Ski Holidays in Obertauern, Austria

• Snow Conditions in Obertauern Austria +

  Snow report issued:	27th Mar 12
  Last snowed:	20th Mar 12
  Fresh snow depth:	5cm
  Depth at resort:	150cm
  Mountain depth:	250cm
  Piste state:
  Good (The best conditions can be found on the upper slopes)
  Weather report:
  Glorious sunny weather, suntan lotion a must
  Temperature:	4°C
  Open lifts:	26 of 26

  View Obertauern snow history

• Obertauern Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	N S
  Very Easy Runs	0
  Easy Runs	26
  Medium Runs	35
  Difficult Runs	5
  Toughest Run Name	Gamsleiten 2
  Skiable Vertical	570m
  Number Of Lifts	26
  Top Lift Height	2313m
  Night Skiing	Y
  Snowboarding Parks	1
  Half Pipes	0
  Swimming Pools	0
  Night Clubs	5
  Mountain Restaurants	2

• Obertauern Piste Map+

  

• Obertauern Transfer Times+

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

Obertauern is quite an unusual Austrian resort, being located at a high altitude above the tree line and straddling a mountain pass road. The altitude makes for good snow cover at resort level throughout the season and there's extensive snowmaking covering most of the pistes.

The resort is mostly made up of large hotels with lifts accessible on skis from every one. You do not need a car during your stay in Obertauern and virtually all uplift is provided by comfortable four and six seater chairlifts. There has been skiing here since the early 1940s and an interesting side note is that the Beatles filmed the snow scenes of their second movie, Help!, here.

The ski area is large, though virtually all beginner and intermediate standard. The lift served vertical is not quite so impressive but the terrain is varied. If you want to cross the national road on skis, you will find large bridges for skiers. Guests staying in the resort can take advantage of two regional lift pass options if they want to ski at neighbouring resorts too.

The Association Lungau-Katschberg-Obertauern (LUNGO) ticket covers all lifts between Obertauern and the Lungau Region (Großeck - Speiereck, Fanningberg, Aineck-Katschberg, Schönfeld - Karneralm) including a bus service between the areas. In addition the resort is part of the Giant salzburgerland lift pass which altogether covers almost 90 resorts, offering over 700 lifts, with a combined uplift of just under one million skiers per hour, serving more than 2,200km of runs spread over 970 trails!

• Skiing for Beginners+

  Nursery slopes are located in the village centre and with the resort altitude and snow making there's normally no problem using these all season long, meaning maximum convenience as you are straight on to the slopes as you go out of the front door of your hotel.
  
  Almost sixty percent of the wider terrain is graded blue (easy) so there's plenty to explore around Obertauern once you have mastered your basic turn and stop skills. Ski school group lessons are typically for four hours daily, over six days, from 10am to noon and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Discounts are offered for family groups of four or more people.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  Intermediates can move around the 28 lifts and cable cars of the circuit on one of two separate ski circuits - the intermediate's Red Tauernrunde or the easier Green Tauernrunde. These each give skiers the opportunity to ski the whole Tauern-circuit and to return back to the start of their route. At every ski piste crossroads you will find large signs with maps to help your orientation in the ski area.
  
  Night skiing is offered, free of charge to those with a ski pass valid two days or longer, every Monday and Thursday from 7 to 10pm by using the Edelweißbahn ski lift.

• Advanced+

  Runs for advanced skiers are limited to just four percent of the total terrain and four kilometres (two and a half miles) in total. The Gamsleiten 2 piste is regarded as the toughest in the resort. The four ski schools operating locally offer off-piste powder and ski touring courses for advanced skier. The various regional lift tickets open up more opportunities at neighbouring resorts.

• Snowboarding at Obertauern+

  Obertauern operates a terrain park for freestylers, but perhaps a bigger attraction, are the wide open powder slopes that surround the resort. These are all accessed by easy-to-ride high capacity chair lifts making the whole boarding experience very smooth and high in quality.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Obertauern+

  Most facilities are owned and operated by individual hotels. The rustic Gnadenalm Inn operates a floodlit toboggan run, horse-drawn sleigh rides and a 20 km cross-country trail which is always well maintained. It also offers other winter sports including snowshoe hikes and ice climbing.
  
  There is an Olympic Training centre which provides training facilities for Olympic standard athlete, but has indoor tennis and squash for all. Many of the hotels are well equipped with indoor swimming pools and other wellness facilities.
  
  Other options include bowling, an internet café, and 18km (11 miles) of cleared winter hiking paths. Excursions to Salzburg, about 90 minutes away, are also organised.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  Obertauern's ten après ski bars can be quite lively right from the time of lift closure (4pm mid-winter, 5pm in the Spring. The outdoor Weltcup Shirm bar is popular as is the Latsch'n Alm and Der Turm in the Hotel Schneider.
  
  There are about 30 dining choices, mostly hotel restaurants serving Austrian cuisine and mountain dishes including fondue and raclette. However there are alternative choices including the cheerful Pizzeria Da Giorgio.

• Ski Holidays in Obertauern suitable for Families+

  There is a nursery called "Petzi Bär" in the "Guest House" which accepts children aged up to six. There is a kindergarten for non-skiing children aged over two years in the Hotel Alpina and the ski school operates a ski kindergarten for children three to six years old.
  
  The service includes two hours of ski lessons daily with lunchtime cover if required. Older children have special ski school classes. Children pay for lift tickets from age seven and pay half the adult pass price to age 17 when a further youth discounted price is available until age 20.