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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1000m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[3]
Advanced:		[2]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Werfenweng is a small community in Salzburgerland above the larger village of Werfen, which is in the valley below.

Both the village and the ski area are quite small and will appeal most of all to people looking for a beautiful, unspoilt, quiet village that's off the beaten track for most skiing Brits. The resort's proximity to Salzburg, with transfers in less than an hour, is another plus point.

In recent years the village has made a particular virtue of its eco-tourism credentials. It is a member of the Alpine Pearls Organisation - an association of ski resorts across six countries in the Alps which jointly promote environmentally friendly travel.

In Werfenweng's case, the onus is on 'soft mobility' – if you are driving to resort you have the option to hand over your car keys on arrival and use the resort's taxi service or carbon-neutral vehicle rentals, along with bikes and foot paths to get around.

Still more remarkable, the village boasts Austria's second largest solar power system – testimony to the amount of sunshine the area enjoys! The huge solar power facility means Werfenweng is virtually self-sufficient in green energy with 260 households powered by the system.

There are small ski areas dotted around the region, which is known collectively as Tennengebirg, but most of the skiing is above Werfenweng itself, accessed by chairlift from two points above the village – these can be reached with your free private electric car transfer to the ski lifts!

The village gives equal prominence to non-mechanised snow sports, including snowshoe hikes, toboggan runs, cross country skiing and even night time llama treks – all provided free of charge in some holiday packages.

Beginners

Most highly rated for first timers, there are three beginner lifts at Zaglau on the outskirts of the village and two different ski schools that will be pleased to teach you to ski. The relaxed atmosphere of the resort makes it an all-round good choice for your first try at skiing!

Intermediates

Intermediates will get the most from the local skiing above Werfenweng with the majority of this small ski area's terrain best suited to them. The 800m plus vertical is quite respectable and there are some lovely long reds up to 4.5km (just under three miles) long back down to the village.

Werfenweng is also a participant in the giant Salzburger Skicard regional pass (also known as the Salzburger Superski Card) which has the widest coverage of any ski pass so far created, with 23 ski regions close to the German border, and even the Allrounder Winter World indoor ski hall in Germany included, and yet other ski areas closer to Werfenweng!

Altogether the pass covers almost 90 resorts, offering over 700 lifts, with a combined uplift of just under 1 million skiers per hour, serving more than 2,200km of runs spread over 970 trails – enough to keep most skiers entertained for a week at least!

Advanced

With no real black runs Werfenweng's attractions for advanced skiers are rather limited on the piste itself. Most of the ski runs are cut through the thickly forested slopes above the resort, so heading in to the trees with a guide is always an option.

However ski touring is the most popular choice for advanced skiers in the region, with several high altitude routes available above the resort around the Schaibling, Eiskogel and Bleikogel peaks, which again the local ski schools will be happy to take you to.

Snowboarding

Werfenweng's Jam Park has a great range of features including three kickers with 4, 7 and 17m tables respectively, rails ranging from six metre straight or down rails through to a nine metre kink rail, and boxes ranging from three metre straight boxes to a 12m elephant box. There's also a boarder cross course, a natural half pipe, a wall spine and extensive freeriding terrain.

Other Activities and Facilities

Most of the non-ski activities available are outdoor, many are available free of charge (at least for the first time during your stay). You can enjoy ice skating, toboggan runs, a sleigh ride, snowshoeing and more than 40km of cross country trails for all ability levels. The resort has a llama farm which organises torch-lit night-time treks once per week.

The Family Resort Werfenweng has a spa, sauna, indoor-outdoor pool and solarium, and offers massage treatments. There is also a local ski museum.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Werfenweng's après ski scene is generally quiet with a few dozen venues scattered widely around the area, most of them within hotels. The Zaglauhof and Liftstuberl are among the better après ski choices.

For dining – which ranges from pizza to mountain favourites such as fondue – the Wenger Alpenhof or Barbarhof are both recommended.

If you do stay out late, a free night bus operates until 4am to get you back to your hotel.

Families

A very relaxed place for a family holiday with lift ticket prices at the lower end of the scale, particularly for children, who pay half price until around age 16.

The Family Resort Werfenweng operates a children's club. Both of the resort's ski schools Pro Werfenweng and Illmer offer ski kindergarten for children aged four and older

Children aged three or four can opt for four hour "ski and play" sessions which combine two hours on the slopes with two hours play. Children five and older can join regular ski school classes with learn-to-board from age seven.

Piste Map for Werfenweng

Accommodation in Werfenweng

• Hotel Werfenweng - 4 star, full board

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