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• Resort Guide

Resort Height: 800m

Voted the prettiest village in Europe, Westendorf is indeed a very attractive village of traditional Tyrolean wooden chalets, located at one end of the Wilder Kaiser-Brixental SkiWelt (or “the SkiWelt” for short), an area of 250km (156 miles) miles of piste, the largest in Austria. It also boasts the country’s most snowmaking – useful given the rather low altitude of the mountains in the modern era . Equally significant are the 70 mountain restaurants dotting the area, meaning there’s a place to stop for a snack every three and a half kilometers (two miles).

Until the 2008-9 season, Westendorf was in fact, the only ski area on the SkiWelt that didn’t have a lift and piste connection to the rest of it. That changed with the opening of the new eight-seater gondola the "SkiWelt - Kitzbühel Alps" on the Choralpe mountain, which completed the final link in the ski network, as well as creating a new run with an impressive vertical of more than a thousand metres.

A conveyor belt lift and a drag lift transport skiers from the end of the new slope located by the neighbouring village of Brixen’s summer bathing lake, directly to the new valley lift station. This has been built on the opposite side of the street from the existing funicular station, situated on the sunny side. A bridge over the Brixental main road connects the two buildings.

Thanks to another gondola, Ki-West, which nearly links the SkiWelt to the Kitzbuhel area, the total area skiable with the Kitzbuhel Alpen lift ticket, extends to about 425km (266 miles), making it one of the world’s biggest areas.

Beginners

There are lovely nursery slopes right next to the village, so Westendorf can be an idyllic place to learn. The village is quite low which may make snow cover on these lower slopes problematic at the ends of the season but they do have snowmaking cover and, if necessary, there’s a gondola from the edge of the resort up to altitude slopes which are also good to learn on. There’s a very good ski school which provides lessons in the mornings (not too early) or afternoons. We can also offer learn to ski packages which can include tuition, equipment rentals and sometimes a lift ticket, if required. These are usually better value than buying separately in resort and save you time and effort on arrival.

Intermediates

Intermediates will enjoy the skiing around Westendorf the most with all but one of the local slopes graded easy or intermediate. There is also a great sense of travel as you ski on to neighbouring resorts through the well connected lift network. Westendorf is in a central location of the newly created giant ski area linking the SkiWelt to Kitzbuhel’s skiing, and from being a stand-alone ski resort is now one of the key links in this giant area. 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

There are limited opportunities for advanced skiers at Westendorf where the five kilometer long run number 45, “Steilhang” is the greatest on piste challenge. The local ski school can take you to off piste powder caches or on ski touring adventures in the wider area however.

Snowboarding

The large snowboard park is called the ‘Boarders Playground’ and incorporates a half pipe, whilst the SkiWelt as a whole contains several more terrain parks and features, including a snow park with three half pipes at Söll and another park with an 80m half pipe above Brixen in Thale. There is yet another park above Scheffau. There are plenty of excellent sectors of the SkiWelt away from the parks that are great freeriding terrain, whether in open powder bowls or bouncing between the trees. The high speed lift network makes getting around easy.

Other Activities and Facilities

Westendorf has limited alternatives to snow sports, although there is much more within a few minutes in other SkiWelt resorts. The village does have a natural ice rink and the chance to enjoy bowling in one of the hotels. Outdoor activities include sleigh rides or snowshoeing in the Windautal Valley or more energetic Nordic walking and toboggan runs. Cross country skiing and cleared walking paths are available and there’s a paragliding school.

Excursions to Kitzbuhel (15km/nine miles/15 minutes away) on the ski bus (or you can ski there) are easy and here you will find a greater range of shops and other facilities including a swimming pool complex and casino. You can also travel a little further afield with a day trip to Salzburg, about an hour away.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Westendorf delivers a largely traditional Tirolean nightlife with a range of cozy mountain restaurants and wood-lined stubls to enjoy. The village centre, which boasts more than 30 such establishments, can be quite jolly. Popular venues include the Wunderbar and the Kegelbahn, which has a bowling alley.

Expect lots of large, high quality hearty Austrian Alpine dinners served up in Westendorf’s restaurants. Good choices include the Jakobwirt and the Schermer. Look out for Tirolean evenings and weekly fondues.

Families

Westendorf is a nice resort for a quality family holiday. The tourist office can provide a list of registered baby sitters, as there are no non-ski crèche facilities. Children can join special classes with ski school from age four to learn their first turns. On the slopes there are special ski runs created with children in mind.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[4]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[3]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[2]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[4]

Piste Map for Westendorf

Accommodation in Westendorf

• Hotel Austria - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Briem - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Post - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Schermer - 4 star, half board
• Katharina - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Pension Sonnblick - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Sporthotel Jakobwirt - 4 star, half board

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