Winter Ski holidays Austria - Kaprun - Zell am See

Kaprun church worth a visit

Maiskogel ski area - great for family skiing

View from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier

Ski holidays in Kaprun and Zell am See - Austria.

The ski area at Kaprun consists of an area accessed direct from the village centre via ski lifts up the Maiskogel bahn.  A much larger and higher ski area complete with glacier is on the  Kitzsteinhorn which is accessed from just up the valley from Kaprun, with a regular ski bus service, from Zell am See through the village. The glacier provides the possibility of year round skiing and an extended snow reliability and a snow guarantee in early or late seasons.

The views from the glacier at Kaprun are impressive with the lake at, Zell am See and the highest mountain in Austria the Grossglockne all visible. With the snow guarantee and terrain parks for snowboarders the area caters for skiers of all abilities.

The sister resort from Kaprun is Zell am See with a  magnificent lakeside location and majestic mountains all round, the ski holiday resort of  Zell am See (Zell by the lake) is renowned as one of the most attractive holiday locations in Austria, with drinking quality water.

In summer the lake with a 13 km (7 mile) walk around and its many activities provide a focus for this all year round holiday resort. In winter whilst the lake is a perfect backdrop to the mountains, it provides great scenic value from all directions. and allows visitors to walk, curl or skate across on a fantastic natural ice rink. The ski resort of Zell am See directly accesses the slopes above with a number of lifts going straight up from the town resort. The attraction of of the area is the myriad of skiing opportunities that includes Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier forming jointly what is known as the Europa Sportregion.

The ski area at Zell am See offers the opportunity to ski down through the forest pistes ideally suited for beginners and intermediates with the challenges of black runs for the more experienced skier. The views from the peak at Schmitten Pfiff with its Empress Elizabeth picturesque chapel are spectacular, overlooking the lake, with the glaciers toward the Grossglockner Austria's highest mountain in the distance.

The neighbouring ski holiday resorts of Kaprun and Zell am See are inter-linked by free ski buses, for skiers and share in a common lift pass..

The holiday resorts of Zell am See and Kaprun offers lively après ski with a mix of nationalities.

Further afield around from Kaprun there is access to the extensive ski resorts of Sallbach and Hinterglemm where it is possible to ski clockwise or anti-clockwise around the valleys in the form of a ring, and a little bit further is the Gastein valley ski resorts of Hofgastein (around 30 minutes by car from Kaprun), Bad Gastein and at the very top of the valley Sports Gastein. The Gastein valley is famous for it's hot thermal spas which are naturally occurring.

A new superb spa complex "Tauren-spa-world-Kaprun" is in the process of being built in Kaprun, it is located in a fantastic "sunny" setting close to the village centre, with a lovely vista of the mountains around, it will be a 5-10 minute walk away from Kapruns village centre. The new spa lays claim to being one of the largest in Austria.  Having visited a number of other spas in Austria, I know that you will not be disappointed,  with the new spa which opened in November 2010.

For further information on the area and if you are looking for somewhere to stay, take a look at  :- Austria-holiday-apartment.com it sleeps from 3-9. in comfort 

Austria Holiday Apartment in Kaprun

Snow park on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun wins award

The German magazine ADAC Reisemagazin in its published Ski guide reports on the testing Euorpe's ski resorts terrain parks. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier Ski area above Kaprun has been judged for the year of the report. The Kitzsteinhorn has been very successful and has won in the category of "Snowpark" in front of other leading resorts such as Les Deus Alpes and Davos/Jakobshorn.

To summarise the Kitzsteinhorn Mellow Park is considered to be world class!

If this is not enough there are plans for the snow park areas to be extended and the "park shapers" are waiting for their turn to build up again the Glacier Park, the DC Central Park

To have a look for yourself please have a look at the web cam via the attached link to the Kitzsteinhorn Mellow Park

News update:-

New Superpipe Being Built at Austrian Ski Resort of of Kaprun

The Kitzsteinhorn stands at a height of 3203 meter with it's glacier offers the ability to ski all year round. The area shuts normally (weather dependent) for 2-3 weeks a year in June to allow for the ski lifts to be relocated higher up the glacier slopes.

Come and discover this area for yourself, the Skiing is great and the views superb don't just take my word for it have a look at the attached you tube clip of the parks, the film is rated 5* who am I to disagree? For those who prefer their videos in German here is a separate clip to give you a flavour of the Kitzsteinhorn ski area.

For further info on the 3 ski areas of Kaprun and Zell am See known as the Die Europa sportregion, which consist of the Schmitten, above Zell, the Maiskogel where you can ski down into Kaprun or the Kitzsteinhorn with its glacier see the attached link for a map and further info


Looking for somewhere to stay? consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Wearing helmets whist Skiing in Austria?

There is a rapid debate and in some cases a heated debate evolving around whether helmets should be worn whist skiing, following a number of accidents. The Austrian Times have led with an article recently, around the suggestion that the ski lift operators should police the wearing of helmets?

The ski-injury.com website comes up with the unsurprising statistic that wearing a helmet will reduce your chance of being injured during a collision, lots of interesting additional information.
Along with the comparison of injuries between skiers and and snow-boarders.

There are counter arguments that you are more likely to sustain a neck injury if wearing a helmet?

In some ways it is similar to the debate of a few years ago concerning the wearing of seat belts in cars. It eventually becomes second nature, that when you drive you "clunk click" every trip.

Similarly with the wearing of helmets for horse riding, or for cycle riding is becoming much more common than twenty years ago.

In Italy it is now compulsory for children under 14 to wear helmets when out skiing.

There is the argument from the health & safety lobby, pushing the benefits of safety that the wearing of helmets brings. And the libertarian lobby demanding the right to choose whether to wear a helmet or not.

My personal view is that skiers and snowboarders should go at the speed and on the slopes that they are comfortable with. There is an argument that those new to skiing, are at greater risk of falling and therefore should wear a helmet. I think in time the wearing of helmets will become much the norm than it is now.


Update wearing of Ski helmets in Austria for children under 14 made compulsory

Following a number of high profile incidents the wearing of helmets by children under the age of 14, has now been made compulsory in Austria. This brings Austria into line with the safety provisions of Iataly on the wearing of helmets by skiers / snowboarders.


If you are going to buy a ski helmet, consider the advice listed here.



For further information on somewhere to stay please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com