Ski Holidays in Scheffau, Austria

• Snow Conditions in Scheffau Austria +

  Snow report issued:	27th Mar 12
  Last snowed:	19th Mar 12
  Fresh snow depth:	15cm
  Depth at resort:	55cm
  Mountain depth:	150cm
  Piste state:
  Spring snow (Spring conditions across the resort)
  Weather report:
  Another glorious day
  Temperature:	7°C
  Open lifts:	9 of 16

  View Scheffau snow history

• Scheffau Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	N S E W
  Very Easy Runs	1
  Easy Runs	8
  Medium Runs	10
  Difficult Runs	1
  Toughest Run Name	Route Moderer
  Skiable Vertical	965m
  Number Of Lifts	41
  Top Lift Height	1650m
  Night Skiing	N
  Snowboarding Parks	1
  Half Pipes	1
  Swimming Pools	0
  Night Clubs	0
  Mountain Restaurants	70

• Scheffau Piste Map+

  

• Scheffau Transfer Times+

  Munich:	0 minutes
  Innsbruck:	0 minutes

Scheffau is an attractive, traditional Tyrolean village located on Austria's largest lift-linked ski area, the Skiwelt, and right at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser mountain.

The resort has a long history with documentation dating back to the twelfth century. It is quite low by modern standards at 752m and is the smallest of the villages around the Kaiser, with a population of 1,200.

The Skiwelt connects Scheffau to a dozen other resorts including neighbours Ellmau, Itter and Hopfgarten, via a gondola from the edge of the village.

There is a new link to Westendorf, and two larger area passes are available which open up the possibility of skiing over to Kitzbuhel (via a short bus connection) or, with longer trips, skiing more than 700km (440 miles) of piste in the larger Kitzbuheler Alpen Region (a rental car or public bus service is required to reach all areas with this).

The Skiwelt region also has an unusual program to help single skiers get to know each other. Participants can wear stickers announcing they are single 'ski bunnies' and meet at selected mountain restaurants on the circuit, then re-connect via the website. Special events are also organised. The ski bunnies meeting point in Ellmau is at the Hartkaiser mountain restaurant.

• Skiing for Beginners+

  There is a nursery ski area down in the village, but the ski school is more likely to take you for a gondola ride to the top of the mountain where there are gentle slopes on which to begin your life on skis, and then good progression runs to move on to once you have mastered the basics.
  
  There are also dozens of mountain cafes to collapse in to whenever you need a break! Ski lessons are normally for two hours daily and we offer a beginner's package, if booked in advance and travelling outside peak season, which include beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a week's tuition at a lower price than buying these separately in resort.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  The Skiwelt offers a vast choice of runs for the intermediate skier and, as it's so big, it's fortunate that the resort management have put a lot of effort in to clear signage. A good way to make your way around the huge Skiwelt in the first few days of your stay is to follow one of the marked routes.
  
  There are half a dozen circuits spread over the whole area. If you wish to ski further still, the new lift connection via Brixen to Westendorf from which there is the continuing link of the SkiWelt to Kitzbuhel's skiing, makes that possible.
  
  To be able to ski both areas, make sure you have the full Kitzbuhel Alps pass, which gives a third option of the Schneewinklel area around St. Johann included in the ticket.

• Advanced+

  The Skiwelt has more than 20km (13 miles) of black runs and the area is renowned for its off piste powder skiing after fresh falls. Local runs to check out include the unpisted Moderer run or, over at neighbouring Ellmau, the Eiberg and Silleralm pistes.
  
  The Almbahnm run (number 98) is regarded as the best racing piste at the resort, with a 150m vertical over its 600m length. You can also have fun on the Tanzbodenbahn piste (number 99) which features a 150m long electronic speed check section over a 40 metre vertical.

• Snowboarding at Scheffau+

  Scheffau's next-door neighbour Ellmau is home to one of the two terrain parks in the Skiwelt. The Intersport Kaiser-Park, located on the Tanzbodenbahn piste (99) has an easy line with three boxes (flat-up and down-flat) and an expert line with five bigger boxes/rails (flat rail-wall ride, spine-rainbow box, flat box, kinked box and picnic table). There's also a second kicker combination and a second roller combination as well as a chill out area.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Scheffau+

  As Scheffau is quite a small village there are no major public leisure facilities and most activities off the slopes remain outdoors. Some of the larger hotels such as the Alpin and Kaiser have their own spa facilities and swimming pools.
  
  The Kaiserbad indoor swimming pool complex at Ellmau, a short bus ride away, has excellent facilities including saunas, steam baths, indoor tennis, squash and skittles.
  
  Gentle snow sports are the norm around Scheffau with 10km of classic or free style cross country trails, which connect up with neighbouring areas to offer more than 100km of cross country runs in the area.
  
  There are also many cleared and prepared winter walks through untouched winter scenery. Guided snow shoe walks are organised and you can enjoy sleigh rides, toboggan runs and an ice rink.
  
  Excursions to nearby Innsbruck and Salzburg are also organised.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  Not normally a hedonist's haven Scheffau has a small collection of bars and restaurants, many of them part of larger hotels. The atmosphere is generally laid-back and informal.
  
  Popular bars include Liftstüberl, the Village pub and Almrausch.
  
  Restaurants largely concentrate on typical mountain and Tyrolean cuisine including fondues and raclettes, although there are a couple of Italian specialists too - Pizzeria Donatello and Naschberger's Restaurant and Pizzeria.
  
  For a wider choice of night sports and restaurants, hop on the bus to larger Ellmau just a few kilometres up the valley.

• Ski Holidays in Scheffau suitable for Families+

  A friendly, relaxed and intimate village for a family holiday in beautiful surroundings. The ski area can also cater well to families with gentle slopes above the resort and, for the more experienced skiing family, the chance to carry on and explore the wider area on predominantly easy and intermediate trails.
  
  Non-skiing children aged one and older can be cared for in Bobo's Miniclub at the base station of the gondola. Skischule Scheffau offers ski kindergarten and then ski school for children aged four and over.