Ski Holidays in Kaprun, Austria

Snow report issued:	2nd Feb 12
Last snowed:	2nd Feb 12
Fresh snow depth:	3cm
Depth at resort:	130cm
Mountain depth:	240cm
Piste state:
Excellent (A dusting of snow has improved the pistes)
Weather report:
Traces of fresh snow have fallen
Temperature:	-14°C
Open lifts:	22 of 24

View Kaprun snow history

Slope Direction	N S
Very Easy Runs	0
Easy Runs	6
Medium Runs	13
Difficult Runs	9
Toughest Run Name
Skiable Vertical	2243m
Number Of Lifts	27
Top Lift Height	3029m
Night Skiing	N
Snowboarding Parks	3
Half Pipes	1
Swimming Pools	2
Night Clubs	1
Mountain Restaurants	11

Salzburg:	1 hour and 30 minutes
Munich / München:	3 hours

Kaprun has beginner slopes right by the village on the small Lechnerberg area. But if snow cover is short down on the lower slopes, and in any case for progression and variety, the larger Maiskogel has beginner runs up at 1665m accessed by cable car and there are still higher blues on the Kitzsteinhorn.

The ski school is highly regarded, and once basic technique is mastered, the possibilities are endless with long blues down to the village from the Maiskogel.

One of the best choices there is for intermediates thanks to the wide range of ski possibilities, the huge vertical and the offer of the full range of terrain from snowsure high-altitude glacier, on powder fields far above the treeline, to classic trails winding down through the forest directly above the resort.

The Maiskogel, closest to the village, has enough terrain to entertain for a few days, but most intermediates will wish to take the ski bus to either the glacier or to the larger ski area on the Schmittenhohe.

Highly rated for advanced skiers, there are some great blacks spread around the region, and numerous powder fields, with the open snow slopes of the glacier contrasting with tree skiing on the Schmittenhohe.

The Kitzsteinhom glacier is a major centre for boarders with three leading snow parks, known as the Mellow Parks, to choose from, all at snow guaranteed altitudes between 2,500 and 2,900 metres. This means that, unlike many snowparks around the world that often have to wait until the new year before there is enough snow to build elements, these parks can open in the early autumn.

Snowboarders and freeskiers will find an area of 30,000 square metres in total containing more than 70 obstacles. A new superpipe was added near the summit station of the Sonnenkarbahnen, between piste no.1 and the Roxy park for the 2008-9 season.

This will be the only superpipe in the Salzburg area and one out of three in Austria. The pipe will be 150 metres long and the walls will be 5 metres high. With all this on the glacier its easy to overlook the fact that there are still more rails and jumps on the Maiskogel above Kaprun and on the Schmittenhohe above Zell am See, making the region one of the world's best for boarders.

There's plenty to do in the region if you want a break from skiing and boarding. Outdoors, you can hike on one of the many cleared winter paths, including a two kilometre (one and a quarter mile) altitude walk.

There's also winter horse riding, ice skating on frozen Lake Zell or a small rink in the village and, if you want to try a more horizontal form of skiing, around 200km (125 miles) of trails in the region. Floodlit toboggan runs, ice climbing and sleigh rides are also available.

In the air, paragliding flights and hot air ballooning are both possible when conditions are right.

Indoors there's the Optimum sports centre which has an excellent indoor pool as well as fitness facilities. There are also indoor tennis courts and well as squash courts and bowling. There's a moderate selection of shops in the resort and a far bigger selection in Zell am See.

Staying in Kaprun you have the choice of the full range of après ski you'd expect from a leading Austrian resort, as well as the option to go down to the larger town of Zell am See for a still wider selection.

In Kaprun itself there are nearly 30 bars and restaurants. In common with most Austrian resorts most of these are part of larger hotels. Popular drinks venues include Kuhstall and Winkler' Music Café.

Dining choices include Paletti for pizzas and a wide range of traditional establishments serving hearty Austrian mountain meals such as fondue and raclette. The Taunerhof and Dorfstadl are good choices.

Kaprun is a good choice for families with the friendly, traditional village, the small uncrowded ski areas for beginner and early intermediates and the bigger areas for more advanced family groups. The homely restaurants and facilities such as the leisure pool add further to the family attractions.

Children aged two and older can join Bobo's Mini Club, with those over two and a half able to take simple initial ski lessons too. Although there's no organised care for younger babies, baby sitters can be booked via the tourist office.