Things to do in winter
SNOW WORLD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Where snow-covered peaks shine brightly in the light of the winter sun; where laughing children learn their first turns on skis, where snowboarders carve across wide pistes and winter sportsmen and women find their own personal paradise in the mountains – there lies the Salzburger Saalachtal. A gem of alpine joie de vivre amidst unspoiled, pristine nature with genuine, deep-rooted people who love their homeland and warmly welcome guests. Salzburger Saalachtal is a place where lovers simply forget the time on a walk through the snow or a horse-drawn sleigh ride; families hit the ski areas together, ski tourers celebrate well-deserved victories over the peaks and people in their prime can rediscover their love for skiing.
Austria’s friendliest Family Ski Area
The Salzburger Saalachtal, with its villages Lofer, Unken, St Martin and Weißbach and the ski areas of Heutal and the Almenwelt Lofer, is situated in the heart of Pinzgau and the border triangle between Salzburg, Tyrol and Germany. Where so many generations have already learnt to ski and families have found a holiday paradise in the snow-covered mountains; there lies this little treasure of the Salzburg Alps. Family-friendly is no empty promise here; it is a real passion. So it is no great surprise that the region is well-known far beyond the country’s border as the friendliest family ski area in Austria and that it has been awarded with the „Skitest Award“ in this category. Even the tiniest have enormous fun here on the covered magic-carpet; teenagers let off steam freestyle-skiing with their friends while parents can really enjoy skiing on the perfectly prepared pistes. The local ski schools stand for quality and are specialized in the requirements of families. Whether young or a little older – one is never too old to start or start again in the world of skiing in Salzburger Saalachtal.
Winter Fun for Every Generation
Away from the wonderful pistes of the region, there are all sorts of things going on in winter. Happy couples, closely-entwined, wander along the romantic winter hiking paths through the snow-covered valley. Elderly guests stamp through the glittering deep snow in snowshoes. Children hold sledging competitions with their parents from Hochalm or Maria Kirchental. On the ice, locals and guests alike compete in the traditional sport of ice-curling (Eisstockschießen) while twirling young princesses perform wonderful pirouettes. During Après-Ski everyone meets up after skiing or ski school for last refreshments, before they head off to the restaurants to be spoiled with regional delicacies.
Ski Touring and Cross-Country Skiing
For those who would love to experience the Salzburger mountains from a completely different perspective and find happiness and balance in the open country; the Salzburger Saalachtal has much to offer in the way of ski tours up to the summits. Should the ascent be steep and the way long and arduous – the panoramic views from the Sonntagshorn in Unken, the Skihörndl in Lofer, the Kammerlinghorn in the Naturpark Weißbach or the other ski touring destinations, will blow away all stresses and strains in an instant. This feeling is worth the effort every single time. And after all this, the descent awaits!
For those, for whom the journey is the reward and who can completely switch-off when cross-country skiing, the Salzburger Saalachtal is also the perfect place. You can glide along a total of 80 km trails – classic or skating. The reliable snow on the high-trails in the Almenwelt Lofer and in Heutal, mean that this cross-country skiing region counts as one of the most popular far and wide.
Experience, Explore, Discover
Whether you want to discover skiing as a family; explore lonely peaks on touring skis or simply enjoy the winter in the Salzburger mountains in all its glory; the Salzburger Saalachtal and its people deliver holidays which are what they really should be: the best days of the year.
