If you’re on the lookout for breathtaking views and an unforgettable ski experience, look no further than the incredible town of Mayrhofen, Austria.
SKI FACTS
SEASON START & END: Early December to mid-April
SKI ALTITUDE IN METRES: 630 metres to 2,500 metres / Vertical Drop 1870 metres
PISTES: eg: 31% Beginner / 49% Intermediate / 20% Expert // 142 kilometres of pistes (44 km Blue / 66 km Red / 32 km Black)
LIFTS: 60 Lifts (Cable cars 2 / Gondola 7/ Combined installations 1 / Chair lift 17 / Drag Lifts 17 / Conveyors 16)
SNOW: 360 snow cannons
LIFT TICKET 2022/23: Adult Local Resort: 65 Euros – 1 day / 315 Euros – 6 day. Adult Connected Area: 65 Euros – 1 day / 315 Euros – 6 days
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: 40 km of trails
LANGUAGE: German
AIRPORT: Innsbruck 72 km / Salzburg 171 km / München 195 km / Zürich 355 km
TRAIN: Mayrhofen train station. High-speed trains direct to Innsbruck and get off the train in Jenbach, where you change to the Zillertalbahn train or the train station shuttle. See online.
SKI FACTS: Mountopolis, the outdoor adventure world in Mayrhofen, is famous for its insanely steep Harakiri piste and large snowpark. Mayrhofen is one of the top winter sports destinations in Tirol for intermediate and expert skiers, yet also offers plenty of gentle runs for beginners and families.
The Breathtaking town
The town of Mayrhofen is quite the bustling hub of a ski resort with easy access by train or road and links to many other ski resorts along the Zillertal Valley. The breathtaking Zillertal Valley is one of the biggest municipalities in the Tyrol and Mayerhofen is probably one of the bigger towns in the valley with a lot of choice when it comes to accommodation, restaurants, shops and general nightlife and of course après ski too.
The earliest record of the town dates back to about 1200, and being at the end of the valley it was fairly removed from the dramas in the rest of Europe. Tourism started up at the end of the 1800s and the first ski lifts were built after the Second World War. The main road along the breathtaking valley luckily goes around Mayrhofen diverting most of the traffic away from the town centre. A gondola leaves from the centre of the town towards the Penken ski area whilst the Ahorn ski area can be accessed by a bus.
Everything you need to know about skiing in Mayrhofen
The whole outdoor adventure area has been named the Mountopolis, with very modern ski lifts which are constantly being updated and a huge array of pistes. The skiing is quite excellent and a huge plus is that it is linked to so many other ski resorts in the breathtaking Zillertal region.
The Penken ski area is one of the largest local to Mayrhofen. With four main connected ski mountains: Penken, Rastkogel, Horberg and Eggalm there is a lot of choice catering for all abilities of skiers. The famed Harakiri Piste 34 will certainly deliver a steep thrill for expert skiers with a 78% gradient and possibly one of the steepest pistes in Austria.
The area also boasts possibly one of the best snow parks in Europe, called Penken Park, set up to satisfy complete beginners up to professionals, they even have a Bag Jump for those wanting to push their boundaries with the safety of a soft landing.
The Ahorn ski area provides a slightly different feel to Penken, perfect for families and beginners. With a high-altitude plateau of wide blue and red pistes, it has a slightly more chilled vibe. The Funride Ahorn also provides some fun in the way of bowls, curves and rollers.
Watch out for the 5.5km 1300 metres vertical drop Ahorn Valley black piste might prove tricky to the little ones and beginners. When it comes to lunch on the mountain we had a wonderful gourmet experience at the Schneekar Hutte with locally sourced produce, much of it organic and breathtaking views to feed the soul you will not want to spend the rest of the afternoon up here.
BEGINNERS
The Ahorn Mountain is best suited to beginners and the young ones, with ski lifts that are child-friendly. It is possible to travel across to the breathtaking Penken side and travel across most of the area via blue pistes, although getting a few red pistes under your belt would be a good idea to appreciate this side of the valley.
INTERMEDIATE
Go anywhere on the mountain and you will have fun, big wide pistes that pick their way down the mountains through the peaks and trees you will not be disappointed by the variety or the stunning views for that matter.
ADVANCED
For the advanced skier, the breathtaking Harakiri Piste 34 is possibly one of Austria’s steepest pistes at 78% gradient, if not sure of your steep skiing capabilities then test yourself on Piste 12 the Devil’s Run.
For more information on Mayrhofen visit online. Mayrhofen is located in the region of Tyrol, for more information on the region including other ski resorts such as Hintertux and Hochzillertal please visit their website online.
The Bespoke Black Book travelled with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle to get to the Austrian Alps. Book your trip with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle from as little as £87 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) each way for a Short Stay Saver ticket (valid for 5 calendar days) or £110 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) for a Standard ticket (for any duration).
Alternatively, travel in style with one-way £269 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) for a Flexiplus ticket, turn up any time and get on the next available train, and access to the club lounge (for any duration). You can also take your pet from just £22 each way. For more information or to book see online at www.eurotunnel.com
