its visitors. Welcoming friendly faces, delicious restaurants, a sense of history and tradition are at every turn. When you slip into your skis in Austria, you are stepping into another place, another time, another culture. You can't repeat the experience anywhere else. The value of your experience is thus doubled when you ski Austria.

WALKING AND HIKING

The Hills are still alive in Austria! If you are looking for picture perfect scenery, fresh mountain air and crystal clear lakes, Austria offers an abundance of choices. Following is our selection of some of the most scenic Alpine resorts.

Alpbach
Voted "Europe's Flower Village" and twice won "Austria's Most Beautiful Village" contest. Clean air, lush meadows and a picturesque village. Try tasty Tyrolean specialies with a glass of schnapps to warm body and soul. 100 miles of trails. Hike the Wiedersberger Horn at 7,000 feet and routes to abondoned 15th century farms. Visit Rattenberg, glass blowing city from the Middle Ages or Alpbach's farmhouse museum built in 1636. For your stay, choose either the quaint chalet style pension Haus Angelika or the first class Alpbacherhof with indoor swimming pool, outstanding Tyrolean cuisine, breakfast on the sun terrace.

Copyright © Austrian National Tourist Office

Igls
Twice hosted the winter Olympics. The village sits on a sunlit glacial plateau 3,000 feet above sea level with a view of Innsbruck below. Verdant country, freshwater lake, also a sports resort. Home base is 5-star Sporthotel Igls.

Kitzbuehel
Castles, chapels, murals, fountains, flowers, and open air concerts. 120 miles of trails, 25 tennis courts, Aquarena. Home base is 5 star Hotel Weisses Roessl, member of "Leading Hotels of the World".

Lech
Visit the timeless paradise in the village of Lech at 4,748 feet, a world of peaks and valleys. Old-world culture abounds in the farmer's market, the 15th century Parish Church, and the Sunday brass band in authentic costumes.

BIKING

Below you find four well-marked bike trails selected for their scenic beauty and point of interest:

Vorarlberg Trail and Lake Constance Loop

Cyclists experience the diversity of Vorarlberg's (Austria's most western province) scenery on the bike trail between Bludenz and Bregenz. Surrounded by a majestic mountain backdrop and and nestled between five valleys, the medieval Alpine town of Bludenz is the perfect starting point for this Alpine Adventure. Bludenz can easily be reached via train (closest airport gateway is Zurich) and besides cycling offers great hiking, fishing, shopping. For chocolate lovers, don't miss a tour of the Suchard chocolate factory where the famous "Milka" (thats the purple one you will find in every Austrian store) is produced.

The bike trail follows the Ill river to Feldkirch with its medieval town center and the majestic Schattenburg castle. Following the Rhine river north, you will eventually get into Bregenz, known for ist summer music festival perfomances on a floating stage on Lake Constance. From Bregenz you will connect to the international Lake Constance Loop, allowing you to visit Germany and Switzerland as well. If your legs are caving in, you can take a short-cut on the ferry to Konstanz. The loop will bring you back to Bregenz on the south shore of the lake. For added variety, parts of the loop may be accomplished by boat.

Distance: Total of 200 miles, including Lake Constance Loop
Starting Point: Bludenz Start and Finish for Lake Constance Loop: Bregenz
Features: Paved bike paths or roads with very little traffic. Mostly flat
For detailed information contact:
Vorarlberg Tourism, Roemerstrasse 7
6900 Bregenz, Austria
Tel: 01143-5574-42525
FAX: 01143-5574-425 255

Copyright © Austrian National Tourist Office

The Tauernradweg along the Salzach and Saalach River

This may very well be one of the most exciting cycling tours in Europe. Scenic beauty, Europe's highest waterfalls, a visit to Salzburg and countless attractions along the way. The starting point of this bike trip is the small village of Krimml, inmidst the Hohe-Tauern National Park region. With its impressive waterfalls and some great hiking excursions, it might take you an extra day to leave Krimml and get started on your journey. The bike trail will follow the Salzach River through charming villages to Zell am See, a picturesque summer and winter resort. Here you will have two options for your way to Salzburg, to continue along the Salzach River with a chance to visit the world's largest ice caves in Werfen or the salt mines in Hallein.

Or you can take the (even more scenic) route along the Saalach river, visiting such charming places like Maria Alm and Lofer and taking a short cut through Bavaria into Salzburg. From Salzburg the bike trail will lead north through Oberndorf (with the Silent Night chapel) to the German border town of Passau where you may connect and continue to the Danube bike trail towards Vienna.

Distance: 203 miles, 110 miles from Krimml to Salzburg
Start: Krimml (can be reached by narrow-gauge train from Zell am See)
Finish: Passau
Features: slightly downhill only some minor climbs, mostly on paved trails and or minor roads with local traffic. Some gravel or mountain trails are used (not recommended for racing bikes) .
For further information contact:
Salzburg State Tourist Board, P.O. Box 1, 5300
Hallwang, Austria
Tel: 01143-662-6256 12
Fax: 01143-662-62 30 70

The Salzkammergut Lake District Tour

The "Salzkammergut" salt chamber district of Austria, with its many lakes in a beautiful alpine environment, has become one of the most popular vacation spots in Austria. This bike trip will lead you by no less than 13 of these lakes offering you a chance to break up your cycling with swimming, fishing and sailing and hiking. This tour is a loop which allows you to start your adventure anywhere along the route. The official starting point is Salzburg from where the route will follow southeast to St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang, further along to St. Wolfgang and Bad Ischl, our former emperor's Franz Joseph's favorite vacation spot (visit his former hunting lodge !). Further south the trail will lead you into the picturesque town Hallstatt. Don't miss taking a small boat out on the lake and enjoy one the country's best photo ops. Stop at the ice caver near Obertraun. Via the Traunsee, Attersee and Mondsee, all of which invite to some great water activities.

Distance: 192 mile loop with start and finish in Salzburg
Features: mostly biking paths and side roads with little traffic, for short distance where highways are being used, railway or buslines offer an alternative
For further information contact:
Salzburg State Tourist Board,
P.O. Box 1, 5300
Hallwang, Austria
Tel: 01143-662-6256 12
Fax: 01143-662-62 30 70
or Upper Austria Information, Schillerstrasse 50, 4021 Linz, Austria
Tel: 01143-732-663 022
FAX: 01143-723-600 229

The Danube Bike Trail from Passau to Vienna (or on to Hainburg)

The most prominent of all bike routes in Austria, this tour will take you some of Austria's most impressive cultural sites. Starting at the historic German Border town of Passau the trail follows the Danube River (Europe's second largest) into Vienna. The city of Linz, the baroque abbey of St. Florian and the many castles along the way and of course, the famous "Wachau" region with ist charming villages, vineyards and romantic fruit orchards. Don't miss a visit to the baroque abbey of Melk overlooking the Danube.

Duernstein, with its ruins where King Richard the Lionhearted has been captured on his way back from the crusades, and the 1000 year old town of Krems are other must-see stops on the tour. For those wishing to cycle further along past Vienna, the Hainburg area close to the border with Slovakia is the end of the marked bike trail

Distance: 197 miles
Start: Passau Finish: Hainburg
Features: 90% traffic free bike trails along the Danube River, practically flat or slightly downhill. Some points of interest will require short uphill battles.
For further information contact:
Upper Austria Information,
Schillerstrasse 50,
4021 Linz, Austria Tel: 01143-732-600 2211
FAX: 01143-723-600 220

---

---

* Information is courtesy of the Austrian National Tourist Office