TAKE THE HIGH GROUND

After a summer that, for many of us, was spent largely indoors, winter beckons like never before. Austria’s Zillertal valley is where winter sports enthusiasts can answer that call

A perennial paradise, the cooler season delivers a certain sparkle to the Alpine Zillertal valley — and it’s one that brings skiers, snowboarders, and other winter sports lovers flocking to its 335 miles of pistes, 180 lifts, 80 mountain huts and eight snow parks. The region is separated into four main ski areas, each with its own appeal, characteristics, and exhilarating list of highlights that guarantee endless hours on the slopes. Whether you favour practising your carving at a leisurely pace, zipping down sporty valley runs or testing your metal on demanding expert-level routes — or, of course, if you’re simply there for gourmet food, mesmerising views and lively apres-ski — Zillertal has it all. However, why choose at all? The Zillertal Superskipass allows visitors access to all four ski regions, each with its own specially designed one-day circuit to make the most of winter’s wonder.

FOR YEAR-ROUND SNOW

The Glacier Tour

The Hintertuxer Glacier is Austria’s only skiing area that promises snow 365 days a year, and in winter forms part of the Zillertal 3000 Ski & Glacier World. Here, skiers and snowboarders of any level can enjoy more than 125 miles of sunny pistes, deep-snow slopes and mogul runs as demanding as they are rewarding. The Glacier Tour brings visitors into the heart of this winter wonderland, with a one-day circuit that covers altitudes ranging from 2,050ft to 10,660ft above sea level, and 70 miles of blue, red and black downhill runs.