Mittersill - Kitzbuhel ski area

Stay in a fairytale castle – ski the mighty slopes of Kitzbuhel

Yes, you really can stay in a classic Austrian castle and ski the famous slopes of Kitzbuhel, home of the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill ski race – the most famous ski race in the world.

The Essentials

• Village height – 800m
• Highest point – 2,004m
• Nearest piste – 7mins by free ski bus
• No of lifts – 68
• Pistes – 168km
• Snowpark – yes
• Snow cannons – extensive (84 pistes)
• Accompanied skiing – Yes
• Suitable for children – Limited
• Linked Resorts – Kitzbuhel, Kirchberg, Aschau, all Skiwelt resorts
• Arrival airport - Salzburg
• Transfer time – 1½ hours
• Max group size: 40
• Resort website: www.kitzbuehel.com/en

On the slopes

We’re at the Pass Thurn end of the Kitzbuhel ski area, some of the highest and least crowded slopes on this famous ski area. A short ride on the ski bus takes you to the new gondola lift up to around 1900m from where the lifts link across the mountain tops as far as the eye can see.

This is majestic skiing! As if the Kitzbuhel ski area wasn’t enough already, it is now linked to the SkiWelt area as well (see Itter overleaf), instantly doubling the ski area available.

Beginners* * * * 
 Austrian skiing is always a delight. The pistes are grassy hillsides in summer and the mountains are liberally dotted with cosy chalet style restaurants and cafes. After a day or two on the beginner lifts there are plenty of gentle pistes through the trees. Use the free ski bus to visit other parts of the ski area, if skiing all the way sounds like too much hard work!

Intermediates* * * * *
 This ski area is a paradise for intermediate skiers and boarders. Use the lifts to cover huge areas and visit other resorts. The key link now is the huge 3S cable car that links the Pass Thurn skiing to Kitzbuhel and Kirchberg, by swinging you from one mountain top to another 2.5km away! Skiing to Kitzbuhel and back on the famous Ski Safari makes a really good day out.

Experts* * * *
 The Hahnenkamm downhill is the most famous ski race in the world; the scariest bits are generally closed off, but you can follow the route down into Kitzbuhel. The sheer scale of the ski area is your challenge – how much can you ski in a week? If the snow is good, the off piste trails into the valley between Jochberg and Aurach could give some of the greatest thrills.

Off the slopes

Kitzbuhel is the main resort of the region, so here you’ll find loads to see and do, but remember it’s at least 30 minutes away by bus. It would make a great non-skiing day out. Nearer to hand you could walk down the hill into Mittersill or walk in the mountains on snow shoes.

The Austrians love tobogganing and folklore evenings so those with energy could certainly find some lively entertainment. In the Schloss in the evenings, the entertainment is chiefly what you make yourselves. We’ll normally have a meeting each evening, and games or quizzes afterwards. Ask for a tour of the Schloss too – but don’t get locked in the dungeons!
 
Some people come to the Schloss to get away from the rush and bustle of modern life, so if you wanted a quiet winter holiday with company in the evenings you could find it here as well.

The Schloss Mittersill

Here’s something unique – a truly ancient castle, run as a Christian community and conference centre. The castle, perched on its hillside, watches over the town of Mittersill in the valley below. This extraordinary building can hold up to about 100 guests, but our groups are booked into the better rooms in the historic east wing, giving us about 40 places in good quality rooms.

Everything about this place oozes history. Lounges with huge fireplaces, towers and turrets, rooms with creaky floorboards and crests and hunting trophies on the walls. But in all this are well equipped meeting rooms, attractive dining areas and lounges so you will find a room for every purpose and mood!

Rooms

As you can imagine in a building like this, no two rooms are the same and renovations continue more or less on a permanent basis! So all we can say is that the rooms are historic, but modernised with comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms. All the rooms are a good size and some are simply vast. The biggest rooms can accommodate whole extended families, so four friends would rattle around if you decided to share! Sharing a large room is a great way to keep the cost down.

Ski pass prices

The area lift pass covers all of Pass Thurn, Jochberg, Kitzbuhel, Aschau and Kirchberg and costs 196€ for 6 days at high season. After March 14th it drops to 170€. Those born 1991-3 can ski for 157€ (136€ from 15th March) and children born 1994-2003 and half the adult price.

Prices

Our winter ski 2010/11 prices will be available soon