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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 974m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[5]
Intermediates:		[4]
Advanced:		[3]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Alpbach is a particularly pretty, traditional Austrian village that is located close to Innsbruck. Voted "Europe's most beautiful floral village" because of its summer displays of flowers on the chalet balconies, the resort has maintained a strict architectural identity since 1953. All new building for the past 55 years has had to be in the unique local style of the Alpbachtal Valley. However Alpbach's history goes back much further, at least a thousand years, with older buildings including the eighteenth century church of St. Oswald. The village is also proud of its international fame outside of ski tourism, established through organising an annual 'European Forum' for more than 60 years. Because of this Alpbach has official permission to fly the European flag, due to its "Services to Europe". Another claim to fame is that the resort has been certified as having the purest air in Austria, by the country's Public Health Institute.

The ski area itself is rather small and low by modern standards so of greatest interest to those seeking a traditional Austrian ski village experience rather than endless miles of piste or tough challenges. However there's enough to keep moderate intermediates happy for at least a week.

The main ski area is located on the Wiedersbergerhorn, the ski lifts to which are a short bus ride from the village centre. A slightly longer bus ride takes you on to smaller neighbouring ski hills, also included on your lift ticket, above the villages or Reith, Kramsach and Brandenberg.

Beginners

A lovely place to first clip on skis and learn to turn, Alpbach has beginner slopes right in the village so, depending on the location of your hotel, you should find the ski runs on your doorstep. After a few days of lessons you'll be ready to jump on the ski bus for the five minute ride to the main ski area where more nursery slopes are located at Horn Boden near the top of the area, which may also be used from day one at the ends of the season if there is inadequate snow cover at village level. There's also a choice of blue runs to progress on to.

Intermediates

Nearly 80% of the local terrain is graded intermediate, with wonderful long red runs through the trees above the village affording spectacular views of the surrounding mountainscape. Trails up to eight kilometers (five miles) long are accessed via the main gondolas up the Wiedersbergerhorn and there are additional reds above neighbouring Reith. At the top of the Wiedersbergerhorn there are a few hundred metres of vertical above the tree line which means the terrain opens up to offer wide snowy runs.

Advanced

Although terrain for advanced skiers is somewhat limited compared to the bigger ski areas of the Alps, there are several famous off-piste routes which can be tackled with a guide, particularly the Hygna descent. The three blacks in the region include a steep FIS (International Ski Federation) officially accredited run.

Snowboarding

Alpbach has made quite a name for itself on the international boarding circuit, hosting major events and making the effort to create a good terrain park and a half pipe. There are also plenty of natural hits in the tree lined runs at the edges of the piste.

Other Activities and Facilities

The Alpbacher Erlebnis Hallenbad (Indoor Adventure Pool) has a 25m sports pool with swimming lanes, a large water slide, island with waterfall, massage bench and children's swimming area. There is also an excellent sauna area and steam bath.

Snow shoe tours are organised through the Brandenberg region. Nearby Breitenbach has a great cross country trail network reaching all the way to Mariastein. Torchlit night hikes take place around frozen Lake Reintal are also offered – this is part of 20km (13 miles) of cleared winter hiking paths in the area. There are nine toboggan runs in the area, favourites include the family run in Inneralpbach from the Faulbaumgartenalm through the Luegergraben. There's also a four kilometre (two and a half miles) long floodlit run down from the Bischoferalm by the village.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Alpbach's traditional ambience means there are cozy bars which can provide lively après ski if the right crowd are in town. Popular venues include Jakober and the Postalm. There are more than a dozen restaurants to enjoy, many in the larger hotels and mostly serving scrumptious traditional Tyrolean cuisine – although there's also an Italian option if you fancy a change one night. Otherwise the local mountain cuisine includes Tyrolean bacon dumpling (Speckknödel), fondues, sweet omelette (Kaiserschmarren) or the renowned Brandenberger Prügeltorte, a traditional sweet only available in the region.

Families

A wonderful venue for a relaxed family winter holiday in beautiful surroundings. Alpbach has nursery provision for two to four year olds in a facility located at the top station of the gondola and open from 10am to 3pm daily. Older children aged four and up can join in special ski school classes.

There are various activities and entertainments for children including the kids sections of the swimming pool complex and there is a children's toboggan run next to the ski lifts in nearby Kramsach (500m / 1600 feet long).

Accommodation in Alpbach

• Alphof - 4 star, half board
• Alphof - 4 star, half board
• Furstenhof - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Galtenberg - 4 star, half board

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